October Update

          Of Muscatine County

Making Democracy Work

Election Day is fast approaching! November 8 is just a month away. The League of Women Voters of Muscatine County's actions in the community offer voter registration and candidate forums. 

Muscatine County candidates spoke on September 20. The public heard from Auditor Leslie Soule, candidates running for Sheriff C. J. Ryan and Michael Channon, and those running for the Muscatine County Board of Supervisors Scott Sauer and Nathan Reichert, and Kas Kelly and Nathan Mather.

On October 4 voters will hear from candidates to the Iowa House and Senate. The candidates planning to attend are Bobby Kaufmann, Gary Carlson, Phil Weise, Ryan Drew, Chris Brase, Mark Lofgren, and Tom Courtney. 

Our voter service includes registering voters. This year League partnered with League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) to register voters at Wal Mart, Hy Vee Mainstreet, Fareway, and the International Festival. Our efforts also included back to school registration at MCC. I want to thank Susan Cory, Jean Clark, Paula Stover, Mel Steckel, Ann Mayes, and Debbie Paulson for their work.

LWV Muscatine County is collaborating with Leagues in Johnson County and Ottumwa, and the Johnson County Task Force on Aging to sponsor a forum for the US 2nd Congressional District with Dave Loebsack and Dr. Christopher Peters. The forum will be held on October 10, 2-3:30, at the Coralville Public Library. 

David Osterberg will speak about Iowa's at 7 p.m. on November 29, 2016 Muscatine County Community College’s McAvoy Center 1400 block of Park Avenue. 

Our featured speaker, David Osterberg, has a long career in the field of environmental health and environmental quality. He is a professor in the Department of Occupational and Environmental Health at the University of Iowa.

His talk, “Can Voluntary Action Bring Adequate Water Quality,” will address the 2013 Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy which is a plan conceived to improve Iowa’s streams and lakes and address the large dead zone in the Gulf of Mexico. The strategy imposes mandatory action in urban areas (improved sewage treatment plants) but depends on the agricultural sector to voluntarily change practices. What evidence exists that it can work?

In addition to his work at the University of Iowa, Osterberg is the founder and past executive director of the Iowa Policy Project, a non-profit policy research organization. Osterberg remains active at the non-profit in water quality and energy policy research and has published widely on Iowa environmental issues. He received his bachelor’s degree in economics from Washington State University, and master’s in water resources management, economics and agricultural economics, all from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. From 1983 to 1994, Osterberg served in the Iowa House of Representatives, serving as chairman of the Committee on Agriculture and the Committee on Energy and Environmental Protection.

More Water – Upper Mississippi River Region Inter-League Organization (UMRR ILO)

Watershed Game Training!

Local Leagues in our ILO are invited to sponsor watershed education events with community groups such as city councils, and other civic groups using the Watershed Game.  UMRR ILO member Leagues are urged to send a representative to training so they can run the Watershed Games on their own.  Thanks to LWV Jo Daviess, training will be offered in lovely Galena, Illinois, on October 24, which is the first anniversary of the ILO’s official launch.  What a fitting way to celebrate!  The training is being held at the DeSoto House Hotel in historic Galena, IL.  The cost of the training is only $25, to cover food costs. 

Laugh a Little

Riverside Theatre offers LWV members a discount for production of ‘The Taming.’ Call Sue Johannsen by October 20 if you are interested.

Riverside Theatre, 213 N. Gilbert St. in Iowa City, is offering League of Women Voters members a special group rate of $25 per ticket to the production of “The Taming” which runs from Friday, Oct. 28 through Sunday, Nov. 13. “What happens when a conservative senatorial aide, a liberal political activist and a newly-crowned Miss Georgia walk into a bar? The results are hilarious, but this play is no joke. Lauren Gunderson’s THE TAMING takes on America’s overheated political rhetoric, some surprising truths about our founding fathers, and the passions of three slightly insane women who just might be revolutionary geniuses.” To go to Riverside Theatre website use https://goo.gl/tVHS2r

Community Read

League's choice for Community Read will be The New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander. Pick up this timely and extraordinary book and get started now. Discussion will be February 28, 2017.

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“Muscatine League of Women Voters”

Summer Update

NOTICE : Event Changes

The US Congressional Forum has changed time and place to being held on October 10th, from 2-2:30 at the Coalville Public Library.

From the President
The summer kicked off with State Council in Marshalltown. Susan Cory went with me and we learned about VOTE411.org and a legislative review by our lobbyist.

Water quality will continue to be a priority of the League. Our own Linda Meloy was elected to be the treasurer of the State Board. A search is on for a secretary. If might be interested in serving on the LWVIA board, please contact me.

Mary Rae Brag President

Bonnie Pitz Former President

The focus is on registering voters and making democracy work. We were all challenged to hold at least one voter service event per month. As you read into this newsletter you will find local opportunities to meet this goal.

Water quality will continue to be a League issue. Our League will hold a meeting at Lock and Dam 16 to learn about what’s local on August 30.
Newly elected president, Mary Rae Bragg encouraged all to building on our successes. The meeting ended with praise for Bonnie Pitz.

Chris Carson, President LWVUS

At National Convention a new president was elected, Chris Carson. Former Iowa president Dr. Deborah Turner was elected to the National Board. Congratulations! Chris is from CA and joined the League in 2005. She led redistricting reform efforts and spearheaded a ballot measure. Once passed, she worked on effective implementation of this reform. She served on the the California Advisory Committee for the update of the state’s HAVA (Help Americans Vote Act) compliance plan.

