Iowa Citizen Action Network

ICAN - formerly the Iowa Citizen/Labor Energy Coalition(C/LEC) - was founded in 1979 by Sioux City social worker Tammy O'Dell. The orginal groups reorganized as ICAN in 1983 in order to tackle a broader range of isues affecting all Iowans.

2007

ICAN has had victories in the state house on an intensive campaign to win Election Day Voter Registration – signed into law by Gov. Culver in April. And ICAN has participated in victorious state campaigns to limit car title loan, and increase the minimum wage among others. Federally ICAN has participated in the effective Campaign to Change America Now: \promoting constituent pressure and media attention on the “CAN 100 Hours” agenda in the House for increasing the minimum wage, reducing the cost of higher education, allowing prescription drug price negotiation in Medicare, and cutting tax breaks for big oil to allow investment in renewable energy. Our work continues in the Senate. ICAN Education Foundation’s Our Common Values project continues to build momentum and engage more and more groups though out Iowa.

2006

ICAN Education Foundation sponsored a successful and unique gubernatorial candidate forum where the candidates faced 8 real Iowan presenters who told their personal stories and posed questions about the issues involved. This forum attracted a standing-room only crowd as well as positive media attention to the problems that real Iowans face. ICAN conducted more meetings and forums on issues of retirement security: protecting Social Security from Privatization and promoting reform of the disastrous Medicare Part D program. ICAN highlighted a tragic flaw in the Part D program with “donut hole” media events and report releases. ICAN Education Foundation conducted non-partisan civic engagement work promoting voting among thousands of unlikely voters in Waterloos communities of color. ICAN Education Foundation has also kicked off the “Our Common Values” program aimed at strengthening all Iowa’s progressive groups and changing the dominant worldview. ICAN recruited over 7000 signors of an electronic petition in support of sustainable federal energy policy. The elections provided an opportunity for ICAN to participate in the victory of ICAN member Bruce Braley for congress in the 1st Congressional District.

2005

ICAN worked with other Iowa groups to raise awareness about the impact of federal budget cuts to needed programs like food stamps, Medicaid, and student loans as part of a national campaign coordinated through our partners at USAction. ICAN joined the national program to protect Social Security from the ravages of privatization with all it’s might,; conducting numerous twon hall meetings, protest, and rallies.

2004

ICAN worked with individual members to introduce caucus resolutions on Health care for All and Renewable Energy in the January Iowa Caucuses. ICAN participated in a rally to protect consumers and patients from efforts to limit their access to the court system. ICAN’s campaign to reform the terrible Medicare Prescription Drug benefit hit new heights as over 50 educational meetings were conducted, attended by over 1400 people state-wide. ICAN turned out over 200 people to a public forum featuring Gov. Vilsack – delivering over 1500 hand-written letters to him -- on the “Prescription for Relief” for the high cost of prescription drugs. In the fall, ICAN Education Foundation conducted an immense civic engagement program among traditionally underrepresented communities of color in Waterloo, Davenport, and Des Moines, working then to turn out these and other infrequent voters to the polls.

2003

ICAN participated in federal campaigns with USAction partners from around the country to raise public awareness of the Bush tax cuts for millionaires, sponsoring successful rallies and protests. ICAN also conducted an ambitious campaign to educate the public about the failings of the Bush administration’s Medicare Prescription drug bill in an effort to use constituent pressure to change and improve the bill – to make it a real benefit to our seniors. ICAN board and staff conducted strategic planning sessions and codified organizational support for anti-racism work, and to building true progressive power in Iowa. In the Iowa legislature ICAN monitered sustainable energy proposals like the problematic green pricing program and the promising Renewable Portfolio standard legislation. ICAN had a notable victory in getting the RPS bill out of committee but was de-railed by intensive pressure from Mid-American energy.

2002

ICAN worked with state coalition partners to successfully lobby for use of the state’s “rainy day fund” to keep necessary services intact during this year’s state budget crisis. ICAN fought for the Gov. Vilsack’s veto to protect workers and consumers by defeating bills to eliminate Project labor Agreements and to limit worker compensation claims. ICAN also worked for a state prescription drug buying plan, regulation of air and water quality related to factory farming, and fought off electric deregulation. At the national level, ICAN contributed to a broad campaign for Clean Money campaign finance reform. ICAN-staffed SEED (Sustainable Energy for Economic Development) coalition sponsored a gubernatorial candidate forum attended by 5 candidates for governor and more than 200 people, bringing public attention to needed energy policy reforms. ICAN endorsed Tom Vilsack for governor as a result of his position on these and other key issues and worked to educate our members and turn them out to vote for him, participating in his re-election!

