2012 Issue #8 July 1, 2012 A publication of ID Action in partnership with Iowa’s DD Council Rulemaking Advocacy Legislators pass laws directing agencies to do something – and agencies write rules that say HOW they are going to do it. Rulemaking is just as important as lawmaking. Learn more! PAGE 5 Redistricting: Opportunities for Advocates Every ten years (after the US Census), all states go through what is called “redistricting.” Redistricting is needed because people move, and the districts that elected officials represent sometimes lose or gain population. Redistricting is simply redrawing our electoral maps so each district includes roughly the same number of people. In the last ten years, some districts lost population, while others gained. Redistricting changes the boundaries of our school board, city council, county supervisor, state representative, state senator, and US Representative districts to reflect those population changes. Your new Legislative Your Congressional and legislative districts may have and Congressional changed. The 2012 election (November 6, 2012) will be the first districts are listed on one that uses the new district maps. While elections always the last page. present opportunities for advocates, it is especially true this year. Elected officials will be representing new people and new areas of You can also find the new maps and who is running in these districts at: the state. Their districts may have changed greatly, picking up new www.infonetiowa.com/TAKEACTION/ counties and cities, becoming more Democratic or more VOTE.aspx. Republican, or moving from rural to urban or suburban. Elected officials will be working harder than ever to meet these new people. Those running against current legislators will be working equally hard to show why change is needed, and why they are the best candidates. The people running for office this November want your votes, and they will work hard to get them. Elections have been closer than ever in Iowa in recent years, with only a handful of votes deciding many races. Every vote counts, and they want yours. Make them earn it! “Never be afraid to raise your voice for honesty and truth and compassion against injustice and lying and greed. If people all over the world…would do this, it would change the earth!” William Faulkner 2012 Issue #8 JULY 1, 2012 Primary Election Results Three Legislators Lose This year, at least 28 legislators will not be returning to the Capitol in 2013. There are 23 legislators retiring, 2 general election races pit legislators against each other (so two will be ‘retired’ by voters), and 3 legislators that lost in the primary election. Because of redistricting, several legislators ended up in the same districts. Most decided to retire or move into another district. Four decided to stick it out, and run against each other in the primary. Another four will face each other in the general election. • Rep. Annette Sweeney (Hardin County) lost in the primary election to Rep. Pat Grassley (grandson of US Senator Charles Grassley). She will not return to the Legislature in 2013. Summer Advocacy Grassley does not yet have an opponent in the November To-Do List election (anyone wanting to run against him has until August 17 to file the required paperwork). 1. Find your new districts. You can do this by looking at the back page, or going to • Sen. Jim Hahn (Muscatine County) lost to Sen. Shawn www.infonetiowa.com (click on “Take Hamerlinck. Sen. Hahn served in the Legislature for 22 years, Action” and “Vote”). but will not be returning in 2012. Sen. Hamerlinck will face Chris Brase of Muscatine in the November Election. 2. Find out who is running in your new The biggest Primary Election surprise was the loss of Rep. Erik district. Find a list at the above link. Helland of Johnston. Rep. Helland is the House Majority Whip, and a key part of the House Republican leadership team. He was 3. Find out more about the candidates, and defeated in the primary by 50 votes. their issues. You can do this by reading the These three legislators will join the 23 others that are retiring newspaper, looking at their websites, or from office this year. They will be joined by two more reading their campaign material. legislators, pending the outcome of the following races in November: 4. Meet with the candidates, and talk about • Sen. Merlin Bartz of Grafton and Sen. Mary Jo Wilhelm of YOUR issues. Ask them what they will do if Cresco were redistricted into the same Senate District, and elected. You can find contact information both decided to stay and run against each other. One will not for the candidate at the link in #1. return to the Capitol next year. 5. Make sure you are registered to vote! The Rep. Chris Hall and Rep. Jeremy Taylor were thrown into the • pre-registration deadline for this election is same Sioux City district after redistricting, and neither moved. October 27, but don’t wait until the last They too will face off in the November election, so one will not return in 2013. minute. Go to the link in #1 for more information. You can also check your registration status online at: Find out how the bills you were watching https://sos.iowa.gov/elections/voterreg/re this year fared – go online to the gtovote/search.aspx INFONET Bill Tracker. 