We were disappointed that the Supreme Court of Iowa did not rule in the favor of restoring voting rights to those who have served their prison sentences.

Could you volunteer to work?
Voter Registration needs Volunteers August 6 and September 17, 10:30-1:30

• Fareway

• HyVee Mainstreet

• Wal Mart

  Someone will be calling to schedule.

August 30 5:30 Tour the Lock and Dam

Cindy Klebe will lead a tour. We’ll learn about the Mississippi River at Lock and Dam 16

FORUMS:

SEPTEMBER 20
Muscatine County Supervisors

District 3: Nathan Reichert (D) and Scott Sauer (R) District 4: Kas Kelly (D) and Nathan Mather (R) Sheriff: C. J. Ryan (R) and Michael Channon (D) Auditor: Leslie Soule (R)

OCTOBER 4 Iowa House

District 44 : Tom Courtney (D) and Tom Greene (R)

District 73: Bobby Kaufmann(R)
District 91: Gary Carlson (R) and Phil Wiese (D)

Iowa Senate

District 46: Chris Brase (D) and Mark Lofgren (R)

October 8 US House of Representatives

LWV Muscatine will cosponsor with Johnson County and other District 2 leagues. 9:30-11:30 at the Iowa City Public Library.

Iowa District 2: Dave Loebsack (D) and Christopher Peters (R)

As we look to the fall forums we will build on our successes. You are part of that success!

VOTE411.org is League’s way of connecting to voters online. Voters can find polling information as well as candidate information at this site.

May Update

Annual meeting was a big success! We adopted a budget and discussed plans for 2016-17. There are so many opportunities! Choices that will be priorities when we plan our calendar         include mental health/healthcare, good city government, water quality, and criminal justice reform. Please join us on May 24, 7:00 p.m. for calendar planning and fun at Wine Nutz. 

June 11 State Council in Marshalltown

LWVIA Council will be held on June 11 in Marshalltown. I am hoping to attend and want you to come with me. Call if you will share the day.

LWVIA Leader Update

We were sorry to learn of the resignation of Bonnie Pitz as Co-President of LWVIA. We want to extend our sincere thanks to Bonnie for her leadership and direction through the years.

155 Countries to Sign Paris Agreement on Earth Day

By: Jessica Jones 04/21/2016 Friday, April 22 marks the 41st anniversary of the first Earth Day. On this day, world leaders will gather at the United Nations (UN) to sign the agreement put together last fall during the UN Climate Conference in Paris. The historic agreement signaled the commitment to fight climate change by a global coalition. Through the agreements, the signing countries will work to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions, including carbon pollution, while setting a goal to keep the temperature of the earth from rising “well below” 2 degrees Celsius.  Read more http://lwv.org/blog/155-countries-sign-paris-agreement-earth-day

Water Resources Development Act. 

 This week, the U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works Committee approved the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2016.  WRDA would authorize some $9 billion for the nation's drinking water, clean water, flood prevention, and navigation programs.  Of regional interest, WRDA would provide for a flood risk management study on the Upper Mississippi and Illinois Rivers, authorize $300 million to study flood risk management and environmental restoration for the Upper Des Plaines River, and authorize $300 million annually through 2021 for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative.  Bill summaries and full text are available online.

NC Voting Rights and Voter ID

The news was not good this week in North Carolina where a federal trial judge upheld that state’s comprehensive effort to suppress the vote. The omnibus election law which was the subject of a lawsuit brought by the League of Women Voters of North Carolina and its allies imposes strict voter photo ID requirements, eliminates same day registration during early voting and cuts back on early voting periods. Opponents of the measure, including the League, will fight on through the appeals process. In the meantime, as in so many other jurisdictions, after opposing the bill in the statehouse and challenging it in the courthouse, the League will be on the ground in North Carolina helping voters navigate the new law to mitigate as much harm as possible.

In an effort to end the partisan deadlock on the current Federal Election Commission (FEC) that permits abuses of the campaign finance laws at the federal level, the League is supporting the Federal Election Administration Act (FEA) of 2016. The Act would create a new election administration comprised of five members, not four, and provide that one commissioner be appointed on a nonpartisan basis. Please take some time and join us in asking Congress to take action on the Federal Elections Commission!

Show Me the Money!

The news that Harriet Tubman will be pictured on the twenty dollar bill in the future makes us cheer. Less cheerful, however, is the news that the ten dollar bill will only feature a select group of suffrage leaders on the back of the bill. Among significant leaders in the fight for votes for women who are not in the group is our own Carrie Chapman Catt. It is always astonishing how little is known or understood about a movement that lasted over 70 years and enfranchised 23 million citizens with the stroke of one pen.

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“Muscatine League of Women Voters”

April Update

April Voter 2016
 
Please plan to attend our Annual Meeting on April 26 at the Peking Restaurant.  The business meeting starts at 5:30 and dinner is at 6:00.  An Annual Meeting mailing will be coming to you soon.

Presidential caucuses and primaries continue to draw our attention as the parties head to the national conventions in June.  The Republican National Convention will be held in Cleveland and the Democrats will meet in Philadelphia.  Let the fun continue!

