by Art Smith | May 19, 2011
This past weekend, RPI Co-chair Jim Kurtenbach told members of the Republican Party of Iowa Central Committee who are serving as leaders of Michelle Bachmann and Ron Paul’s campaigns that they need to decide who they were going to represent at the Iowa Straw Poll in August: the Republican Party of Iowa or the candidates they were openly working for.
That may cause a bit of a quandary for the four, but they are evidently resolute in maintaining their positions with feet firmly planted in both roles. But it makes sense that one would have to make this decision, since they really can’t act out one role at the event without seeming half hearted at the other.
While the Iowa Straw Poll is an important event for Iowa Republicans, for the candidates who are looking to come out in at least the top three spots in the poll, and for many across the country who see it as the first real test of the candidate field, it’s not the whole point in this issue, but is part of it. The integrity and importance of that event can be called into question if people get the idea that the people running it are stacking the deck in favor of their candidate.
As can the Iowa Caucus itself. Nothing can likely destroy the importance of our first-in-the-nation status as questions about the integrity of the process.
Last week, we discussed the situation of the four members of the Republican Party of Iowa Central Committee. Recapping, out of these four members, one is currently serving on Michelle Bachmann’s campaign, and the other three are working on the Ron Paul campaign. All of them are in some type of leadership position on their respective campaigns.
And none of them considers this a conflict of interest.
Evidently, some of them even consider it inappropriate for party leadership to sit on the sidelines during primary and caucus season.
At this past weekend’s meeting, the committee worked on plans for the Iowa Straw Poll. There had been talk that the committee might address the question of the involvement of committee members on presidential campaigns prior to the caucus. The meeting apparently ran long enough that the committee did not have time to properly address the question.
But before they wound up their meeting, one of the committee members (not one of the four) brought the issue up. The group was not keen on extending the meeting since there was a physical walk-through of the event facility scheduled shortly after this. Another member of the committee pressed the issue and the group agreed to hold another meeting on June 1st (a 10 day notification lead time is required) to discuss the matter by phone.
In talking with members of the committee, it is extremely important that Republicans contact the members of the committee that represent their district. I’ve provided the names, districts and contact information for each of the committee members below so that you can provide input to your committee person.
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To Identify Your District
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Here’s Who To Contact
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Statewide Party Leaders >>>>
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(Email) Matt Strawn (Chairman)
(Email) Jim Kurtenbach (Co-chairman)
(Email) Kim Lehman (National Committeewoman)
(Email) Steve Scheffler (National Committeeman) |
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First District
If your Congressman is: Bruce Brayley
If you live in one of the following counties:
Butler, Bremer, Fayette, Clayton, Black Hawk, Buchanan, Delaware, Dubuque, Jones, Jackson, Clinton, Scott |
(Email) Jeremiah Johnson (Dubuque)
(Email) John Ortega (Bettendorf )
(Email) Chelle Adkins (Cedar Falls) |
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Second District
If your Congressman is: Dave Loebsack
If you live in one of the following counties:
Linn, Johnson, Cedar, Muscatine, Washington, Louisa, Des Moines, Lee, Henry, Jefferson, Van Buren, Davis, Wapello, Appanoose, Wayne
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(Email) David Chung (Ceder Rapids)
(Email) Emily Lofgren (Muscatine)
(Email) Trudy Caviness (Ottumwa) |
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Third District
If your Congressman is: Leonard Boswell
If you live in one of the following counties:
Grundy, Tama, Benton, Iowa, Poweshiek, Jasper, Polk, Marion, Mahaska, Keokuk, Lucas, Monroe |
(Email) Gopal Krishna (West Des Moines)
(Email) David Fischer (Altoona) (On Paul’s Campaign)
(Email) Wes Enos (Des Moines) (On Bachmann’s Campaign) |
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Fourth District
If your Congressman is: Tom Latham
If you live in one of the following counties:
Emmet, Palo Alto, Kossuth, Winnebago, Hancock, Worth, Cerro Gordo, Mitchell, Floyd, Howard, Chickasaw, Winneshiek, Allamakee, Pocahontas, Humboldt, Wright, Franklin, Calhoun, Webster, Hamilton, Hardin, Greene, Boone, Story, Marshall, Dallas, Madison, Warren |
(Email) A.J. Spiker (Ames) (On Paul’s Campaign)
(Email) Drew Ivers (Webster City) (On Paul’s Campaign)
(Email) Bill Schickel (Mason City) |
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Fifth District
If your Congressman is: Steve King
If you live in one of the following counties:
Lyon, Osceola, Dickenson, Sioux, O’Brien, Clay, Plymouth, Cherokee, Buena Vista, Woodbury, Ida, Sac, Monona, Crawford, Carroll, Harrison, Shelby, Audubon, Guthrie, Pottawattamie, Cass, Adair, Mills, Montgomery, Adams, Union, Clarke, Fremont, Page, Taylor, Ringgold, Decatur |
(Email) Tim Moran (Council Bluffs)
(Email) Craig Williams (Manning)
(Email) Monte Shaw (Panora) |
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by Art Smith | May 16, 2011
The Republican Party of Iowa (RPI) can be forgiven for taking a gamble on a big name casino owner like Donald Trump for their spring fundraiser… if you didn’t know, the star of The Apprentice, and one-time potential candidate for President, is the advertised main event for The Lincoln Dinner on June 10. Now, with the Donald’s decision to put the breaks on any plans to run for President, the plans for June 10 are mired up a bit.
According to Casey Mills, spokesman for RPI, Trump is “reassessing” his plans to appear in Iowa.
You’d think that Matt Strawn would be reassessing the situation as well, no? How much sense does it make to keep a candidate on the schedule who garnered a large amount of initial, albeit emotional, support and then just dropped out? Do Iowa Republicans want to spend their time listening to someone who has been all flash and no fire? Are they coming to this event to hear the musings of one who couldn’t make it past the starting gate? Or do they want to see someone they can vet and get behind in the Caucus?
I suspect that Donald has some good observations to make about our current business climate, and the dynamics that exist with countries like China and Brazil as the US tries to work its way out of the economic mess it’s in. But it is hard to believe that someone who would only be in the race “half heartedly”, would truly have words of wisdom or advice to Iowans with regard to their task of looking through the resumes of those who remain. At least not words of substance.
The good news is that our list of people to watch has dropped by two in a few days. Hopefully we’ll be down to half a dozen by the time we get to the Iowa Straw Poll.
The bad news is that RPI needs to regroup and figure out what to do for the Lincoln Dinner. Perhaps Ron Paul is available?
by Art Smith | Mar 31, 2009
Update:Â Repeal of Federal Deductibility is tax increase in every tax bracket!
Yesterday’s newsletter addressed the Democrat proposal to eliminate federal deductibility; a tool that allows Iowans to deduct our federal income taxes from our ordinary income prior to calculating our income for state taxes.  This is the largest, and in some cases the only, tax deduction available to many hardworking Iowans.Â
Last night the House Ways & Means Committee passed out the proposal on a party line vote. 14 Democrats voted aye – 11 Republicans voted no.  House File 807 is the new bill number as the bill moves forward and becomes eligible for debate in the House.
After having additional time to study the proposal, we have discovered exactly what we expected: more Iowans than originally stated are going to see a tax increase. It is disheartening to hear this explained to Iowa’s taxpayers as a tax cut for two-thirds of Iowans. The facts tell us– it is not. Â
Under the Democrats’ proposal, 50.9 percent of Iowans will either see no change in their tax liability or see a tax increase in 2009. 40% of the individuals receiving a tax increase make less than $40,000 per year. 69% of the individuals receiving a tax increase make less than $70,000 per year. See the breakdown of HF 807 at http://iowahouserepublicans.com/wp-content/uploads/09-feddeductibility-finalversion.pdf.
And believe it or not, over 10% of the individuals receiving a tax decrease in 2009 make over $100,000 per year. Based on the discussion last night in committee it appears to be hit or miss as to who the real winners and losers are.
Additionally, the Democrats have failed to inform Iowans about the implications of their proposal in 2011.  On December 31, 2010, the federal tax relief of 2001 and 2003 will expire. It appears now that Iowans’ federal income tax liability will increase by $160 – $180 million. This means that you’ll lose the ability to deduct your federal taxes less than two years before your federal taxes are set to dramatically increase.
