Hinson: Caught Copying Again

Posted on August 30, 2020 by Dave Bradley

Representative Abby Finkenauer photo: millennialpolitics.com

A few weeks back I posted a column concerning Ashley Hinson getting caught with her hand in the cookie jar doing some plagiarizing from various sources.

Now iowastartingline.com is report that Hinson has once more been caught using other people’s work and claiming it as her own.

In this instance Hinson did something that has sadly become a common practice by Republicans in state legislatures across the country. That is the practice of taking “model” legislation developed by a Koch brothers think tank ALEC (American Legislative Exchange Council) and introducing it into state legislators. Since ALEC produces “model” legislation there is an expectation that legislators review the bills and make adjustments for their states as needed.

Legislators have been lazy and sloppy and have often been just submitted as the finished product.

From the iowastartingline article:

Last summer, the Des Moines Register detailed how Iowa legislators have copied whole sections of ALEC proposals “word-for-word” when introducing certain bills, such as limiting asbestos lawsuits and strengthening free speech protections at public universities. The Register’s article was part of a broader USA Today and Arizona Republic investigation that found 10,000 “copycat bills” introduced in Statehouses across the country.

In February 2019, Hinson was the sole sponsor of House File 471 to provide businesses liability protection in the event they are sued for hiring a person convicted of a crime. In 2011, ALEC introduced a template for this type of legislation to “immunize employers who hire ex-offenders without a violent or sex offense from being sued on that basis alone.”

The first section of HF 471 reads: “Limitation on liability for negligently hiring or failing to supervise an employee, agent, or independent contractor convicted of a public offense. A cause of action shall not be brought against a private employer, general contractor, or premises owner solely for negligently hiring or failing to adequately supervise an employee, agent, or independent contractor, based on evidence that the employee, agent, or independent contractor has been convicted of a public offense as defined in section 701.2 .”

The corresponding section in ALEC’s sample bill: “Limitations on Liability for Hiring Employee or Independent Contractor Convicted of a Nonviolent, Non-sexual Offense. A cause of action may not be brought against an employer, general contractor, premises owner, or other third party for hiring an employee or independent contractor who has been convicted of a nonviolent, non-sexual offense.”

Most voters have become very aware that Republican legislators at whatever level pretty much exist in an authoritarian environment where straying from the party line is verboten. Straying is not allowed in voting nor even in answering questions where talking points are given daily to party members. For you folks up in Iowa’s first district, Ashley Hinson has sure shown that if elected her work will probably be done by someone else.

One thing about Abby Finkenauer she is genuine. Her work is her work. She learned that coming from a long line of union members. When you are looking for someone who truly stands up for her constituents, Abby Finkenauer is near the top.

As Maya Angelou once so clearly stated “When someone tells you who they are, believe them.”

Posted in #trumpresistance, 2020 election campaign, ALEC, Koch Brothers | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Hinson: Caught Copying Again

Sunday Funday: Back From The Alternate Reality Edition

Posted on August 30, 2020 by Dave Bradley

Rachel Maddow boils Dear Leader’s speech down to its component lies in 3 minutes:

Some Americans just spent 4 days on a trip to distorted reality where up is down, black is white and where reality is defined by what is said, not by what observed and measured. Said another way, the Republican convention is over. The Praise-a-Thon for one of the most loathsome characters real or imagined in American history.

Iowa’s schools started this week. Iowa’s coronavirus cases super-spiked this week. Who could ever have guessed those sentences would be written together when Reynolds bullied school systems to reopen in the face of an out of control pandemic?

Pandemic, huge hurricanes, drought, forest fires, derechos, few vacations, most travel curtailed, movie theaters closed or barely opening, Americans bated to recoil against the most simple safety protocol against the pandemic (masks), inadequate and unreliable testing, the USPS under siege by the US Government, health care being attacked by Republicans, Social Security and Medicare targeted if Republicans win, super spreader events held by Republicans, sporting events stopped for the most part, those that take place are played in empty stadia, climate change gathering momentum, racial strife reminiscent of the worst days of our history, our country bows to Russia and ignores countries that were once our friends, far right wing militias allowed to shoot people in the street, science ignored and fantasies treated as real, an economy in steep decline, the wealth inequality at an all time high, and we still have children in cages at the border.

