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GOP: Say No Thanks to Doak’s Advice

GOP: Say No Thanks to Doak’s Advice

handcuffed_gop_logo Retired editor of the Des Moines Register, Richard Doak, is concerned about the welfare of the GOP.  He says to restore the GOPs greatness don’t look to Reagan, instead look further in the past to Abraham Lincoln and Teddy Roosevelt.

Thanks for the history lesson Mr. Doak, upon reading your column I began to wonder if you think that today’s GOP wouldn’t care about slavery?  While you don’t come right out and say it, that does seem to be implied.

Also implied is the same tired mantra that the GOP doesn’t care about “the common folk.”  What I fail to understand is how increasing taxes on businesses that employ “the common folk,” diminishing the quality of health care which “the common folk” benefit from, and seeing products and energy bills of “the common folk” increase somehow benefits “the common folk”?

You write at the end, and I swear the Democratic Party is feeding you its talking points, this:

It has no sense of caring for the common folk. It knows no problem that can’t be solved with another tax break for the rich. It knows no infrastructure projects that are better than tax cuts. It believes any curb on the rapaciousness of corporations is un-American.

It believes preserving the principle of private-sector health insurance is more important than letting people choose a cheaper, government-run option. It is hostile to public education, the one American invention that has done more for the common people than any other.

The philosophy of this modern Republican Party prevailed in America for the last quarter century – and it produced epic disaster.

Now the party is in the wilderness, and its partisans cry out that the only way out is to stick with the philosophy that produced the disaster.

Wouldn’t it be better to acknowledge failure and think again, start over again?

I know you’d rather see the party look to dependence on government programs rather than personal responsibility and voluntary charity.  You’d love to see a health care system like what Canada and the United Kingdom experience.  I know you believe that public education is the salvation of mankind, but when will you recognize that it is hopelessly broken and needs competition?

With the wild spending going on at our statehouse and in Washington we won’t have to worry about “tax cuts for the rich,” as we’ll soon experience tax increases for everybody in order to pay for this spending spree government has going on.  We’ll see how well increasing taxes on business will help increase employment as well.  But, I know, privately created jobs won’t help “the common folk” nearly as much as a taxpayer-funded government program.

To you I’m sure that this would seem like it would restore the health of a two-party system, but it would destroy it.  We would have instead Democrats and Democrat-Lite.  What we need right now is fiscal discipline, smaller government, lower taxes… the people seem to get it right now even if you don’t.

Originally posted at Caffeinated Thoughts

Governor Culver’s Polling Is Down

Governor Culver’s Polling Is Down

opinion-poll-unsatisfactory

From the Iowa GOP web site:

Des Moines – The latest Survey USA poll indicates that more than half of all Iowans disapprove of Governor Chet Culver’s job performance.  Jeff Boeyink, Executive Director of the Republican Party of Iowa, said today, “Governor Culver’s free-spending, big debt, and job-killing agenda is out of touch with Iowa values and it is reflected in job approval ratings that are the lowest of his tenure as Governor.  More than half of Iowa voters now disapprove of the Governor’s job performance.”

In the June 2009 poll conducted by Survey USA, only 42% of Iowans approve of the Governor’s job performance, with more than half expressing disapproval. Independent voters are especially critical of Governor Culver, with 56% of those respondents saying they disapprove of his performance and only 35% expressing support for his work.

Boeyink continued, “Governor Culver and majority Democrats ignored the best interest of Iowans during the last legislative session and now they’re paying the price.  Iowans said they were against borrowing more than a billion dollars to pay for short-term projects. Iowans also said they want a vote to define marriage as the union of one man and one woman. And, Iowans say they want to keep federal deductibility.  On each and every one of these issues, Governor Culver consistently ignores the will of the people.

“Iowa Republicans are ready, willing, and able to deliver on the priorities of Iowa voters and, if given an opportunity by the voters, will do so,” concluded Boeyink.

Link to the current poll results

As we’ve said here in the past, Iowa’s funamental financial problem is excessive spending.  Misuse of funds (spending money specifically earmarked for infrastructure on non-infrastructure projects) is a close second. 

