Attend Town Hall Meetings

Gov. Terry Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds will hold public town hall meetings in July before the Iowa Education Summit to listen to Iowans’ ideas about how to create world-class schools.

Please try to attend a town hall meeting to share your ideas about how to improve education. 

Tuesday, July 12, 2011 – 10 a.m. to noon
Waterloo Education Town Hall
Central Middle School, 1350 Katoski Dr.
Waterloo

Tuesday, July 12, 2011 – 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Davenport Education Town Hall
Davenport North High School Auditorium
626 West 53rd St.
Davenport

Wednesday, July 20, 2011 – 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Sigourney Education Town Hall
Sigourney Junior-Senior High School Auditorium
907 East Pleasant Valley St.
Sigourney

Thursday July 21, 2011 – 10 a.m. to noon
Boone Education Town Hall
Sacred Heart Elementary Parish Hall
1111 Marshall St.
Boone

Friday, July 22, 2011 – 10 a.m. to noon
Corning Education Town Hall
Corning Elementary School Gym
1012 10th St.
Corning

Friday, July 22, 2011 – 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Carroll Education Town Hall
Carroll High School Auditorium
2809 North Grant Rd.
Carroll

Saturday, July 23, 2011 – 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Spencer Middle School Cafeteria
1400 10th Avenue East
Spencer

Iowa Education Summit - Look Who the Governor Just Invited!

Shared from DMEA


The Governor decided to turn the Iowa Education Summit into a showcase for politics rather than education with the invitation of incendiary New Jersey Governor Chris Christie. What had been a panel of education experts has now added a polarizing figure that could turn the whole summit into a political sideshow rather than a reasoned discussion of the future of education in our state.

A quick look at the New Jersey governor's education "reform" ideas shows he supports:

- Vouchers to divert public money from public schools to private and for-profit schools.

- Performance pay based on student test scores.

- Billions of dollars in reductions in school funding.

- Elimination of senority.

- Freezing teacher salaries and pension contributions.

Need more? How about some of these quotes from the New Jersey governor....

Christie referred to the NJ Union as "political thugs."

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/jersey-governor-chris-christie-calls-teachers-union-political/story?id=13310446

Said teacher's unions are "universally self-interested" and “They’re there to protect the lousy ones so they continue to pay their dues every year.’’

http://articles.boston.com/2011-04-08/news/29397594_1_teachers-union-top-grant-application-education-policies

Accused the NJ Union of being "completely out of touch" and "using students like drug mules" in school board elections

http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2010/04/gov_chris_christie_accuses_nj.html

Called the union "a political thuggery operation" that is "Fat, rich and entitled."

http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2011/04/29/gov-chris-christie-calls-nj-teachers-union-fat-rich-and-entitled/

Cut $1.5 billion in school aid in his first 3 months in office

http://www.northjersey.com/news/state/politics/90916879_Fact_checker__Christie_vs__NJEA.html

Appeared at a Branstad fundraiser in Iowa and said "The NJ Union /is/ about pure, raw power, to keep their folks, even the worst of their folks, continuing to be employed, so they can continue to be dues paying members, so they continue to perpetuate their power across my state."

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2010/10/05/christie_rips_nj_teachers_union_in_iowa.html

And called the union "bullies and thugs" saying he "doesn't know how they sleep at night."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/04/07/chris-christie-teacher-evaluations_n_846444.html

One has to wonder why Governor Branstad thinks such a polarizing figure is going to be a productive addition to an Iowa Education Summit.

Contact Governor Branstad today and tell him to dis-invite Christie so that the Education Summit can be about our children and not politics! 

Raise Your Voice to Break Iowa Budget Deadlock

Call Governor Branstad TODAY at 515-281-5211 to urge compromise on cuts to education and job creation!

“Top Ten” items at stake:

1.   Our K-12 schools: Schools need 2 percent allowable growth.  Without it we are facing layoffs, larger class sizes, and reduced educational opportunities.

2.   Early education for four-year-olds: We need to fulfill our commitments to quality and access for all Iowa children, we should not cut funding and replace the current program with an inadequate voucher system that ignores quality and undermines access.

3.   Our public universities (UI, ISU, and UNI): We must maintain current funding, not make cuts that would force double-digit tuition increases on our students.

4.   Aid to private college students: It is important to maintain current funding; cutting $3.6 million from the Iowa Tuition Grant Program would take away support for Iowa students who qualify on a need basis for aid to attend private colleges.

