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Congressman Young says Trump’s trade talk understandable, but nerve-wracking

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David Young

Republican Congressman David Young says he doesn’t question President Trump’s intentions to strike better trade deals for the U.S., but Young says he and “lot of a people” in his congressional district are nervous about Trump’s trade threats.

“As a leverage tool, I understand what he’s doing,” Young says “But as a policy, we cannot allow this to go on a whole lot longer and have this become pure policy.”

Young spoke with reporters today after delivering a speech on The Des Moines Register’s Political Soapbox at the Iowa State Fair. Young said if Trump is able to renegotiate NAFTA and resolve trade and intellectual property disputes with China, the impact on Iowa’s economy will be “pretty incredible.”

Young also touted the impact tax cuts passed by congress and approved by the president have had on the economy.

“There’s an economic renaissance going on in Iowa and this country,” Young told the State Fair crowd, “and we have to make sure it continues.”

Young is seeking a third term in the U.S. House representing Iowa’s third district. Political analysts have rated his race with Democratic challenger Cindy Axne as a “toss-up.” Vice President Mike Pence appeared at a campaign fundraiser for Young Wednesday and later told reporters this Iowa’s third district race may decide which party controls the U.S. House in 2019.

State treasurer and GOP challenger cite priority projects

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Mike Fitzgerald

A former Ames City Councilman is challenging the longest-serving state treasurer in the country in this year’s General Election.

Michael Fitzgerald is seeking a 10th term. “The treasurer’s job is to keep the money safe, kind of the banker for the State of Iowa and we have kept the money safe,” Fitzgerald says.”…You know, all the times I’ve been treasurer — I’m a Democrat — there’ve been Republican auditors and there’s never a criticism of how we’ve managed the money.”

Fitzgerald says if he’s re-elected, he’ll continue lobbying Iowa legislators to create a state-managed retirement savings plan like the College Savings Iowa program.

“We have a retirement crisis in this state. If you’re in IPERS or have a pension plan, that’s great, but also there’s a lot of folks — about half the people don’t have anything when they’re 55 years of age, (they) have nothing.”

Seven other states have established state-run retirement plans that are not run with state tax dollars, but the investment portfolio is managed by state officials.

Jeremy Davis

The Republican who’s challenging Fitzgerald in 2018 is Jeremy Davis, a former aide to Congressman Steve King who served one term on the Ames City Council.

“The state treasurer is the chief revenue officer of the state,” Davis says, “but when’s the last time he reached out to Iowans and asked: ‘How do you feel your money is being spent? Is it being spent appropriately by the legislature? Is the governor introducing the type of budget that meets the needs of all Iowans?'”

Davis says if he’s elected treasurer, he’ll launch a task force to identify duplication and wasteful spending that should be eliminated at the three state universities.

“We, as the state leadership, need to make the hard discussions and the hard decisions that will ultimately help either stabilize or bring down the cost of higher educaiton in this state,” Davis says.

Davis is floating one idea already: create one financial accounting platform for all three universities.

Davis and Fitzgerald made their comments during speeches on The Des Moines Register’s Political Soapbox at the Iowa State Fair.

Vice President Pence says David Young’s race may decide control of congress

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Vice President Mike Pence at an appearance in Des Moines.

Vice President Mike Pence today said there is “progress and energy” in the U.S. economy, including “better” trade deals with countries like Vietnam and Argentina. During a speech in Des Moines, though, Pence sought to allay trade war concerns in farm country.

“I’ll promise you we will never stop fighting until American farmers win like never before,” Pence said.

Pence spoke at an event sponsored by “America First Policies.” The group was created in early 2017 to promote President Trump’s agenda. Pence ran through a litany of Trump Administration actions, including “rolling back red tape,” appointing U.S. Supreme Court justices and negotiating the return of Korean War soldiers’ remains before turning to trade. Pence told the crowd the Trump Administration is fighting for a “level playing field.”

“We’ve confronted countries that frankly for too long have taken advantage of America on trade,” Pence said, “and we’ve unprecedented progress on trade deals that are free, fair and reciprocal, that put American workers and American families first.”

Pence specifically mentioned bilateral deals with Vietnam which has agreed to buy U.S. corn and wheat and for American pork sales to Argentina.

Vice President Pence talking with reporters.

“We’re working with Canada and Mexico on a re-negotiated North American Free Trade Agreement. We we’re making real progress, Iowa, I’m here to tell you,” Pence said. “We’re actually in negotiations already with Japan about a new and better trade relationship and the European Union was in just a few days ago to start the same conversation.”

Screens flanking the stage periodically flashed the message that “tax cuts to put America first” as a crowd of about 300 waited for Pence to arrive.