6. Vote on November 6 for the candidate that best represents you and your issues. www.infonetiowa.com/NEWS/BILLTRACKER.aspx - 2 - 2012 Issue #8 JULY 1, 2012 Big Changes Ahead in Iowa Capitol Regardless of who wins the elections in November, there will • The son of former Lt. Governor/Senator Patti Judge be big changes at the State Capitol. There are 23 legislators and former Senator John Judge (Joe Judge) is retiring – 4 Senate Democrats, 3 Senate Republicans, 14 running for an open House seat. House Republicans, and 2 House Democrats. They are: • Retiring Representative Jeff Kaufmann's son Bobby • Senators Gene Fraise, Tom Hancock, Steve Kettering, Jack is running for his seat. Bobby worked as his father’s Kibbie, Paul McKinley. Tom Rielly, & Jim Seymour. legislative clerk. • Representatives Richard Anderson, Richard Arnold, Royd Depending on who wins the election, you might see Chambers, Betty DeBoef, Lance Horbach, Stewart Iverson, the Senate change from Democratic to Republican Jeff Kaufmann, Steve Lukan, Glen Massie, Kim Pearson, controlled (Democrats have only a one-seat Scott Raecker, Dan Rasmussen, Kurt Swaim, David advantage in the Senate right now), and you may see Tjepkes, Jim Van Engelenhoven, & Andrew Wenthe. a narrower margin for House Republicans (who now control 60 out of the 100 House seats) or Democrats There are 31 open seats – seats where no incumbent is taking over. running. They include the following districts: • Senate Districts 4, 6, 10, 14, 18*, 28, 40, 42, 48*, 49 The past several elections have been decided by one • House Districts 1, 2, 14, 26, 28, 30, 36, 37, 39, 40, 44, 48*, or two votes. Every vote counts, and the best way to 57, 63, 64, 72, 72, 76, 77, 80, 95 advocate is with your vote. Find the candidates that agree with you on the issues that matter to you, and * Legislators are running in these districts, but they are then work for them and vote for them. switching chambers (Rep. Petersen and Rep. Willems are running for the Senate; Sen. Bacon is running for House). Candidates do not only look for votes – they need people to march in parades with them, knock on There are currently five Republican Senators, 20 Republican doors, pick up absentee ballots, stuff mailings, make Representatives, and 16 Democratic Representatives that do calls, and help them put up yard signs. If you find a not have anyone running against them. The political parties candidate you like – volunteer for them. Then vote have until August 17 to find someone to run in these districts. for them. Make your vote count! Finally, you might say politics is hard to get out of the system - and in some cases is a family business. INFONET Reader Survey • Former Sen. Frank Wood is running for House against Rep. Ron Paustian. Coming Soon • Former Sen. Bill Heckroth is running in an open House seat. Watch your mailboxes and emails for • Former Rep. John Beard is running for open Senate seat. our annual Reader Survey! • Former Rep. Donovan Olson is going for a rematch against Your comments are very valuable to Rep. Chip Baltimore (sho he lost to two years ago). us, and we use your feedback to • Former Rep. Tom Schueller is running against Rep. Brian make INFONET as user-friendly as Moore (he too lost to him two years ago). possible! • Former Rep. Art Staed is rematched with Rep. Renee Schulte (to whom he lost four years ago). So fill it out and return it quickly – • Former Sen. Mary Lundby's son Daniel is running against and you may win a prize! Rep. Nick Wagner. Sen Lundby was a Republican leader; her son is running as a Democrat. - 3 - 2012 Issue #8 JULY 1, 2012 What’s Next on MH/DS Redesign? The Governor signed the Mental Health and Disability adjustments next year as the impacts of changes are fully Services Redesign bill (SF 2315) into law on May 25. As a understood. There are three things you can expect this recap, the bill made the following changes: summer and fall. The State will pay for all Medicaid services delivered 1. Eight Work Groups will meet to continue their work in on or after July 1, 2012. redesigning the system. Counties will pay for non-Medicaid services, but 2.