This is a short version of what Dear Leader has accomplished in less than a term. On the plus side he didn’t explode a nuclear bomb, yet.

  1. Among other bad news last week, Iowa recorded its first death among what age group?
  1. Who gave the pre-response to Dear Leader’s Thursday night speech for the Democrats?
  1. Republicans bemoaned the death of a federal officer in Oakland during demonstrations. They implied the officer was shot by demonstrators. In actuality the officer was shot by a member of what White Supremacist group?
  1. Friday was the anniversary of MLK’s “I Have A Dream” speech at the march on Washington. After the speech King gave his physical copy of the speech to what then teenager who would later have Iowa ties?
  1. September 1st, 1939 at 5:30 local time what major historical event took place in Europe?
  1. Racial strife this week stemmed from a police shooting of unarmed black man Jacob Blake in what midwestern city?
  1. In one response to this shooting, professional sports teams did what?
  1. Kyle Rittenhouse, a self-appointed white militia member shot and killed two people during a demonstration supporting Jacob Blake. What national commentator claimed Rittenhouse was trying to “maintain order”?
  1. Hurricanes, hurricanes. What two hurricanes pummeled the Louisiana coast this week in a highly unusual one-two punch?
  1. Besides the derecho, Iowa’s crops are being hit with a drought that is the worst since when?
  1. August 28th is the birthday of the first American catholic saint, Elizabeth Ann (Mother) Seaton. We still see her legacy day across the US. What education system did Seaton begin?
  1. A man in a Springfield, Massachusetts Walmart greeted people with a hug last week and then told those he hugged that what had happened?
  1. Jerry Falwell, Jr.? Didn’t he used to be the president of what religious university in Richmond, Virginia?
  1. In a press conference Thursday, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said whose tax returns would be released if Democrats win the White House?
  1. The 15 year old daughter of what high profile Washington, DC couple filed for emancipation from her parents Tuesday?
  1. If things do not improve Dear Leader will be the first president to have job losses during his term since what other Republican president?
  1. Thumbing their nose at laws that prohibit administration members from politics, SoS Pompeo gave a political speech for his boss from what foreign city?
  1. In the state of Georgia, officials had to issue a warning not to drink what to combat the corona virus?
  1. The World Health Organization announced the eradication of what ‘wild’ disease in Africa?
  1. While Dr. Fauci was in surgery, the CDC announce a policy that called for testing to no longer be given to what group?

Answers:

  1. Children under 5. While the death happened in June it was not recorded until late last week.
  1. VP candidate, Senator Kamala Harris
  1. The Boogaloo Boys
  1. Former Iowa men’s basketball coach George Raveling
  1. Germany attacked Poland officially starting WWII
  1. Kenosha, Wisconsin
  1. Held a wildcat strike that stopped baseball and playoff basketball games.
  1. Tucker Carlson 
  1. Marcos and Laura
  1. 2013
  1. The catholic parochial school system
  1. “Just giving you a Covid hug. You now have Covid,”
  1. Liberty U. Of course you know why he resigned
  1. Dear Leader’s
  1. George Conway and administration spokes-liar KellyAnne Conway
  1. Herbert Hoover. Had George W’s term been a couple months longer he would have had losses also.
  1. Jerusalem
  1. Bleach – wherever did they get such an idea?
  1. Polio
  1. Asymptomatic patients. I believe they have since backtracked on this, since such a policy would be crazy.
Posted in #trumpresistance, 2020 election campaign, Humor | Comments Off on Sunday Funday: Back From The Alternate Reality Edition

Katie Porter Highlights Wednesday’s (Free, Virtual) Corn Feed

Posted on August 29, 2020 by Dave Bradley

I’m excited to come back to Iowa (virtually) to talk about how crucial it is for progressives to join together during these difficult times, especially before November.

In these past few months alone, we’ve seen attacks on healthcare, social security, and the postal service all while dealing with a pandemic. The only way to ensure that we can protect these programs is to use our coalition and advocate for the power of the people, not big donors or corporations. I hope you join us next Wednesday, September 2nd, to highlight the need for change at this year’s Corn Feed.

