Uniting Iowans for a common progressive vision

Iowa Citizen Action Network


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Invest in Iowa's Future

Save The Date: ICAN Annual Convention

MAY 3, 2008 -- Click here for a printable registration form. Time is running out - REGISTER TODAY!

The 2008 ICAN Convention and Delegates Assembly will take place at the Hilton Garden Inn in Johnston, Iowa.

Highlights will include:

  • Keynote speaker: Jim Hightower
    National radio commentator, writer, and public speaker Jim Hightower will introduce his forthcoming book Swim Against The Current: Even A Dead Fish Can Go With The Flow.

    For a tax-deductible donation of $25.95 or more to the ICAN Education Foundation, we will give a copy of the book that you can have signed by the author.
    We have received a pledge of up to $15,000 in matching funds to continue our civic engagement work of voter registration drives in low-income communities. Each donation we receive brings us that much closer to our goal.

  • Re-energize your progressive batteries with the valuable tools you will learn in our workshops.



  • Health Care Reform - This informative and interactive workshop will ground participants in the problems facing our country, and more importantly how we can come together to solve one of our nation's greatest challenges.
    On-Line Organizing - This workshop by one of the country's most respected on-line organizing strategists will train participants in the do's and don'ts of on-line organizing.
    Election Activities for Non-Profits - It has never been more important for progressive organizations to make their voice heard in state and national elections. This session by The Alliance for Justice will cover federal rules for a wide variety of activities conducted by 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) organizations.

    For more information, please contact Gayle Warner at 319-354-8116 or at gwarner@IowaCAN.org

    REPORTS RELEASED:

    "Bad Medicine: The President's Medicaid Regulations Will Weaken Iowa's Economy"

    from Families USA, April 2008

    The proposed 2008 budget released by the President will have far reaching impacts on Iowans if enacted. Read more about it in this report, "First Things First."

    Second in series of ECAP Reports: "Are We Investing in our Children?" A State of the State Report on Iowa’s Children

    Iowa Needs Adequate Funding in The 2007 Labor HHS Education Appropriations Bill

    First in series of ECAP Reports: "Are We Investing in our Workers?" A State of the State Report on Iowa’s Workers

    Iowa Needs Adequate Funding in The 2007 Labor HHS Education Appropriations Bill

    Does Work Pay?

    A report on the status of housing affordability in Iowa, from the Iowa Coalition on Housing and the Homeless.

    We Must Invest in Iowa's Future

    ICAN and USAction release report demonstrating that new investments in the areas of education, health care, and energy policy are necessary to address the unmet needs of Iowans.


    ICAN In The News

    4/24/08 Des Moines Cityview: "One Step Closer: Historic health care bill makes its way through legislature"

    4/16/08 WCF Courier: "Protesters Use Tax Day to Attack War in Iraq"

    4/12/08 Des Moines Register: "Generous Tax Credit Program Draws Fire"

    03/27/08 Iowa City Press Citizen, Op Ed: "Iowa Leaders on the Right Track"

    02/14/08 Iowa Radio News Service: “Patch the Leaky Plumbing in Iowa’s Tax Code”

    01/25/08 IowaPolitics.com: “Concerned Iowans Gathered for People’s State of the Union”

    01/05/08 Iowa City Press Citizen: “Let’s Resolve to End the War”

    12/1/07 Essential Estrogen: Hotelblog Heartland Forum

    11/14/07 Ames Tribune: ICAN calls on Latham to reject Bush cuts

    11/12/07 Iowa City Press Citizen: Veterans deserve all we can give them

    10/16/07 KIMT TV Mason City: SCHIP Vigil

    10/16/07 Mason City Globe Gazette: Group urges support for veto override

    10/6/07 KTIV TV Sioux City: Dozens Protest Congressman's Vote On S-CHIP

    10/6/07 Sioux City Journal: Protest targets King for children's health care vote

    10/6/07 KMEG Sioux City TV: Dozens Protest SCHIP Veto in Sioux City

    9/27/07 Clinton Herald: Health care concerns surface

    8/29/07 WHO TV: Gathering to Protest Iraq War

    8/22/07 Cedar Rapids Gazette: ICAN Reports Cost of War

    7/20/07 Fort Dodge Messenger: Locals want Congress to resist cuts

    7/12/07 Mason City Globe Gazette: Iowa coalition against Medicare privatization

    5/31/07 Iowa Independent: Stand Up, Sit Down: Coalition's Forum Calls Attention To Domestic Budget