Also in June, we will look to local primaries.  While our League will not hold primary forums, you can see our fall calendar will be busy with candidate forums!
Iowa House
District 73:  Bobby Kaufmann(R)
District 91:  Gary Carlson(R)
Phil Wiese(D) and Jessica Brackett(D)
Iowa Senate
District 46:  Chris Brase(D)
Mark Lofgren (R)
Muscatine County Supervisor
District 3:  Nathan Reichert(D)
Scott Sauer(R)
District 4:  Nathan Mather (R)
Kas Kelly(D)

Thanks to Pam Collins for making arrangements for Greg Jenkins of the Greater Muscatine Chamber of Commerce to speak on TIF's and economic development in Muscatine.  Some of the things I learned at the meeting were that all of Muscatine falls under an Urban Renewal Plan and says the city is a blighted area.  TIF's are incentives offered to businesses that include a frozen base tax plus a percentage – usually around 50% - of the assessed value of the improvements.  Most often the business promises jobs and economic development as the trade-off for the TIF.  TIF's are offered as a recruitment and retention incentives.

LWVIA State Council
June 11, 9:30-2:30 in Marshalltown, IA
There will be an election of officers:  a co-President, VP, Treasurer, and two Directors.  

Would you be willing to serve on the State Board?  There are four board of directors meetings and three general meetings per year.  Contact Polly Horton, pollyshorton@gmail.com

LWVUS National Convention
June 16-19, 2016, Washington, DC
Did you know that Iowa's co-President Deborah Turner has been nominated to be a director on the National Board?  We wish Deb the best and hope Iowa can be part of the national leadership.

 
VOTE411.org is an electronic voting guide, a powerful tool to help potential voters register and know the candidates.  The website includes information about voting.  Don't know where you vote?  Type in your address and learn.  Want to know about candidates?  VOTE411.org will offer information so voters can compare.  VOTE411.org empowers eligible votes to be active in the political system and make democracy work!

May 24 is Calendar Planning
7:00 pm at Wine Nutz
What's important gets measured.  So, what's important to you?  Bring your ideas for next year's study, voter service and action.  We'll grab a cold beverage and plow into planning another year of League.    

March Update

Muscatine, Iowa

League of Women Voters - Muscatine County

State Study: Tax Increment Financing (TIF) and Economic Development in Muscatine

Greg Jenkins, director of the Greater Muscatine Chamber of Commerce, will be our guest speaker on March 29 at 7:00 in the Duncan Room, 315 Iowa Ave. 

Plan to attend and learn about:

1. TIFs in Muscatine, past and present. 
2. connection between TIFs and infrastructure improvements/creation. 
3. local industries utilizing TIF rebate agreements for local matching funds for the State High Quality Jobs Program which funds production and increases employment at their facilities 
4. how TIFs impact school finance.

Local municipalities and counties around the United States have used tax Incremental Financing for decades. Originally, the use was limited to pay for renewal of run-down, or “blighted” areas. Its use has been expanded to also cover economic development projects. Under the rules of tax incremental financing, a city, town or county creates a special tax district that includes the property or area to be developed or renovated, borrows money through bonding to do the project and then uses any increases in tax revenue generated by the increased value of the properties to pay off the bonds. The increases in tax revenue diverted to pay off the bonds include not only that government’s, but also the incremental revenue due to any other government units that normally would benefit from the increased taxable valuations. 

FEBRUARY LEAGUE SHARING ON TRANSPORT by Linda Meloy

We had an opportunity February 23rd to learn about transport! Not what you may be thinking of as interstate transport of cars, wind turbines, and fuel, but of people in need.

The topic was non-medical transport, mental health transfers, and emergency medical service transport – the what and why of these services to citizens in Muscatine County.

Ken and Dana Larue, who have operated a non-medical transport service in Muscatine for the last four years, shared with the group how they saw the need for taking individuals to medical appointments and to/from hospitals/nursing homes when the individuals were not in a health crisis or in need of medical equipment for such transport. Dana is a nurse at our local hospital and Ken, due to the expansion of their business, has retired from his job at HON to run the business. They have ten employees (many retired from other jobs and driving on a part-time basis) and eleven vans, six with lifts. It is a for-pay service: private pay, as well as Medicaid reimbursement (the latter with a State of IA scheduled price per mile basis). They operate according to State of IA requirements and guidelines, as do other such services in the state. 

Their service is not a “secure car” service for inmates or mental health commitments such as is available in our neighboring state of IL. Secure car transport services require special behavioral training of the drivers and specially equipped cars to separate the passenger from the driver. Transport for such needs in Muscatine County is done by the County Sheriff’s Office, where retired officers drive individuals where they need to go and the costs are covered by Muscatine County Community Services. The IA Legislature is currently considering providing licensure for such private services in our state.

The presence of non-medical transport service has lightened the load on Muscatine’s Emergency Medical Services (EMS) staff, thus allowing for more efficient use of their medical skills in true emergencies, which ends up being more cost-effective in the operation of the Muscatine Fire Department, where the EMS is housed. Jerry Ewers, Fire Chief and former President of the IAEMS Association, has long supported non-medical transport, and he was in attendance at the informative conversation to also share the current Talking Points (needs) the IEMSA is presenting to the current IA Legislature: more funding for education, training, and resources for volunteer EMS providers in the state; providing sustainable funding for EMS, which could entail designating EMS as an essential service in the state, which it currently is not, though fire and police protection are; addressing the problems in the behavioral health system of IA, I.e. services; and funding mobile integrated health programs. 

