The difference between the campaign and governance
During the 2016 election campaign, did anyone hear Iowa Republicans propose an end to collective bargaining for teachers and state employees? Did you hear them propose using “big government” to impose a statewide minimum wage rule preventing communities from establishing their own, or pre-empting local ordinances that restrict firearms use, or making Iowa a “right to work state” thereby destroying unions? I do, however, remember Republican chatter about reducing the size and reach of “big government,” but not increasing the reach.
Do you remember Republicans campaigning on “stand your ground” laws or provisions allowing lifetime permits to carry or the need for a voter ID law? I don’t. Perhaps I focused too much on their plans to defund Planned Parenthood, to keep reducing education funding while expanding school choice, to block the use of fetal tissue for medical research while maintaining the corporate welfare program by reducing corporate taxes and increasing corporate tax incentives.
If they didn’t campaign on these issues, where did they come up with the legislation they are jamming down our throats? Look no further than the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) and the Koch-funded Americans for Prosperity (AFP). In fact, the legislation is largely a product of ALEC and the AFP. ALEC is an organization of state legislators, corporate members, and lobbyists dedicated to the principles of limited government, free markets and federalism. They draft legislation that members customize and introduce in their own state legislatures and are heavily funded by the Koch brothers. Gov. Branstad was an early member and I believe the majority of Iowa GOP legislators are members of ALEC. The AFP and ALEC have been instrumental in funding and drafting the Iowa Republican agenda in their attempt to have Iowa become Wisconsin and Kansas-like.
It’s one thing to have home-grown Iowa values legislation and a totally different picture when the legislation being shoved down our throats comes from Kansas, Wisconsin, Kentucky and Texas.
Many Iowans are not happy, however. Massive protests at the State Capitol suggest a strong reaction to what Republican governance looks like. Add those demonstrations to the recent dramatic objections to Trump, Grassley and Ernst at their town hall events and you get a preview at what it’s going to be like between now and 2018. Get ready, the next two years are going to be a wild and bumpy ride! Call your legislators today.