Friends of IFC,

This week is going to be busy.  We’re nearing the first funnel of the session.

  • Friday, February 21 is the first “funnel” deadline. Bills need to be voted out of committee to stay alive.  That means House bills must be voted out of their assigned House committee, and Senate bills out of a Senate committee.  Bills that involve a tax or spending are exempt from the deadline – and can be debated at any time during the session.
  • Friday, March 20 is the second and final “funnel” deadline. By this date, a bill must have passed one chamber (House or Senate) and have made it out of committee in the opposite chamber.  House bills need to be voted out of Senate committees, and Senate bills out of House committees.  Any that don’t make this deadline will no longer be discussed.

IFC people are working day and night at this very moment.  We have a daily presence at the Capitol Building.  We love this work, but we’re simply an extension of you.  If you rely solely on the IFC crew to get things accomplished, a gap naturally presents itself.  True, we ask you to join us in advocacy.  But the truth is, when you can reach out to your Senators and House Representatives personally and with passion, it makes the biggest impact.  A handshake from you followed by, “I’m an IFC member.  I have an expectation (fill in the blank) becomes law,” really does the trick.  On the chance you hear back, “I’ll vote for it provided it makes it to the floor,” you should be ready with a rebuttal.  We hear that response often in politics.  Some folks actually mean it when they respond with that comment.  Too few.  Many simply note your concern mentally and move on as if nothing ever happened.  You should be reminding them in that moment that they represent you and you deserve to know what they’re prepared to do in order to facilitate the outcome freedom loving Iowans prefer.

The fact is there are several caucus meetings on a myriad of topics.  When a person tells you, they’ll do their part IF a piece of legislation makes it to the floor, that’s true, but only in part.  When you impress upon your elected officials your desire for a bill to become codified, they take that back to those caucus meetings and relay the “hot” issues.  When our issues are “hot” they tend to move.  When our issues aren’t “hot” they tend to die on the vine.

Ask yourselves how many grapes you’re willing to see become raisins?  Now, substitute the word “rights” for grapes, and “garbage” for raisins and reread the sentence above…  It should go something like this:

[cp_quote style=”quote_left_dark”]Ask yourselves how many rights you’re willing to see become garbage?[/cp_quote]

Here is a list of some of the listening posts and coffees offered by legislators.  Emails, phone calls, and letters are highly encouraged.  The best method is a personal handshake and the voicing of your expectations in person.  Take your cues from our “Good, Bad, & Ugly” Legislative Tracker Page for the bills you wish to discuss with them.

(Credit to the Iowa Developmental Disabilities Council for putting together this online list)

02/08/2020 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM Listening Post – Mason City

02/08/2020 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM Listening Post-Johnston

02/10/2020 8:00 AM – 10:00 AM Coffee with Marti-Des Moines

02/10/2020 8:00 AM – 9:00 AM Coffee Chat-Cedar Rapids

02/10/2020 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM Public Open House – Newton

02/14/2020 9:00 AM – 10:30 AM Office Hours-Ankeny

02/14/2020 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM Legislative Forum-Sioux Center

02/15/2020 7:30 AM – 9:00 AM Jefferson County Legislative Forum-Fairfield

02/15/2020 9:00 AM – 10:30 AM Jackson County Legislative Forum

02/15/2020 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM Legislative Forum-Burlington

02/15/2020 9:00 AM – 10:30 AM Eggs and Issues-Spencer

02/15/2020 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM Legislative Forum-Clinton

02/15/2020 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM Farm Bureau Forum-Bellevue

02/15/2020 9:30 AM – 11:30 AM Office Hours-Clive

02/15/2020 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM Legislative Forum-Cedar Rapids

02/15/2020 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM Legislative Forum – Monroe

02/15/2020 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM Legislative Forum-Newton

02/15/2020 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM Legislative Coffee-Harlan

02/15/2020 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM Legislative Briefing-Washington

02/15/2020 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM Town Hall-Frederika

02/15/2020 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM Listening Post – Ankeny

02/15/2020 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM Legislative Forum-Dewitt

02/15/2020 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM Eggs and Issues-Okoboji

02/15/2020 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM Eggs & Issues-Spirit Lake

02/15/2020 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM Legislative Forum – Knoxville

02/15/2020 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM Listening Post – Sigourney

02/16/2020 7:30 AM – 9:00 AM Eggs and Issues-Burlington

02/17/2020 8:00 AM – 10:00 AM Coffee with Marti-Des Moines

 

Join us in spirit, in membership, and victory!

 

-Michael Ware – IFC Chairman