From: Richard Kissack [rkissack@cis

= &nb= sp; = &nb= sp; = &nb= sp; = &nb= sp; = &nb= sp; RETURN to Home page=
= &nb= sp; = &nb= sp; = = &nb= sp; = &nb= sp; = RETURN to Newsletter Archive

<= strong> = CLINTON COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY NEWSLETTER

“Somebody has convinced = people in the Bush Administration that it is acceptable and more important to expa= nd the power of the state to impose righteous conduct than freedom. If we exemplify a righteous life, = we have done the appropriate thing. If we try to legislate a righteous life, we have do= ne the wrong thing.” --Former House Republican majority leader Dick Armey

http://www.clintoncountydemocrats.org<= /span>

Janua= ry 1, 2007

COMING EVENTS

POLLY BUKTA’S ANNUAL CHILI SUPPER

Thur= sday, January 4 - 5:00 – 7:00 P.M. <= /span>Lyons Depot

Sugg= ested Donation $10.00

State Representative and House Speaker pro-tempore Polly Bukta’s annual chili supper, pre-legislative session review and fund raiser. All the chili (mild, moderate or hot) you care to eat plus many toppings, corn bread, dessert, coffee, milk,= beer etc. Polly will give her assessment of t= he 2007 Iowa Legislative session which starts Monday, January 8.

ONE HUNDRETH AND TENTH CONGRESS CONVENES

January 4, 2007

Congressman Bruce Braley’s formal o= ath of office.

CHRI= STOPHER RANTS CONTINUES TO RANT AGAINST

THE ECONOMICALLY LESS FORTUNATE

OPPO= SES CAPS ON INTEREST RATES

Dem= ocratic Statehouse leaders have vowed to crack down on high-interest car title loan= s. Lawmakers have said the Senate and House likely will cap interest rates on title loans taken out by low-income borrowers who put up vehicles as collateral. Interest rates on the loans can exceed 300 percent.

Legislation backed by Democrats would cap interest at 21 percent, the same limit that applies to consumer loans offered by banks. Republicans who controlled the Iowa House= in the last session blocked debate on the bill. “This practice is despicable,” said Representative Kevin McCarthy, D-Des Moines, who wi= ll become House majority leader. “I can assure you this year it will com= e up for debate.”

Title loan critics insist high interest rates make it difficult, if not impossible, for some borrowers to keep up with payments. Losing a car often means losing transportation to work, compounding their inability to pay. “A car itself is a lifeline,” said Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller, who favors an inter= est cap. He said few states allow unregulated rates. “Iowa is a backwater on this issue.”

Outgoing House Speaker Christopher Rants, R-Sioux= City, resisted capping loan rat= es in the past. He contends the change will put loan firms out of business, cutting off the only avenue for borrowing available to some Iowans with bad credit.

“We’ll have a whole lot of legislation this year saving people = from making bad decisions,” said Rants, who will become House minority lea= der in January. “Government will do our thinking for us.” (Mr. Rants has also consistently o= pposed raising the minimum wage. Nice fellow?) (Condensed from an article by Todd Dorman in the Quad = City Times, Friday, 12-15-06)

GOVERNOR TOM VILSACK’S NOTE TO THE PRESIDENT

“The immigration raids at the Marshall= town Swift meatpacking plant were an affront to human rights, Iowa’s sovereignty and the respect of local law enf= orcement. Federal immigration agents seized more than 100 workers on undisclosed immigration law violations, held them at undisclosed locations then shipped some out of the State without contacting relatives or local law enforcement authorities. Federal officials announced indictments of 23 of the workers.

“They took moms and dads away from kids who didn’t know where t= hey were. That’s morally wrong. It’s as if due process doesn’t matter to this administration”

“The tactics used indicate that this administration doesn’t tru= st local law enforcement. The State’s National Guard adjutant general and even the governor were all left in the dark by the raids. I support enforce= ment of immigration laws, but these workers should at least be afforded the same rights as the worst serial killer.

“Due process extends to the war on terror. There’s an insurgency around the world that can’t entirely be defeated with guns and rocket= s. It’s a battle for hearts and minds. The battle is lost when our democracy abandons basic tenets as it tries to force democracy.”

