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This is a double example of how online communication speeds to flow of information. First this is an Iowa Republican party e-mail alert with text from the National Republican Congressional Congressional Committee. Second it cites e-mail somehow gathered by the Republican from the Democrats. The lesson should not be - don't use e-mail for political strategy. It should be - use e-mail when you are able to be upfront and honest. Steven Clift Democracies Online http://www.e-democracy.org/do P.S. Does anyone know of any efforts to archive/track/monitor/study e-mail alerts from political parties and/or candidates? ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Wed, 22 May 2002 16:19:31 -0500 From: Republican Party of Iowa <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Democrat Party's Senior Scare Campaign Exposed This is the Wednesday Iowa GOP Update, an E-publication of the Republican Party of Iowa. Chuck Larson Jr., Chairman. Democrat Party's Senior Scare Campaign Exposed Internal E-Mail Shows High-Level Democrat Staffers Producing, Approving "Not Entirely Factually Accurate" Senior Scare Propaganda (Released by the NRCC) Washington - Republicans today made public an incriminating internal Democrat document on Social Security, raising serious new ethical questions about the way national Democrats are targeting senior citizens and near retirees. The document shows high-level Democrat staffers deliberately employing false and deceptive scare tactics in an effort to make political gains with voters on Social Security. "We have said for months that national Democrats are engaged in a cynical and deceptive campaign to scare seniors on the issue of Social Security," commented National Republican Congressional Committee Chairman Tom Davis (R-VA). "After reviewing this document, there is absolutely no question that Democrats are knowingly and willfully using false and misleading information to scare seniors about their Social Security. This is a smoking gun." In late March, high-level staffers in the office of Appropriations Committee member Marcy Kaptur (D-OH) composed an op-ed, presumably intended for release to the public. Republicans obtained a paper trail of these staffers deliberating via e-mail on the accuracy of the op-ed, which, among other things, falsely accused Republicans of favoring Social Security "privatization." "Does the rhetoric match the facts here?" wrote one staffer. "[It is] not entirely factually accurate," replied another staffer. "Talk about scaring seniors - this may be a little over the top. But it is sooo fun to bash Republicans. :)" The e-mail was obtained by Republicans after Kaptur aides mistakenly carbon copied an unintended Republican recipient who shared the same last name with another of Kaptur's aides. "The language used in this draft op-ed is exactly the kind of language that is routinely used by Democrats across the board to falsely accuse Republicans of wanting to privatize Social Security," added Davis. "This e-mail shows that there is an entrenched culture among Democrats that takes pleasure in preying on the fears of seniors with false and deceptive misinformation for no other reason than to score political points." Iowa Republicans Release Budget Plan for 2003 Protect Children, Taxpayers, and Good Paying Jobs (News release from Legislative leaders) (Des Moines) Republican legislative leaders today released their budget plan for the fiscal year beginning July 1st, along with a comparison to an alternative proposal made by Governor Tom Vilsack. "Our budget proposal balances the state's budget while protecting children, taxpayers and good paying jobs," said Senate Majority Leader Stewart Iverson, Jr. (R-Dows). "We plan on passing this plan on Tuesday, May 28, and the Governor should sign it into law." The Republican plan protects children by increasing spending on K-12 schools by nearly $35 million, despite falling state revenues. The Republican plan gives schools $59 million to increase general school spending, while maintaining $40 million to raise teacher pay and $30 million to reduce class sizes and improve early childhood reading program. While Governor Vilsack's budget proposal cuts spending on frontline child protection workers by 4.5%, Republicans have opted for a smaller reduction of 2.2%. "Rather than jeopardize front-line child protection workers as the Governor's plan does, we decided to eliminate some government programs and make smaller cuts in the remaining parts of the budget," said House Majority Leader Christopher Rants (R-Sioux City). "We believe our plan is more responsible that the Governor's across-the-board approach." Rants also noted that the Republican plan protects efforts to improve Iowa's air and water quality, while the Governor cuts those programs by 33%. For instance the Republican plan spends $2.6 million on water quality monitoring stations, compared to $1.75 million in the Governor's plan. "In light of news reports of record nitrate levels in our rivers, we think now would be a bad time to weaken our commitment to clean water," added Rants. The Republican plan also protects taxpayers by eliminating twelve state government programs, and suspending fifteen additional programs. "Republicans want to prevent the possibility of a future tax increase," said House Speaker Brent Siegrist (R-Council Bluffs). "In order to accomplish that goal, we have to eliminate some government programs. These are programs that are worthwhile for government to operate when times are good, but programs we can't afford when times get tough. Our plan makes tough choices, something that is necessary to protect taxpayers." The GOP plan protects good paying jobs by rejecting a proposal by Governor Vilsack to raid $60 million from the state's road building fund to cover the budget shortfall. According to statistics prepared by the Federal Highway Administration, a cut of that magnitude to the road fund would cost the state 2,526 good paying construction jobs, plus delay job creating projects in communities that would benefit from better quality roads. "Raiding the road fund will cost the state good paying jobs at a time when we need to get our economy growing again," said Senate President Mary Kramer. "Our budget protects children and taxpayers and gets Iowa growing again. The Governor should support it." Republicans announced plans to adopt several budget reforms during the upcoming special session. Included will be proposals to increase the size of the state's cash reserve account, elimination of any state employee positions that have gone unfilled for twelve months, and several proposals to reduce skyrocketing Medicaid costs. The legislation will also create the Program Elimination Commission, charged with identifying additional state programs to eliminate as well as assets which the state might consider selling. Unlike previous commission recommendations, the legislature will have to vote on the proposal without amending it. 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