Mobile integrated health programs could be a separate program for the League and the community in the future. Go to https://www.naemt.org/docs/default-source/MIHCP/naemt-mih-cp-report.pdf?sfvrsn=2 to learn more about it! 

Iowa H2O- League Priority

“We will not give up and continue to fight for clean water. . . League partnership is priceless..”I

Joe McGovern, President, Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation

Many Iowa cities are facing high nitrate levels in their drinking water. Des Moines Water Works is currently suing three northwest Iowa counties claiming drainage districts there act as conduits for nitrates to move from farm fields into the Raccoon River, one of two sources of drinking water for 500,000 residents in the Des Moines metro area. The utility is seeking federal oversight of drainage districts, and indirectly farmers, under the Clean Water Act. On the other side, Iowa’s nutrient reduction strategy continues to grow, in large part thanks to the increased appropriation to fund additional projects in 2015. While additional progress is being made, the program remains voluntary and affects a relatively small part of Iowa’s landscape. The Governor’s 2014 veto of additional REAP (Resource Enhancement And Protection) program funds took away additional resources that would have improved water quality in the state. To significantly impact water quality, Iowa must put significant resources into clean water, and consider making the program mandatory or providing additional incentives that will meet the goal of 100% voluntary compliance by 2020.

League Lobby Day 2016 will be held at the Capitol on March 10.  Because this is a deadline week, it's important to do your advocacy work now, rather than wait for lobby day.  Remember that every weekend, the League will post a new "Action Item" to help with local advocacy efforts.  This week's item will be posted soon - so check

back at www.lwvia.org! 

Privatization of Mental Health Services

League of Women Voters of Iowa's concerns about privatization of Medicaid were heard at Moral Monday in the Iowa Capitol. 'Moral Mondays IOWA' is a collaborative project designed to highlight the progress at work in the Iowa legislature, with speakers on different topics each Monday at noon.  On February 15, 2016, State Senator Janet Petersen and Dr. Deborah Ann Turner spoke on "Privatizing Medicaid: The Real Story of It's Effect on Iowa's Most Vulnerable."

 To read the remarks made by Dr. Turner of behalf of LWVIA, Click here.

LEAGUE BILL TRACKER

We will continue to track all bills that address one of the many priority areas identified this year by League members.  You can access this list 24/7 at here. The list is updated daily, often multiple times a day.  Just click here to go to the Bill Tracker.

Legislative Priorities

You can find League's legislative priorities at http://www.lwvia.org/#!blank/c1z0s

LWVUS SUES for VOTING RIGHTS

The League of Women Voters of the United States, alongside its Alabama, Georgia and Kansas affiliates, filed a federal lawsuit on Feb. 12 against Brian Newby, the executive director of the Election Assistance Commission, to prevent these states from requiring documentary proof-of-citizenship when registering voters using the federal mail voter registration form.

LWVUS President Elisabeth McNamara said, “His decision allowing these changes to the state-specific instruction on the federal form goes against the U.S. Court of Appeals ruling in Kobach v. EAC.”

February 2016. The Voter

Money in Politics
On January 26, 2016, the League of Women Voters of Muscatine County participated in the national consensus on Money in Politics.  Thanks to those who attended the meeting and shared their ideas and opinions.  Our consensus results were sent to national and we will wait to see the outcome when the national board votes on an updated position.                  
I want to thank Jean Clark and Professor Todd Pettys, University of Iowa Law School, for their part in the December 1 meeting at MCC.  We talked 
campaign finance history as we discussed the book, about                Professor Todd Pettys Buying the Vote by Robert Mutch.

Legislative Forum
The legislative forums will be held at MCC student center, 9:00-10:30, on February 6, March 5, and April 2.  Plan to attend and share your views with your elected legislators.
Here are questions important to the League of Women Voters:
1.  Will you support legislation to finish this process and make sure all Iowans can register to vote online by 2017? Are there other policies you would propose to make voting more accessible?    

2.  Will you support making the Nutrient Reduction Strategy mandatory?  Why or why not?  How would you build upon Iowa’s Nutrient Reduction www.iconsdb.com         Strategy if not by making it mandatory?  What do you think is the next step in cleaning up Iowa’s waterways?  Will you pledge to support at least $20 million for REAP? 

3.  Will you support efforts to eliminate mandatory minimum sentences for non-violent drug offenses, including the funding of alternatives?

4.  Will you support efforts to eliminate mandatory minimum sentences for non-violent drug offenses, including the funding of alternatives?

5.  What do you see as the biggest challenge in making health care accessible to all? Would you oppose efforts to limit access to reproductive health services? What more can be done to address barriers like social determinants of health? 
            LWV Muscatine County        http://lwvmcss.squarespace.com/

6.  Will you push for funding for regional mental health and disability services system, which pays for things like mobile crisis and crisis intervention services?  What will you do to make funding more predictable and reliable?  Without providers, there is no system, regardless of budget.  What will you do to immediately increase the capacity of Iowa ‘s mental health workforce?            
                                                www.iconsdb.com
7.  Will you oppose legislation to liberalize Iowa’s gun laws? Are there safety initiatives you would support to make sure guns stay off the streets and out of the hands of criminals and children?

