Developing a voice at the Capitol

By Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier

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Life in Des Moines is filled with visits from special groups.

Representatives for groups ranging from gun owners to private colleges to corn growers invite lawmakers to breakfasts where they can talk about issues that affect the hosts. Coffee, muffins, fruit and pastries are the normal fare.

Tuesday marked the dawn of a new day at the Capitol - one that started with tamales.

The League of United Latin American Citizens hosted its first lobbying day at the Capitol this week. While the group has worked on issues at the Legislature over the years, the breakfast and lobbying day show a more concerted effort going forward.

“We've been here before, but I don't know why it's taken us so long to do this,” said Rose Vasquez, a former member of the Iowa Board of Regents and state director of the Department of Human Rights from 1999 to 2003.

Iowa has four local LULAC councils that hold voter registration drives and provide information to residents about immigration and language issues. Those groups have been trying to make sure Latino issues are known by the state's lawmakers.

We know lobbyists aren't exactly beloved. While we love to complain about how lobbyists and their special interests hold too great a sway over our legislators, there's a catch: nearly all of us are represented by lobbyists in one form or another. Workers, educators, gas station owners, homeowners, landlords, renters, we all have someone working for us, even if we aren't aware of it.

The fact that LULAC now has a presence in Des Moines should be seen as a welcome addition.

Right now, Latinos make up a little more than 5 percent of the state population. However, Woods and Pool Economics estimates Latinos will make up nearly 13 percent of Iowa's population by 2040.

The Latino population increased more than any other group in Iowa between 2000 and 2010, and make up the bulk of Iowa's growth.

However, Latino voices have been muffled when it comes to politics in Iowa. Less than half voted in the 2012 election.

The Latino group in Iowa, as it is across the nation, is diverse. There are plenty of new immigrants, as 38 percent of Iowa's Latino population were born in other countries. But there are also those who have been here for generations, those who have slowly become a part of the fabric of communities in Iowa.

As Latinos continue to grow and become a greater force in Iowa, they will develop a greater voice. We need to make sure that voice is heard.

For that, we commend LULAC for taking steps to ensure the Latino population doesn't go unnoticed.

Oh, and the lawmakers thought the tamales were a hit.

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