Progressive Democrat Issue 113: IOWA FOCUS: Democrats Working Hard and Keeping Promises

I am glad I chose to focus on Iowa as one of my target states. I have been pleased both with Iowa's new Congressman, Dave Loebsack (whose office, I have found, is very responsive and friendly) and Iowa's state level Democrats. Here is a great summary of what Iowa's state Democrats have been doing and it sounds great:

Culver, Legislature made big moves in session's first half
Sunday, March 11, 2007

(Mason City Globe Gazette)DES MOINES -

...Newly elected Gov. Chet Culver has signed bills raising the minimum wage, requiring schools to adopt anti-bullying policies, and legalizing embryonic stem-cell research - proposals that had been stymied for years by Republican legislative leaders.

Now that the session is just past its midpoint, the Lee Enterprises Des Moines Bureau is taking a step back to assess what's been done, what's likely to come, and how it stacks up to history.

"What I remind people of all the time is that the voters have spoken here," said Culver in an interview. "I ran on a platform that I think reflected pretty clearly Iowans' values and priorities. In a very disciplined way, I've taken that campaign message that I ran on and got elected on and put it in front of the Legislature."

The session has been marked by long days, late nights and near-constant frustration from Republicans.

I would just like to note that Iowa really is looking like a microcosm of what Democrats have been doing nationally: working long hours, passing a minimum wage increase, supporting stem cell research, and keeping a wide range of promises made to voters in November. People really need to feel good about this: politicians made promises AND ARE KEEPING THEM. Republicans couldn't do that even when they controlled all levels of government.

...Before lawmakers go home in late April or early May, Culver wants to see them pass a $1-per-pack increase in the cigarette tax, a package of pay raises for teachers, an expansion of the health insurance program for low-income Iowans, and a major boost in assistance for renewable energy research.

The cigarette tax and teacher-pay plan already have passed the Iowa Senate and may come up in the House as soon as this week. [Note: this did pass the Iowa House soon after this article came out]...

Teachers have gotten special attention this year, as Culver and the Legislature are trying to get Iowa teacher pay up to 25th in the nation. The Senate passed a bill last week that would give teachers a big raise.

Linda Nelson, president of the Iowa State Education Association, a teachers' union, said the Legislature is on track to have a "landmark" session, but the job isn't finished yet.

"When (teachers) come to the realization of what this governor and General Assembly have accomplished, they will be giddy," Nelson said.

Advocacy groups for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) Iowans applauded when Culver signed the anti-bullying bill last week. The bill bans all bullying, including a specific prohibition on bullying students because of their sexual orientation.

The next item on the GLBT agenda is a proposal to change the civil rights code to ban discrimination based on sexual orientation in employment, housing and education. An Iowa Senate committee recommended the bill last week and Culver has said he will sign it if it reaches his desk.

Way to go Iowa Democrats!

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