As a native Iowan, I know how important it is to be “Iowa Nice.” To me, this truly means to fight against the systems and groups that try to diminish the voices of the people. With only a limited number of days until the election, this is now more important than ever. The Trump administration has made countless attacks against the Postal Service, attempting to suppress votes. We need to show him that this won’t work: we will be “Iowa Nice” and fight to make suppressed voices heard. Will you join me in the fight? 

Joining me for this year’s Corn Feed are my fellow Congresswomen Abby Finkenauer and Cindy Axne. I’m so glad they’ll be giving remarks at this grassroots event because they have truly made a difference as the first women elected to the House in Iowa. Together, we can show the nation what Iowa is truly about: advocating for one another. Make sure to RSVP today for the September 2nd Corn Feed to see what we can accomplish together!

Thank you,

Katie Porter

U.S. Representative (D-CA)

P.S. You may have seen me at work this week standing up for the postal service… even if the Postmaster General himself doesn’t know the price of sending a postcard, we certainly do! Get ready to send postcards to voters with us and learn more ways to stay involved at the Corn Feed! 

Posted in #trumpresistance, 2020 election campaign, Progress Iowa | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Katie Porter Highlights Wednesday’s (Free, Virtual) Corn Feed

Call Ernst And Grassley About The Post Office

Posted on August 29, 2020 by Dave Bradley

Donald Trump and his Republican Party have turned the Post Office into a major election year issue. Besides the effects their attempt at dismantling the USPS has on the election, their have been major effects on the delivery of medications through the mail as well as causing business mail to be delayed to such a point as to cause large losses to businesses.

Grassley and Ernst are both much more loyal to their party than they are to their country. They need to hear from a lot of very upset constituents that we are really upset about the USPS and that we will be voting.

For those who have never called, you will be talking to a staffer. Please be courteous and respectful. Remember these folks will be passing your message up the ladder. Try to have you statement ready so you can deliver it quickly and coherently.

This is extremely important. Congress members often have to be pushed to do anything. In this case Republicans will do nothing unless there is a groundswell of voters pushing for it.

And BTW don’t call just once. Call each if them daily:

Grassley Offices:

Cedar Rapids

111 7th Avenue SE, Box 13

Suite 6800

Cedar Rapids, IA 52401

(319) 363-6832

Fax: (319) 363-7179

Council Bluffs

307 Federal Building

8 South 6th Street

Council Bluffs, IA 51501

(712) 322-7103

Fax: (712) 322-7196

Davenport

201 West 2nd Street

Suite 720

Davenport, IA 52801

(563) 322-4331

Fax: (563) 322-8552

Des Moines

721 Federal Building

210 Walnut Street

Des Moines, IA 50309

(515) 288-1145

Fax: (515) 288-5097

Sioux City

120 Federal Building

320 6th Street

Sioux City, IA 51101

(712) 233-1860

Fax: (712) 233-1634

Waterloo

210 Waterloo Building

531 Commercial Street

Waterloo, IA 50701

(319) 232-6657

Fax: (319) 232-9965

Washington, D.C.

135 Hart Senate Office Building

Washington, D.C. 20510

(202) 224-3744

Fax: (202) 224-6020

Ernst Offices:

Washington, D.C.

730 Hart Senate Office Building

Washington, DC 20510

Phone: (202) 224-3254

Fax: (202) 224-9369

Office Hours:

Monday-Friday

8:00am-5:00pm (CST)

Des Moines

733 Federal Building

210 Walnut Street

Des Moines, IA 50309

Phone: (515) 284-4574

Fax: (515) 284-4937

Office Hours:

Monday-Friday

8:00am-5:00pm (CST)

Davenport

201 West Second Street

Suite 806

Davenport, IA 52801

Phone: (563) 322-0677

Fax: (563) 322-0854

Office Hours:

Monday-Friday

8:00am-5:00pm (CST)

Cedar Rapids

111 Seventh Avenue SE

Suite 480

Cedar Rapids, IA 52401

Phone: (319) 365-4504

Fax: (319) 365-4683

Office Hours:

Monday-Friday

8:00am-5:00pm (CST)

Sioux City

194 Federal Building

320 Sixth Street

Sioux City, IA 51101

Phone: (712) 252-1550

Fax: (712) 252-1638

Office Hours:

Monday-Friday

8:00am-5:00pm (CST)

Council Bluffs

221 Federal Building

8 South Sixth Street

Council Bluffs, IA 51501

Phone: (712) 352-1167

Fax: (712) 352-0087

Reminder: Be courteous.

Posted in Charles Grassley, Joni Ernst | Tagged , | Comments Off on Call Ernst And Grassley About The Post Office

Call Me Old Fashioned

Posted on August 29, 2020 by Dave Bradley

But I Will Vote For The Guy Who Is Not Trying To Kill Me!

Call me old fashioned, but I will not be voting for the candidate for president whose incompetence, corruption and purposeful inaction will have killed a quarter of a million Americans by Election Day. When an American official’s performance results in massive deaths that man does not deserve to be put back into office, he deserves to be brought to trial. Especially a president!

Call me old fashioned, but I will not be voting for a senate candidate whose career is based on being a toady to the above President. When policies are clearly wrong and harmful we need a senator who puts country before party. Senator Ernst has never once put her country first as a senator. Those elected to such lofty offices must have at least some knowledge of right and wrong and the courage to stand up to the wrong.

Therefore I will be voting for the presidential candidate that has already offered a plan to confront the corona virus. While the corona virus is the top issue in this election, there are many others which Mr. Trump has caused which have turned the once powerful US into a second rate country.

I will also be voting for Theresa Greenfield who has already shown us that her priorities have our country as the top priority.

Voting for a president who has purposely and openly dismantled one of the best run enterprises in the world so that their political party can rig an election is totally against what this country stands for. Voting for the current president is a vote for him to continue to destroy our country and the ideals that once lit the world. Voting for the toady senator who puts her party above the country is also voting against what the country stands for.

As this is written a case is on the docket for the Supreme Court to dismantle a health care system that will throw tens of millions off of health insurance and out of the health care system. This is part of the Republican Party plan to turn this country into a country of haves and have-nots – a third world country. Think this won’t happen? Trump and Joni Ernst and the compliant, complicit Republican senators have worked every angle to take health care away from Americans.

Will you be one of the lucky ones who will still have health care? If you want to gamble, vote for Trump and Ernst. If you want to ensure you get health care, vote for Joe Biden for President and Theresa Greenfield for senator.

It goes much further than senator and president. Before you vote just imagine that this vote is a life or death decision. Offices from the county court house to the state house to Congress and the White House will have some effect on whether our lives in the US get back to where we can plan our lives or if they will continue to be in turmoil where it will be hard to plan for tomorrow let alone 5 or 10 years out.

Voting for any Republican at any level is voting to continue a society that is rolling from one crisis to another; where employment is shaky; where markets are at the whim of a strong-man president; where a governor seems to create laws on the fly; where a legislature or congress can create vast differences between citizens with laws that favor one group over another; where election laws can be rigged by one party and where the rule of law is ignored by those in power in a show of their arrogance.

The Republican Party at every level has shown that they have put party before country in every instance, even foreign policy where we now bow to Russia. The Republican Party even dumped the illusion that they would even have a platform for their party. The platform acts as a kind of map for a party to get from where the country is today to where they want to take the country. The Republicans have no such map this year. Their plan is to do what Trump decides. Now that is one hell of an idea, isn’t it?

We still have the power to change the direction this country is headed. By dismantling the USPS the administration is making voting much harder, but you can not let that deter you or any members of your family. As with anything of true value make a plan to make it happen.

In our home we have already requested absentee ballots. We long ago decided that we did not want to wait for Election Day itself and then somehow accidentally miss the vote due to something that comes up out of nowhere. We can start voting on October 5th. So go to the Secretary of State’s website and download and fill out a ballot request.   

That will need to be mailed so do this as soon as you can to give the damaged post office time to do their job. Provided the mail goes through, you should get a ballot in the mail on or before the first day that voting is allowed. I called my county auditor and asked her what to do if we don’t get our ballot on time. She said give it a week. If we don’t get ballots by then, call the auditor and discuss the options. No matter what we all get one vote.

When you get your ballot, you will want to vote it quickly to make sure there is plenty of time to return you vote. Our plans right now are to vote as soon as we get the ballot and then jump in the car to drive to the county courthouse. We are currently planning to place our ballots in the drop box that is supposed to be at every court house. My understanding is that drop boxes are legal at the courthouse. If not I will put on my mask and gloves and take our ballots directly into the auditor’s office.

Finally we will verify via the Secretary of State’s website that our ballot has been received.      If it has not been received after a couple of days (depending on delivery method) a call to the auditor’s office may be in order.

As you see, voting this year will be something that will take planning. Our way is not the only way. Develop a plan that is right for your family. Be sure to allow plenty of time for any mail handling. I recommend voting early so any problems can be resolved before Election Day  and so that you won’t accidentally miss voting if something comes up.

AND – if you vote early your name comes off call lists for candidates. That is a nice side effect.

Posted in #trumpresistance, 2020 election campaign, Joni Ernst | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Call Me Old Fashioned

Iowans Fact-Check Ernst, Condemn Trump

Posted on August 28, 2020 by Trish Nelson

Iowans Fact-Check Joni Ernst, Condemn President Trump’s Relentless Attacks on Health Care during Republican National Convention

Watch Video of Event Here

Des Moines, Iowa — Sen. Joe Bolkcom, Rep.Timi Brown-Powers, and small business owner Susan Blocker joined Progress Iowa and Protect Our Care on a virtual roundtable to discuss the comments made by Ernst during the Republican National Convention, including her omittance of healthcare. Speakers will also highlight how Trump’s mismanaged response to the COVID-19 crisis has unleashed chaos across the country, and put Iowans’ health at risk.

Participants also condemned President Trump’s lawsuit to eliminate the Affordable Care Act, which would strip millions of Americans, including Iowans, of their health coverage in the middle of a public health emergency, made worse by this administration’s failure to confront the crisis head-on. The Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in the case on November 10, 2020, one week after the 2020 election.

Speakers discussed the need for Sen. Ernst to to pass legislation to address coronavirus and stand up for the Affordable Care Act, especially as it benefits thousands of Iowans:

“I was disappointed, but not surprised that Senator Ernst did not mention the deadly, job killing pandemic that has killed 1,080 Iowans, or that she did not mention the need to make sure Iowans continue to have access to affordable healthcare during this historic pandemic. But, as I thought about it, I thought why would she want to talk about President Trump’s utter and ongoing failure to manage the pandemic.”   –  Senator Joe Bolkcom

—

“I have patients across Iowa that are very concerned about their pre-existing conditions. Let’s keep in mind 60,000 Iowans have just been added to that because they now have COVID. And those folks are not going to be covered if Joni continues down this path (against the ACA).”   – Representative Timi Brown-Powers

—

“We have a Senator who has ample opportunity to stand up for Iowans and advocate for our healthcare, but time and time again she’s leaving us out in the cold. Thousands of Iowans depend on programs she has continually tried to repeal, including the ACA, but supporting Trump seems to be her main priority.”  – Progress Iowa Executive Director Matt Sinovic

—

“We were very happy with the ACA and things were going much better until Donald Trump started attacking the ACA through the courts… We just grow more and more worried everyday. What’s going to happen? Will we even get insurance, and if we do, can we even afford it and subsequently what will happen to our business? ”  – Small Business Owner Susan Blocker

###

BACKGROUND:

Read More About Sen. Joni Ernst’s Health Care Record Here

Ernst Supports Repealing The ACA And Its Protections For 1.2 Million Iowans with Pre-Existing Conditions

2014: Ernst Campaigned For The Senate With An Ad Where She “Unloads” On Obamacare By Shooting It With A Handgun. “Republican U.S. Senate candidate Joni Ernst of Iowa has released a new TV ad vowing to ‘unload’ on Obamacare, in which she takes target practice at a shooting range with a handgun. [Washington Post, 5/4/14]

2015: Ernst Voted To Repeal Most Of The ACA. Ernst voted for legislation that gutted the Affordable Care Act by eliminating the insurance exchanges and subsidies, and repealing the Medicaid expansion accepted by 30 states, including Nevada. [HR 3762, Roll Call Vote #114, 12/3/15]