8.  Will you help find funding for a census of fire and EMS coverage in the state? What will you do legislatively to make sure EMS is an essential service, and funding is sufficient to protect Iowans throughout the state

LWV Muscatine County        http://lwvmcss.squarespace.com/

Emergency Medical Services
Our next meeting is February 23 at 7:00 in the Duncan Room, 315 Iowa Ave.  Linda Meloy and those “in the know” will provide us with up to the minute information about Emergency Medical Services in our area and across Iowa.  You won’t want to miss it. 

 www.123rf.com
Caucus Information
Sue Johannsen and Ann Mayes went to MCC on January 25 to offer caucus basics to students.  There were good questions asked by those in attendance.  Thanks, Ann Mayes, for your support!

Events
February 6        Legislative Forum MCC Student Center 9:00-10:30
February 14th      League’s 90th birthday
February 23        Monthly Meeting:  EMS meeting, 315 Iowa, Duncan Room 7:00
March 5        Legislative Forum MCC Student Center 9:00-10:30
March 10           Legislative Day at the Iowa Capitol
March 29        Monthly Meeting:  Workforce and Economic Development

League of Women Voters—Upper Mississippi River Region Inter League Organization: A Summary from Inter League Coordinator Bonnie Cox of LWV Jo Daviess County, Illinois 
We have identified “nutrient pollution” as our action focus for the next two years. We hope that we will be able to help our members and our fellow citizens understand the relationship between land use and the excess nitrogen and phosphorus contributing to the degradation of our water bodies. Helping our citizens understand the processes that improve water retention on our farms and in our communities thereby reducing rapid storm water flows and the phosphorus and nitrogen that flow with them is part of that. 
On a local level in Jo Daviess County Illinois we are 18 months into a two-year process of developing a water resource management plan. It’s been interesting to see how it has developed in ways we couldn’t have envisioned when we began. For example, as a result of engaging UW-Platteville environmental engineering students in doing the input of our survey data (the survey gathered data on our citizens’ opinions and knowledge on water issues in our county) to meet quality assurance standards of IL EPA, we connected senior design students with our local county government to begin discussing the design of a series of retention basins versus a cement culvert along a county road. Other students have worked with our City of Galena staff to design a couple of green infrastructure projects. 
We have also been able to coordinate an abandoned well sealing project among our public health department, our county SWCD, a private donor, and the League so that we are both educating on the importance of sealing those wells and the relationship between unsealed wells and the possible contamination of our ground water and getting those wells sealed at an accelerated pace. In Jo Daviess County, many of those wells are out in fields with thin soils over fractured carbonate bedrock in which artificial fertilizers and manure are regularly applied. 
The recent report card on the Mississippi River stresses 3 important functions if we are to raise the grade of the Mississippi River: 
1. Spread the word about the condition of the river and its challenges 
2. Grow collaboration among us to face those challenges and 9
3. Focus on action to get the job done.

LWV Muscatine County        http://lwvmcss.squarespace.com/

December Update

Money in Politics

Money in Politics takes our attention and holds it. Todd Pettys helped to understand some of the history of campaign finance as he led discussion on Buying the Vote. About 25 people attended the meeting on Dec. 1. In short, Mr. Pettys led us to understand that the author, Robert Mutch, takes a negative position toward Citizen's United. Mr. Pettys encouraged us to define corruption and quid pro quo. Since there is no direct link between campaign contributions and the votes of those elected to Congress, there is no corruption. If limits are placed on spending, then it appears that First Amendment rights are compromised. I want to thank Jean Clark for contacting Todd Pettys and for his willingness to lead us through the complexities of the history of campaign finance.

We will continue to talk about this topic at our January 26th meeting at the Duncan Room, 315 Iowa Ave, lower level. Your opinions on topics of money and politics will be sent to LWVUS in the form of consensus. 

View this link to hear Jim Leach speak to LWV Des Moines about Money in Politics. 

Go to:

https://www.facebook.com/League-of-Women-Voters-of-Iowa-332644123428745/

Voting Rights

A League Priority

The LWV advocated for online voter registration and it may become a reality in Iowa. Paul Pate, Secretary of State, will have online options available soon. The League favors actions to modernize laws and make registration easier for people.

The League opposes laws that require voters to show an ID.

We want to change the Iowa Code to allow felons who have completed their sentence to vote. 

Emergency Medical Services

The League wants to make EMS an essential service that must be provided and funded. The League endorses stable funding steams for fire and EMS to meet minimum standards.

Water Quality

The League wants to protect Iowa's water resources by increasing funding for nutrient reduction programs and requiring participation. 

Expanding the Bottle Bill to include to include other drink container is good for Iowa.

The League favors fully funding the Resource Enhancement and Protection (REAP) Program.

Consensus: Money in Politics

January 26, 2016, 7:00 p.m.

315 Iowa Ave., Duncan Room

Did you know?

LWVIA has co-presidents! 

Bonnie Pitz

    Deborah Turner, MD

Bonnie has been president and Deborah has been vice president since 2012. Learn more about our League Leaders here.

No Bakken

The Department of Natural Resource Hearing will be December 16th, in Des Moines, 5-7 p.m. at the Wallace State Office Building, Auditorium, 502 East 9th Street, Des Moines, Iowa. Dakota Access has to get a permit from the DNR to cross sovereign lands, publicly owned land and water, under the jurisdiction of the DNR, and so the DNR is holding a Public Hearing. 

If you wish to make comments at this hearing, you will sign up at the beginning.  You may also simply attend to show the strength of opposition. 

A good number of League members spoke out at the Boone County IUB Hearing on November 12, 2016.  Co-President, Bonnie Pitz, presented the League position on Natural Resources.

