[Pacg] Take the day off - Fight for Democracy - Save Iowa!

[Carolina 1961]

Please forward to all interested parties. This is our last chance to fight
for legislation that will stop giant factory hog confinements from spreading
across Iowa this year.

We Must Show Leadership That We Are Serious About Change In Iowa

Take the day off...fight for democracy...SAVE IOWA!

Note that Denise O'Brien, former Iowa Secretary of Agriculture
candidatewill be attending the Lobby Day to speak around noon.

This Wednesday, April 11 is Lobby day – Come to Des Moines to Rally at the
Capitol –
If you are interested in car-pooling with others from the QC, contact Rachel
Griffiths at rgriffiths at qconline.com ASAP

Keep the Calls and E-mails Coming...

Help Protect Clean Air and Water Bill (H..F. 873) and The Matrix Improvement
Bill (S.F. 550)!
For the first time in years, Iowans have a chance to pass legislation that
would protect the environment and property values with several new bills
before the legislature.

Unfortunately, the CAFO lobby is fighting to derail the democratic rights of
Iowa's rural citizens and your help is needed to fight the outside influence
of corporate cash.

Bring Your Neighbor - Invite a Friend:
Come to the Capitol in Des Moines on Wednesday, April 11 and let your voice
be heard! Without your support, these bills will die, it's important that
your elected officials hear firsthand what their constituents want. Invite
anyone you know who may be interested in protecting Iowa's air and water.

Arrive Where and When:
Capitol Rotunda, 1st floor, from 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm. Plan to begin arriving
at 10:00 am in the Capitol cafeteria to receive handouts discussing the
bills and a quick tutorial on citizen lobbying. Look for individuals wearing
NAME TAG STICKERS in support of H.F. 873 and S.F. 550.

Afternoon Events:
Many organizations will have displays and materials set up, and we may have
a press conference and/or rally that afternoon in the rotunda. (Details to
be Determined).

RSVPs are appreciated and can be email to:
CleanIowaAirandWater at gmail.com

What We Are Supporting:
House File 873 (Kuhn / Frevert Bill) The Clean Air and Clean Water Bill
offers additional protections to confinement neighbors and the environment.

H.F. 873 would:
1. Increase separation distances between new CAFOs and residences, churches,
cities, lakes and tourism destinations.
2. Require all counties to use the Master Matrix to evaluate new CAFO
applications.
3. Require manure to be applied farther away from waterways, homes, schools
and churches, etc.

Senate File 550 (The Matrix Improvement Bill) – This bill will give a voice
to elected county officials in the permitting process of new confinements.

S.F. 550 would:
1. Require all counties to adopt the Master Matrix.
2. Give all county board of supervisors the authority to approve or
disapprove a construction permit for a new CAFO.
3. Require county board of supervisors to appoint five persons to a
construction evaluation committee, including: a. soil and water
commissioner, b. a real estate broker, c. a city resident, d. a livestock
operator, e. a county environmental health office.
4. Allow a board of supervisors to accept the construction evaluation
committee's recommendation.

Why We Support These Bills:
Each bill would offer additional protection to Iowa's rural citizens and
keep our air and water clean. Farm Bureau and industry lobbyists are trying
to scare farmers by making alarmist claims about how these commonsense
pieces of legislation would drive the livestock business out of Iowa. The
opposite is true. Responsible legislation would allow for the responsible
expansion of livestock in Iowa.

Updates on CAFOs and House File 873:
1. H.F. 873 is still under consideration in the Iowa House. More information
about H.F. 873 is at http://www.legislativealert-ia.net

2. S.F. 550 is under consideration in the Iowa Senate also. More information
about S.F. 550 is at http://www.legislativealert-ia.net

3. Last week, 10,000 gallons of manure were released into Chariton Creek in
SW Iowa from a factory farm. http://www.iowadnr.com/news/07mar/clarke.html

4 .. Four Environmental Protection Commissioners had their last day on the
commission on April 3. A Des Moines Register article titled " Replaced
appointee blasts Culver" can be found at
http://desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070404/NEWS/704040360/1001/NEWS
A blog covering this issue is at
http://ruralpopulist.org/2007/04/04/fired-for-doing-his-job/

5. Be sure to call or email your legislators and the Governor,  if you're
already done so already… contact them again!

THE HOUSE SWITCHBOARD NUMBER IS (515) 281-3221

THE SENATE SWITCHBOARD NUMBER IS (515) 281-3371
If you can't get through to the House or Senate, please leave a short
message.

Contact GOVERNOR CULVER'S OFFICE  (515) 281-5211

Call or Email Leadership:
Pat.Murphy at legis.state.ia.us
Home Telephone: 563-582-5922

michael.gronstal at legis.state.ia.us
Home Telephone: 712-328-2808

Find Your Legislator and their email address by visiting
www.legis.state.ia.us/FindLeg

You're Not Alone…. Organizations supporting HF 873:
Iowa Farmers Union
Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement
I'M For Iowa
Iowa Citizen Action Network (ICAN)
Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church
Environmental Reclamation & Recycling
Cleanupiowa.org <http://cleanupiowa.org/>
1000 Friends of Iowa
Iowa State Association of Counties
Iowa Network for Local Control
Iowa Association of County Conservation Boards
League of Women Voters of Iowa
Sierra Club, Iowa Chapter
Iowa Environmental Council
Environment Iowa
PACG Environmental/Energy Sustainability Forum
  ….And many more!

 Helping return basic democratic rights to all Iowans…
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