CELEBRATE DIVERSITY

THE = COMING POLICTICAL STORMS

R= 20;REPUBLICANS FRET OVER A POSSIBLE CLINTON-OBAMA TEAM”

THE = 2008 IOWA CAUCUSES SHOULD BE INTERESTING EVENTS TO ATTEND=

The possibility that a potential Democratic presidential primary matchup between Senators H= illary Rodham Clinton and Barack = Obama could lead to a Clinton-Obama ticket is raising concerns in GOP circles that it might be unbeatable. While Democratic strategists are m= ore skeptical of the success of a ticket composed of two minorities, some Republicans advisors to the White House and leading 2008 hopefuls Senator J= ohn McCain and Rudy Giuliani see the ticket as an easy winner built on the enthusiasm it would generate in Democratic circles. Their theory is that Clinton would stand a good chance to pick up the states that Senator John Kerry won in 2004. While not enough to win the election on her own, the addition of Obama would help push clos= ely divided states like Ohio over into the Democratic column, thereby giving the Clinton-Obama ticket the White House. (U.S. News Political Bulletin 12-12-06)<= /span>

GOVERNOR ELECT CULVER WAIVERS ON CAMPAIGN PROMISE

During the 2006 campaign, Governor-elect Chet Culver made it clear he favors repealing Iowa’s law making English the state’s official language. “It sends the wrong message,” Culver said on August 17 when asked at a gathering of Hispanic supporters about the law approved by lawmakers in 2002 and signed by Democratic Governor Tom Vilsack. “That would be something I’d fight for as governor, to repeal t= he English-only law.

When asked about the issue recently during an interview b= y Todd Dorman of the Des Moines Register,= Mr. Culver said, “At this point I’m not entirely clear on our legislative package. It’s not something that we’ve talked a whole lot about right now. Whether or not that is even brought up for debate at this point is not clear and I don’t think ve= ry likely given the makeup of the Legislature.” That’s bad news for voters who think the law is a symbol of intolerance.

<= /span>

<= /span>

Special Resolution of the 2006 Iowa Democratic Party Platform

We expect a Democratic candidate to uphold the ideals of the D= emocratic Party and to publicly support a substantial majority of the planks in the platform.

               CLINTON COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY NEWSLETTER

“The<= /i> five global Goliaths: 1. Spiritual emptin= ess, 2. Egocentric leadership,

3. Extreme poverty, 4. Pandemic disease, 5. Illiteracy and poor education.<= /span>”

--(from “The Purpose Driven Life” by Pastor Rick Warren--

http://www.clintoncountydemocrats.org

January 8, 2007

(743 days of the nightmare remain.)

COMING EVENTS

Tuesday, January 16 – 7:30 P.M.<= /b>

The Cl= inton County Democratic Cent= ral Committee will meet at Democratic Headquarters.

Among the topics for consideration: 1. Calendar of activities for 2007= , 2. The 2007 budget,

3. Plans for the Hall of Fame Dinner, 4. U.S. mail newsletter plans. We wil= l also have reports from the elected County, City and School District officials.

HIGH= LIGHTS OF THE IOWA STATE LEGISLATURE

The 2007 session of the 82nd Iowa General Assembly, with Democrats in control of both chambers, convenes Monday, January 8.= Major issues the Legislature is expected to address:

v   &nbs= p; Raisi= ng the minimum wage.

v   &nbs= p; Making affordable health insurance available to all Iowans.

v   &nbs= p; Promo= ting a new era of economic development.

v   &nbs= p; Promo= ting equitable and fair taxation.

v   &nbs= p; Makin= g hog lots environmentally sound.

v   &nbs= p; Makin= g Iowa number one in the development and production of alternative fuels.

v   &nbs= p; Making quality pre-school programs available in every school district.<= /span>

v   &nbs= p; Exten= ding the one percent sales tax for school infrastructure to the entire State so = that all students in the State have equal education opportunities.

THERE SHOULD BE A BETTER WAY

“You work th= ree jobs? … Uniquely American, isn’t it? I mean, that is fantastic that you’re doing that.”   (President George W. Bush to a mother of three from Omaha, Nebraska in 2005.)<= /span>

<= /span>

In the Clinton area this year we had a record number of requests for food, clothing and toys for children from families in need. The people of the Clinton area responded with a high level of generosity. But, wouldn’t it make more economic sense if these people had jobs that pay a living wage, provide hea= lth care insurance and help them plan and invest for a secure retirement after = many years of hard work? If the pe= ople lack the skills to perform well paying jobs, wouldn’t it be better to provide them with the education and training they need? These people have pride! Shouldn’t we collectively th= rough our government help them regain their self esteem? We all contribute to the American economy. Shouldn’t all Americans have the opportunity to share in our abundance?=

LET&= #8217;S KEEP THE MOMENTUM GOING

(from Senator John Edwards   http://www= .johnedwards.com/ )

We need everyone to take responsibility for our future: we can't wait until tomorrow. We must act now. Our ability to change Am= erica depends on you. We know what = we need to do. Changing our country means:

We need to restore moral leadership in the world -- starting with Iraq, where we should begin drawing down troops, not escalating the war

We need to end America's addiction to oil. =

We should be lea= ding the international fight against global warming.