The 2009 Legislative Session garnered a significant amount of attention from Iowans specifically because of the inability of the Democratically General Assembly to cut the Governor’s budget (despite Republican recommendations that would have saved millions, many of which came from public comment).  Throwing the public out of a public forum, with no reaction from the Governor’s office, certainly did nothing to enhance the public’s perspective of Democrats respect for those that sent them to serve in Des Moines.

Democrats have an additional opportunity in 2010 to make the lives of everyday Iowans better… or worse.  Continued disregard and apparent contempt for the needs and resources of Iowans may end up guaranteeing a backlash in November 2010. 

We really want to see what’s best for Iowans and it would be great if Iowans can have input into the process.  What is too bad is that the fate of Iowans’ futures are tied to the politics of reelection.

Matt Strawn’s April 10, 2009 Report: This Week’s Events And RPI Notes

Matt Strawn’s April 10, 2009 Report: This Week’s Events And RPI Notes

The following is Republican Party of Iowa Chairman Matt Strawn’s most recent Chairman’s Report.  – Ed.

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A personal note from the Chairman:  please keep Bob, Darla, and the Vander Plaats family in your thoughts and prayers over the Easter weekend as they continue to mourn the loss of Bob’s father who passed away this week.

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Governor Culver flips his position on Same Sex Marriage and sides with the Iowa Supreme Court.

After 100 hours of silence, Iowa Governor Culver finally broke his silence on the Supreme Court’s decision to strike down Iowa’s law that defines marriage as the union of one man and one woman.  While his statement was carefully written and would have done Bill Clinton proud in its attempt to have it both ways, it nonetheless supports the Court’s decision and effectively flips the Governor’s previously held position to “do whatever it takes to protect marriage.”

Yesterday, Republican members of the Iowa House attempted to use a House procedural rule to force a potential vote on a proposed constitutional amendment that would let the people vote on the definition of marriage.  Unfortunately, House Democrats refused to allow a vote on that motion so as to protect their members from having to take a tough vote.

Click below to hear Representative Christopher Rants’ remarks on the House floor courtesy of The Iowa Republican.
Representative Rants: Part 1
Representative Rants: Part 2

Time and again, Democrats at the State House have avoided facing the tough issues and taking the tough votes.  Whether it’s unsustainable budgets, job-killing labor legislation, punishing tax increases through elimination of federal deductibility, or failing to lead on defining of marriage, Governor Culver and legislative Democrats continue to demonstrate they are completely out of touch with the values of Iowans.

Iowans deserve better.  And given the opportunity, Republicans will deliver results!

Democrats refuse to give up on federal deductibility repeal and impose a Tax on a Tax.  House debate set for next Tuesday on new plan to RAISE income taxes over $400 million in the first five years.

Despite an overwhelming outpouring of anger and protest in opposition to their plans to eliminate federal deductibility, raise income taxes on Iowans at all income levels, and impose a punitive tax on a tax, Democrats at the State House have brought forward a “revised” proposal that contains ALL of the above.

While your great work, and the work of thousands of Republicans across the state, has given the Democrats pause and has slowed the movement of this terrible legislation, it has not yet put a knife in its heart.

This revised plan raises taxes on over 350,000 households in 2009, with over half of those households earning $60,000 or less.  By 2011, the number of losers climbs to more than 600,000 households and during the first five years this bill would raise total taxes on Iowans by more than $400 million.

And while the numbers are bad, this isn’t just about numbers.  This is also about fairness and the painfully twisted attempts to impose a state tax on income you use to pay federal income taxes – money most Iowans never see or have an opportunity to use.  A tax on a tax is wrong.

This is also about small businesses and jobs.  The Democrats’ tax plan specifically targets small businesses and imposes new tax burdens on the very small businesses that create the vast majority of new jobs in Iowa.  How can anyone believe it is sound policy to raise taxes on our state’s most productive job creators during a time of severe economic stress?

Iowa Republicans will continue to fight this issue and fight it aggressively.  We have at least one more week of hard work ahead of us as the Legislature prepares to pack up and go home at the end of next week.

Debate on this bill is scheduled for the Iowa House this Tuesday, April 14. Just two weeks ago the House Speaker booted over 600 Republicans from the House Chamber because he didn’t like their vocal support of those speaking in opposition to this legislation.  I am hearing that hundreds of Republicans are planning to be at the State Capitol on Tuesday to once again fill the balconies.  Anyone interested in joining them is encouraged to get to the Capitol no later than 10 a.m. and to wear red shirts in protest.

