The Left Coast of Iowa

Drew Miller writes in his blog:
My friend Clint Fichter has a great letter to the editor in the Register today. Updated figures quoted below:

I have always been puzzled by Iowa House Speaker Christopher Rants' defiant resolve to prevent a tobacco-tax hike that makes sense fiscally and can prevent more of our youth from smoking.

In October 2005, Rants was given a donation of $1,384.97 by the RJ Reynolds Tobacco Co.'s political-action committee.

A cigarette-tax increase is supported by the majority of Iowans and is a priority of our governor. Research suggests that the price of cigarettes directly affects the number of new smokers and the cost of smoking on our public-health systems is extreme.

I am left wondering if the Washington Republicans' systemic corruption and manipulation of the public interest for private gain has not wormed its way into Iowa politics. It would be a shame to sacrifice our public health for the health of Speaker Rants' and the Iowa House Republicans' campaign war chests.

—Clint Fichter,