In addition to providing comment at the Dec. 16 meeting, comments can be made until 5:00 pm Tuesday, January 5, 2016 by email at 

SLER@dnr.iowa.gov or by sending written comments to:

Iowa Department of Natural Resources

Sovereign Lands Construction Permit Program

502 East 9th Street

Des Moines, Iowa 50319  

Information about the No Baaken Pipeline can be found at: www.nobakken.com 

League Opposes FY 2016 Budget Amendments Undermining Clean Water Rule
LWVUS joined a letter with organizations from across the country urging Congress to reject amendments to the FY 2016 Budget that would undermine the EPA's Clean Water Rule.

Our league is doing good work!

• Membership is up.
• Voters registered at grocery stores, International Day, MCC and MHS.
• Two forums for candidates held.
• Study on EMS, TIF, and Water Quality ongoing.
• Successful fundraising.
• Great participation at meetings.

VOTE411.org

Click on the image to access LWV voter guide.

November Update

Money in Politics

Five copies of Buying the Vote,

A History of Campaign Finance Reform by Robert E. Mutch are available at Musser Public Library for check out. Bookmarks are printed and being distributed to advertise our Community Read which is part of League’s Money in Politics study. Postcards will be sent to our donors, elected officials, and those interested in campaign finance.

We will meet on December 1, at 7:00p.m. At MCC, Strahan Hall, room 27. Todd Pettys will lead the discussion of the book. People who don’t read the book but have an interest in campaign finance are welcome to attend.

Forum

A small crowd of committed candidates and supporters came out on October 17 for Candidates’. The League sponsored event offered candidates for City Council and Mayor and opportunity to connect with voters. Those running unopposed are Phil Fitzgerald in Ward 1 and Allen Harvey in Ward 5. Tom Spread and Chris Bynum are vying for the Ward 3 seat. Two names for Alderman at large will appear on the ballot, Santos Saucedo and Steve Ryder. Mr. Rider withdrew his name from the contest but his name will appear on the ballot. Running for mayor are DeWayne Hopkins and Diana Broderson.

Upper Mississippi River ILO

On October 24 members of the League met in Dubuque to hold the first meeting of the Upper Mississippi River Region (UMRR) Inter League Organization (ILO). Topics of interest were nutrient reduction, Impact of Upstream Water Quality on Downstream Parks, Recreation Areas, and a Watershed Game. Anyone interested in serving on the ILO should contact Sue Wilson (wilsonsue@mchsi.com).

Voter Registration = VOTE411.org

NAACP of Burlington contacted our League for help with voter registration. While we kept our carbon footprint small/no one drove down, we did advise on ways to set up and carry out voter registration at the event.

MHS – Sue Johannsen offered voter registration materials to three MHS classes on October 8.

Fund Drive – Jean Clark

There are twenty-three wonderful contributors to the LWV Muscatine County totaling $1100. Donations are accepted anytime, so if you would like to include the League in your yearly giving, send your check to Jean Clark, 1221 Mulberry Ave.

Economic Development/Tax Increment Financing (TIF)

Economic Development is on our minds. Economic Development and TIFs provide incentives to businesses to expand and improve. TIF can be provided as a rebate. This structure has no bond issuance and requires that the project company pay the annual taxes due on the property. The local government then repays the company annually for the taxes paid minus the area’s debt service portion of the taxes. The Rebate is valid for the number of years agreed upon by the local government and is the TIF structure granted more often by the city of Muscatine. The city of Muscatine has a policy to consider 50% of the TIF levy assessment annually for up to 10 years for an eligible project. Muscatine County does not have a specific policy.

Our committee will meet with Leslie Soule, County Auditor on Nov. 4 and Nancy Lueck, City Finance Director on Nov. 19.

I will keep my eye on the theater listings and organize a “movie night” for us. 

“Suffragette,” a new feature film inspired by the true story of the Women’s Suffrage Movement in the UK has opened in theaters this week. In addition to telling the story of these trailblazing women’s rights leaders, who are played by Meryl Streep, Carey Mulligan, and Helena Bonham Carter, many women have also been integral to the film’s creation—Sarah Gavron is the film’s director, Abi Morgan its screenwriter, and Alison Owen and Faye Ward its producers. 

October Update

Municipal Forum

On October 13 at 7:00 p.m. we will hear from candidates running for city offices. They are:

 

 

 

 

1ST WARD: PHIL FITZGERALD

3rd Ward: Tom Spread and Chris Bynum

5th Ward: Allen Harvey

At large: Santos Saucedo

Mayor:  DeWayne Hopkins and Diana Broderson

See you at City Hall!

Money in politics (MIP) is the theme of National’s review of Campaign Finance Reform. Our League will participate in this study by promoting a Community Read of the book, Buying the Vote: A History of Campaign Finance Reform by Robert E. Mutch. We are

fortunate to have Todd Pettys, U of I Law

professor, agreed to facilitate the discussion

on December 1 at MCC. (This is a change in

location.)

WV Upper Mississippi River Inter League Organization    On October 24, League members from Iowa, IL, MN, and WI will meet in Dubuque. Inter League Organizations are formal LWV organizations recognized by the League of Women Voters of the US. They operate under the Natural Resources positions of the national LWV. ILOs are established because their members recognize the need to work together at the regional level to most effectively and responsibly solve problems that transcend political boundaries. The natural resource issues facing the Upper Mississippi River Region definitely transcend such boundaries.

