糖心vlog's General Election Guide: Sen. Joni Ernst
(R) Sen. Joni Ernst is looking to hold her seat against Democratic candidate Theresa Greenfield, Independent Suzanne Herzog and Libertarian Rick Stewart.
Each Iowa candidate on November's ballot was given the same list of questions to answer. To view all of the candidates, click here. Here are Ernst's responses:
What is your top priority if elected into office?
I鈥檓 a champion for farmers, veterans and working families and a tireless advocate for abuse survivors. I鈥檝e fought successfully to protect and promote ethanol, expand trade for Iowa products and deliver critical COVID assistance to farmers and families. I wrote the law to expand mental health services for fellow veterans. I鈥檝e helped implement sweeping reforms to improve care for military sexual assault survivors, protect them from retaliation and hold perpetrators accountable. As a mom, I鈥檓 working so parents have access to affordable child care. Additionally, I鈥檓 fighting to lower prescription drug costs by taking on big pharmaceutical company greed and forcing a cap on out-of-pocket expenses.
What previous experience has prepared you for this position?
I have spent my life in service to my state and country. I was raised on a small Iowa farm, worked my way through college, then dedicated my life to serving my country, as a local official, a combat company commander in the military and as a senator. As a survivor of sexual assault and domestic violence, I鈥檓 a tireless advocate for women and abuse survivors. I鈥檓 a champion for farmers, veterans and working families and a fighter for Iowa jobs. I work every day across the aisle to get results for Iowa. Roughly 60% of my bills have bipartisan support. Additionally, Georgetown University ranked me one of the most bipartisan senators, from any state, of the last 25 years. Serving the people of Iowa has always been, and remains, my purpose.
What has been your favorite quarantine activity?
In the spring and summer, one of the silver linings was having my daughter Libby home with me. Like so many across Iowa, Libby, who is currently a cadet at West Point, was taking her classes from home online. When she wasn鈥檛 studying, it gave us a chance to just hang out and laugh together while making lasagna and other family recipes in the kitchen. Additionally, I was able to help my mom make masks for our doctors and nurses across the state who have been on the front lines throughout the pandemic.
What part of your response to the COVID-19 pandemic are you most proud of?
Amid this pandemic, I鈥檝e worked to secure support for our small businesses and I鈥檓 working to give our essential workers 鈥 such as those on the front lines like our nurses, doctors, truck drivers, grocery clerks, child care providers and others 鈥 a federal tax break. I worked across the aisle in an all-hands-on-deck effort to swiftly pass major legislation to get support to Iowans right away, which has helped get support to more than 60,000 Iowa small businesses through the Paycheck Protection Program. While my opponent, Theresa Greenfield, has hypocritically spent millions attacking me for voting for this critical bipartisan legislation, I鈥檓 proud to always fight for Iowa. As more folks return to work, I鈥檓 pushing to make sure our moms and dads have a safe place to send their kids by securing assistance to help Iowa鈥檚 child care providers. And, for our ag community, I鈥檝e fought successfully to deliver millions in critical aid for our farmers.
What response to the COVID-19 pandemic would you change?
It鈥檚 disappointing Senate Democrats blocked legislation to continue providing critical support for Iowa communities. While it鈥檚 unclear what Ms. Greenfield would support, as she has opposed the Democratic COVID relief plan, the Republican COVID plan and has hypocritically attacked me for the bipartisan CARES Act that passed 96-0, I am focused on working with Democrats and Republicans in getting relief for Iowans. I鈥檓 also disappointed that Ms. Greenfield opposes my bipartisan efforts to get relief to our families in need of diapers and assistance amid COVID-19.
What is your favorite Iowa tradition?
My favorite Iowa tradition has to be the Iowa State Fair! There is nothing in the world like it. I鈥檓 already looking forward to the next one.
How do you define social inequity and how do you plan on address it in Iowa communities?
There鈥檚 work we can all do to address social inequalities in our state, including making commonsense reforms to improve policing and better ensure we keep our communities safe. I鈥檝e called for bipartisan action on this front, but unfortunately Democrats blocked those efforts earlier this year. However, Iowa is working to lead the way by unanimously passing an historic police reform bill quickly earlier this year. We should be putting partisanship aside and have important discussions to move forward. That鈥檚 why I recently sat down with Rep. Ako Abdul-Samad and other leaders in the Black community. As I told them, we have two ears and one mouth and should use them proportionally.
What do you think is the biggest challenge facing Iowa farmers and how to you plan to support them if elected?
I was born and raised on a farm in southwest Iowa. I know Iowa鈥檚 agriculture and rural communities because I鈥檓 a part of those communities. I saw firsthand the tireless hard work and commitment our farmers dedicate to our economy here in Iowa and nationwide. We owe our farmers a debt of gratitude and that鈥檚 why I鈥檝e fought tirelessly to protect and promote biofuels, successfully secure year-round E15, expand trade for Iowa products, roll back WOTUS, and help deliver millions of dollars in critical COVID aid to Iowa farmers. Additionally, I was glad to make law efforts that would help Iowa鈥檚 young and beginning farmers have more acres to plant crops. So many Iowa farmers want to pass down their business to their daughters and sons, to carry on that tradition, and I am proud to help them do it.
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