REPRINTED from the Iowa Independent:
Independent Congressional candidate William Meyers, who lost his district's Democratic primary last month, has launched a new Web site he hopes will become the focal point for the movement to repeal the recently enacted statewide smoking ban. The site attacks most Democrats in both chambers of the state legislature.

The site, RepealTheSmokingBan.org, officially went live earlier today. Meyers said he is currently operating it on his own but hopes in the coming days to contact interested parties who are working to overturn the ban to see if they would be interested in utilizing the site to unify the movement on a statewide basis.

"I want to donate the site to groups trying to get this terrible law overturned," Meyers said. "This site can help form a statewide coalition to make that a reality."

Meyers said he first became interested in the idea when he was running in the Democratic primary for the 4th District U.S. Congressional seat. The site, however, is completely separate from his independent run for Congress, Meyers said, though he hopes he can use the experience he has gained during the campaign to benefit the anti-ban movement.

"I'm willing to do what I can, whether that is helping with research for a future lawsuit, assist in online networking or just out talking to people and letting them know why this ban is a bad idea."

One section of the site, entitled "The Nannies," lists every legislator who voted in favor of the smoking ban, along with contact information. A "Nanny," according to the site, is anyone who "thinks they should be able to tell other adults how to live. The militantly anti-anything-else-they-see-someone-else-enjoying."

Many Democrats were already upset with Meyers, fearing his independent run for Congress could siphon votes away from Democratic nominee Becky Greenwald and tip the race to Republican incumbent Tom Latham. In designing a Web site aimed directly at a bill Democratic legislators and Democratic Gov. Chet Culver advocated,he runs the risk of further alienating the Democratic establishment.

"I think this shows my willingness to reach across the aisle and speak out on an issue I believe in," he said. "I was embarrassed to call myself a Democrat when my party pushed through the smoking ban, and I think it will hurt them and any Republican who voted for it this fall."