IOWA POLITICS
Coalition: Kids' issues should be Iowa election priority
William Petroski
bpetrosk@dmreg.com
The Children's Policy Coalition, a nonpartisan group representing nearly 40 Iowa organizations, said Tuesday it is calling upon Iowa's candidates for state and federal offices to pay greater attention to children's issues, such as foster care, child care and early childhood education.
The coalition held a news conference at the Iowa Capitol to highlight its efforts to inform candidates, voters and the media about child policy issues it considers critical to Iowa's future and to support policies that will help children thrive.
These includes a focus on healthy development, early learning, safety, economic security, and equality and opportunity.
Jerry Foxhoven of the Drake Legal Clinic, who moderated the event, said the coalition wants to provide opportunities for all children to succeed, and it is encouraging all parties to make children's issues part of this fall's election dialogue.
Organizers said children represent 24 percent of Iowa's population, and how the nation and lawmakers respond to children's needs is critical to the future. They said they are concerned that government's response to child needs is not a top-tier issue.
The coalition has asked all candidates for Congress to respond to five core child-policy concerns. Both of Iowa's major-party candidates for governor have also responded to 10 state child-policy concerns. Their responses are posted on the coalition's website at www.itsaboutourkidds.org
The Iowa event was coordinated by the Child and Family Policy Center of Des Moines, a research and advocacy organization. Nationally, the Step Up for Kids initiative is sponsored by Every Child Matters, a nonpartisan group that works to make issues involving children a national political priority.