Emergency clean water meeting with Bill Stowe & Graham Gillette

A a new Statehouse bill (HF 316) would dismantle the Des Moines Water Works (DMWW) board and distribute the utility’s assets to surrounding cities – which would kill the DMWW’s lawsuit. But here’s the kicker: We’ve heard Des Moines City Council supports the bill and even helped draft it. They turned their backs on their own constituents and caved to corporate ag interests.

TAKE ACTION:  

HF 316 is another anti-local control, anti-local democracy measure designed to silence fearless truth-tellers like Bill Stowe and quell the growing citizen demand to crack down on corporate ag and factory farm polluters. We’ve seen what happens to our water when elected officials side with corporate interests instead of everyday people — it looks like Flint, Michigan. But CCI members aren’t ones to stand by and just let things happen.

.Don’t Dismantle the Des Moines Water Works Talking Points About the bill, HF 316:

• HF 316 would dismantle the Des Moines Water Works (DMWW) board and distribute the utility’s assets and power to surrounding cities – which would kill the DMWW’s lawsuit.

• HF 316 is another anti-local control, anti-local democracy measure designed to silence fearless truth-tellers like Bill Stowe and quell the growing citizen demand to crack down on corporate ag and factory farm polluters.

• This bill is purely a retribution bill. They are trying to shut down a meaningful attempt to hold corporate ag polluters accountable under the Clean Water Act.

• A corporate ag shill, Rep Jarad Klein from Keota (not DES MOINES), introduced this bill and is trying to call the shots for Des Moines residents. Klein has taken over $20,000 from corporate ag groups in recent years.

• Four lobbyists, hired by the city of Des Moines, also represent the Iowa Drainage District Association. The Des Moines Water Works lawsuit directly  ties in with the drainage districts in Buena Vista, Calhoun, and Sac counties where this lawsuit stemmed from.

 Des Moines City Council demands and talking points:

• 4 members of the Des Moines City Council support the bill. Shame on City Council members that support this Farm Bureau power grab over their own constituents. There has never been a public vote on this issue.

• We've heard Des Moines's own City Councilor Christine Hensley - on the board of Farm Bureau's front group "Partnership for Clean Water" - is colluding with Big Ag to push and draft this bill. That ain't right.

• Withdraw your support.  We want to know which of you are siding with corporate ag.

 Clean Water talking points:

• Iowa has 754 impaired waterways in 2014 – up 15% from 2012. And, Des Moines Water Works had to run it denitrification machine 177 days in 2015.

• Iowa has over 9,000 factory farms that produce 22 billion gallons of manure.

• We need mandatory regulations, not voluntary. The Des Moines Water Works lawsuit seeks mandatory regulations through the Clean Water Act.

• We've seen what happens to our water when elected officials side with corporate interests instead of everyday people — it looks like Flint, Michigan.