2001

Federally, ICAN worked to oppose the Bush tax cuts and fight to use the Medicare surplus to fund a prescription drug benefit to aid our seniors. ICAN also supported federal legislation to protect against HMO abuses, the Patient Protection Act, that would have allowed things like sending injured persons to the nearest emergency room regardless of their HMO or prescribing patients the best medication for their illness even if it is not on their health plan’s list. ICAN presented Sen. Grassley with letters asking that he work to expand health insurance coverage. And ICAN worked with a nation-wide coalition to protect the Arctic Wildlife Refuge from oil drilling.

In the state, ICAN carried out an ambitious sustainable energy campaign, beating back utility deregulation in the guise of “power purchase contracts” and supporting a state Renewable Portfolio Standard on 20% by 2010.

2000

As part of Money Watch 2000, almost eight hundred citizens went to their respective caucuses on January 24, 2000 to introduce a resolution calling for comprehensive campaign finance reform The resolution was adopted in 475 caucuses in 70 of Iowa's 99 counties. Republicans in 30 counties adopted the resolution. In 26 counties it was adopted in both Republican and Democratic caucuses. As such, the resolution was referred to 96 County Platform Committees.

1999

Led by the Iowa Alliance for Campaign Finance Reform, the Iowa General Assembly passed legislation, and Governor Vilsack signed into law a bill that restored the ban on corporate contributions to candidates' campaigns and the requirement that PACs file disclosure reports. The legislation also established a Commission on Campaign Finance Reform. ICAN joined with the Iowa Trial Lawyers and the American Association of Retired People, among others, to oppose a bill granting immunity to banks, utilities, and insurance companies from liability from problems arising from the Y2K bug. Although the bill passed the General Assembly, Governor Vilsack vetoed the bill. Working with labor, environmental and consumer organizations ICAN defeated a proposal to deregulate Iowa's electric utility industry. The proposed bill would have had serious negative consequences for Iowa's consumers, unions and environment. As part of the Iowa Coalition to Protect the Constitution ICAN educated and mobilized to vote against two proposed two so called "tax restriction" amendments to Iowa's Constitution. The ballot initiatives failed.

1998

Governor Branstad signed into law a monumental children's health care expansion which has tremendous potential for advancing the health and welfare of Iowa's children. Winning this historic children's health expansion was one of ICAN's top priorities in the legislative session.

Iowa legislators and regulators reaffirmed Iowa's commitment to renewable energy. The Iowa Senate voted 42-0 in favor of net-billing legislation while the Iowa Utilities Board withdrew a December draft order to eliminate its net billing rule.

ICAN conducted an aggressive grassroots lobbying program in support of the Dingell/Daschle "Patients Bill of Rights".

1997

Iowa's investor-owned utilities signed contracts with renewable energy developers and the Alternate Energy Production mandate was just about fulfilled by the end of the year - bringing Iowa to the forefront of renewable energy development in the U.S. This victory - one of our biggest ever - would not have been won had not ICAN and its allies in the Iowa Sustainable Energy for Economic Development (SEED) Coalition stopped the utilities from repealing the mandate in 1995 and 96. In June, the Coalition for Corporate Responsibility organized a rally and march at a farmhouse near the new IPSCO Steel, Inc. plant in rural Muscatine County. Approximately 120 community residents walked one half-mile to the plant's front gate to deliver petitions signed by 1300 people from the area calling on IPSCO to meet with a community delegation to begin negotiating a binding Good Neighbor Agreement. In May, around the time IPSCO began withdrawing large amounts of water from the Silurian aquifer during test operations, dozens of private wells near the plant were left high and dry. One week after the community rally, IPSCO announced its intentions to draw water from the Mississippi River, just as the Coalition for Corporate Responsibility had urged all along. Later in the year IPSCO applied for and was granted a federal permit to use Mississippi River water for its operations. Inspired by this victory, people in the community renewed their efforts to win a comprehensive good neighbor agreement with IPSCO to resolve remaining concerns about the plant's impacts.

