About Us

An Independence Movement for Iowa

I’M for Iowa

Mission

Our mission is to build on the momentum generated by Ed Fallon’s 2006 campaign for governor to further develop a broad movement committed to progressive reform in state and local politics. Our work at the local level is conducted within the context of the need for developing sustainable communities and economies. Specifically, we:

(1)                  Work with Iowans across the state to develop the tools they need to address problems confronting them and their communities, particularly issues involving land, justice and poverty;

(2)                  Advocate for progressive legislative changes, particularly Voter-Owned Iowa Clean Elections (VOICE), CAFOs (confined animal feeding operations) and universal health care;

(3)                  Continue to build the organizational base necessary to recruit and elect progressive candidates across the state, and mentor them on an ongoing basis once elected;

(4)                  Support local businesses and Iowa farmers and encourage personal examples of the many ways in which individuals can lead lives that are more sustainable and truly independent;  and

(5)                  Build the infrastructure needed to create a grassroots, democratic force that can become An Independence Movement for Iowa, and work in coalition with groups committed to these goals and ideals.

 Statement of Purpose

In the 1770s, America’s founders challenged the unjust economic policies of an illegitimate foreign power.

In the 1890s, rural Midwesterners fostered a progressive populist movement to reclaim control of their lives and economies from moneyed interests grown greedy and corrupt.

Today, the growing power of corporate lobbyists, special interests and unresponsive politicians threatens the very foundations of our democracy.  This threat demands a stronger, more politically engaged grassroots movement committed to the patriotic ideals upon which our nation was founded.

Across Iowa and across the nation, more and more of us are fighting to regain control of our government and our country.  Here in the heartland, An Independence Movement for Iowa (I'M for Iowa) is developing a broad network of Iowans working for:

·        Independence from special-interest campaign contributions.

o      Instead, we want voluntary public financing of state and local elections, since the current system has turned our elections into auctions and many public officials into pawns of special interests.

·        Independence from poverty, injustice and discrimination.

o      Instead, we want a government that recognizes the value of Iowa’s diversity – both rural and urban – and invests in the basic services we all need to achieve our fullest potential, including education, health care, a clean environment, public safety and a balanced transportation system.

·        Independence from fossil fuels.

o      Instead, we want a diverse, renewable energy industry that emphasizes conservation and energy efficiency, one that is rooted in Iowa’s natural resources and controlled by Iowa farmers and entrepreneurs.

·       Independence from government subsidies for big business, from risky ventures that waste our tax dollars while failing to deliver on promises of economic prosperity, and from national chains that exert a stranglehold on our communities.

o      Instead, we want a strong, locally-controlled, free-market economy whose businesses are owned and operated primarily by Iowans.

·       Independence from government officials who operate without the public’s interest in mind, often behind closed doors, and with a lack of integrity and accountability.

o      Instead, we want government that operates with transparency and a minimal amount of bureaucracy, and we want more concerned citizens who share these values to run for public office.

Accomplishments

Often, when a candidate loses an election, that candidate vanishes from the political scene.  After Ed Fallon’s defeat in the four-way Democratic primary on June 6 (in which he received 38,000 votes for 26% of the vote), Ed and three other staffers continued to work with Ed’s campaign organization through the general election. 

1. We worked with people in more than two dozen counties on eminent domain, local control, criminal justice reform, human services and renewable energy.
2. In 2006 we helped many candidates, including Governor Culver, all five Democratic congressional candidates and 20 Iowa House and Senate candidates.  Many of these candidates won.
3. We continue to maintain weekly contact with our electronic update list and have increased the number of recipients from 5,000 to 6,700.
4. As public concerns about the Values Fund grew, we spearheaded research into the state's economic development programs and worked with the State Auditor to initiate an investigation into the Values Fund.
5. We played a role in efforts to lobby for campaign finance reform and local control in the 2007 legislative session.

Goals

1. CANDIDATES.  Recruit and assist progressive candidates.
2. CLEAN ELECTIONS.  Provide grassroots support for legislative initiatives to enact Voter-Owned Iowa Clean Election (VOICE) legislation.
3. CLIMATE CHANGE.  Provide leadership to encourage changes in personal habits and public policies relevant to growing concerns about global warming.
   
4. COMMUNICATION.  Broaden the base of our movement through public speaking, media events, weekly updates and columns. 
   
5. COMMUNITY ORGANIZING.  Through continued statewide organizing, network Iowans concerned about the issues in our Statement of Purpose and provide advocacy for local groups addressing these priorities in their communities.