5.   Community colleges: Making cuts would force huge tuition increases on Iowa students.

6.   Helping Iowans fill skilled job openings: Investing $10 million would take a successful job training pilot program statewide.  With this investment, Iowa’s community colleges could help unemployed and underemployed Iowans earn industry-recognized certificates to fill skilled worker shortages hampering Iowa businesses.

7.   Local workforce offices for the unemployed: In these economic times, we need to keep the current offices open to help the unemployed improve their skills and look for work, not cut many of the offices and “replace” them with a Web site.

8.   Iowa Values Fund for high-wage jobs: This successful program was created with strong bi-partisan support to help businesses create high-wage jobs in advanced manufacturing, informational technology, and biotechnology. In addition, this program provides essential job training at our Community Colleges and economic development at our Regent universities. We can not afford to shut the program down.

9.   Small business employee health insurance tax credits: A state tax credit to leverage federal tax incentives to help small businesses (with ten or fewer employees) provide health benefits for their employees has been proposed.  We need to truly support small business, not just pay them lip service.

10. Jumpstart local renewable energy jobs: We need to provide $10 million in consumer rebates to leverage existing federal tax credits which help homeowners and businesses install small wind and solar projects.  This means jobs for Iowa plumbers, contractors, electricians, and other small businesses.\

Call Governor Branstad at 515-281-5211 and tell him he needs to compromise to support education and job creation!

After you call, you can let us know how it went by sending us an email at SDinsdale@IowaCAN or calling 515-277-5077. 

Nuclear Abolition Road Show...

..kicks off the 2011 Season and you are invited.

It is a different football game than what you may be thinking. What’s at stake is our future, our children’s future and life as we know it. It will require new thinking and new energy ..and the road starts here.

Join us for a preview:

Paul Deaton: a new narrative on nuclear abolition

Thursday, May 5, 2011 at 7:00 PM

Meeting Room B

Iowa City Public Library

123 South Linn Street

Iowa City, Iowa More Info: paul.deaton@gmail.com (319) 331-0899

ACLU Iowa Events

Apr. 30, 2011 ACLU of Iowa 2011 Annual Dinner
Saturday, April 30, 2011

University Athletic Club

Iowa C

The 2011 ACLU of Iowa Annual Dinner is scheduled for the evening of Saturday, April 30, at the University Athletic Club in Iowa City. The Louise Noun Award winners will be the three Supreme Court Judges of Iowa who were recently voted out of office. They will attend and speak.



May 4, 2011 Equal Justice After Hours 2011

Wednesday, May 4, 2011 at 5 p.m.

Temple for the Performing Arts

1011 Locust St, Des Moines



Featuring a Lecture by Morris Dess -- "With Justice for All"
Morris Dees founded the Southern Poverty Law Center in 1971. The Southern Poverty Law Center is dedicated to fighting hate and bigotry, and to seeking justice for the most vulnerable members of our society.
Equal Justice After Hours is the annual fundraising event supporting Iowa Legal Aid and its work to provide justice for all Iowans.

Sponsor's reception with Morris Dees: 5:00-6:30 p.m.
General reception: 5:30-6:30 p.m. Program at 6:30 p.m.


Tickets: -- Advance tickets required

* $ 50 for general reception and program.

* $125 for Sponsor's reception and program.

Event sponsorships available and welcome.



Book Signing: Mr. Dees will be available for a book signing after the event



Contact -- and to purchase tickets

Terri Bennett: 800-532-1275 x 1611, 515-243-2980 x 1611, or tbennett@iowalaw.org

State Revenue Forecast Improves

Citing a growing state economy, a non-partisan budget panel this week raised state revenue estimates by $86 million, with $48.6 million falling in fiscal year 2011 and $38 million in fiscal year 2012.


Two members of the Revenue Estimating Conference (REC) were very bullish on the strength of Iowa’s economy, citing employment growth estimates at 1.4% for the current year and 1.7% for the next year. Iowa’s strong farm economy and agricultural manufacturing has help Iowa’s economy speed its way to recovery.

Iowa has sustained several months of growth and more workers are earning over-time income, which is also a sign of an improving economy. One member of the non-partisan budget panel was much more cautious in his remarks on the economy. Raising concerns with oil hitting $100 a barrel, unemployment rates still above historic levels, building permits low, and slow recovery.