We need to strengthen the middle class.

We need to end the shame of 37 million Ameri= cans who live in poverty guaranteeing health care for every single American= .

We need to raise= the minimum wage.

We should make t= he first year of college free for young people.

We should work f= rom the grassroots up to organize workers so they can stand up for their rights and earn a decent living.

No place better than N= ew Orleans demonstrates the two Americas I've talked about for a long time. But even more important, no place better demonstrates the power people have when they -- not Washington = -- take responsibility and take action to build the America we believe in.

We need everyone to take responsibility for = our future: we can't wait until tomorrow. We must act now. Our ability to change America depends on you. We know = what we need to do.       &= nbsp;

PRES= IDENT GERALD FORD HAD LITTLE INFLUENCE ON CHANEY AND RUMSFELD

Former President Gerald R. Ford has been eulogized by admirers around the World. He has been described as a man of integrity, honesty, humility, compassion, caring, considerate, charismatic = and charming. It’s amazing = and unfortunate that Dick Chaney and Donald Rumsfeld as members of Mr. Ford’s inner circle acquired none of these desirable qualities of character.

"Dick Cheney = was an excellent chief of staff, but I think Cheney has become much more pugnaciou= s as vice president. I agree with former secretary of state Colin L. Powell's assertion that Cheney developed a "fever" about the threat of terrorism and Iraq.”

--Former President= Gerald R. Ford--

Ignorance and Arrogance is= bad foreign policy

CAN CIVILITY UNITE THE COUNTRY FOR THE GREATER GOOD?

(GOOD BYE MR. ROVE= ?)

“I’d like to see a culture of civility. Our civilization is becoming less civil. It’s just gotten quite rude. You don’t have a right to demonize somebody just because they’re different. Civility means I’m going to = treat you with respect, even if I totally disagree with you. There was civil discussion in our society for many years, but it has become so polarized, so rude, and I hone= stly think people are tired of it. We need to get back to the idea of treating each other with respect, we come to the table, we’re not disagreeing—we’re not downplaying our differences. There are legitimate differences and there is no mainstream culture in America. We are many streams.” (= Dr. Rick Warren, pastor of one of America’s largest churches and author of the best-selling hard-cover book, “The Purpose Driven Life”. D= r. Warren was a guest on “Meet the Press” with Tim Russert, December 24, 2006.)

QUOT= ATION ABOUT THE IRAQ WAR

Former President Gerald R. Ford disagreed with President Bush about invading Iraq. Ford said that he believed President Bush, V= ice President Cheney and Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld erred in justifying the Iraq war as one aimed at eliminating Saddam Hussein's weapons of mass destructio= n.

<= /span>

"Rumsfeld and Cheney and the president made a big mist= ake in justifying going into the war in Iraq. They put the emphasis on weapons of mass destruction," Ford said. "And now, I've never publicly said I thought they made a mistake, but I felt very strongly it was an error in how they should justify what they were going to do."   . (from an interview with Mr. Ford b= y Bob Woodard, columnist for the Washington Post.)

<= /span>

<= strong>               = CLINTON COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY NEWSLETTER

“The power o= f America doesn't lie in Washington; the true power of

Amer= ica is in the people of = America.”   Senator John Edwards

http://www.clintoncountydemocrats.org<= /span>

Janua= ry 15, 2007

=

MARTIN LUTHER KING DAY

Racia= l and religious diversity and tolerance contribute to this nation’s greatne= ss.

=

=

COMING EVENTS

Tuesday, January 16 – 7:30 P.M.<= /b>

The Clinton County Democratic Central Committee will mee= t at Democratic Headquarters.

Among the topics for consideration: 1. Calendar of activities for 2007= , 2. The preliminary 2007 budget, 3. Plans for the Hall of Fame Dinner,&= nbsp; 4. U.S. mail newsletter plans. 5. Off-year caucuses.   We will also have reports fr= om the elected County, City and School District officials.

EVERYBODY IS WELCOME TO ATTEND THESE MEETINGS.

FUTURE DATES RECOMMENDED BY THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE=

Tuesday, March 13        Cele= bration of our cultural diversity with a party at Remington’s honoring our citizens of Irish descent. This is not a fund raiser.=

Saturday, March 31       Off-year Democratic caucus.<= o:p>

Saturday, May 12          Clinton County Democrats’= ; Hall of Fame Dinner. We are lookin= g for

= ;            &n= bsp;            = ;          nominations to our Hall of Fame. We plan = to have a nationally

= ;            &n= bsp;            = ;          prominent speaker.

