Just heard Blouin speak

[pstans]

I just got back from hearing Mike Blouin speak here in Marshalltown. Three local groups here are sponsoring a Candidate forum and all candidates are expected to come speak in the next couple months. Today was Blouin's turn.

As many of you know I am not supporting Blouin for governor. I am in the Fallon camp and have been since last summer. I went to hear Blouin because I wanted to hear his positions first hand. I came away from the event feeling that I could support Blouin in a general election. His talk on early childhood education and health insurance for kids was right on and as a teacher I feel this is very important. You could definitely tell that Blouin has the experience and is qualified for the job.

I feel that Blouin is the incumbant in this race. He has many of the same platforms as Vilsack, which is understandable since Blouin has worked so closely with Vilsack. If you are pleased with Vilsack, Blouin is your man. The primary will give a real show about a possible Vilsack run for president. If Blouin can't win the Democratic primary by holding up Vilsack's achievements, then Vilsack will have some trouble in a Presidential primary here in the state.

I have not jumped to the Blouin camp after hearing him speak. I still think there is a better way to economic development than throwing cash at large corporations and hope they stay here in Iowa. This is corporate welfare. That money would be better put to use by funding eduaction, providing heath care, and making Iowa a better place to live. Then companies will want to operate in Iowa, retirees won't turn into snowbirds, and young Iowans will want to stay in the state.

I agree with many of Blouin's long term visions, but don't think his approach is the right way to get there.

A primary is a perfect time to have these discussions, but Democrats need to remember that the day after the primary, we will all come together supporting whomever the candidate is.

[Rambis]

1. unlike Vilsack Blouin is...

anti choice and anti stem cell research.

[pstans]

3. Blouin is for stem cell research

Statement from Mike Blouin on Stem Cell Research

My father died of cancer at too young of an age. My mother died from complications of osteoporosis. I understand what people go through hoping for cures that research could bring about. That is why I wholeheartedly support stem-cell research that is consistent with federal law.

Not sure if that is the same cope out that he made on abortion or not.

[Debi]

7. No he's not, he agrees with Iowa's Ban on Stem Cell Research

http://www.wcfcourier.com/articles/2005/11/03/news/politics/00ba0f8b2ede5b6c862570ae005209cf.txt

<snip>

Candidate Mike Blouin, a pro-life Catholic, argued that Iowa's law is a model for the rest of the nation and should be kept in place.

"I think we ought to give it a chance to work. There is tremendous promise in adult stem cell as well umbilical stem cell (research) and nothing interrupts that, nothing at all," he said.

Blouin declined to answer directly whether he opposed embryonic stem cell research.

"I think we ought to tread very lightly," he said.

<snip>


In 2002 Vilsack signed into law one of the most restrictive laws in the country, now that he is running for President he wants that law changed. Blouin doesn't.

[Debi]

2. We cannot have early childhood education and health insurance

for kids AND have corporate welfare unless you want your taxes to go sky high while Wells Fargo and Principal Financial get tax breaks.

I will agree, however, that I will be voting for the Democrat in November.

[pstans]

5. Someone asked him how he'd pay for it all

He said that with the economic growth through the Iowa Values fund, the state budget was increasing and will keep on increasing. He'd use that money to pay for the early childhood education and healthcare.

Not sure if I believe that or not. Some of the taxes earned from the likes of Principal and Wells Fargo have to go to pay for the millions and millions of dollars that we handed to them.

[Debi]

6. Values Fund is our tax dollars that could go to teachers salary or

health insurance coverage. Instead it goes to low or no-interest loans OR grants to these giant companies who build in TIF district so don't have to pay for the land or pay property taxes for 5-10 years. These companies promise to pay a 'living wage' or a wage that is 90% of the average wage in the area HOWEVER there is a way to request a waiver of this requirement through the IDED and Blouin has granted that request MANY times.

So, do the math, we take tax dollars from working Iowans, give them away to large corporations who create jobs that are supposed to be at a livable wage but, since the Director of the IDED waived that requirement, are no better than the jobs that already exist AND we don't make these companies pay any taxes on the land they build on or give them the land for free. Who benefits from this? Who pays? Not the corporations, although I'd bet that a large amount of Blouin's campaign dollars come from them.

[pstans]

4. Two more things to add

I left out 2 important details.

1. No one brought up the abortion issue. I was a little disapointed and considered asking about it, but time ran out.

2. Blouin had a line that was a shot at Culver. He said, "I can win, I can govern, and I don't need basic training."