For more information, just contact Sue Wilson at wilsonsue@mchsi.com

Voter Registration Victories   In the past month, four states have taken a step to improve access to the polls. Voters in Pennsylvania and Nebraska can now register to vote online, while Iowa and Kentucky will have online voter registration systems by early 2016. There are over 23 states plus the District of Columbia that offer online voter registration. Online voter registration is a critical step to bringing our voting systems into the 21st century. With an increasingly mobile society, it is critical that these systems are available to all eligible voters.

Iowa announced that their online voter registration system will begin on January 1, 2016. The League of Women Voters of Iowa advocated for online voter registration citing the benefits for both voters and election officials.

National Voter Registration Day   Many thanks to Ann Mayes, Linda Meloy and Sandy Stanley for volunteering to register voters at Hy Vee and Fareway on September 22, National Voter Registration Day. Jonna Hall, MHS teacher, has invited League to register voters in her classes on October 8. Nationwide 260 Leagues participated and registered thousands of voters!

September Update

VOTER

Thanks to everyone who attended and worked at the Candidates' Forum on August 18.  

The public learned more about the six candidates vying for four seats on the Muscatine Community School Board.  The election is September 8.  See you at the polls!

National Voter Registration Day is September 22. Our League hopes to have volunteers at local grocery stores registering potential voters.  I will be calling you to enlist your help.  If you are employed, I will ask that you connect with a new hires at your workplace.  Everyone can pitch in on this important day.

Thanks to Susan Cory for offering voter registration at the Multicultural Fair.  I went to the MCC opening and registered 7 people.  

LWV Iowa continues to focus on water quality and climate change.  Who do you know that wants to act on climate change?  Together we can make a difference.  

This Month

Finally, invite a friend come with you to the  September 22 meeting at Wine Nutz.  The purpose of this meeting is to welcome prospective members!  See you there!

Sue

Clean Air

Earlier this month, EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy and President Obama unveiled the final regulation limiting carbon from coal fired power plants! The Clean Power Plan will improve public health while saving lives, creating jobs and protecting our environment. 

The Muscatine Journal reported that GPC switched to using natural gas as its ole fuel source for boilers at the wet milling facility, making coal obsolete.  This was in response to EPA standards for sulfur dioxide.  It is currently addressing regulations for particulate matter 2.5.

LWV Upper Mississippi River Region Inter League Organization (ILO)

An organizational meeting will be held in Dubuque on October 24.  This is an exciting endeavor of four states, Iowa, Wisconsin, Illinois, and Minnesota to work together to promote:

--public understanding and active, informed citizen participation in evidence-based decision-making as essential elements of responsible and responsive management of the natural resources of the Upper Mississippi River Region; 

-- resource conservation, science-based stewardship, and long-range planning for managing the region’s natural resources; and 

-- efficient and economical government requiring competent personnel, the clear assignment of responsibilities, adequate financing, effective 

enforcement, coordination among the different agencies and levels of government and well defined channels for citizen input and review.

Money in politics is the theme of National's review of  Campaign Finance Reform.  Our League will participate in this study by promoting a Community Read of the book, Buying the Vote:  A History of Campaign Finance Reform by Robert E. Mutch.  It was our lucky day when Todd Pettys, U of I Law professor, agreed to facilitate the discussion on December 1 at MCC. (This is a change in location.) 

Summer Update + Convention Information

Convention News, 2015    

Jean Clark and I attended the Iowa State Convention.  Our time started on June 3, with a meeting of the proposed LWV-Upper Mississippi River Region InterLeague Organization (ILO).  Many Leagues in MN, WI, IL, and IA are joining together to increase understanding of the natural resource issues in the region.  It is hoped that by joining together Leagues can coordinate advocacy effocrts in Congressional districts and monitor local, state, regaional, and federal proposals that affect the Upper Mississippi Region.  Sue Wilson from Dubuque is the contact person for Iowa.  

Girl Scouts open the League of Women Voters of Iowa Convention in Des Moines, June 4, 2015

On Saturday, June 4, Jean and I participated in the business of Convention.  We were very proud of our very own Dr. Linda Meloy who helped write a report on the Recommendations related to both Fire and Emergency Medical Services.  The convention body voted to accept the recommendations.  Congratulations and applause.

A new state study item, Tax Increment Financing (TIF) was proposed and approved.  Tax Increment Financying is used in Iowa both by the State and local urisdicitons, ususally to help entice new companies or business to locate in Iowa or a given city.  The study will examine the costs and the the benefits of TIF.  It is expected that the study will extend for two years.  If you are interested in participating in the study committee on TIF, please contact Bonnie Pitz.  

Elisabeth MacNamara, President of League of Women Voters addresses the convention delegates.

President Elisabeth MacNamara traveled from Washington, D.C., and addressed the group.  Her stirring words highlighted the damage done by the Shelby decision.  In that case, she said the Supreme Court gutted the Voting Rights Act.  States raced to pass laws that impede voter registration, require voter ID, and restrict early voting.  The League of Women Voters is working everyday to change this.  She was inspiring!

Deb Turner, President of the League of Women Voters of Metro Des Moines

League's lobbyist, Amy Campbell, reported on the session.  The Governor signed the bill providing monies for REAP and water quality issues.  This is a huge victory for League and efforts to improve water quality.  The League continues to watch changes in mental health reorganizaiton.  Online voter registration is in Iowa's future.  Yeah!  To see other issues important to League, go to  Bill Tracker

Jean and I can give you more details.  We look forward to sharing.

