Iowans elected Joni Ernst to the U.S. Senate in 2014 and her GOP colleagues have just elected her vice chair of the Senate Republican Conference. It's the first time since 2010 that a woman has been elected by her fellow Republicans to serve in a leadership role in the senate. "I think it's long … [Read more...]
Senate GOP peers elect Grassley and Ernst to leadership positions
Iowa's two United States Senators will have new leadership roles in the Senate in 2019. Republican Chuck Grassley has been a member of the United States Senate since January of 1981. It means when the calendar turns over to 2019, Grassley will be Republican with the longest tenure in the … [Read more...]
Senator Ernst says federal officials are constantly monitoring refugee caravan
A caravan of around 7,000 Central America refugees continues through southern Mexico on its way to the United States to seek asylum. Some U.S. Officials say they aren't convinced everyone in the group is seeking asylum and President Donald Trump may send our military to the border to deal with the … [Read more...]
Senator Ernst warns oil industry will fight E15 progress
Iowa Senator Joni Ernst today said the oil industry is "already trying to undercut" the president's move toward year-round sales of gas with a higher blend of ethanol. "This has been a battle we've had for years and years and years. It was going on before I came into congress and it will continue … [Read more...]
Senator Ernst says new Farm Bill may emerge in lame duck session
Republican Senator Joni Ernst says she's still hopeful a group of negotiators can agree on a new Farm Bill, but she says that may not happen until after next month's election. Ernst is the only Iowan on the congressional committee trying to come up with a compromise. The 2014 Farm Bill expired … [Read more...]
Senator Ernst looking for corroboration in Supreme Court nominee hearing
Iowa Senator Joni Ernst says she is trying to watch as much as she can of the Senate Judiciary Committee questioning of the woman who accuses the Supreme Court nominee of sexually abusing her. Ernst says she can't watch all of the proceedings, but did get to see Christine Blasey-Ford's opening … [Read more...]
Christian conservatives cheer Grassley’s role in Kavanaugh confirmation
The annual fall gathering of a group of evangelical Christians began with a rousing ovation for Chuck Grassley, the Iowa Republican who as chairman of the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee has a leading role in confirming the next U.S. Supreme Court justice. Ralph Reed, head of the national Faith … [Read more...]
Senator Ernst says prospects for new Farm Bill starting to wane
Iowa Senator Joni Ernst says negotiations on the next Farm Bill have "taken a turn" in the wrong direction. Ernst is the only Iowan on the committee of House and Senate members assigned to come up with a new five-year Farm Bill by the end of the month. "I don't think we're close and, … [Read more...]
Ernst says Kavanaugh’s accuser ‘should be heard’
Iowa Senator Joni Ernst says "every accuser should be heard." She's withholding judgment on Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh until after Monday's senate hearing to examine the sexual assault allegation against Kavanaugh. "I need to hear what's going to come out on Monday. I can't say whether … [Read more...]
Ernst the only Iowan on Farm Bill conference committee
Senator Joni Ernst is among the 56 members of the U.S. House and Senate who met this morning to open negotiations aimed at producing a final version of the 2018 Farm Bill. "With the livelihood of farmers and ranchers largely dependent on factors out of their control, completion of this Farm Bill … [Read more...]