    5/25/07 Mason City Globe Gazette: Pastors pray for peace

    5/14/07 Essential Estrogen: Live Blog: Our Common Values

    5/11/07 Blog For Iowa: Senator Grassley, Protect Medicare Beneficiaries, NOT Drug Company Profits!

    5/10/07 Des Moines City View: Peace groups divided

    5/9/07 River Cities Reader: Iowa Citizen Action Network (ICAN) honored the Quad Cities citizens' group Progressive Action for the Common Good as this year's recipient of the Grassroots Leadership Award. (scroll down)

    5/9/07 Quad Cities Times: Activists picket Grassley's office for union bill

    5/9/07 Radio Iowa: Group pushes Grassley to back "Employee Free Choice Act"

    05/08/2007 www.iowaindependent.com: Uniting 'Our Common Values'

    4/30/07 Iowa State Daily: Timeline veto incenses grassroots organizations

    4/22/07 USA Today: Obama: 'Frustration is inevitable'

    4/22/07 Ames Tribune: Wessel-Kroeschell receives award

    4/22/07: WQUAD TV: Obama courts activists with tales of community organizing

    4/22/07: Chicago Tribune: Obama organizing Iowans

    4/22/07 IowaPolitics.com: Obama details his experience with people-powered change

    4/21/07 Quad Cities Times: Obama, Clinton make Iowa stops

    4/17/07 Cedar Rapids Gazette: Liberals Launch Campaign Reform Push

    3/16/07 Mid Iowa News: Protesters rally against war

    3/22/07 KGAN TV: Election Day Registration

    3/21/07 KCCI TV: Hundreds In Ames Protest War

    3/16/07 Sioux City Journal: Anti-war rally slated for next week

    3/16/07 Mason City Globe Gazette: War Protest Planned for Ames

    3/15/07 Sioux City Journal: Election Day Registration

    3/14/07 Ames Tribune: Iowa should sign up for election day registration

    3/14/07: Council Bluffs Daily Nonpareil: Election Day registration has backers

    3/13/07 Radio Iowa: Group urges legislators to approve vote day registration

    2/26/07 Radio Iowa: Social workers speak out on healthcare funding

    2/23/07 Iowa State Daily: Letters to Latham express dissatisfaction with war

    2/16/07 KCCI TV: Groups Speak Out Against War Escalation (VIDEO IN LINK)

    12/22/06 Radio Iowa: Loebsack cleans out desk, ready to head to Washington

    12/21/06 KGAN TV: "100 Hour Agenda"

    10/23/06 Waterloo/Cedar Falls Courier: ICAN, Goodson, mount east side black voter drive

    10/11/06 KCRG TV: Coalition Says Government Not Meeting Kids' Needs (video in link)

    10/11/06 KGAN TV: "Are We Investing In Our Children?"

    9/16/06 Radio Iowa: Group says too many don't make "housing wage"

    9/15/06 KGAN TV: "Does Work Pay?" Report

    9/5/06, Insurance Journal: Iowa Organizations Push Investment Agenda to Candidates

    8/23/06, River Cities' Reader: Millions Will Soon Be in the Prescription-Drug-Coverage “Doughnut Hole”

    8/18/06, Des Moines Register: Letter to the Editor: "College-credit leadership applauded" - Charlie Wishman - Organizer

    8/14/06, Quad Cities Times: Letter to the Editor: "Seniors still confused by Medicare Part D" - Betty Ahrens ICAN Executive Director

    8/2/06, Quad Cities Times: Medicare, Social Security Event held

    7/31/06, Quad Cities Times: Drug Plan gap may affect fall elections

    6/1/06, Radio Iowa: Group Speaks Out Against Estate Tax Cut

    More In The News...

    ICAN Press Releases...