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Iowa CCI has always worked to hold decision-makers,
including elected officials, accountable for their actions. Spurred
by the legislature’s refusal to help family farmers and protect
the environment in 1996, CCI members began to more closely track
the influence of big money on Iowa's political system by monitoring
campaign contributions. At our Annual Statewide Convention in July
of 2002, CCI members made Voter-Owned Iowa Clean Elections a priority issue.
Below are some of the things we have done:
Petition Drive
- January 2008: We delivered 4,000 petition signatures at our rally and lobby day, showing strong statewide support for VOICE.
- October 2003 - Present: CCI members
have gathered thousands of signatures from everyday Iowans who
want a VOICE. Click here
to add your name!
Working with Nationally Recognized Experts
- December 2007: Co-hosted the Heartland Presidential Forum with the Center for Community Change, where real people addressed the candidates on critical issues including VOICE.
- July 2007:
Arizona Senator Meg Burton-Cahill led two workshops at CCI's
annual convention this year. Thanks Arizona's 'Clean Elections'
system, Burton-Cahill was able to win her first seat in the Arizona
legislature in 2000 by narrowly defeating a powerful incumbent,
who was slated to become Speaker of the House, without ever having
to ask for a single traditional campaign contribution.
- April 2007: CCI worked with Public Campaign,
a leading campaign finance reform organization, to conduct a
targeted VOICE campaign during the last month of the legislative
session. Staff members helped CCI with media, phone banking,
and strategy development.
- November 2005 - September 2006:
CCI contacted Dr. Arthur Sanders to conduct a two-phase study
researching the influence of special-interest money in Iowa politics.
Click here
to read more.
 April
2004: Doris "Granny D" Haddock and national clean elections expert Dennis Burke attended several speaking engagements
promoting VOICE. Engagements that they promoted
it at included: Ames High school, Iowa State University, Cafe
Diem coffee shop forum in Ames, Central Campus High school in
Des Moines, and with a Des Moines Steelworker's Union meeting.
Granny D and Dennis Burke, along with VOICE staff,
also spoke to State Senator Mary Lunbdy (R-Marion), Senator Tom
Harkin's staff, and Senator Charles Grassley's staff about the
VOICE campaign in Iowa.
- November 2003: CCI hosted a public
meeting with national campaign finance reform expert Dennis Burke.
Dennis was the Executive Director of Arizona Common Cause and
helped lead the fight to get the Clean Elections law was passed
in Arizona. (VOICE is also known as Clean Elections
in other states.)
- July 2003: Dennis Burke led a workshop
on VOICE at our Annual Statewide Convention.
- July 2002: Doris “Granny D”
Haddock was the keynote speaker at our Statewide Annual Convention.
Granny D highlighted the need for VOICE and helped us kick off our campaign.
Building Grassroots Support
- 2003 - Present:
CCI has been holding public educational meetings throughout the
state to build support for VOICE. For more information
on how to hold a local meeting or house party to educate and activate
grassroots people, click here.
- 2003 - Present: CCI has worked with other
groups to build a strong coalition to raise awareness and lobby
for Voter-Owned Iowa Clean Elections. Click
here for more information on our coalition groups.
- January - February 2007: CCI members
participated in five lobby days at the State Capitol during which
over 200 members raised their VOICE for clean elections.
- 2005-2006: CCI used Dr. Arthur Sander's
study to educate and mobilize everyday Iowans from across the
state on raising their VOICE.
- October 2003: CCI was a featured
guest on WHO talk radio to discuss Voter-Owned Elections.
- July 2003: At the statewide annual convention,
CCI members voted to make Voter-Owned Elections a priority issue
in our 3-year strategic plan.
- February 2003: CCI co-hosted a press
conference with 7 other organizations at the state capitol to
educate members of the state legislature on Voter-Owned Elections
and to show legislators the growing public support for the law.
Doris “Granny D” Haddock was a guest speaker at the
event.
Gaining Support from Party Leaders
- July 2008: State Representative Pam Jochum, who is the VOICE bill's lead sponsor and has proposed publicly financed elections yearly since 2000, hosted a workshop at CCI’s annual convention discussing how Iowans can win VOICE.
- June 2008: CCI members met with Rep. Jo Oldson, Chair of the House Appropriations Committee where the bill has been stalled for the past two legislative sessions. Oldson committed to helping members set up a meeting with Rep. Kevin McCarthy and also will look at the bill more closely.
- December
29, 2006: Former Iowa Congressman Berkley Bedell spoke at a VOICE
Rally and Lobby Day at the State Capitol. He also met with key
legislators and participated in interviews to 'voice' his support
for Voter-Owned Iowa Clean Elections.
- Fall 2006: Berkley Bedell signed on with
Iowa CCI to support VOICE.
- November 2003: Former Lt. Governor
Art Neu (R) pledged his support for Voter-Owned Elections in a
meeting with CCI
- March 2003:
CCI members met with the state central committee of the Iowa Democratic
Party to educate them and encourage them to support the passage
of a Voter-Owned Elections law
- January 2003: CCI members met with the
state central committee of the Republican Party of Iowa to educate
them and encourage them to support the passage of a Voter-Owned
Elections law.
- January 2003 & October 2002: At
CCI hosted meetings, Governor Tom Vilsack committed to support
the public financing of candidates and work with CCI to pass legislation.
- July 2002: CCI members met with representatives
of the State Republican Central Committee and the Iowa Democratic
Central Committee. CCI members encouraged the two parties to support
a Voter-Owned Elections law similar to the Clean Elections laws
that Maine and Arizona use.
Learn more about Iowa Citizens
for Community Improvement - www.iowacci.org
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