A new angle on stopping eminent domain abuse

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This year, advocates are pursuing a different approach. HF 2522 (formerly HSB 608) would allow 21 state representatives or 11 senators to stop the Iowa Utilities Board (IUB) from moving forward with a request to use eminent domain for a private corporation.

The IUB could resume its deliberation only after legislators conduct an independent inquiry into the proposal and 60% of House and Senate members concur that using eminent domain is appropriate.

I would go further. Since 78% of Iowans polled feel eminent domain should not be used to build CO2 pipelines, set the legislative threshold at that level. Still, 60% is a high and reasonable bar. This week, the House Judiciary Committee voted 19 – 1 to advance the bill to the House.
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Republicans refuse to address crisis in long-term care

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I was introduced to the rampant negligence in our elder care “industry” in the early 1990s, during my first term as a State Representative. On walks home from the State Capitol, I’d make unannounced visits to one of the nursing homes in my legislative district. Some of the conditions I observed were nothing short of appalling.

Sadly, things have only gotten worse. The for-profit nursing home industry has a powerful lobby, and it plays hardball through generous campaign contributions to key lawmakers, almost exclusively Republican.

A December 22, 2023 Iowa Capital Dispatch story by Clark Kaufmann lays out the nursing home money problem: The political action committee that represents Iowa’s nursing home industry had donated $30,000 to Reynolds’ 2022 reelection effort. David Chensvold, nursing home consultant and president of HealthCARE of Iowa, gave $20,000. Ted LeNeave, CEO of Accura Healthcare, gave $10,000, as did Lisa Toti, president of Accura Healthcare. Richard Allbee, CEO of the ABCM nursing home chain, gave $5,000, as did Douglas Johnson, CEO of Blue Stone Therapy.

Not every issue is this cut and dried. But when you follow the money, it’s clear that key Republican leaders are all kinds of cozy with the nursing home industry. Continue Reading →

“You’re probably getting screwed”

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This is solid, progressive-prairie populism, and it has deep roots in northwest Iowa. (The 1932 Farmers’ Holiday sported this poetic slogan: “Lets call a Farmer’s Holiday, a holiday let’s hold. We’ll eat our wheat and ham and eggs, and let them eat their gold”.)

J.D.’s message is timely and resonates with most voters. Which brings me to the obvious question:

WHY ISN’T J.D.’S MESSAGE THE IOWA DEMOCRATIC PARTY’S MESSAGE!?
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If Nikki Haley needs a double, Kathy’s a contender

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When Kathy’s dental hygienist told her she looked like Nikki Haley, I knew things were about to get interesting. The former theater major in Kathy gleefully rose to the challenge, and yeah, she pulls off a pretty decent Haley, don’t ya think?

On more serious matters, here’s what Charles and I have in store for you this week:

(00:41) Iowa Caucuses: What the losers have to gain;
(20:23) Here’s where climate denialism comes from;
(38:27) Reynolds refuses food for poor kids;
(52:55) The poverty-obesity paradox, with Kathy Byrnes.

Regarding the Iowa Caucuses’ winners and losers: Continue Reading →

Eminent domain could hurt Trump in Iowa

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There’s no doubt Donald Trump will win the Iowa Caucuses. With Ron DeSantis in free fall, I’ll go out on a short limb and predict Nikki Haley finishes second.

It could be a strong second if Haley capitalizes on Trump’s support for eminent domain.

Here’s what Trump said a few years back: “Eminent domain is something that has to be used, usually you would say for anything that’s long, like a road, like a pipeline, or like a wall, or a fence.” (Washington Post)

Here’s Trump’s more recent, completely nonsensical response to an Iowa voter concerned about the threat of eminent domain to build CO2 pipelines: “Well you know we’re working on that, and you know we had a plan to totally … uh … it’s such a ridiculous situation, isn’t it. But we had a plan and we would have instituted that plan, and it was all ready. But if we win, that’s going to be taken care of. That will be one of the easy things we do.” (Forbes Breaking News, July 7, 2023, 2-minute mark)

Huh?? If Haley doesn’t jump all over that and Trump’s previous pro-eminent domain comments she’s missing a huge opportunity. Continue Reading →

A better way to get around

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Architect Mark Clipsham joins me for the first half of the program. Among other angles of sustainability, Mark discusses transportation options to the present car- and plane-dominated system.I’ve posted a set of images Mark shared with me on the Fallon Forum Facebook Page. I  hope you’ll check those out, along with this week’s program.

Thanks for reading, listening, and taking action! Thanks for reading, listening, and taking action! And many thanks to the local small businesses, non-profits, and individual donors who help make this program possible. If you’d like to pitch in, contact me at ed@fallonforum.com. Continue Reading →