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Each year, CCI members take our issues
to the State Capitol to push for action. We will kick off our
2010 state legislative campaign on January
26, 2010 with a Rally and Lobby Day at the State Capitol. Two other
lobby days are scheduled throughout the session to help advance
our legislative agenda.
Our legislative agenda
is consistent with our mission to empower and unite grassroots people
of all ethnic backgrounds to take control of their communities;
involve them in identifying problems and needs and in taking action
to address them; and be a vehicle for social, economic, and environmental
justice. Our agenda is reflective of the key issues and concerns
facing CCI members throughout the state.
Iowa CCI members urge our legislature
to introduce and support the following measures for 2010:
FACTORY
FARM ISSUES
Give Local Control to Counties: Establish real local control over the siting of factory farms. Counties should have the final say on if, and where, factory farms are built in order to: 1.) preserve and protect natural resources, including water sources and fragile environmental locations;
2.) lessen congestion and overcrowding of confined feeding operations, especially near cities; and
3.) to protect the health and welfare of the public.
Strengthen standards on the Permitting Process: With the ever-increasing expansion of factory farms across the state, there have been no improvements to the permitting process since 2002. Therefore, the Iowa legislature should pass legislation to strengthen environmental and citizen protections pertaining to several aspects of the industrial livestock industry. We need legislation that would improve factory farm problems by lowering the permit threshold, curbing concentration of animals in a geographic area, increasing setback distances from important areas, providing a more thorough evaluation of the siting of factory farms, and improving manure management practices.
Fair Taxation: Update Iowa’s tax code to make sure factory farms pay their fair share of property taxes. Iowa’s tax code has not been updated since the 1970’s to account for the shift from family farms to industrial factory farms. This has resulted in a tax code in which factory farm buildings pay the same amount of property taxes as if crops were grown on the land. Factory farms should pay a fair amount of property taxes based on the cost of the buildings and the revenue the factory farms generate.
PREDATORY LENDING AND FINANCIAL SAFETY
Ease the Cycle of Debt from Payday Loans: Iowa CCI supports legislation that would cap the APR on payday loans at 36% and extend payback periods. Currently, payday lenders can charge more than 400% APR on loans and require the loan repaid in two weeks, trapping individuals and their families in a cycle of debt. 36% is the maximum limit allowed for other consumer loans in Iowa, and it should be the same for payday loans.
Stopping Foreclosures: Iowa CCI supports legislation that would help future homeowners avoid predatory lending practices by requiring mortgage brokers to act in the borrower’s best interest and in good faith, also known as a mortgage broker duty of agency.
IMMIGRANT ISSUES
IOWA Act: Many of Iowa’s undocumented immigrants come as children, grow up in Iowa communities, and attend Iowa’s schools. Unfortunately, their opportunity is limited to just that. The Iowa Workforce Opportunities Act would allow immigrant youth who have lived in Iowa for a number of years and graduated from an Iowa high school to attend Iowa’s Universities by paying in-state tuition rates.
Workers Rights: Iowa’s workforce continues to diversify as immigrants from all over the world are pushed off of their land by economic forces and policies such as NAFTA. Willing workers are forced to look for other places and opportunities to support their families. The Iowa legislature needs to make sure that all Iowans are treated equally and fairly in the workplace, regardless of race, creed, ethnic background, foreign born or born in America. The legislature can do this by passing legislation that recognizes Iowa’s need for workers, protects all workers, provides everyone with a livable wage and by urging Congress to pass a national immigration policy that is fair to all.
Immigrant Integration: The quick integration of newcomers is key as Iowa’s immigrant population continues to grow. We need to be able to offer the tools that new Iowan’s need to assimilate and participate in their new home. The Iowa legislature can work to secure funding and incentives for English training, streamline the citizenship application process and provide healthcare for all children.
CLOSING CORPORATE TAX LOOPHOLES
Combined Corporate Reporting: As Iowa faces budget shortfalls and is forced to continually make cuts to vital services and cut jobs, little is being done to seek new sources of revenues. While everyday Iowans are forced to bear the burden of balancing the state’s budget on their own backs, out of state corporations continue to send millions in un-taxed profits made in Iowa out of state. The Iowa legislature should pass combined corporate reporting to require out-of-state corporations to pay their fair share of taxes and help solve the state’s budget crisis, as well as level the playing field, encouraging small business growth.
REMOVING BIG MONEY AND SPECIAL-INTEREST INFLUENCE
VOICE: Establish a Voter-Owned Clean Elections Law that would allow a limited amount of public funding for political candidates who agree to voluntary spending limits. By ending politicians’ reliance on special-interest money and offering in its place a limited competitive amount of money from a Voter-Owned Elections fund, Clean Money campaign reform provides a way for candidates to finance their campaigns without worrying about the strings that might be attached and opens the door to everyday Iowans who otherwise may not have run for office.
Campaign Contribution Limits: Iowa is one of only 13 states that does not limit the amount of money an individual or Political Action Committee (PAC) can give to a candidate for public office. A necessary piece of the VOICE legislation, CCI will push the legislature to enact reasonable campaign contribution limits to help limit perceived or actual influence from wealthy donors and special interests.
Ethics Reform: Reform regulations governing lobbyist functions providing full transparency of events held to gain access and influence legislators. Return oversight of reporting to the Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board. Authorize penalties when rules and laws concerning reporting are violated.
Updated 01/23/10
For more information,
contact Iowa CCI at 515/282-0484 or iowacci@iowacci.org
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