Finally, the Democrats’ proposal has the potential to put Iowa small businesses in an even deeper hole. Because many Iowa small businesses are structured as individual tax payers they too will see their taxes increase.  The way many of these businesses will try to absorb this cost is by eliminating jobs or by passing the added expense onto the consumer.  Either way, our struggling economy will continue to suffer under this plan. Â
Make no mistake this bill is a tax increase on Iowans in all tax brackets from day one. And within a few years it will result in a huge tax increase for almost every single Iowan.
When this bill is considered by the legislature, House Republicans will fight on behalf of all taxpayers and their ability to keep more of their hard earned dollars.
PUBLIC HEARING: Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Location: House of Representatives Chamber, Capitol Building, Des Moines
Time: 7:30 pm-9:30 pm tonight. (Rally at 6:30 in the Cafeteria)
If you can attend the public hearing at the State Capitol on Tuesday at please join us.
EMAIL AND PHONE CALLS
If you are not able to make it but still want to make a difference please call and email your elected officials today.
House Switchboard: (515) 281-3221
Senate Switchboard: (515) 281-3371
Email Lookup: http://www.legis.state.ia.us/aspx/Legislators/LegislatorInfo.aspx
LISTEN TO THE HEARING ONLINE
You can listen to the public debate online Tuesday night through this website http://www.legis.state.ia.us/Audio/Audio.html and click on house audio.
by | Mar 31, 2009
A new message from Matt Strawn, Republican Party of Iowa:
DEMOCRATS PLAN TO ELIMINATE FEDERAL DEDUCTIBILITY AND RAISE TAXES ON IOWANS!
ACTION ITEM:Â Join US for a Republican Rally at the State Capitol tomorrow night.
Just when you thought things could not get worse at the Democrat-controlled Statehouse, majority Democrats have hatched a plan to raise income taxes on tens of thousands of Iowans by eliminating your right to deduct federal income taxes on your Iowa income tax return.
What Democrats call “tax reform†we see for what it is: a blatant attempt to use Iowa’s tax code to play destructive class warfare games and redistribute the wealth. Their plan would result in big tax increases on the very people on which we are depending to get this state out of our economic slump.
And, for the first time in Iowa history, you would be forced to pay state income tax on money you use to pay your federal income tax. A tax on a tax is wrong and Iowa Republicans MUST stand together and defeat this job-killing legislation.
Here are TWO big ways you can help stop this bill:
- ATTEND the Republican Rally at the State Capitol today.  On Tuesday, March 31, at 7:30 p.m. there will be a public hearing on the proposed bill to eliminate federal deductibility. We want to pack the House Chamber with hundreds of Republicans to oppose this terrible legislation.
Republicans are encouraged to gather in the basement of the State Capitol at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday night to hear from opposition leaders and learn how you can make a difference. We will then march up to the House Chamber and fill the seats. If you are able to attend, please send an email to Eric Johansen, our Political Director, at [email protected].
- Call your State Representative and State Senator, ASAP. Let your legislators know you strongly support keeping federal deductibility and OPPOSE raising taxes on Iowa’s job creators. Here are the numbers for the House and Senate:
Iowa House of Representatives:Â 515.281.3221
Iowa Senate:Â 515.281.3371
Don’t know your state legislators? Click here and use this tool to find out who represents you.
Want to see the actual bill? Click here to see the actual legislation.
This legislation could be the defining moment of the 2009 General Assembly. The state checkbook is empty, the savings are nearly gone, the credit card is getting ready for action, and now Democrats are getting ready to stick-up taxpayers for even more. Enough is enough.
You don’t have to wait until November 2010 to start making a difference. You don’t have to wait to make your voice heard. JOIN us at the State Capitol tomorrow, call your legislators, and SHARE this information with other Iowa Republicans.
We can still win this battle.  ACT NOW!
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The Conservative Reader will be at the Rally and Hearing… look for udpates on Art Smith’s Twitter, and a wrapup here after the hearing!
