Johnson County Democrats
Monday, November 01, 2004
 
Owen for Iowans News

From: "Owen for Iowans"

OWEN for Iowans
Democrat for State Representative
District 79 - Cedar, Muscatine, Johnson Counties




Four Days to Go!


Nearly all eyes at the State Capitol are on District 79 as we approach
Election Day.  Control of the Iowa House of Representatives is at
stake, and both parties are focused on this district and two or three
others that will tip the balance.

Friends, our choices could not be more clear.  Feel free to circulate
this information to voters in District 79 who still may be undecided.
 We have addressed each of these issues more specifically throughout
the campaign, and have more information available.  As always, I am
open to questions or comments at my phone, 319/643-5714, or by email at
owen4iowans@Lcom.net.

Education

Both sides talk about supporting education.  The record is clear: The
majorities in control of the House and Senate have repeatedly slashed
resources to our K-12 schools, community colleges and state
universities.  That means teachers have to take money out of their own
pockets for classroom use, and that's not right.

It means some good teachers leave Iowa for better-paying teaching jobs
in other states, or for better-paying jobs outside of teaching.  We
expect a top-flight education for our kids and the best schools in the
nation, but pay our teachers 37th-best in the country.  Does that make
sense?  No.

It means school districts struggle - just like families and small
businesses - to meet the booming costs of health care and fuel, and
meet the increasing paperwork and mandates from the federal government
that are never matched with funding, in an atmosphere of indifference
from the leadership of the Iowa Legislature.  Teachers and
administrators in our K-12 schools are asked to do more with less.

It means community colleges face enough increases in enrollment to
create an entire new Kirkwood-size campus, but not the additional
resources to serve those students, and our universities ­ where we
should be investing in world-class excellence in research - have been
cut enough in recent years to meet the entire budget at the University
of Northern Iowa!  Professors leave, class sizes increase, course
offerings decline and tuitions go through the roof.  Our colleges and
universities, like K-12 schools, are asked to do more with less - and
our students are asked to pay more for less!

Jobs

FIRST, see above.  A world-class education system is the strongest
economic development tool we will ever have.  Good schools mean a
skilled, educated work force, and offer a quality-of-life asset that
both workers and management will want.  To play off a "Field of
Dreams," line, "If you educate them, they will come."  
 
In a climate in which Iowa still has a net loss of over 22,000 jobs
since the March 2001 start of the last recession, we also see that jobs
we have lost tend to be in better-paying industries, and those we have
gained (at a very slow pace) tend to come in the industries that have
contributed mightily to Iowa's standing as a low-wage state.  

Our small businesses drive the Iowa economy.  State government must
assure that when it provides incentives, through tax breaks or other
means, that it is focusing on (1) good-paying jobs with benefits, that
raise the average wage in a community, (2) cutting-edge, clean
industries that dovetail nicely with Iowa's educational and
agricultural assets but do not compete with existing firms that already
are paying taxes here.  State government must stop pushing burdens to
local governments, which causes more pressure on property taxes that
already are too burdensome on small businesses.  

Health Care

The Census recently told us that 303,000 people in Iowa have no health
insurance ­ the equivalent of the population of 10 districts in the
Iowa House of Representatives, about 10 percent of the population of
our state!  That is inexcusable.  We need to help people get access to
affordable health care.  When they can't, they put off health issues
until their problems are bigger - and more expensive to treat.  It's
not right, and it doesn't make sense.

We need serious Medicaid reform.  When the incentive exists, as it
does through Medicaid, for people to go to nursing homes before it is
necessary for them to be there, clearly there is a problem.  We have
great nursing homes in District 79 but we all are better served if a
helping hand here or there makes it possible for people to live at home
longer.  That's better for their quality of life, and it is a better
use of precious health-care dollars.  We must replenish the Senior
Living Trust and stop legislators from using it to balance the budget.

Prescription drug costs dominated the campaign discussion at doorsteps
in 2002, and has again this year.  The big difference is that the
crunch more and more is affecting all families, not just seniors.  Yes,
we need to assure people can legally bring in lower-cost, safe
medications from Canada, but that's only treating a symptom, not the
issues underlying costs.  We need legislators who will take on the big
drug companies.  As I have noted many times, there is precedent for
this - states got together and took on Big Tobacco.  If the federal
government will not take on the drug companies, the states should.
 Only then will they be pressured to treat consumers right.  

