looks like Repubs want to pass a bill to allow discrimination by religious in Iowa

[rurallib]

From One Iowa Action:


A bill has been introduced in our state legislature that would weaken the Iowa Civil Rights Act and make LGBTQ Iowans vulnerable. SF 2154 would broadly allow religious exemptions to Iowa laws, including the Iowa Civil Rights Act.

Click here to contact your state senator and ask them to reject SF 2154.

The language of this bill is vague, which makes it extremely dangerous. For example, a pharmacist could refuse to fill a transgender person's prescription for hormones, claiming his religion doesn't allow him to serve transgender people. A pediatrician could refuse to provide medical care for the child of a same-sex couple because she doesn't believe in same-sex marriage.

The consequences of this bill extend outside the LGBTQ community as well. A man abusing his spouse and children could claim domestic violent laws don't apply to him because of his religion.

These are only a few examples of the harm this bill could inflict if it becomes law. Religious freedom is one of our nation's fundamental values and is already protected by the first amendment. The rule of law is also important, and we cannot allow people to pick and choose which laws they're going to follow.

Contact your state senator now and ask them to reject SF 2154.

Our state has a proud legacy of equality that has protected LGBTQ Iowans for years. We were the third state to embrace marriage equality, defying many people's expectations. We also have anti-discrimination protections for LGBTQ Iowans through the Iowa Civil Rights Act. Iowa is one of less than half of all states that have these crucial protections on the books.

We are incredibly proud of the Iowa Civil Rights Act, and we must fight to defend it now.

Ask your state senator to reject SF 2154 now.

Thank your for fighting for LGBTQ Iowans.

Sincerely,



Daniel Hoffman-Zinnel
One Iowa Action Executive Director

[Sophia4]

1. We should never, never hold our first primary or caucus in Iowa.

Both senators and 3 of 4 representatives are Republicans.

Iowa is at this time a right-wing state. Yet we allow it to set the tone when we pick our presidential nominee. What a dumb idea.

We should pick a swing state for our first primary or caucus.

I know Iowa well. It's full of conservative people. I love the state, but why don't we hold our first caucus or primary in a state like Illinois with an urban as well as rural population? Or New York? Or Florida? Or any state that has a mix of liberals and conservatives -- a better mix than Iowa.

[IADEMO2004]

2. Please fly away

[Sophia4]

3. Sorry but Iowans tilt the Democratic Party to the right when we need to go

left.

I love Iowa, adore Iowans, but we don't need a state with only one Democrat in the Congress to lead the way during presidential election years. Iowans need to at least have more than one Democrat in Congress to deserve to be the first primary for Democrats.

[rurallib]

4. There are lots of reasons why Iowa should not be first in the nation, but political tilt should not

be one of the reasons.

Iowa has not always tilted conservative and hopefully it won't stay that way very long. In this country decisions should not be based on ideology.

Iowa was once one of the leading progressive states along with Wisconsin and Minnesota. The upper midwest has produced such progressive as Fighting Bob LaFollette, Hubert Humphrey, Gaylord Nelson and Iowa's own Henry Wallace, Harold Hughes and Tom Harkin.

So don't condemn a whole state because we have one Stinky Steve King. We also have two of the most progressive learning institutions in the country in the U of Iowa and Grinnell.

I myself opposed caucuses in general and favor a rotating first in nation primary system where about ten states of all stripe share the first primary day.

BTW - we gave Barack Obama a huge boost.

[Sophia4]

5. Rotating first in nation primary system would be great.

I remember when Iowa was more liberal than it is today. What happened?

[rurallib]

6. same thing that has happened all across the country - Fox News, control of the media

purposeful divisive politics, cranking up the fear, especially fear of "others".......

If you have ever seen "Brainwashing My Father" it pretty much tells the story of how it happened to one guy.

Iowa has no liberal media. Something like 15 for right wing radio outlets in all the major cities. I have a close friend who has sort of chronicled RW media in Iowa. Here is a link to one of her most recent posts on the subject:

https://blogforiowa.com/2017/12/26/10-things-you-can-do-right-now-about-the-right-wing-media-in-iowa/

When Sinclair TV picks up Tribune Media TV stations, Sinclair gets something like 4 more outlets to feed into Iowa.

This is not s whole lot different than Wisconsin, Kansas or damn near anyplace else in the country.

The long vision takeover of media dates clear back to Lewis Powell's memo in 1970. Republicans have played the long game knowing full well that they can buy the political system. Dems are only now waking up to what has hit them.

[Sophia4]

7. Thanks!

[BigmanPigman]

8. I wish it could be in CA.

Our primary was just moved up from June to the month of March. It isn't the first primary state but it is progress.
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/california-primary-date-march_us_59cc13c8e4b02aef6cd73e65

[Sophia4]

9. Yes. It is progress.