Thursday, April 16, 2009

Tea Parties are HUGE Success

Yesterday was Tax Day, but it was also Tea Party Day. Across the country, hundreds of thousands of people attended a Tea Party to protest higher taxes and higher government spending. 

Several parties were held in Iowa. Iowa City had several hundred, and The Des Moines Register is reporting 3,000 people in Des Moines

What does this mean? Some reporters, and Obama Spokesman Robert Gibbs, didn't think much of it. But they don't get it. It means that people are sick of government spending. They are sick of the government acting as an impediment to their abillity to make money to support their family or small business. In general, it means that people are sick of government not listening to them and going on their merry way doing what they want to do. A phrase on many of the flags flown throughout the country yesterday featured a phrase used during the American Revolution--"Don't Tread on Me." 

Will the Democrats in the legislature listen? Maybe. Maybe not. While I lean towards the second option, you can take a page from Obama and always hope. Word on the street yesterday is that the Federal Deductibility bill is dead. House Speaker Pat Murpy is saying he is only one vote short, so don't believe it until every legislator is safely back in their district for the year. But Culver is still pushing his bonding proposals...you know, use the credit card because we can...even though 71% of Iowans, according to a recent DMR poll, don't support that option. It isn't over yet. 

There is a reason my postings are done under the name wideawake. Because people need to stay awake to what is happening in their local, state, and national government. There are several examples of bad legislation at all levels that have been stopped, or at least brought to light, because people were paying attention. This is your government, this is you state and your country. Get involved.

Monday, April 13, 2009

Closing Time is Near

The Legislature is hoping to adjurn this week. The Des Moines Register has a story here about what bills are done and which ones are still alive. 

Republicans have had some impressive victories this session-changes in the Electoral College, labor bills (so far), Federal Deductibility (so far), etc. It isn't over yet, folks. Culver-Gronstall-et.al claim to have a deal on Federal Deductibility, Culver is still pushing on his bonding proposal, and some of those labor bills, particularly doctor shopping and changes in bargaining, are still lurking. 

If you're not on Twitter, join today. It is a great way to keep up-to-date on what is happening, especially if you are at a computer all day. The best ones, but no means the only ones, to follow are: @ReneeSchulte, @NickAWagner, @KentSorenson, @IowaGOPer, @IowaSRC, @IowaGOP, @C_Rants, @charlotte_eby. You don't realize how much information you can get through Twitter until you try it out. 

Keep our Republican legislators in your thougts and prayers as they keep up the good fight for the citizens of Iowa.