Monday, February 19 and Monday, February 26

Clinton Community College Auditorium -- 6:00 – 9:00 P.M.=

NATIONAL ISSUES FO= RUM

“The New Challenges of American Immigration: What should we do?”

CLINTON AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE SH= IFTS POSITIONS

ON LEGISLATIVE REQUESTS

Usually the Republican dominated chamber of commerce has strongly opposed all forms= of taxation and favored giving tax breaks as incentives to attract business to= the Clinton area. Now that the Democrats are in control of the State Legislatur= e, they have a long list of proposals which include:

v   &nbs= p; Incre= ase the gasoline tax.

v   &nbs= p; Incre= ase the sales tax by another one percent.

v   &nbs= p; Incre= ase license fees for pickup trucks.

v   &nbs= p; Incre= ase the tax on tobacco products.

v   &nbs= p; Incre= ase the minimum wage.

v   &nbs= p; More = money for mental health programs.

v   &nbs= p; More = money for roads and city streets.

v   &nbs= p; More = money for the rail yard at ADM.

Amazing isn’= t it? It’s hard to disagree with a= ny of these proposals, but it would be praiseworthy if the Chamber of Commerce wo= uld come out publicly and support these programs. It would be a chance for them to be positive for a change.

QUOTATIONS ABOUT IRAQ

Ø&nb= sp;      ̶= 0;Americans know Iraq= is a mess, and maybe the President knows it too. But before it can be clean= ed up, we need a President who can engage the world and pony up to reality.” Christopher E. Berg, New York City= .

Ø&nb= sp;      ̶= 0;Absolutely we’re winning.” President George W. Bush

Ø&nb= sp;      ̶= 0;No sir, I do not believe that we are currently winning in Iraq.R= 21; Secretary of Defense Robert Gates.=

Ø&nb= sp;      ̶= 0;The situation in Iraq is very grave and deteriorating. Violence is increasing, fragmentation of the militias, Shia against Shia, Shia against Sunni, and more American casualties, bas= ic services of government not being delivered, and neighborhoods falling apart, casualties going up. Everywhere you look, it’s dire, it’s grave= , it is deteriorating, and in a sense, the question may be, “Can we stop t= he deterioration?” not “Can we improve it?”   former Congressman Lee Hamil= ton

Ø&nb= sp;      ̶= 0;There is significant underreporting of the violence in Iraq. Good policy is difficult to make w= hen information is systematically collected in a way that minimizes its discrep= ancy with policy goals. The situation is serious, it is grave, it is dire.”= ;   James Baker

Ø&nb= sp;      “While in Hanoi, President Bush said, ‘We tend to want there to be instant success in = the world, and the task in Iraq is going to take a while.’ I would like to remind everyone that it was the Administration that said invading Iraq and securing the country were going to be a walk in the park, an affair of a few months at most.”   Philip DeLouraille, Los Gatos, Calif.

GEORGE GOT HIS MAN!

I MI= SS BILL

“Under Democratic leadership, we created millions more jobs; we lifted millions mo= re people out of poverty and gave them health care; we expanded the middle cla= ss and raised the incomes of our families.&nb= sp; The Republicans who have controlled the White House and the Congress= for the past six years have led us down a very different path. They've chosen ideology over community, harsh politics over good government and personal destruction over common ground. They've left ordinary Americans to fend for themselves, and left the United States isolated around the world when we sho= uld be leading it instead.”       (Pre= sident Bill Clinton)

WATCH THE DUBUQUE AREA GROW

Mik= e Blouin is the new president of the Greater Dubuque Development Corporation. He w= ill join Rick Dickinson who is the executive director of the Dubuque Corp. in market= ing the Dubuque area both nationally and internationally. Many of us had hoped that Governor Chet Culver would reappoint Blouin to head the Iowa Department of Economic Develo= pment where he has been very successful. However, since Culver doesn’t recognize the value of Blouin to his administration the loss to Des Moines will be a big gain for eastern Iowa.

<= /span>               CLINTON COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY NEWSLETTER

"Dick Cheney was an excel= lent chief of staff, but I think Cheney has become much more

pugnacious as vice president. I agree with former secretary of state Colin L. Powell's

assertion that Cheney develope= d a "fever" about the threat of terrorism and = Iraq.”=

--Former President Gerald R. F= ord--

http://www.clintoncountydemocrats.org<= /span>

Janua= ry 22, 2007

(729 = days of the nightmare remain.)

=

COMING EVENTS

Monday, February 19 and Monday, February 26

Clinton Community College Auditorium -- 6:00 – 9:00 P.M.=

NATIONAL ISSUES FO= RUM

“The New Challenges of American Immigration: What should we do?”