1996

ICAN joined forces with scores of national, state and local grass roots groups to pass the Food Quality Protection Act in Congress, monumental pesticide reform legislation requiring all pesticides to be re-tested under stricter standards specifically designed to protect infants, children, and the elderly. On the state level, ICAN once again stopped efforts by Iowa's investor-owned electric utilities to repeal the state's Alternate Energy Production mandate (see 1995 above) and helped win a new revolving loan fund for renewable energy projects in the state. In July, the Iowa Utilities Board issued an order compelling Iowa's investor-owned utilities to enter into contracts with renewable energy developers to fulfill the state's Alternative Energy Production mandate. ICAN also authored and passed into law a new policy rewarding companies who enter into good neighbor agreements with local community groups. The Coalition for Corporate Responsibility's drive to get IPSCO Inc. to enter into a good neighbor agreement went into high gear. In June, ICAN released "IPSCO: A 'Steel' of a Deal" - a 32-page report profiling the $73 million economic development incentive package awarded to the company in 1994 (the largest package of corporate subsidies in Iowa history). The report also outlined the good neighbor agreement proposed to IPSCO by the Coalition. The day after the report was released, nearly one hundred people attended a town meeting in Muscatine to discuss community concerns about the local imact of the new plant.

1995

ICAN passed legislation -- ultimately vetoed -- that would have provided desperately needed information and assistance to health insurance customers. ICAN also stopped an effort by Iowa's investor- owned electric utilities to repeal the state's Alternate Energy Production mandate, which requires the utilities to purchase 105 average megawatts of renewable power. In July, ICAN helped found the Iowa Sustainable Energy for Economic Development (SEED) Coalition - uniting consumer, environmental, low-income, educational and religious organizations with common interests in developing "home-grown" sustainable energy sources benefiting the Iowa economy. Later in the year, ICAN helped form the Coalition for Corporate Responsibility - uniting community, environmental, family farm, labor, low-income and religious organizations with common interests in making sure Iowa corporations are responsible partners in community improvement. At the end of the year, the Coalition for Corporate Responsibility began a campaign to win a good neighbor agreement with IPSCO Steel, Inc. - an enforceable contract ensuring that the company's new plant in rural Muscatine County will not negatively impact the quality of life in the community. ICAN also successfully mobilized thousands of Iowans against proposals in Congress to roll back environmental safeguards. In addition, ICAN formed and Emergency Campaign to Protect Medicare and Medicaid which successfully countered congressional efforts to curb health and long-term care protections for millions of American families, including thousands here in Iowa. As a result of ICAN's Food Safety Campaign (see 1994 above), dozens of Hy-Vee grocery stores began to stock organic or pesticide free produce.

1994

ICAN passed legislation through the Iowa Senate committing the state to universal health care coverage by January 1, 1998. The bill - which established a right to comprehensive, affordable health care for all - never made it through the House, but it was an important vehicle for making health security for every Iowan the linchpin of reform efforts in the Senate. ICAN also began a massive public education campaign to raise awareness about pesticides and other harmful substances in our drinking water. In addition, ICAN launched the Pesticide Food Safety Campaign - focusing on getting dangerous pesticide residues out of our food. ICAN generated more than 500 hand written letters to Hy-Vee grocery store produce managers and more than 1,000 postcards to Hy-Vee's CEO urging the state's largest grocery store chain to stock organic or pesticide-free fruits and vegetables in its stores. ICAN joined forces with family farm allies to form the Citizen Task Force on Concentrated Livestock Production in order to develop model policies to protect family farmers and preserve Iowa's environment.

1993

ICAN passed a new moratorium on the construction of toxic and hazardous waste incinerators - stopping at least two proposed projects. On March 23, a delegation of citizens met with Vice President Al Gore at the White House and told him their health care horror stories. During the meeting, the delegates delivered more than 1 million postcards (see 1992 above) signed by residents of all 50 states - including thousands of ICAN members. Max Cloke, an ICAN member from Eldon, represented ICAN during the White House visit. (Max and his wife, Cheryl, lost their teenage daughter to a dreadful disease. Shortly after his daughter's death, Max' employer - unable to pay over a million dollars of self-insured medical expenses for her care and treatment - was forced to file for bankruptcy and went out of business. Max and his family - and his co-workers - lost their jobs and their health insurance.) Shortly after the Washington event, 50 members of Congress introduced the American Health Security Act of 1993 - the Universal Health Care Act's successor - and ICAN immediately began to mobilize Iowans in support of the bill.

