As we pulled up for the morning rally outside Representative Rod Blum’s office (IA-01), we were greeted by a cardboard, life-size cutout of Rep. Blum. After repeated requests for appointments to speak with him or for him to hold town hall meetings to no avail, his constituents began bringing this cutout to their gatherings.

Sister Robbie Pentecost, an Oldenburg (IN) Franciscan Sister who ministers in Appalachia, greeted the crowd and told them we’re on the road working for tax justice for the common good. Then, Cedar Rapids resident, and former NETWORK executive director, Sister Kathy Thornton, RSM spoke. Sister Kathy is also a former Nun on the Bus. She emphasized the hardships and struggle of people in Iowa, particularly obtaining adequate mental health services, affordable healthcare and other vital services. Having requested an appointment for Nuns on the Bus (more than once) to meet with Rep. Blum or his staff without  a response, she wondered aloud how he can represent Iowans without meeting or talking with them. How does he know of their struggles and concerns?

That is a growing frustration of people we’ve met along the way. “They won’t talk to their employers (their constituents),” as one woman lamented at last night’s town hall.

Recognizing her privileged position as a white woman with a Master’s Degree and a processional job with good health insurance, Nadia Gillitzer told us how she has to stretch her insulin and supplies from paycheck to paycheck. With insurance her medication costs $200 every month. Without, it would be $1000. “Just to keep her alive,” she noted.

After the rally, Sister Simone, Sister Kathy, Nadia and several others of us from the Bus went to the Congressman’s office. Five or six constituents spontaneously accompanied us. After buzzing in, an aide came to the door and let us in the entry way. The communications director joined her. We were not invited to come in to the office area and sit down. Sister Simone delivered a packet of information about how Iowans are being affected by the tax legislation that rewards the wealthy while making it harder on people in the lower quintiles economic brackets. Sister Kathy made it clear that she never received a response to her requests for an appointment. The constituents were clearly frustrated by repeated attempts to get meaningful responses to their questions from their representative and let it be known.

As we roll on, Kathy’s question echoes in my mind. How do elected officials represent their people when they isolate themselves from them, particularly from those impacted the most by policies they enact?

We must get back to our true relationship. “Glory to you, Source of all being, eternal word made flesh and Spirit who dwells in our midst”

We have been blinded by the gods of materialism.  We need our cataracts removed freeing us to see our relationship with “all being”.  We must make time to listen to the depth of our awesome God the “source of all being”.

And ponder this real love “made flesh” our guiding light to show us how to live no matter the price.  This is our unimaginable deep love.

As we strive to imitate our loving awesome “beings” light we must follow whatever the price—not in materialistic amassing but in respect, walking with one another and all of creation in equal partnership.  This is our loving God’s focus for all of us.

We must move forward hand in hand with all of creation in non-violence to unmask the blight on our universe and beyond!

At 9am on October 15, a gaggle of folks came together outside of Representative Mike Coffman’s office to speak about NETWORK and Nuns on the Bus’s focus on “reasonable revenue for responsible programs.” Nuns on the Bus is on the road again to talk to people about tax cuts which primarily benefit wealthy persons and will definitely hurt the most vulnerable people among us.

The rally preceding our meeting with Mike Coffman was spirited and, led by Sr. Simone, included brief sharing from three people: Selihom Andarge, a Regis University student; Sally Wolf of Society of St. Vincent de Paul Voice of the Poor; and Rachel Wall, who spoke about healthcare and pre-existing conditions.

Following the rally, Selihom, Rachel, Sr.Simone and Sisters Liz Fuhr and myself went up to meet with congressman Mike Coffman.. We were met at the door with the announcement that only four people would be allowed in to the meeting, though we had definitely been told that five was the number. There was no way to hold them to their original agreement, and so Sr. Liz Fuhr dropped out of the circle.

Selihom, Rachel and Sr. Anna gave moving testimony as to the consequences of tax cuts in the areas of student aid, health care and housing. None of this had much impact on Mike Coffman, who insisted that he had not seen programs being cut. Sr. Simone had several exchanges with Congressman Coffman; in each case he showed his lack of analysis related to program cutbacks. The congressman gave many examples of the good things coming out of Congress and initiatives in his district. The meeting was congenial, but not exceptionally productive.

Following the meeting, the bus headed off to Omaha – the next stop on the tour. We wish them all happy travels and fruitful meetings as they move across the country, concluding their tour in Mar-A-Lago with a big “Fiesta for the Common Good.”

In the evening, we arrived at Mount Mercy University in Cedar Rapids and were warmly welcomed by the Mercy Sisters there.  After collecting our bags, winding through the empty college library (students are away for fall break), shuffling through an emergency door (setting off the alarm), we found our rooms and grabbed a quick bite to eat with the resident sisters.

We gathered at the beautiful chapel for our Town Hall for Justice and I was thrilled to be greeted by three of my own Dominican Sisters who had traveled from the Dubuque area to attend. The second cohort of Nuns on the Bus Sisters for the trip had the chance to participate their debut Town Hall event for a crowd of about 75 people.  After we demonstrated how economic inequality has been amplified by our nation’s tax policies since the 1980’s, Sister Simone opened it up for conversation.  There was lots of engagement in the small discussion groups, but when she began asking folks to share, the crowd was more subdued— Nuns on the Bus has definitely arrived in the Midwest!

With a little cajoling some wonderful ideas emerged about how to encourage friends and neighbors to vote. Those who shared helped us understand just how important it is for Iowans to elect representatives that will reverse some of the federal (and state!) laws that have already harmed so many residents in the state. It was a hard crowd to read, but before they left, my Dominican sisters assured me “We may be a quiet bunch, but know that we’re soaking it in.”