After his speech, Pence spoke briefly with reporters. Pence said NAFTA negotiations are “very close” to reaching a conclusion.

“As the president’s said many times, as I said today, this president, this administration are going to continue fighting for American workers and American farmers 100 percent,” Pence said.

Pence was in Iowa in July to help Republican Congressman Rod Blum of Dubuque raise money. Pence headlined a private fundraiser today for Republican Congressman David Young of Van Meter. Pence told reporters Young’s race against Democrat Cindy Axne has national significance.

“There’s no quetion that Congressman Young’s district and that election may be one of the elections that decides control of congress,” Pence told reporters. “And for Americans who like what we’ve been able to do…we need Congressman David Young back in Washington, D.C. to continue that agenda.”

The Iowa Democratic Party held a news conference about two hours before Pence’s public appearance in Des Moines. They accused the Trump Administration of sacrificing farmers’ finances to a trade war that “is about to destroy our state.”

 

King says farmers want EPA action on ethanol, not $12 billion aide package

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Congressman Steve King.

Republican Congressman Steve King today said the best thing the Trump Administration could do to alleviate farmers’ angst about the trade war would be to allow higher percentages of ethanol to be blended into gasoline year-round.

“Let the market determine what that blend could be It could go E15, E20, E30, all the way up to E85,” King said. “If the administration does that, I will tell you our producers here would be happy and they would be a lot happier than the promise of $12 billion distributed. They want to earn and they want to trade.”

King met privately Monday evening with EPA acting Administrator Andrew Wheeler. King said Wheeler is trying to strike a deal that will placate the ethanol and oil industries.

“Administrator Wheeler is cautious. He’s afraid that if he opens up the door for E15 and beyond that there will be litigation,” King said. “The argument I made to him strongly is if you’re trying to get two stakeholders to agree, the one that already holds the advantage is never going to agree, so you have to go ahead and do what’s right.”

King is among those attending an event featuring Vice President Mike Pence this afternoon in Des Moines. King said the 2017 tax bill was an early Christmas present that is still giving and has created confidence and optimism in the business community.

“The cloud that looms over us is the one of “where does trade take us?'” King said. “But many of them say, ‘I’m willing to ride this thing out if we get a better deal on the other side.'”

King spoke with reporters before the event started. King said he’s warned the Trump Administration things “will get pretty tense” in Iowa if there’s no progress on trade deals by the time soybeans are maturing in September.

Former Sioux City senator ends short retirement and is running once again

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Rick Bertrand

A Sioux City businessman’s retirement from Iowa politics lasted about four months.

Rick Bertrand retired in April after finishing his second term in the Iowa Senate — but was nominated Tuesday evening by Sioux City Republicans to run again for the District 7 Senate seat. Bertrand was nominated by Steve Stokes, the former GOP candidate who dropped out of the race earlier this month for family and business reasons.

Bertrand says he decided to run again after several Republicans, including Governor Reynolds and Senate Majority Leader Jack Whitver, started asking him to reconsider his retirement. “When you’re asked it’s a good feeling,” Bertrand says, “and the community asked. And when your governor asks and when the party asks, it’s a good place. It’s a good thing for Sioux City. And I think this is a win-win for Sioux City when we win this.”

Bertrand says if he is re-elected, he will continue to be a champion for Sioux City. “That’s probably the thing that excites me the most — not just going back, that you are wanted and the community supports you — but you are going to walk back with a nice bag of capital and that means leverage, and that is power,” according to Bertrand. “And there are some things that we need to get done around here. With Highway 20 getting completed, we are going to have some infrastructure opportunities.”

Bertrand was first elected to the Iowa Senate in 2010. He was re-elected in 2014 by a 20 point margin.

Jackie Smith

Former Woodbury County Supervisor Jackie Smith is the Democratic candidate for the senate seat. Smith spoke out about Betrand’s announcement at the Woodbury County Democratic Headquarters before a crowd of supporters She says Bertrand is going back on a promise he made. “His claim to fame is term limits. He had a farewell speech on April 17th — I encourage everyone to look at that — it’s on Youtube. It’s on the Senate Floor. And he actually talks about term limits and that it is time for him to go. I couldn’t agree more,” Smith says.

Smith served on the Woodbury County Board of Supervisors for eight years and is making her first run for state office. She disputes Bertrand’s claim that he will bring political capital for Siouxland to the state senate and says by reentering the senate race he is breaking a promise. Smith says she had a 96 percent attendance record on the county board, and says Bertrand missed more votes and meetings than any other state senator the past four years.

“Now wouldn’t we be fired if we didn’t show up for our jobs?,” Smith asks. “I think voters should fire him and keep him home and not in Des Moines.”

She went on to say she supports the right for Iowans to collectively bargain with their employers for wages, benefits and basic working conditions. Smith also says she will work to increase funding for education, mental health and medicaid programs if she is elected.

(By Woody Gottburg, KSCJ, Sioux City)

(This story was updated at 3:15 to add Smith’s response)

 

Senator Grassley supports Space Force if it is needed for national defense

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Senator Chuck Grassley. (file photo)

Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley says he’ll back a Trump administration plan to create a Space Force as a new branch of the U.S. military.

Last week, Vice President Mike Pence outlined a proposed effort which would be established by 2020 to face “emerging threats on this new battlefield.” Grassley says the way Pence describes it, America is losing ground in the field where we were once the world leader.

“The United States is behind other countries as far as our concern about outer space, both from a military and an educational and a scientific point of view,” Grassley says. “We need to do more to protect our interests in space.” The Space Force would become the sixth branch of the U.S. military, following the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and Coast Guard.

The administration plan would have the Space Force established as soon as 2020. “I’m a strong believer in a strong national defense and if there’s a need to set up a separate branch of the military, I guess I’m willing to do it,” Grassley says, “just because of my interest in the number-one responsibility of the federal government: to defend our citizens.”

One concern Grassley raises is that there would be no duplication of duties between the new entity and existing divisions within the current military system. Grassley says he has concerns about our future security. “I can tell you, China is looking at all of this stuff in space and using it for defense, besides the scientific advantages you can have or the communications advantages you can have,” Grassley says. “Particularly, if they move ahead, we can’t cede space to any of our adversaries.”

The last time a new branch of the military was created was the Air Force in 1947, shortly after the end of World War Two.

 

Reynolds says electing her will K.I.M. — Keep Iowa Moving

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Governor Kim Reynolds.

Governor Kim Reynolds today said the state’s low unemployment rate and the tax cuts she signed into law this spring show Iowa is on the right track with Republican leadership.

“And I’ve got something to tell you: we we’re just getting started,” Reynolds said. “We are never going to be satisfied with the status quo. There is so much potential and capacity that exists in this state and we’re excited about continuing the momentum.”

Reynolds spoke late this afternoon on The Des Moines Register’s Soapbox at the Iowa State Fair. She did not mention her Democratic opponent Fred Hubbell by name, but did blast Democrats in general.

“We have a lot of positive things happening in Iowa and I know the other side wants to think everything’s doom and gloom and Iowa’s going to hell in a handbasket and I’m sorry. It is not,” Reynolds said and, as the crowd cheered, she continued: “No, it’s not!”

Reynolds has been governor for about 14-and-a-half months and emphasized the history made when she took the oath of office.

Governor Kim Reynolds spoke at the Iowa State Fair Tuesday.

“And today serve Iowans at the highest level as the first female governor of the great state of Iowa,” Reynolds said, to applause and cheers.

Reynolds touted the new state law authorizing “health benefit plans” to be sold by the Iowa Farm Bureau as a cheaper alternative to traditional insurance. Reynolds said it’s part of the “bold and ambitious agenda” that cleared the 2018 legislature.

“Keep Iowa Moving — K.I.M. — in the right direction,” Reynolds said near the end of her speech. “If you listen to what my opponent wants to do, he wants to reverse every single positive thing that we’ve done.”

Reynolds told the crowd her husband, Kevin, had an appendectomy at 4 a.m. Tuesday morning. He was released from the hospital by Tuesday afternoon.

“I just want to thank the doctors, the surgeons and the nurses who did such a phenomenal job of taking care of Kevin,” Reynold said. “He’s back home already and he’s going hunting in two weeks, so that’s all he’s cared about. He wants to make sure he’s in good shape and can head off and go elk hunting.”

Kevin Reynolds retired a year ago after working as a district conservationist for the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Iowans tell EPA chief president made E15 promise, it’s time to deliver

By

Andrew Wheeler

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s acting administrator met privately with Iowa commodity group leaders at the Iowa State Fair today — but Andrew Wheeler told reporters afterwards there is no decision yet on regulations that would allow a higher blend of ethanol to be sold year-round.

“I can’t tell you the timeline,” Wheeler said late this afternoon. “We are mindful of needing to have a decision on that before the growing season next year.”

Wheeler seemed to indicate EPA guidelines that would approve the sale of E15 year-round would be coupled with some sort of accommodation for the oil industry.

“We’re certainly looking to see what we can do overall as a part of a larger effort to bring more certainty around the RFS and we’re open to that and I’ve been meeting with different groups around the country — different associations that represent the ethanol people, the refiners — trying to figure out what we can do ,” Wheeler said.