<= /span>

Tuesday, March 13 starting at 7:00 P.M.

Clinton County Democrats will honor American= s of Irish descent as part of our

celebration of the cultural diversity of our nation with a party at Remington’s.

. This is not a fund raiser.=

Satu= rday, March 31

Off-year Democratic Caucus=

Satu= rday, May 12

Clinton County= Democrats’ Hall of Fame Dinner.

We are looking for nominations to our Hall of Fame.

We plan to have a nationally prominent speaker.

<= /span>

WE N= EED YOUR HELP!

The Clinton County Democrats’ Newsletter has helped send our message to m= ore than 200 loyal Democrats. It = has helped increase attendance at our Central Committee meetings and many events that have been held during the past year.&= nbsp; We also send a quarterly newsletter by U.S. mail to an additional 200 Democrats who don’t have email. During the coming year many presid= ential candidates will visit Clinton and we will have many reports by our legislat= ors and congressman. We want to inform as many Democrats as possible of these events.

You can h= elp increase participation in your political party <= /p>
by sendin= g us names of Democrats whom you’d like to see<= /p>
included in our mailings and perhaps become more involved.

COMMUNICATIONS F= ROM STATE SENATOR FRANK WOOD

Frank represents Senate district 42 which covers portions of southern and western Clinton County and the northern part= of Scott County.

Committee Assignments: Chairman of the Education Budget Subcommittee, Education, Human Resources, Natural Resources and Environment, Appropriations, and State Government.

Send ideas to:&nbs= p; S= enate Switchboard (515) 281-3371, at home on weekends: (563) 285-5311, or email him at frank.wood@legis.state.ia.us

Subscribe to his weekly newsletter.

DEMOCRATS PLEDGE= TO EXPAND PRESCHOOL PROGRAMS

Adv= ocates for expanding pre-schools across the State say that they will put all stude= nts on a level playing field when they enter elementary school. Hundreds of children are on waiting lists as the State seeks more money to open more classrooms. Governor Chet Culver has pledged to spend an additional four million dollars toward a goal of having at least o= ne accredited pre-school in every school district.

CONTACT INFORMAT= ION FROM STATE REPRESENTATIVE TOM SCHUELLER

IN THE 82^ND= IOWA GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Tom represents House Dist= rict 25 which covers the northern and western townships in Clinton County, all of Jackson County and three precincts i= n Dubuque County.

Committee Assignments: Economic Growth, Judiciary, Local Government, Ways and Means (Vice Chair), Appropriation Subcommittee for Economic Development.

Phone numbers: statehouse: (515) 281-3221   home: (563) 652-2926 (Maquoketa)=

Email:   tom.schueller@legis.state.ia.us

DEMOCRATS MARCH AHEAD WITH THEIR PROMISED AGENDA

The= House of Representatives is moving rapidly to pass an impressive list of popular bills which include:

new ethics rules limiting= perks given to members of Congress by lobbyists

implementing many of the = 9/11 commission recommendations

raising the minimum wage<= o:p>

increasing funding for embryonic stem cell research

requiring the government = to negotiate the price of Medicare prescription drugs
cutting interest rates on student loans

repealing tax benefits fo= r oil companies

strengthening homeland se= curity with more thorough inspection of cargo containers

Wha= t is the position of the ‘compassiona= te’ President on these bills that will benefit ordinary people whose message was very loud and clear in the last election?&= nbsp; He has threatened multi= ple vetoes. George just doesnR= 17;t get it!

“Congress = must act to block Bush’s escalation in Iraq.<= /b>

We need a respon= sible end to the war, not escalation.”

<= /span>               = CLINTON COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY NEWSLETTER

http://www.clintoncountydemocrats.org

Janua= ry 29, 2007

(722 = days remain until we’ve cleared the Brush.)=

=

=

COMING EVENTS

Saturday, February 10

LEGISLATIVE FORUMS

9:= 00 A.M. Spon= sored by the Clinton Area Chamber of Commerce at their Chamber offices.<= /o:p>

11:30 A.M. Sponsored by the DeWitt Chamber at the DeWitt Community Center. = This is your chance to discuss issues with State Representatives Polly Bukta, Steve Olson and Tom Schue= ller and State Senators Roger Stewart and Frank Wood. These Legislative Forums are held monthly on the second Saturday during February, March and April.

   = ;            &n= bsp;

Monday, February 19 and Monday, February 26

Clinton<= /span> Community College Auditorium -- 6:00 – 9:00 P= .M.

NATIONAL ISSUES FORUM

“The New Chal= lenges of American Immigration: