THE PRAIRIE PROGRESSIVE Summer 2017 A NEWSLETTER FOR IOWA’S DEMOCRATIC LEFT

From the Terrorism Alert Desk

orry, we don’t mean to alarm police arrest suspect in cafe seamlessly into the rest of the evening you. Or do we? bombing.” “A final assault on news. They appear to a part of the Mosul is planned for sometime this regular local broadcast. They are not. SIn Erik Larsen’s The Garden of Beasts, summer.” Hitler’s administration in 1933 is Just as Hitler intentionally kept the described as making “a deliberate After three or four similar squibs, populace in a permanent state of effort to generate a kind of daily accompanied by grainy footage of emergency (and as Trump keeps suspense.” brown-skinned machine-gunners and the general citizenry in perpetual grenade throwers against a backdrop anxiety), so does Fox News, Sinclair Sinclair Broadcasting is doing its best of smoking rubble, we...cut to a Broadcasting, and mainstream outlets to do the same in 2017. commercial, and breathe again. like CNN, endlessly repeating scenes of blood and panic, milking our For PP readers who still monitor emotions, continuing the coverage local network news shows on old- long after the event occurs. When the fashioned television, Sinclair’s people are fearful, the terrorists have KGAN station out of Cedar Rapids won. And so has Sinclair. offers a strange “news” feature three times a week. Just before The Sinclair merger-acquisition a commercial break, usually will be well worth the price tag of following an everyday story about $3.9 billion. The company will add a nursing home being investigated WHO and QWAD to its Iowa roster or a neighborhood raising money of KGAN, KDSM, and KTVO, and for a child’s surgery, an attractive What the hell just happened? Well, it establish a presence in Los Angeles, moderator suddenly appears in a happens regularly on Sinclair-owned Chicago, and New York City as it brightly-colored studio as the words stations all across our frightened challenges Fox News for nation-wide From the Terrorism Desk in Washington land. If Sinclair’s merger with right-wing hegemony. And have DC are sternly spoken off-camera. Tribune Media is approved, this money left over to hire Bill O’Reilly. The moderator, white and well- subtle fear-mongering -- hidden in dressed, then delivers “news” of plain sight -- will appear on over 200 Prairie Progressive readers should dangers from afar. stations, spanning most major TV contact Sinclair at www.sbgi. markets and reaching about one-third net/contact or call their national The news is generally not as of American homes. headquarters in Baltimore at 410- urgent or as relevant as the nursing 568-1500. Tell them you don’t need home, the ill child, the housing It’s hard to know what the average a phony desk to alert you to the development, the flood mitigation viewer of KGAN-Channel 2 in nearly non-existent threat of foreign project, or the shooting on the edge the Cedar Rapids/Iowa City area terrorists in your daily life. We of town, but it generates a kind of thinks when seeing a polished already have enough suspense.  daily suspense. “ISIS attack kills anchor person at a polished desk three.” “US considers sending more recite ominous bulletins from –Prairie Dog forces to Afghanistan.” “French distant shores. The segments fit

The Prairie Progressive • Summer 2017 • Page 1 Bernie Sanders for Governor of Iowa ll Democrats understand money is the way to win elections, Whether or not that will be an the great damage that and limiting contributions is nothing electoral advantage, especially given Republicans have done to more than a form of “unilateral his close association with former pro- AIowa in a very short time, but we are disarmament.” corporate Governor and Secretary of far from being clear on how to undo Agriculture Tom Vilsack, remains to the damage. Sanders won 45% of the elected be seen. Norris was a state organizer delegates to the Democratic National for the Jesse Jackson campaign in Obviously, we must elect a Convention. He began his campaign 1988, and has run for Congress. He Democratic governor, and take by winning the Iowa caucuses, in the is extremely knowledgeable about back control of both houses of the normal sense of the word “win,” i.e. electoral politics, state government, legislature. How do we do that? more caucus attenders supported and agricultural policy, and is the him than any other candidate. He only candidate to date to address The first task is to recognize that did this despite the fact that not one the issue of big money in politics, business as usual is not good enough. single Democrat in the Iowa House or challenging the other Democratic The Republicans did not merely take Senate caucused for him. candidates to set limits on individual the White House; they won at every contributions to their campaigns. level of government across the entire A number of legislators, as well as He has no position yet on corporate country. The fundamental reason other Democratic Party leaders and PAC contributions, free tuition at was the economy. fundraisers, have already expressed community colleges and universities, an interest in the Democratic Medicare for all, or a $15 Iowa We are in an economic recovery nomination for governor. A crowded minimum wage. characterized by low wages, job field gives Democrats an opportunity insecurity, and health care insecurity. to have a serious discussion about Representative Todd Prichard Two candidates in the last election what is to be done. Is it “business is the only candidate so far to campaign addressed those issues. as usual,” promising to undo the commit himself to free tuition at The first was Donald Trump, who damage that Republicans have our community colleges, having blamed the economic woes faced done, or is Iowa ready for a version discovered after looking into it that it by working class Americans on of Sanders’s New Deal approach, is affordable within the limits of the low wage immigration and foreign including free tuition and a $15 state budget. What he proposes is not competition based on free market minimum wage? exactly free in the sense that our high trade policies such as NAFTA. The schools are free. (Why do so many other was Bernie Sanders, who came Cathy Glasson, a nurse and union people grasp the concept of a free forward with a comprehensive non- activist in Iowa City, believes like twelfth grade, but cannot grasp the racist alternative set of policies: a all of the Democrats in restoring principle of a free thirteenth grade?) one trillion dollar New Deal style collective bargaining rights to public He supports tuition scholarships green jobs program, a $15 an hour employees, and expanding spending for students who attend community minimum wage with no exceptions, on education. She has also endorsed colleges full time and who agree to universal national health insurance a $15 an hour state living wage, and work in Iowa for a number of years (i.e. Medicare for all), and tuition-free expanding health insurance to all after graduation. There are a number education in our public community Iowans, although how that is to be of reasons why these conditions are a colleges and universities. done remains to be seen. She has no really bad idea, but Prichard deserves position yet on corporate campaign credit for addressing the issue of Sanders also addressed widespread contributions, or free tuition at our economic opportunity and student public concern about corporate public community colleges and debt with concrete proposals. So far, domination of our elections by universities, which is probably he is silent on campaign finance, the refusing to take corporate campaign the very best way to improve minimum wage, and health care. contributions and limiting individual opportunity for working class, small contributions to $2700. (His town, and rural Iowans. Another legislator, Nate Boulton, is campaign is now sending refund an aggressive campaigner who can checks to individuals who exceeded John Norris, although he has never stir up partisan crowds attacking that limit). He had plenty of money, held elective office, has the most Republicans. He is good at ducking contradicting the conventional impressive Democratic Party resume Democratic Party wisdom that raising of any of the potential candidates. Continued on Page 6

The Prairie Progressive • Summer 2017 • Page 2 Time to Teamster Up with TeamCAN t’s time to fight fire with fire. The labor organizations, the faith com- mobilization, implementation, and Koch Brothers, ALEC, and their munity, the Women’s March of Iowa, other components of a strategic cam- network of ruthless minions are Iowans for Public Education, Indivis- paign. 150 newly trained organizers Iwell coordinated and continue to ible, millennials, and other organiza- across the state ain’t a bad start. advance their agenda. We all know tions and individuals who know that they’re trained strategists, whack none of us is as strong as all of us. All TeamCAN is also partnering with a jobs, and effective organizers. Guess of those entities are represented on local mixed martial arts gym to create what - so are we! We’re whack jobs our Board of Directors. a mentorship program for kids who for good, though, and we’re on the need to stay busy and off the streets, correct side of history. It’s time for us TeamCAN has moved rapidly in the a group of local activists in another to get better coordinated and it’s time first half of 2017 to fill gaps that were community who want to run a stra- we took the gloves off. It’s time for created by people who don’t give a tegic campaign to repair or replace a more good old-fashioned organizing. damn about working people. One of bridge that’s been closed, creating a our major projects has been to create barrier to children walking safely to It’s time to Teamster up in Iowa. a temp agency co-op that is employee school, as well as other projects that owned. When the state legislature apply basic organizing strategies. 100 years ago, organized labor was rolled back wages for 65,000 of Iowa’s more than a collective bargaining lowest paid employees by rescinding We’re a community organization that agreement. We were an inclusive newly passed minimum wage is Teamster tough. The opposition organization at the neighborhood ordinances, we started partnering doesn’t have to like us but they’re level that fought with the working with workers who knew they could gonna respect us. class instead of for them or for only competitively bid against traditional You should join the Teamsters orga- our own members. We were effective. temp agencies but pay $15.00 an nization by becoming a member of Our movement was tough. It’s time hour – if they had the resources, TeamCAN. It’s 20 bucks a month. to go back to the future. expertise and help with the start- We’re using the money to organize up process. TeamCAN filled that new campaigns and enhance current The Teamsters Community Action gap. The Corridor Temp Workers efforts of different organizations who Network (TeamCAN) was founded Co-op was formed with the help of are on our side. It funds our fights to enhance and invigorate organizing TeamCAN and later this month will and puts you in the organization. on the local level. It’s the social justice be putting their first workers in the arm of the Teamsters. It’s a new field at a rate 4 to 5 dollars an hour There’s no shortage of people who framework that evolves and redefines higher than other temp agencies yet are pissed off at what’s happening to our mission. While the Teamsters at a lower cost to clients who utilize their state or country, but that alone the co-op. We think we can duplicate Union is one of the strongest labor does us no good. TeamCAN is creat- this model across Iowa and even the organizations in the country, the tradi- ing an army of organizers that have country and change an industry that tional role we play is not enough. The the backing of the Teamsters. local union will continue with its core traditionally keeps people in a cycle mission – raising standards in the of poverty. We’re gonna turn the Teamster up the movement and join worksite while TeamCAN fights at the traditional temp agency industry on us at www.teamcan.org. grass roots level around issues in our its head.  communities. It’s Teamster time. In the first half of this year we also di- Unlike many other groups who iden- vided the state into 6 regions to start –Jesse Case is SecretaryTreasurer tify themselves as autonomous orga- providing infrastructure and coordi- of Teamsters Local 238 and President nizations, TeamCAN is a coalition of nation to the movement. We part- of TeamCAN progressive networks, organizations, nered with Indivisible and trained and individuals who have come more than 150 activists from across together to fill gaps in grass roots the state in basic organizing strate- organizing efforts and provide new gies. A vast majority of those who models of organizing that are outside attended were new activists who left of the traditional playbook. Team- with knowledge on setting objectives, CAN is a coalition of traditional research, leadership identification,

The Prairie Progressive • Summer 2017 • Page 3 Ringside at the Capitol he Main Event was scheduled with the voting process in Iowa. He’s not achieved last year, an extra year to begin on January 9th, the first cheating!” with both chambers on his side. And day of the Iowa Legislative they weren’t realized this year, either. TSession. Not many fans thought the “OUCH!” you yell. “He’s standing bout would go the distance, but the on my toes!” You look up to see him The party of local control ruined Democrats were still in the ring after standing his ground. “Can he do counties’ and municipalities’ efforts the heavily-favored Republican Party that?” you ask. “Now he has a gun; to manage themselves. Ordinances pummeled the underdog in a match lots of them. And they’re every- raising the minimum wage to provide that was off the board before the where, including inside the Capitol.” a decent living, banning unsightly weigh-in. plastic bags, and restricting zoning “OMG! He just reached into my laws were nullified. Another stab at You knew you were getting into the trunks and took our money.” You local control was to change a water ring with an 800-pound gorilla. Why can’t believe it. You cry out: “He’s system that is working and replace didn’t you train for this? giving it to the people in the ringside it by seizing local assets and plac- seats!” Of course, he is! Those are ing them under the control of virtual The bell rang and you ran to the the people managing the health care outsiders. middle of the mat; you leaned left you’re going to need. Just wait! It’ll and it came from his right. POW! be okay. The current majority boasts about its You were expecting it, but not with support for local elected leaders to the force that it hit you. It’s almost as BAM! You want a drink of water rule themselves, but in reality, leads if his cousin, ALEC, was throwing the when this round is over? I wouldn’t them around like an overbearing punch. recommend that. parent. The majority even snubbed their leader, President Trump. One Where is the referee? On a slow boat The first punch knocked funding out thing this president got right is the to China? Someone should stop of the ring for what most progressive idea that we should all be buying this before someone gets hurt. Too Iowans believe to be Iowa’s most ef- American. Nonetheless, the majority late. No means to sue, and medical ficient medical treatment for women passed House File 203, to allow local insurance has become unobtainable. and families. You were concentrat- governments to get around “pre- It happened off the job, don’t you ing on the result of that first punch, vailing wage” and “Buy American” know? Meanwhile, the promoter is so you were barely cognizant of the requirements for secondary road proj- live-tweeting the event from an oval repeated punches chipping away at ects. The allowance to circumvent the enclosure out east. Chapter 20, the Iowa Code section prevailing wage and American goods allowing public employees to bargain requirement is not freedom for local collectively for wages and benefits. It You’re asking for your share of the purse? HAH! That was dished out government. It’s an indirect directive was too late to stop the bleeding on to use cheap labor and goods. that matter. to the advertisers in the form of tax credits. You understood you were the WOW! What will the Republicans underdog in this fight. What did you Next, he hit you in the gut and it do in a rematch, slated for next year? expect? induced vomiting, spewing your The gorilla didn’t get hurt. We have workers’ compensation claim out The final bell on the 2017 Legislative to train better than we did going into of the courts and into the pockets this first match. of employers who care little about Session rang on Saturday, April 22, after an all-nighter. workplace safety. After the 2016 election, a relative told This Legislature did nothing to help me that she wanted to do something Surprisingly, the death penalty died to change things. Should she get on the way to a subcommittee meet- former Governor Branstad work toward his goals of creating “200,000 active in the Democratic Party or the ing. That was a lucky punch for you. League of Women Voters? She felt It was a diversion. Don’t let him get new jobs, a 15 percent reduction in the cost of government, 25 percent in- she needed to register more voters. I away with that trick again. He’s got told her that we may have enough it up his sleeve for a rematch. crease in family incomes and having the nation’s best schools.” Although voters. What we need is to get those “HEY!” you shout. “He hit me below those goals were to be met originally the waist. There was nothing wrong by 2016, the reality is that they were Continued on Page 6

The Prairie Progressive • Summer 2017 • Page 4 Hindsight 2020: It Could Have Been Bernie

t the request of Progressive Still, we persevered (to borrow a in the “state delegate equivalent” Democrats of America three phrase). We launched a national calculations because much of our years ago, Jeff Cox helped online petition asking Bernie to run, campus and independent support was Apull together the first planning meet- but we also campaigned in Iowa the valued less under the opaque formula ing to draft Bernie Sanders to run for old-fashioned way. We handed out controlled by the Iowa State Demo- President in the Iowa caucuses. About homemade leaflets at Bernie events. cratic Party. 20 progressive activists gathered in We gave out “Run, Bernie, Run!” the Iowa City Public Library to hear stickers and sold buttons. We made At this point, of course, I can’t prove Conor Boylan (PDA Executive Direc- it clear, both to Bernie’s team and to my theory one way or the other, tor) & me (PDA political adv iser) progressive activists in Iowa, that because the IDP, using the same make the case that the time was right there was real and growing support transparency logic as Donald Trump for a national hearing on the issues for a Sanders run; that his issues were does with his tax returns, has refused we cared about; that Bernie could win the ones that mattered to Democratic to make public the actual attendance Iowa, which would change the whole primary voters; that Bernie could run that night. and do well -- and maybe even win. nomination process; and that Bernie, a Partly thanks to PDA, and Jeff and his Democratic Socialist, could be the next allies, we got an early start in Iowa. President. That we had the chance to change history. Thanks to Bernie and his team, the Jeff and his allies deserve great thanks campaign talked about the issues that for their efforts, because they were We were more correct than we knew. mattered in the Heartland. Thanks to taking a political risk in their home Speaking for myself, I certainly did approximately 85,000 Iowans on cau- state. Remember, this was at a time not predict that Bernie would become cus night, all of us together pulled off when almost everyone thought that an icon for young voters, draw- one of the most improbable “virtual Hillary Clinton would be the Demo- ing massive crowds in arenas from tie” elections in American history. cratic Party nominee; when Bernie Portland to Phoenix, from Vado, New Mexico, to Brooklyn, New York. At If just a few more progressive organi- was just an asterisk in the national zations had had the foresight of PDA, polls; when Elizabeth Warren, not Ber- the start, I could only hope Bernie would draw enough support to win and of Jeff and his friends, Bernie nie, was the challenger that even most Sanders would now be President. progressive activists hoped for. 23 primaries and caucuses! And I could only dream that Bernie Think about that. He’s the most pop- And PDA was the only national progres- ular progressive in the country. He’s sive organization that was actively Sanders would draw more Iowans out to vote on caucus night, Febru- regarded as honest and authentic. He backing Bernie Sanders at that point, would have inspired “yuge” youth having publicly launched its “Run, ary 1, 2016, than any other Democratic candidate ever, except for Barack Obama turnout. And he would have done a Bernie, Run (as a Democrat)” draft ef- much better job of holding on to in- fort at a national gathering in western in 2008. But that’s what I think hap- pened. I think we pulled out more dependents and working class White Massachusetts in May of 2014 -- more votes in the Midwest. That’s why all than a year before Bernie officially Bernie backers than Hillary support- announced. ers that night, but barely lost out Continued on Page 6

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Please return to: The Prairie Progressive, P.O. Box 1945, Iowa City, IA 52244 The Prairie Progressive • Summer 2017 • Page 5 Bernie Sanders for Governor of Iowa Ringside at the Capitol Hindsight 2020 Continued from Page 2 Continued from Page 4 Continued from Page 5 questions about corporate campaign voters to the polls and vote intel- the polls a year ago showed Sanders contributions and appears to think ligently. Democrats used to have a doing much better against Trump. (wrongly) that a $15 minimum wage system of getting out the vote on elec- would be unpopular in Iowa. So far tion day. It appears as though many So it’s very hard to imagine Bernie los- he is a “business as usual” candidate people didn’t like to be reminded ing Wisconsin or Michigan or Penn- who claims to be both pro labor and to vote, so we stopped doing that to sylvania. He would have done better pro education, but has little to say prevent hurting their feelings. How against Trump in Iowa and Ohio. In about how to win back control of the ya feeling now?  fact, it’s hard to see what state that legislature. Hillary Clinton won that Bernie Sand- --Marty Ryan works for the Iowa ers would not also have won--which There are some other candidates, Justice Reform Consortium means he would have been President. including former state chair Dr. Andy McGuire, a key architect of No Trump. Instead, President Sanders. the disastrous presidential campaign That’s what Hindsight 2020 means. in Iowa, and corporate CEO Fred Hubbell, a political contributor and Only next time, let’s show the fore- fundraiser. That either of them will sight that Jeff and his friends showed promote any progressive ideas on when they hosted PDA around that health care, wages, or campaign public library table 3 years ago, to finance seems highly unlikely, but draft Bernie to run…  who knows? Strange things happen in politics.  –Steve Cobble is a co-founder of

–Jeff Cox Progressive Democrats of Iowa

–Barbara Ehrenreich –Barbara

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The Prairie Progressive • Summer 2017 • Page 6