Sue Johannsen

March Newsletter!

March 2015, League News

Emergency Medical Services were the highlight of the February meeting.  A big thank you to Linda Meloy and Fire Chief Jerry Ewers for presenting information to raise our awareness.  I am including the article on EMS for your information and reference on the next page.

We have another new member.  Please welcome Jody Riibe!  We are glad to have Ann Mayes and Jody as a part of our League.  

We have a new website!  Please check it out at  http://lwvmcss.squarespace.com/

There are several issues before the Iowa Legislature that League is following.  One is water quality.  The League is hoping to see a tax increase of 3/8% in taxes to finance water quality through the IWILL efforts.  The passage of the  gas taxes may make that more difficult.  Time will tell.

Another League issue before the legislature is Online Voter Registration.  The League is working with the Secretary of State, Brennan Law Center, ACLU, the County Auditor leadership.  The Senate bill SSB 1152 filed by Senator Danielson is quite comprehensive and addresses the need to provide OVR to all eligible Iowa citizens.  Please contact your legislators and encourage them to support Online Voter Registration.

You can find all the League's Legislative Priorities online at http://www.lwvia.org/#!blank/c1z0s

During our March 24 meeting, Jean Clark asks everyone to bring a clipping or two to the meeting.  She named the evening the Catherine Miller Clip-Fest.  We will see how the clippings relate to League positions and priotities.   It sounds like fun!  Be on the look out for issues you hold dear and bring them to our meeting at Wine Nutz at 7:00.  

In League,

Sue 

Keystone Pipeline

President Obama fulfilled his promise to veto legislation approving the Keystone XL (KXL) pipeline! The League is proud to stand behind the President’s veto because the pipeline is not in our national interest. But the fight is not over—President Obama and the U.S. State Department must still make a final decision on the Keystone XL pipeline. 

Thank President Obama for vetoing the pipeline legislation and urge him to reject final approval of the Keystone XL pipeline once and for all! 

Upper Mississippi River Inter-League Organization

For the past six months, Leagues in Iowa, Wisconsin and Illinois met to form a group called the Upper Mississippi River Inter-League Organization (ILO).  The primary purpose is to strengthen the work the League does on natural resource issues in the within the five states of the Upper Mississippi River Basin. 

Our League has been invited to join this ILO.  The dues are $25/year.  The officers of LWV Muscatine County favor joining.  We think there are people in our League who are interested in the natural resources of the Mississippi.  This topic might encourage others to join our League. 

To learn more, go to this neat video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8HAhuToAOKk&feature=youtu.be

State Board to Meet in Iowa City on March 28

The LWVIA Board of Directors will meetin in Iowa City on Saturday, March 28 at the Iowa City Public Library Meeting Room E from 10:00 to 3:00.  League members are welcome to drop by.  

BACKGROUND on EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES in IOWA

A current study of the League of Women Voters of Iowa

Link to state website :  http://www.lwvia.org/#!ems-study-info/c1a69

Current Iowa Law does not require any governmental entity (county, city, or township) to provide Emergency Medical Services (EMS) as it does for fire and police protection, thus EMS is not labeled an essential service in this state.  The Law does allow fire departments to provide EMS.  Various chapters of the Iowa Code do permit limited taxing to support EMS.

The Bureau of Emergency Medical Services, within the Iowa Department of Public Health, is responsible for regulatory oversight of individual EMS providers, which can be volunteer units, private providers, personnel within fire departments, or as part of another public entity.

Currently there are approximately 780 authorized EMS groups in Iowa and 12,000 individual providers.  Of this latter total, about 74% work on an ambulance or as a first responder with an EMS agency.  Counties across the state vary widely, as does the population, to numbers of EMS providers, from one in Chickasaw, Davis, Humboldt, Osceola, and Palo Alto counties to nearly 20 in Linn and Polk Counties. Sixty-four percent of EMS providers are volunteers, which translates to two-thirds of those responding to emergencies in our state not being compensated; 30% are career EMS providers.

There are four “levels” of EMS providers that can be certified in the state: Emergency Medical Responders (EMR) who have 48-60 clock hours of training in first aid procedures; the EMTechnician (EMT-Basic) who has 150-190 clock hours of training with at least 12 of those hours in an Emergency Room and eight on an ambulance; the Advanced EMT who has the EMT training plus training in IVs and other basic medical procedures that total 150-250 clock hours; and Paramedic, with the prerequisite EMT certification plus 1000-3000 clock hours of additional training (250-300 hours of clinical time and 350-500 hours in an ambulance, i.e. competency-based).  Each type of EMS provider also has to maintain a schedule of continuing education in order to maintain certification, ranging from 12 credits/hours for the EMR to 60 credits/hours for Paramedics.  Some of this continuing education is provided without cost, but other courses carry a fee.

All 12,000 providers of EMS in the state are represented by the Iowa Emergency Services Association.  This professional organization was founded in 1987 and has a 23-member Board of Directors.  They have been involved in initiating and supporting EMS legislation; representing its members on task forces, advisory groups, and boards addressing issues that affect EMS; and facilitating communication across the state between not just members of the organization but all EMS providers. They recently did an online survey of their official membership of 1,200, with a 75% response rate from a representative sample of the state EMS providers.  The top concerns noted from this survey: Staffing/recruitment/retention; EMS not an essential service in this state; inadequate funding; and inadequate reimbursement from payee