Congressman Young’s office sent out this picture of the roundtable with David Wheeler.

“The important thing is the Trump Administration wants to move forward with implementing the RFS (in) both the spirit and the letter of the law.”

The Renewable Fuels Standard was established by congress and requires the EPA to annually set a mandatory production level for ethanol and other biofuels. Republican Governor Kim Reynolds criticized previous EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt for granting waivers that let some oil refiners get around the federal ethanol mandate. Reynolds made the same point today as she stood next to the EPA’s acting director at a brief news conference.

“Fifteen million gallons needs to mean 15 million gallons and I think that’s the message that was delivered today in a very constructive manner,” Reynolds said “And that is something that the Adminsitration and EPA could weigh in on that would have an immediate impact on the price of corn and infuse some optimism and certainty into the market.”

Acting EPA leader Wheeler shakes hands with a man at the Iowa State Fair.

Iowa Farm Bureau president Craig Hill was among the few dozen ag-industry leaders who had a private discussion with Wheeler. Hill said the meeting was “constructive,” but the Iowans didn’t get the answers they were hoping for.

“It’s been Christmas for the oil industry on every one of these deals. Where’s our deal?” Hill said. “…We’ve not gotten a thing.”

Hill said farmers and the ethanol industry appreciate that the EPA has met the deadline for setting the federal production mandate for ethanol, but they’re frustrated the waivers granted to oil refineries has effectively reduced the mandated level of ethanol production.

Congressman David Young, a Republican from Van Meter, thanked Wheeler for being “accessible” and listening to Iowa farm groups who’ve been worried about EPA foot-dragging on ethanol-related issues.

“Because of what President Trump said in promising E15, thinking it was a fabulous idea, there’s an expectation that’s going to happen,” Young said.

Young told reporters if the EPA doesn’t figure out how to authorize the sale of E15 year-round, a bipartisan coalition in congress is working on legislation to make it happen.

Ambassador Branstad says Chinese trade discussions continue

By

Terry Branstad (file photo)

Farmers in Iowa and across the Midwest want quick resolution to the looming trade war due to the negative impact it’s starting to have on their bottom lines.

Speaking in Des Moines over the weekend, the U.S. Ambassador to China, Terry Branstad, says he isn’t sure how long the impasse with China will last. “We’re continuing to have discussions,” Branstad says. “I’m trying to keep the leaders in Washington informed and do all that we can. We’ve had several meetings and we’re going to continue to work on it.”

Branstad, a former Iowa governor, says President Trump is justified in putting tariffs on imports of Chinese goods into the U.S. He says China is in worse financial condition than the U.S. due to the drop in that nation’s stock market and currency value. “China has not treated us or other countries fairly for a long time with their stealing of technology and also not enforcing intellectual property rights, the trade deficit has gone up and up,” Branstad says. “We’re trying to get fair and reciprocal trade and we want to double ag exports over the next five years.”

Speaking at the Iowa State Fair, Branstad says it’s unfortunate American farmers have been collateral damage in the trade war and he’s unsure what it will take for China to finally cut a deal with the U.S.  “What the United States has done, we’ve focused on the areas that they’ve been unfair on, stealing technology and that,” he says. “They have focused on agriculture which had nothing to do with this. That’s why we think what the Chinese have done is unfair and they need to come to the realization, just as they did with sorghum, that this doesn’t make sense and they’re hurting their own consumer.”

Branstad says U.S. Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin has been in talks with Chinese officials over the past two weeks, so the countries are trying to negotiate.

(By Jerry Oster, WNAX, Yankton)

 

Challenger Axne says Congressman Young mired in ways of Washington

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Cindy Axne

Cindy Axne, the Democrat who’s challenging Republican Congressman David Young, says Iowans deserve better than the agenda being pursued by the Republican-led congress.

“Decisions that are helping corporations and the wealthy, decisions that are absolutely taking this country and this state backwards and decisions that are hurting hard-working Iowa families,” Axne says.

Axne, a small business owner, launched her bid to represent the southwest Iowa district about 15 months ago.

“Iowans are working incredibly hard and we’re playing by the rules, but Washington doesn’t have our back and we deserve better,” she says.

Axne spoke this weekend on The Des Moines Register’s Soapbox at the Iowa State Fair. She described her opponent, Congressman Young, as a politician “mired” in the ways of Washington.

“Right now he stands by idly as this administration attacks our farmers, our local economies and our overall state’s economy to be successful in agriculture and we need to send somebody out to congress who stands up for Iowans,” Axne said.

Congressman Young is scheduled to speak at the same State Fair venue on Wednesday.