2017: Ernst Voted For The Senate “Repeal And Delay” Plan. Ernst voted for Obamacare Repeal and Replacement Act was a Republican effort to repeal the ACA without a replacement. Known as “repeal and delay,” the bill repealed major sections of the ACA, including the Medicaid expansion and premium tax credits, in 2020. [HR 1628, Roll Call Vote #169, 7/26/17]

2017: Ernst Voted For “Skinny Repeal” Of The ACA. Ernst voted for “Skinny Repeal” of the ACA, which repealed the individual mandate and delayed the employer mandate while leaving most of the rest of the law in place. [HR 1628, Roll Call Vote #179, 7/28/17]

2017: Ernst Refused To Give Up On Repealing The Affordable Care Act After The Failure Of The Senate Bills. “Ernst said Friday she’s also not ready to give up on repealing the Affordable Care Act. ‘We don’t have the option to sit back and do nothing; Iowans are demanding relief from Obamacare,’ she wrote in a statement released by her staff.” [Des Moines Register, 7/28/17]

Ernst Claims To Support Coverage For People With Pre-Existing Conditions But Sponsors Legislation That Would Gut Those Protections

In Response To The Court Ruling Striking Down All Of The ACA, Ernst Said It Was “Important That We Protect People With Preexisting Conditions, As We Repeal And Replace Obamacare.” “Republicans are facing a moment of reckoning on health care after a federal judge struck down the Affordable Care Act, imperiling the landmark law the GOP has struggled against for eight years. […] One of the Republican senators facing a potentially competitive reelection campaign is Joni Ernst of Iowa. Ernst issued a statement Saturday saying that it was ‘important that we protect people with preexisting conditions, as we repeal and replace Obamacare.’” [Washington Post, 12/15/18]

2018: Ernst Co-Sponsored Legislation That She Claimed Would “Guarantee Americans Have Equal Health Care Coverage, Regardless Of Their Health Status Or Pre-Existing Condition.” “Yesterday, Senators Thom Tillis (R-NC), Lamar Alexander (R-TN), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Dean Heller (R-NV), Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), John Barrasso (R-WY), and Roger Wicker (R-MS) introduced the Ensuring Coverage for Patients with Pre-Existing Conditions Act, legislation that would guarantee Americans have equal health care coverage, regardless of their health status or pre-existing conditions. Oral arguments in Texas v. United States will begin on September 5th, and if the judge rules in favor of the plaintiffs, protections for patients with pre-existing conditions could be eliminated. This legislation amends the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) to guarantees the availability of coverage in the individual or group market, for all Americans, including those with pre-existing conditions, regardless of the outcome in Texas v. United States. The legislation prohibits discrimination against beneficiaries based on health status, including the prohibition against increased premiums for beneficiaries due to pre-existing conditions.” [Sen. Thom Tillis Press Release, 8/24/18]

2019: Ernst Co-Sponsored The Protect Act That She Claimed Would Protect Americans With Pre-Existing Conditions. “Senate Republicans believe in patient-centered health care that delivers the choices they want, the affordability and protections they need, and the quality they deserve. That is why Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) and his colleagues today introduced the Protect Act, legislation that protects Americans with pre-existing conditions, ensuring that Americans have the peace of mind knowing that they and their loved ones will never be denied health care coverage or be charged more because of a pre-existing condition. Joining Senator Tillis as co-sponsors of the Protect Act are Senators Lamar Alexander (R-TN), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), Rob Portman (R-OH), David Perdue (R-GA), Joni Ernst (R-IA), John Cornyn (R-TX), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Johnny Isakson (R-GA), Roger Wicker (R-MS), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), John Barrasso (R-WY), Rick Scott (R-FL), John Kennedy (R-LA), Todd Young (R-IN), Tom Cotton (R-AR), and Richard Burr (R-NC).’” [Sen. Thom Tillis Press Release, 4/10/19]

Ernst Refuses To Condemn The Texas Lawsuit That Would Rip Coverage Away From More Than 185,000 Iowans

2019: Ernst On The Texas Lawsuit: “I Am Not Going To Make A Determination On That.” Joni Ernst: In today’s day and age, we do see a lawsuit moving forward that could potentially dismantle the ACA. If that happens, we need to make sure that we are reiterating that preexisting conditions will be covered in any future insurance actions. […] Anchor: Do you support that lawsuit that is going forward that would dismantle the Affordable Care Act all together? Ernst: I am not going to make a determination on that. I am not an attorney. But I would say that, yes, I would like to see different forms of health care coverage that exist out there that will bring costs down. I do want to see that addressed” [WHBF, 4/28/19]

2018: Ernst Refused To Discuss The Texas Lawsuit Threatening The ACA. “Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), who faces a potentially tough reelection bid in 2020, declined to discuss the ruling with a reporter in a Senate hallway on Monday, instead referring to her written statement.” [The Hill, 12/17/18]

Ernst Voted For The Tax Bill Which Forms The Basis For The Trump-Republican Lawsuit. Ernst was a key vote for the Republican tax bill, which repealed a key provision of the Affordable Care Act that required most people to have health coverage and which is the basis of the Trump-Republican lawsuit seeking to overturn the Affordable Care Act.

—Progress Iowa is a multi-issue progressive advocacy organization with a network of more than 75,000 progressives. Year-round, Progress Iowa advocates for a stronger middle class, first-class public education, and fairness for all Iowans under the law.

Posted in Blog for Iowa | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Iowans Fact-Check Ernst, Condemn Trump

Trump’s War On Health Care

Posted on August 27, 2020 by Trish Nelson

Posted in Blog for Iowa | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Trump’s War On Health Care

Carding Wool With Joni Ernst

Posted on August 26, 2020 by Paul Deaton

Hand Carding Wool – Wikimedia Commons, Public Domain

Every farm kid knows you should card wool before spinning it into yarn.

Joni Ernst’s campaign has spun some yarns about Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Theresa Greenfield and it’s clear they didn’t get things straightened out beforehand.

They don’t intend on getting the story right. They cast aspersions on their opponent’s character with disregard for facts and reasonable discourse.

On Monday, Aug. 24, Ernst released this statement on her campaign website:

“The American Dream is to own a home, which is why it’s so sad that while she was the President of Rottlund Homes, real estate executive Theresa Greenfield’s company was sued in Polk County for fraud, negligence and reneging on property purchase agreements,” said Joni Ernst spokesperson Melissa Deatsch.  “For Greenfield, it’s always about looking out for herself. Once Rottlund Homes went bankrupt, Greenfield quickly jumped to Colby Interests and continued to put herself before others.”

Deatsch is saying: 1. Greenfield “quickly jumped” from Rottlund Homes to Colby Interests, and 2. she is implicitly guilty because Rottlund Homes was sued.

That’s a lot to swallow. Let straighten this the way we would card wool.

Let’s start with the LinkedIn profile Ernst wrote they accessed May 14, 2019. Here is the relevant part:

Greenfield LinkedIn Screen Print Aug. 26, 2020

Greenfield wrote she was unemployed from December 2011 until March 2012. She has been quite open about her experience with Rottlund Homes and how she lost her job during the real estate crash of the Great Recession. She told me earlier this year,

“From there I went into home building and eventually became the president of a small home building company in Iowa. That was fun through the recession, until it wasn’t any more fun. We sold the assets at the end of 2011. I became unemployed like a lot of people in the recession, then hired on with a commercial real estate company.”

For Deatsch to say Greenfield “quickly jumped” from job to job simply isn’t true. It was a recession caused in part by turbulence in the real estate business for Pete’s sake. With 100,000 Iowans out of work during the coronavirus pandemic Ernst is criticizing Greenfield for being laid off almost ten years ago? Now that Ernst is a U.S. Senator what is she doing for Iowans who are unemployed? That’s not a rhetorical question.

Let’s talk about the three lawsuits Ernst raised. It is part of business life that companies get sued. How responsible was Greenfield for these lawsuits? Ernst mentions people sued Rottlund Homes but says little else. The plaintiff is not always right and regular people know that. If you look at what happened, much of the basis for the lawsuits was out of Greenfield’s control and all three were resolved through legal process. What’s the beef?