1992

ICAN once again renewed the moratorium on the construction of medical waste incinerators. ICAN also reintroduced legislation to establish a state-level universal health insurance plan. After the general election in November, ICAN and other citizen action started a postcard campaign to President-Elect Clinton. Thousands of ICAN members signed the postcards which urged the President-Elect to submit a national health insurance plan to Congress modeled after the Universal Health Care Act.

1991

ICAN won legislation creating a toxic pollution prevention program in Iowa. ICAN also renewed the moratorium on construction of medical waste incinerators. In addition ICAN introduced legislation to establish a state- level universal health insurance plan similar to the "Universal Health Care Act of 1991" introduced in the House of Representatives by 15 members of Congress at the start of the year. Later in the year, ICAN co-sponsored the "Emergency Drive for Health" - a national mobilization to build public pressure for congressional action on health care reform. During the "Emergency Drive", ambulance caravans crossed the U.S., visiting over 100 American cities. The ambulance caravan stopped in seven Iowa cities for events that underscored the urgent nature of the health care crisis.

1990

ICAN helped pass the Energy Efficiency Act - cutting waste and saving Iowa rate payers millions of dollars on their gas and electric power bills. ICAN also passed a temporary moratorium on the construction of medical waste incinerators which stopped several polluting facilities from being built in Iowa.

1989

ICAN joined forces with scores of national, state, and local citizen, consumer and labor groups to begin pushing for national health insurance legislation.

1988

In the face of a health security crisis affecting hundreds of thousands of Iowans, ICAN and launched a statewide Health Care for All Coalition to build public support for comprehensive reform to contain health care costs and guarantee affordable health care for all.

1987

ICAN worked with environmental and agricultural groups to Iowa's landmark Groundwater Protection Act, designed to protect Iowa's natural water sources and drinking water. ICAN also worked to pass a bill - ultimately vetoed - that would have lightened the tax burden on low- and middle-income Iowans. In addition, ICAN helped pass another bill - also vetoed - which would have provided partial public financing of campaigns for candidates who limited their campaign spending.

1986

At the state level, ICAN authored and passed into law a bill closing more tax loopholes, including a loophole for people engaged "tax loss farming". At the national level, ICAN and its allies - after more than two years of organizing - won congressional legislation to renew, expand, and strengthen the federal Superfund. The Superfund reauthorization bill made polluters - not taxpayers - pay for clean up of the nation's most hazardous toxic dump sites, including those here in Iowa.

1985

Shocking legislative insiders who said it was impossible; ICAN authored and passed into law a bill restricting the dumping of toxic waste into landfills.

1984

After five years of organizing, ICAN won a winter shutoffs moratorium - banning shutoffs of utilities to low income Iowans during the winter months. ICAN also joined with other groups to pass legislation guaranteeing citizen's right to know about the presence of toxic chemicals in work places and communities. In addition, ICAN worked to pass the state Superfund legislation that required the chemical industry to pay to clean up toxic dump sites in Iowa and began working with scores of citizen and environmental groups across the country to renew, expand, and strengthen the federal Superfund.

1983

ICAN won a major victory with passage of the Omnibus Utility Reform Bill. The bill created a formal review of gas contracting practices and gave the Iowa Commerce Commission authority to review and regulate excess generating capacity and utility management - saving Iowa consumers tens of millions of dollars each year.

1982

Iowa C/LEC closed a major state tax loophole when it won the Windfall Oil Profits Tax Bill - making sure that Big Oil pays its fair share of taxes.

1981

Iowa C/LEC won legislation which stopped "pan caking" of utility rate increases - a policy that allowed utilities to file for and collect rate increases one on top of another.

1980

Iowa C/LEC passed legislation requiring utilities to more aggressively pursue conservation measures - stimulating economic efficiency and creating needed jobs in the state.

1979

Iowa C/LEC intervened in utility rate cases on behalf of citizens across the state, slowing the pace of rate increases by major utility companies -- saving consumers millions of dollars.