GRINNELL, IA (Jan. 27, 2021) – Common Good Iowa is a newly-formed nonpartisan, non-profit organization that informs policymaking to turn Iowa values into concrete solutions that advance opportunity for all Iowans.
That was the message of Anne Discher, executive director, who spoke via Zoom to the Grinnell Rotary Club on Tues., Jan. 26.
Formed in December by merging Child and Family Policy Center of Des Moines and Iowa Policy Project of Iowa City, Common Good Iowa has 50 years of combined experience in research on policy issue, data collection and analysis about “the well-being of Iowans,” and lobbying, according to Discher.
Discher mentioned that Janet Carl of Grinnell is the vice-chair of their board of directors.
Four areas of focus for Common Good Iowa are the well-being of children and families, childcare, K-12, and public pre-school.
Among the state issues that Common Good Iowa is closely monitoring are mental health for children, broadband, and the school choice bill currently on fast track at the Iowa Legislature.
Discher said that the governor’s inclusion of $15 million in the Iowa budget for children’s mental health is promising, “given everything else that is going on.” The funds are coming from general funding, not from general sales tax, she said. Although there are not a lot of details at the moment and while the money may not be enough to meet all the needs, it is a start, she said.
Discher cited broadband as another area with broad bi-partisan support across the state. She said that the lack of bandwidth in rural areas hampers the delivery of many services, including affordable healthcare through telehealth.
A third issue of broad concern is the school choice bill that would allow spending public funds for private schooling. She commented that the “bill is bad for racial equity and bad for small towns.”
Grinnell Rotary Club meets via Zoom every Tuesday at 6 p.m.
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