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Liberals rally at Iowa Capitol

By Mike Glover / Associated Press

DES MOINES, Iowa — Conservatives often complain the Democrats who hold majorities in both chambers of the Iowa Legislature ignore their ideas. It turns out some liberals feel the same way.

Hundreds of activists descended on the Statehouse on Tuesday to push a liberal agenda covering everything from limiting campaign contributions to letting local governments regulate giant hog lots. They also pressed lawmakers to change corporate tax laws, expand the rights of immigrants and get tougher on big banks they blame for much of the nation’s economic troubles.

Many said they are growing increasingly impatient by what they see as a lack of progress.

“That’s the anger that’s out there about issues like this when no action is taken,” said Adam Mason, of Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement, a citizens group that organized the rally and a day of lobbying legislators. “People do get frustrated.”

Given Iowa’s budget problems and decision to cut the length of the legislative session to save money, Senate Majority Leader Michael Gronstal said activists probably will have to wait a little longer.

“Finding consensus on those issues is unlikely,” said Gronstal, D-Council Bluffs.

Barb Kolbach, of Adair, said she doesn’t understand the lack of action on issues such as tightening control of big hog production facilities to protect water supplies.

“You often wonder, because to us it’s as plain as the nose on your face,” Kolbach said. “Everyone drinks the water. It would seem the Legislature would do everything they could for clean water.”

Vern Tigges, a farmer from Carroll, said lawmakers won’t take action because they don’t want to offend potential campaign donors.

“There’s a lot of lobby money out there and our issues are being bought out,” Tigges said. “That’s the frustration.”

Although action on many issues has stalled, activists said they’re optimistic about legislation that would restrict short-term loans, known as payday loans.

“We think we have a real good shot at that,” said Mike McCarthy, of Des Moines.

Members of Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement also are pushing for limits on the amount of money individuals and political action committees can give to candidates. They argue Iowa is one of only 13 states with no limit on such donations.

Gronstal said it’s unlikely the Legislature will debate contribution limits but legislators have been discussing campaign finance issues.

The U.S. Supreme Court last week struck down a ban on corporate and union contributions to candidates, and Gronstal said legislative leaders met this week with Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller to craft a response to that decision.

The Legislature is likely to change campaign finance rules in response to the Supreme Court’s decision, although no specific plan has been put forward yet, Gronstal said.

After the Statehouse rally, some activists planned to protest outside large banks that they said were in part to blame for the country’s sluggish economy.