Congressman Loebsack Has Earned Re-election

“We've
gotta keep moving forward, we can't go back…there is no way. We
cannot go back to the Republican policies that got us into this ditch in
the first place.” He also said, “I believe we have to do what we can to
come together after the election.”

Voters in Iowa's Second Congressional District should return Dave Loebsack to Congress during the midterm elections because he has worked effectively as a congressman. At a recent public appearance in Coralville, Iowa, Dave laid out three key issues in the 2010 campaign.

Loebsack is working towards bipartisanship in a difficult environment in Washington. An example of this is his sponsorship of H.R. 1855: the SECTORS Act of 2009. The Sectors Act would bring together industry, workforce development, labor unions and educational institutions to discuss workforce needs by industry sector. It would also provide a small amount of seed money so these groups can ensure that the community has the workforce required to support the jobs of the 21st Century. Loebsack's bill reflects a practical, common sense solution. It had 21 co-sponsors from both parties and was passed on a voice vote in the U.S. House of Representatives. It may be too early to say that bipartisanship is breaking out in Washington, but the SECTORS Act is an example of how it is possible to work with members of Congress from both sides.  

Loebsack's positive relationship with the Speaker of the House has been an asset, especially when it comes to flood recovery. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development set aside $312 million for future flood mitigation efforts. House leaders attempted to re-distribute these funds in a way that would be detrimental to Iowa. Because Loebsack had secured a written commitment from Speaker Pelosi to receive funding at a certain level, Iowa got $84 million for future flood mitigation efforts. This would not have happened without Congressman Loebsack's relationship with Speaker Pelosi.

Congressman Loebsack decided to get on the House Armed Services Committee because of the importance of the National Guard to Iowa. Loebsack seeks to do everything we can to make sure our National Guard personnel are properly trained and equipped to support their mission whether it is in Iowa, Afghanistan or elsewhere in the world. Loebsack also believes that veterans have paid the price for proper treatment after returning to Iowa and has worked to improve access to treatment for wounded warriors in the Veterans Administration. He said returning veterans “should be treated with the dignity and respect that they deserve.” We often hear from people of every political stripe that we should “support the troops.” Congressman Loebsack is supporting the troops in tangible ways through his membership in the House Armed Services Committee.

As Loebsack said at the event, “We've gotta keep moving forward, we can't go back…there is no way. We cannot go back to the Republican policies that got us into this ditch in the first place.” He also said, “I believe we have to do what we can to come together after the election.”

This is a story we won't hear in the corporate media or in the conservative blogosphere. It is up to progressives to distribute the message to friends, family and co-workers, that Congressman Dave Loebsack is working for us, and he has earned the right to be re-elected this year.

~Paul
Deaton is a native Iowan living in rural Johnson County and weekend
editor of Blog for Iowa. E-mail Paul
Deaton