Loebsack addresses Dems at Johnson County convention

IOWA CITY - It may not be all that Democrats hoped for, but health-care legislation Congress is expected to take up this week is “highly significant stuff,” U.S. Rep.

Dave Loebsack said Saturday at the Johnson County Democratic Convention.

The health-care glass “is more than half-full, as far as I'm concerned,” the Mount Vernon Democrat said at Iowa City West High.

“If we get the bill through, there will be more than 30 million people covered who don't have health insurance now,” said Loebsack, who plans to file for re-election to his 2nd District seat. “There clearly are a number of things that will happen immediately: No longer can you be denied coverage for a pre-existing condition; no longer will you be subject to rescission, where people can be thrown off their insurance because they have a catastrophic illness; and children can stay on their parents' insurance at least until they are 26.

“This is a real piece of legislation that will do real good for millions of Americans,” he said. “I'm proud to be associated with it.”

Delegates to the convention, who were elected at this year's precinct caucuses, elected delegates to the party's district and state conventions April 24 and June 12, respectively. Delegates also discussed and voted on the county party platforms.

About half of county parties will have their conventions next week. Linn County Democrats will meet at 9 a.m. March 20 at Cedar Rapids Washington High School.

In addition to Loebsack, Johnson County Democrats were scheduled to hear from U.S. Senate hopefuls Tom Fiegen and Roxanne Conlin on Saturday.

Loebsack told the delegates they have a tough job ahead of them as they work for Democratic candidates in a non-presidential year election.

“I've been in your position a number of times,” he said.

Conventional wisdom this year is that the

intensity is on the other side – with Republicans, conservatives and tea party activists, said

Loebsack, a former

political science professor. However, Loebsack said he's been encouraged by turnout at fundraisers he held in Cedar Rapids and Burlington last weekend.

“If they are any indication of the level of our intensity, I have no doubt we Democrats are going to do awfully well in the fall,” Loebsack said.

Right now, there are four Republicans seeking their party's nomination to face Loebsack in the fall: Rob Gettemy and Chris Reed, both of Marion, Mariannette Miller-Meeks of Ottumwa and Steve Rathje of Cedar Rapids.