Get to your forums this weekend.  Keep up the pressure.  Iowa Republicans ARE making a difference and the finish line is in sight.  Let’s stretch to the tape and put a dagger in the heart of this job-killing tax increase!

Final three Listen and Learn forums scheduled for next week.  Take advantage of this opportunity to meet the leaders of your State Party.

Republicans in three more locations had the opportunity to meet with members of our State Party leadership team to discuss the future of our Republican Party as a part of my series of Listen and Learn forums.

In Grinnell, Ames, and Clear Lake nearly 150 Iowa Republicans gathered and participated in some spirited, informative, and very positive discussions.  When I envisioned and then initiated this Listen and Learn tour I did so knowing the potential existed for some unpleasant dialogue as frustrated Republicans expressed anger over our recent lack of success.

However, what I and other State Party leaders have found as we embarked on this road trip was something completely different.  Iowa Republicans have little interest in looking backward, in fighting about past failures or reliving past battles.  Instead, Iowa Republicans came into those rooms full of optimism, energy, and new hope for Republican success in 2010.

Iowa Republicans are READY to partner with their State Party and local candidates to move our principled conservative agenda forward.  They are ready to work together to elect new Republican majorities and send Governor Culver back to the classroom.

This coming week you still have three opportunities to meet with me and other State Party leaders at our final Listen and Learn forums.  Check the schedule below and join us at an event near your home.

  • 5th CD:  Listen & Learn Forum 1
    Hosted by Chairman Matt Strawn
    When: Monday, April 13, 2009
    Where: Anita Community Center, 805 Main St., Anita, IA 50020
    Time: 6:30pm – 8:00pm
  • 5th CD:  Listen & Learn Forum 2
    Hosted by Co-Chairman Jim Kurtenbach & the BVU College Republicans
    When: Tuesday, April 14, 2009
    Where: Storm Lake, Buena Vista University Forum Room 1, 610 W. 4th St., Storm Lake, IA 50588
    Time: 6:30pm – 8:00pm
  • 1st CD:  Listen & Learn Forum
    Hosted by Co-Chairman Jim Kurtenbach
    When: Saturday, April 18, 2009
    Where: Northeast Iowa Community College, 680 Main St., Dubuque, IA 52001
    Time: 11:00 – 12:30

Check out Iowa Press this Week as I discuss the future of the Republican Party of Iowa with some of Iowa’s leading journalists.

Today I had the pleasure to represent Iowa Republicans and promote the renewal and resurgence of our party as a guest on Iowa Public Television’s program, Iowa Press.  The program will air at 7:30 p.m. tonight and at 11:30 a.m. this Sunday.

I hope you will have the opportunity to watch the program or to check it out on live streaming video by clicking here.

If you get a chance to watch the show, I would very much appreciate some feedback.  As your State Chairman I endeavor to represent the State Party in a professional and positive manner.  If you have a comment on the appearance, please send it to me at:  [email protected].

Vacancy on State Central Committee in the First District to be filled at a special meeting of First District Executive Committee on Saturday, April 18.  Any interested candidates are encouraged to contact our office for details.

It was with a heavy heart I recently accepted the resignation of Karl Gilberston as a member of the State Central Committee representing the First Congressional District.  Karl has been fighting a serious medical battle and I ask you to keep him in your prayers.

As a result of his resignation, and per the State Party Constitution and By-laws, I have scheduled a meeting of the First District Executive Committee for April 18 in Dubuque.

Current members of the State Central Committee from the First District are John Hulsizer from Dubuque County and John Ortega from Scott County.

Anyone with an interest in pursuing this vacancy is encouraged to call Eric Johansen, our Political Director, at 515.282.8105 or email him at [email protected] for more information on the time, location, roster of voting delegates, and committee procedures.

If you have an interest in serving the Republican cause at this level, this is a great opportunity.

In the News

Income tax changes face heated debate

Pivotal political point seen in Statehouse tax tempest

Lawmakers won’t challenge ruling

U.S. Rep King:  Statement on Obama amnesty plan

The Latham Report:  GM Firing Should Raise Concerns of Government Power-Grab

Lee County Protesters throw a ‘tea’ party

FINAL REMINDER: Check Republican on Your Tax Form

Iowa’s political checkoff is a program that allows you to direct part of the taxes you’ve already paid to the political party of your choice.  The program is very simple: When filing your Iowa tax return, simply mark the box next to “Republican Party” on Line 11 to give $1.50 to the Republican Party of Iowa.  Doing this does not increase the amount you owe or decrease your return – the $1.50 comes out of the taxes you’ve already paid!

