Iowa Citizen Action Network

ICAN is Iowa's largest grass roots consumer and environmental watchdog organization, with more than 13,000 individual members across the state. ICAN is also an alliance of community, religious, labor, senior, farm, environmental and civil rights organizations - a coalition that is working together to raise the living standards and improve the quality of life for all people in Iowa.

We are involved year round in research, lobbying, grass roots organizing, public education, and community outreach on issues of concern to all of us in Iowa. ICAN represents the interests of consumers during each session of the Iowa General Assembly. On issue after issue we run up against the well-financed lobbies of the medical, pharmaceutical, and insurance industries, as well as the utility companies, energy producers, toxic polluters, and other monied interests.

Our Vision

We are working to mobilize a public majority for progressive policies that will address broad public concerns, instead of narrow corporate interests. Affordable health care for all, true campaign finance reform, fair state and local taxes, access to civil justice, a safe environment, sustainable agriculture, and sustainable energy are chief among those concerns.

Our vision for Iowa is that an informed, active and engaged citizenry works for true political and economic democracy. Individuals participate in decisions affecting their lives. There is social, racial, economic and environmental justice for all; all citizens are cared for and respected; and policies and decision are responsible to future generations. Public resources are committed to working for the public good, and community interests are valued over narrow economic interests.

What will it take to make that vision a reality?

ICAN uses three strategies to advance our vision. First, we work on issue campaigns to win concrete changes in public policy, and we work on electoral campaigns to elect progressive leaders to public office. Second, we work to build the progressive movement by increasing the skills, capacity, diversity, strength, connections and mutual trust of progressive individuals and organizations. Third, we provide a place where progressives in Iowa can develop a shared understanding of how we view the world, what needs to change, and strategies for advancing that analysis in our work.

ICAN’s Board of Directors recently passed a three-year plan for the organization that directs us to take on two major organizing campaigns: pass legislation requiring utilities to get 10% of their energy from renewable sources by 2010, and pass state legislation to address the accessibility and affordability of health care in Iowa, particularly in the area of prescription drugs.

These issues will be the top organizing priorities for the next three years, but ICAN will continue to work to a significant degree on campaign finance reform, agricultural issues and civil justice, and, we will continue to provide support for issues of concern to ICAN’s affiliates.