Your Eyes, Ears and Voice

No public hearing on school funding in 2004.  No vote on the minimum
wage.  No vote on closing tax loopholes that help big, out-of-state
companies and disadvantage our Iowa businesses.  Closed-door dealings
on the major legislation of the past two years ­ the Iowa Values Fund,
a $300 million income-tax cut targeted to the wealthy, various other
tax proposals and the livestock confinement bill.  This is wrong.
 Public business belongs in public. Likewise, ideas most Iowans support
should get to a vote in their State Legislature.

In West Branch, folks understand my commitment to open government and
allowing all voices to be heard.  I fought for it as the newspaper
editor, covering all sides of issues, offering my pages for public
comment, and helping local officials better understand the Open
Meetings Law.  I organized community forums for legislators to talk to
constituents and answer questions, candidate forums and issue forums.

We need fair play in government, and that starts with electing people
who won't treat government like a membership-only club.
 Self-government means giving the public access to the decisionmaking
process when it matters.  I will always be accessible, and I will set
up listening-post sessions in every community in the district during
the legislative session to help residents of District 79 stay in touch.

Bipartisanship

Bipartisanship is a spirit - and it's meaningless unless the folks in
control respect it.

Things go wrong when those in the majority stop listening.  Nobody has
all the answers, and they shouldn't pretend they do.  Unfortunately,
that's what has happened in the Iowa Legislature.  Those who have been
elected to lead the majority caucus have stopped listening - and worse,
they're defiant about it.

My opponent throughout this campaign has complained when I have dared
to challenge the iron-fisted partisanship of the legislative leaders he
would support.  His complaint of course defies common sense.  If people
aren't treating others right, you have to stand up to it, not reward
it.  The fact is that my election would give the vast majority of
Iowans - Democrats, moderate Republicans and independents - a place at
the table.  His election would help keep ideologues in control of the
State Capitol and shut most Iowans out.

Campaign Promises

It's not enough to say you'll vote for this or that.  In the Iowa
House, you need 51 votes to pass a bill, but you could have 60 or 70
votes and it wouldn't matter unless the Speaker of the House allows it
to the floor.  The first choice legislators make is to pick leadership;
that's where you need 51 votes to put fair-minded, forward-thinking
people in charge of the House chamber.  I will choose new leadership
that allows better funding of schools,  more accountable economic
development policies for good jobs, and a laser-beam focus on improving
access to affordable health care including prescription drugs.  

The other guys talk that game, but they have had control of the House
for 12 years - and my opponent would give them two more!  Our children,
our working families and our seniors cannot afford it.  It is time to
hold them accountable for the choices they have made ­ and to recognize
that those are the choices they will again make if they keep control.

Local Control

As State Senate candidate Tom Fiegen and I pointed out door-to-door
throughout District 79 this summer and fall, and in an advertisement in
the Tipton Conservative this week, the biggest threat to our local
control of schools and local government is a state government that
refuses to accept its own responsibilities.  I will work with other
rural legislators to stand firmly for local control of decisions about
our future, and to assure the state holds up its end of the load.

Again, despite some advertising against us to the contrary, be clear
on my position:  I fundamentally oppose forced consolidation of schools
or any local government service.  If anyone tells you they have heard
differently, please correct them and ask them to pass the word back to
anyone who told them.  My position on this has been consistent
throughout this campaign - and my 2002 campaign!  There are those who
will try to scare voters, and the best we can do is to give them the
facts.  

It might be noteworthy that we have not tried to scare anyone about
our opponents with distorted claims and innuendo.  It's not the way I
operate.  I have stuck to the facts, the issues and fair comparisons
backed by the record ­ just as I did for over 20 years as a news
reporter and editor.  I would take that journalistic approach to
represent you in the Iowa House.



Let's Repair the Legislature!


This Legislature is broken.  We must fix it.  To fix it, you have to
recognize the problem.  It's real, and it threatens the very future of
our state.  

In short, if you want change, you have to vote for change.  



Can You Help?


This weekend and through 9 p.m. Election Day, we will have a need for
anyone who can circulate literature door-to-door, make phone calls or
take on other tasks to get out the vote.

We have a fantastic grass-roots operation that has been organized by
committed volunteers in communities throughout District 79 - people
whose contributions I can't begin to enumerate.  I feel very good about
our chances, but by all accounts this race is very close.  Please help
us finish strongly and break the tape for great schools, better-paying
jobs and access to health care.  Call Norma Beecher at (319) 643-5505,
or me at (319) 643-5714, and let us know if you can help in these final
days of the campaign.

Running for office has been an honor.  I want to thank you for
everything you have done, and for your encouragement, thoughts and
prayers.  Deb, Andy, Ann and I are forever grateful.

Mike Owen
Democratic candidate for State Representative, District 79
563 Oliphant St.
West Branch, IA  52358
(319) 643-5714
owen4iowans@Lcom.net



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