The democrat who’s running for Iowa’s first congressional district seat is delivering the Democratic response to President Bush’s weekly radio address later today. Bruce Braley, a Waterloo attorney, is seeking to represent the district that covers northeast Iowa, running from Davenport up to Dubuque and over to Waterloo. “There are a lot of issues of concern to people here in Iowa’s first district particulary those who depend on Social Security, the Medicare D prescription drug bill and the minimum wage,” Braley says. Braley supports raising the minimum wage by just over two dollars an hour — to $7.25. “Congress has raised its own salaries seven times since the minimum wage was increased. That’s unacceptable,” Braley says. Braley was asked by the Democratic Leader of the U.S. House to deliver the party’s response to the president’s weekly radio address. “I think it sends the message that people all over this country realize that the first congressional district race will be one of the most-closely-watched house races in 2006,” Braley says. “Clearly, from the Democratic Party’s standpoint taking back this seat for the people of Iowa is a very important first step in taking back a majority (in) the House of Representatives.” President Bush’s weekly radio address, and the Democratic response, is broadcast Saturday mornings on many radio stations sometime after 10 o’clock central time.