Grassroots Activist of the Week: Lee County GOP Tea Party Participants

This week’s Grassroots Activists of the Week are those awesome Lee County Republicans who participated in a wildly successful Tea Party held at Ft. Madison’s Riverview Park last Saturday.  More than 150 people took part in the event and you can see the link to the story above.

While the Tea Party movement is not a partisan enterprise, Republicans from all across Iowa and the country are participating in this organic and spontaneous movement  to demonstrate their frustration with the direction Democrats are taking our nation and to show Americans that citizens can still make a difference in this country.

Thank you to the Lee County GOP for making your local event a huge success and for using that event as a springboard to reenergizing your local County Party.

(If you know someone deserving of being named our Grassroots Activist of the Week, please send a brief letter to [email protected] — we will keep your nomination anonymous if so desired.)

Upcoming Events

April 13:  5th District Listen and Learn Forum (1), Anita

April 14:  5th District Listen and Learn Forum (2), Storm Lake

April 18:  1st District Listen and Learn Forum, Dubuque

April 25:  State Central Committee meeting, Waterloo

April 25:  The Leon Mosley Roundup (a tribute to Leon Mosley), Waterloo
For updates and local events go to www.iowagop.org

Four New Ways to Stay in Touch With the IowaGOP

While RPI continues to solicit opinions and comments for overhauling our official website, www.iowagop.org, you can connect with us on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and IowaGOP the Blog! Click the preceding links for regularly updated news, commentary, and alerts from the Republican Party of Iowa. Have a news tip? Email them to [email protected] or call Eric at (515) 282-8105.

More Follow Up On House File 807

More Follow Up On House File 807

The political fallout continues for Democrats as they try to fend off criticism for Pat Murphy’s behavior Tuesday evening.  A letter to the editor in this morning’s Des Moines register lays it out pretty succinctly: characterizing the behavior of the public at Tuesday night’s public meeting prior to being expelled as anything more than brief expressions of disapproval or aproval (granting the first speaker deserved to be treated better) is spurious at best.  And Kiernan’s accusations that the public’s actions were orchestrated by Republican leaders is an outright lie; I was there during the preparatory time and there was nothing more than providing people with shirt and buttons… no direction to behave in any way.

If you watched KCCI news on Tuesday night (or the story on the web site), you briefly would have seen my ugly mug.  A number of people have mentioned they noticed and were surprised at what happened.  One friend’s Facebook Wall comment: “Way to stand up to the man!”.

Democrats have backed up the bus and skipped debating HF 807 either today (Thursday) or Friday it seems.  Kent Sorenson twittered us last night that majority leaders were working on an amendment that would ensure enough votes would be garnered to get the bill passed.  They are still working with the Governor to ensure they don’t get surprised by him (like they did on the Voter Irrelvancy Act that lost steam last month).

Iowa Independent had an interesting piece on the use of Twitter during the proceedings.  I was monitoring Kent Sorenson and the Senate Republican Caucus tweets, while I was commenting via Twitter myself.  I was also exchanging messages via email with one of the House members.  If you were following my tweets, you’ll know that my cell battery died shortly after the last speaker finished.

So here’s my two cents worth: One might think that Democrats would wise up and give up on this foolish venture and let it lie for now with the economy the way it is.  Passing this bill, which is just another case of a solution in desperate need of a problem (if you take it at face value), will just make a large portion of the Iowa voters angry… winning for Democrats on this bill may be worse than losing because they will probably lose over this.  A bold move at this point would be to stand up and say “We’ve heard Iowans and we get it: we will work on other methods to help lower income Iowans.”.  Democrats won’t get what they want, but then again they are less likely to lose seats in 2010.  And if they think that getting this in during the 2009 session has a better chance of being forgotten by November 2010 than if they pushed it through in the 2010 session, that’s a gamble for them.  This is something that they would be better to find smaller increments to achieve over a longer period.

If their only goal was this bill, that might work.  The bad news is, this bill IS one of those small increments.  If you think this HF 807 is a big deal, you ain’t seen nothin’ yet!

