May 17, 2012 Dr. Jill Biden and OFA Iowa Announce Women for Obama Steering Committee

PRESS RELEASE from Obama for America Iowa

Release: Wednesday, May 17, 2012

Contact: Obama for America Iowa

Dr. Jill Biden and OFA Iowa Announce Women for Obama Steering Committee

DES MOINES – Last night, Organizing for America Iowa announced its Women for Obama Steering Committee. Dr. Jill Biden, Second Lady and wife of Vice President Joe Biden, made the announcement on a conference call with the co-founder of Iowa Women for Obama Nancy Bobo. This call was Dr. Biden’s first campaign event in support of the President and Vice-President’s re-election.

“Raised by a single mother and grandmother and as the father of two daughters, President Obama understands that these aren’t just women’s issues. They impact all of us,” said Biden. “Since the day he took office, President Obama has been a staunch advocate for Iowa women, working to protect and advance policies that promote fairness, equal opportunity, and a level playing field.”

On the call, Dr. Biden spoke about being a teacher, a military mom and supporting military families.

“The Women for Obama Steering Committee is comprised of smart, talented and accomplished women who are leaders in their communities and role models for all Iowans,” said State Director Brad Anderson. “We are proud to have their support. They will play a key role in talking to Iowans about how President Obama is fighting for hardworking middle class Americans. In order to continue strengthening Iowa’s economy for the long term we need to keep moving forward by re-electing the President in November.

Volunteers and supporters joined campaign offices and house parties across the state for the call. The events were an opportunity to talk about the President’s accomplishments, the economy and specific components of the Affordable Care Act as part of National Women’s Health Week.

When President Obama took office, jobs were disappearing at a rate of more than 750,000 a month. Under his leadership, we have seen 25 straight months of private sector job growth – and women have gained nearly 1.2 million private sector jobs over that period.

The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, the first law President Obama signed into law, makes sure women can earn equal pay for equal work.

President Obama passed health reforms that are stopping insurance companies from discriminating against women and charging women more than men for the same coverage.

The Affordable Care Act requires health plans to include coverage without co-pay for the preventive services women need, including cervical cancer screenings, mammograms, contraception, and breastfeeding support.

President Obama helped millions of Americans – women and children – lift themselves out of poverty by expanding or extending programs that helped those who were hardest hit by the recession.

President Obama believes a good education cannot be a luxury – it’s an economic imperative and he’s fighting to keep teachers in the classroom and college within reach for our children.

May is Women for Obama month. Throughout the month the campaign is holding events across the state to highlight the President's record, why he is the right choice in November and to point out why Mitt Romney is the wrong choice for Iowa women.

The members of the Iowa Women for Obama Steering Committee include:

Former Lt. Gov. Patty Judge, Des Moines

Former Lt. Gov. Sally Pederson, Des Moines

Former Iowa Attorney General, Bonnie Campbell, Des Moines

Former First Lady of Iowa Mari Culver, West Des Moines
Sue Dvorsky, Coralville, Chair, Iowa Democratic Party

Jill June, Ankeny, President, Planned Parenthood of the Heartland

Roxanne Conlin, Des Moines, Owner, Roxanne Conlin & Associates, P.C.

Natasha Newcomb, Des Moines, Vice President, DAWN's List

Marcia Nichols, Johnston, Iowa Political Director, AFSCME

Sandy Opstvedt, Story City, IBEW local 55 and Democratic National Committee Member

Jan Bauer, Ames, Democratic National Committee Member

Linda Langston, Cedar Rapids, Linn County Board of Supervisors

Sen. Amanda Ragan, Mason City

Sen. Pam Jochum, Dubuque

Rep. Phyllis Thede, Bettendorf
Rep. Beth Wessel-Kroeschell, Ames

Rep. Helen Miller, Ft. Dodge

Rep. Janet Petersen, Ankeny

Rep. Mary Mascher, Iowa City

Rep. Sharon Steckman, Mason City

Rep. Deb Berry, Waterloo

Rep. Cindy Winckler, Davenport

Rep. Jo Oldson, Des Moines

Rep. Ruth Ann Gaines, Des Moines

Nancy Bobo, Des Moines, volunteer

Veronica Simms, Des Moines, volunteer

Ann Distelhorst, Burlington, volunteer

Teri Goodmann, Dubuque, volunteer

Melanie Gross, Coralville, volunteer

Karen Nichols, Iowa City, volunteer

WASHINGTON, June 5, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Former Presidential Candidate Gary Bauer congratulated Governor Scott Walker for his win in Wisconsin's recall election, calling it "another sign that taxpayers will award office holders ready to do the hard work of reigning in out-of-control government spending."

Bauer, the chairman of the Campaign for Working Families, made the following statement:

"I congratulate Governor Scott Walker for his hard-fought victory tonight, and most especially for having the courage of his convictions to fight the good fight. But the victory in Wisconsin is not Scott Walker's alone. It is a victory for the hard-working taxpayers of Wisconsin, who foot the bill year after year. It is a victory for common sense over powerful special interests. It is a victory that taxpayers in every state can celebrate. It is a victory, yes, even for some union members.

"Since Gov. Walker's reforms were enacted, tens of thousands of state employees have opted to keep more of the money they earn rather than let the public employees union siphon off their hard-earned dollars. In other words, once given the choice, more than half of the public employees union's members decided that they didn't need the union. These reforms will pay real dividends for the taxpayers of Wisconsin. They are the real winners tonight.

"The recall election is a sign of good things to come. The power of the Big Labor bosses has finally been checked, not just in Wisconsin, but also in scores of other states across the country. More governors, legislators and taxpayers will be inspired to stand up against the liberal labor unions and do what is truly in the best interests of their communities. Wisconsin's 10 Electoral College votes are now in play, and the anti-tax, small government movement that swept the country in 2010 is about to sweep Barack Obama out of office in 154 days!"

Source: PR Newswire (http://s.tt/1drYR)