James and Sheryl Moon: A deal between the Moons and Rottlund occurred in 2005, before Greenfield joined Rottlund Homes of Iowa in 2007. The Moons dismissed their case against Rottlund with prejudice and both parties waived claims for attorney fees.

The Villas at Berkshire Hills: The Villas at Berkshire Hills were built in the 1990s, well before Theresa Greenfield joined Rottlund Homes of Iowa in 2007. The Villas at Berkshire Hills Home Owners Association and Rottlund Homes of Iowa settled and the case was dismissed.

The Reserve Homeowners Association: The Reserve was built around 2005, and the neighborhood started to experience water pooling problems in 2006. Both occurred before Greenfield joined Rottlund Homes of Iowa in 2007. The Reserve Home Owners Association trial against Rottlund was cancelled because Rottlund was put into receivership in Minnesota to liquidate their assets and all pending litigation was stayed. The lawsuit was dismissed with prejudice after both parties agreed to dismiss the case.

Did Theresa Greenfield become president of Rottlund Homes of Iowa? Yes, she did, in 2007. Were there lawsuits? Yes, there were. Are those lawsuits long resolved? Yes, they are. How about we quit changing the subject by casting aspersions on Theresa Greenfield’s character and do something for the thousands of Iowans who are jobless because of the coronavirus pandemic?

While Joni Ernst claims to be fighting for Iowans, Monday’s attack shows how out-of-touch she is during the current and greatest economic crisis since the Great Depression. The Ernst campaign is criticizing and casting aspersions on Theresa Greenfield’s character at a time when: over 100,000 Iowans are unemployed, Iowa had record unemployment of over 10 percent in April, the GOP-led Senate, where Ernst as part of leadership, failed to renew needed extended unemployment benefits, and earlier this year, Ernst sought lower unemployment payments in COVID relief.

A person can spin from the lock but who would want to wear the garment, all lumpy and itchy? While Joni Ernst remains a Senator she should quit distracting, get to work for Iowans, and quit trying to persuade us her lockspun is cashmere.

Iowans are just going to shake it off.

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Joni Ernst “Yes I Did Vote To Repeal The ACA”

Posted on August 26, 2020 by Trish Nelson

She had her chance. She chose Washington over Iowans. She chose party over country. She chose Trump and Mitch McConnell over us.

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Loebsack Helps Pass Legislation to Support USPS

Posted on August 25, 2020 by Trish Nelson

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Dave Loebsack today voted in favor of the Delivering for America Act, legislation that prohibits operational changes at the United States Postal Service (USPS), which have been shown to have caused a slowdown in delivery times for mail and packages. The bill also provides $25 billion In emergency funding for the USPS, which is the amount recommended by the USPS Board of Governors. Loebsack has long supported the Postal Service and has cosponsored multiple pieces of legislation to make changes and ensure its long-term stability.

“The creed of the United States Postal Service, ‘Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds,’ is under attack. The recent policy changes made by the Postmaster General have led to slowdowns and some mail not being delivered at all. This is unacceptable.

“Iowans, and especially those living in rural areas, rely on the USPS to get their medical prescriptions, correspond with loved ones, receive important tax notifications and refunds from the IRS, vote by mail, and get their paychecks and many other packages and letters safely from one place to another. The USPS is also a lifeline to the many small businesses operating in rural areas. These businesses would not be able to exist since many for-profit carriers do not service these rural routes.

“The Postal Service is also very important for our nation’s veterans. After these brave men and women finish their service in the military, they use the VA for their medical needs. Any medicine that they are prescribed is shipped to them via USPS. A slowdown at the USPS means their medications could be delayed and pose a life or death situation for our veterans. Additionally, the USPS employs nearly 100,000 veterans after they return from serving our nation.

“The Delivering for America Act would undo these operational changes to our mail system, helping end the delay in delivery that many have experienced. It also provides the amount of funding recommended by the USPS Board of Governors needed for emergency relief. I have long supported making changes at the Post Office to ensure they have the necessary funding and tools needed to make timely deliveries and ensure Iowans receive their mail without delay.”

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