Lastly, one of the speakers Tuesday night, Mark Grittmann, got in contact with me and we’ve shared emails and a phone call back and forth over the past couple of days.  He was kind enough to share the text of his speech at the hearing, which one needs to understand is very much tongue-in-cheek, and conveys eloquently the point I made above:

Good evening and thank you for listening to the people of Iowa.  I’m Mark Grittmann.  I’m not a lobbyist and I’m not representing any special interest group.  I’m just a hard-working American taxpayer.

I’ve heard the Elimination of Federal Tax deductibility may cause up to a $600 Million tax increase and I’m all for it.  And those of you supporting this, say this would be good for the State of Iowa.  So if a $600 million tax increase is good for Iowa, then I think you should do more, so wouldn’t a $1.2 Billion tax increase be even better?

Some have foolishly argued against it.  Can you believe it?

  • Some say the 20% increase in State spending over the last 2 years should be reversed.
  • Some say this Bill is revenue neutral.  But if that is true, and it doesn’t change anything, then why do it?
  • Some say that Government, like family households, should live within their means and not let spending get out of control.
  • Some say a tax increase during a Global Financial Crisis and Recession is the worst thing for the economy, and that tax increases would hurt employers, causing a loss of jobs and people would leave Iowa to find work in other States.
  • Some say the facts about this Bill as to its true impact on taxes isn’t known or has not been fully disclosed, so how can this Bill even be debated yet?  One news report showed that 40% of the individuals receiving a tax increase make less than $40,000 per year.  And 69% of the individuals receiving a tax increase make less than $70,000 per year.
  • Some say that in November 2010, voters will remember the legislators who raised their taxes by 20%.

And that’s why I think this $600 million tax increase is good for Iowa.  It will bring new and improved, and more fiscally responsible Legislators to the State of Iowa in November 2010.

Thank you for listening, and good night.

That gives me an idea.  We should call this “The Legislative Replacement Act of 2009/2010”.

The news links herein are to Des Moines Register and Iowa Independent.

Alert: April 2 Debate On HF 807 Postponed! – Updated

Alert: April 2 Debate On HF 807 Postponed! – Updated

(Updated with message from Ed Failor Jr. below. – Ed.)

We received word from Ed Failor Jr. of Iowans For Tax Relief that Thursday’s planned debate on House File 807, Repeal of Federal Deductibility, has been canceled. We don’t yet know when it will be scheduled. You may have heard that Iowans For Tax Relief were asking for people to show up at the Capitol on April 2, but due to this late event, that request is canceled.

We were wondering whether the Majority Party was trying to delay things until the media attention died down, or if they were working on some other tactic to sneak the bill through.  Kent Sorenson, Republican House Member representing House District 74 (Warren County), tells us via twitter tonight that the Democrats are working on an amendment in an attempt to ensure they can get 51 votes.  This could be interesting.

We still strongly urge you to contact your representatives to express your opinion about the bill. A tax on a tax is not good for Iowa.

To find out who your representatives are and contact them:

http://www.taxrelief.org/legislators

The Conservative Reader is committed to ensuring that you know when your rights are in danger.  This is one of those times.

Update: Message From Ed Failor:

Dear Friends-

Great news…we have just learned that the Democrat Leadership in the Iowa House has canceled debate tomorrow on the bill to force you to pay a tax on a tax. This means we do not need you to travel to the State Capitol tomorrow. This is a small victory for us, as typically, this action would indicate as of tonight Speaker Murphy does not have the votes to repeal federal deductibility.

We must remain vigilant. We need you to continue contacting your Legislators and Governor Culver to remind them it is not fair to pay a tax on a tax. If federal deductibility is repealed over 490,000 Iowa taxpayers will see a tax increase, not to mention that of those 180,000 people make less than $40,000 per year.

We will continue fighting for you, and we are not taking anything for granted until House File 807, the bill to force you to pay a tax on a tax, is officially dead and we have taken back the People’s House.

Your financial support is more critical than ever so we can continue airing on message of “No Tax on a Tax” on television and radio stations across Iowa. If you are able to support our efforts, please make a secure online donation to Iowans for Tax Relief today by clicking here.

Sincerely,

Ed Failor, Jr.
President
Iowans for Tax Relief

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