The REC estimates that the State will collect $5.855 billion in net general fund receipts and transfers for fiscal year 2011, which represents a $222 million increase from FY 2010. The fiscal year 2012 net revenue is estimated to be $6.189 billion, an increase of $333.3 million over the new fiscal year 2011 revenue estimate.

Even with these new estimates, by law the Legislature will use the revenue estimates from the December meeting.

0% Allowable growth is not acceptable!

copied from IA Rep Vicki Lensing's update...note of 0% not acceptable, mine. Nancy

Josh Casteel and Bishop Thomas Gumbleton Events

Thursday, April 14th
7:30 pm
Flaherty Community Room of Basile Hall
Mount Mercy University , Cedar Rapids

Friday, April 15th
7PM
Newman Center, Iowa City

Josh Casteel is a native Iowan who became a Conscientious Objector while a military interrogator in Iraq.
Bishop Gumbleton (retired) preaches every week, usually in Michigan, since late 2001 on a theme relating to peace, and posts the sermon at The Peace Pulpit at National Catholic Reporter (http://www.ncronline.org/).

We Are One Rally~"Defend the Dream"

On April 4, 1968, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in Memphis, where he was supporting sanitation workers demanding their dream: The right to bargain collectively for a voice at work and a better life. Today, that same demand is electrifying people across America. It's the demand of all people--black, white, Latino, and Asian American: The right to join together for our common dreams.

Join us at the Iowa State Capitol April 4, 2011, from 5:30-6:30 p.m. on the West Steps of the Capitol (1007 Grand Avenue), to stand in solidarity with working people in Wisconsin, Ohio, Indiana across this nation where well-funded politicians are trying to take away the workers' rights Dr. King gave his life for. It's time to show: We Are One. For more information contact: IOWA AFL-CIO 515-262-9571 or il@iowaaflcio.org.

Governor's Plan Reduces Preschool Access & Quality; Save Preschool Petition Launched

After the House majority party voted to end Iowa’s statewide preschool initiative earlier this year, Governor Branstad released a preschool plan this week that would end Iowa’s statewide initiative, reducing both access and quality. 

In an effort to continue Iowa’s statewide preschool initiative, a new Save Iowa Preschool petition has been launched at www.iowahouse.org/preschoolpetition and Iowans can also join the Save Iowa Preschool facebook page.

The fight to save preschool in Public Schools is mounting in Iowa

Read what the Republicans in Iowa are promoting and the direction they are pushing. The fight to save preschool in Public Schools is mounting. 2/15

Speaking on the Senate floor, Chelgren told legislators that the state’s universal preschool program amounted to “an indoctrination process by teachers.” Chelgren said, “Nazis, the Soviets, a whole variety of groups, a whole variety of countries, take their children because it’s not just up to age six they’re so malleable.” He was joined by other Republican Senators in arguing for the elimination of the state’s universal preschool program, which currently covers over 20,000 Iowa children.

Click here to listen to Senator Chelgren’s remarks and help us send a message that this type of rhetoric is unacceptable.

Earlier today, Governor Branstad joined the attack on preschool by releasing a proposal which would require all Iowa families to pay to enroll their children in the program. His proposal would require some households to pay thousands of dollars, undoubtedly reducing the number of families able to participate. Defending the cost, Branstad claimed a family of four, making $67,000 a year was “affluent” and could easily afford the program.

Iowa Peace Rally

What: State Wide Peace Rally on Anniversary of US lead wars in the Middle East
Date: Sat. March 19
Time: Noon to 1 p.m.,
Place: Nollen Plaza, 3rd & Walnut , DM IA

...This rally is in recognition of nine,( yes 9!) years in Iraq. Join the cause.

Say "NO" to Branstad's Zero School Budget Growth!

Iowa Governor Terry Branstad has proposed a two-year freeze on school budget growth. Large cuts to staff, increases in property taxes, and fewer educational opportunities for kids will result. 

Join the cause on facebook today! 

1. We believe that the school allowable growth formula should be set at 4% for next year.
2. We believe corporate tax cuts should not come at the expense of our students.
3. We believe education is our state's first priority!

Iowa Caucus Meeting

The Iowa NEA Peace and Justice Caucus is planning to host a social and hold a short meeting at the ISEA Legislative Conference in Des Moines on Friday, January 7 at the conclusion of the evening session. More details will be announced at the conference.

Please join the Iowa Peace and Justice Facebook page!