This election coming up in the fall is important. There is a lot at stake! The election is all about giving America a chance to move forward or backwards. We as Americans have a choice. Do we want to continue on the path where our nation continues to do nothing and go from brink of shutdown to brink of shutdown because the Republican controlled U.S. House refuses to work? Do we want to continue to let the radical Tea Party Republicans block common sense immigration reform, increasing the minimum wage, and universal background checks? If yes, then vote for the Regressive Party (Republicans). If no, stand with me and vote for the Progressive Party (Democrats) who want to move our nation forward for our children and future generations.

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Bruce Braley for U.S. Senate

I will be supporting Bruce Braley for United States Senate because we cannot let our nation fall back, we cannot let down our military and veterans, and we cannot let down the hardworking middle class. In addition, we cannot let radical Republicans tear our nation apart and destroy civil rights. I know Bruce Braley will be a leader in the U.S. Senate to stop the radical Republican agenda.

Bruce has represented Iowa in the U.S. House since 2007, where he worked to promote policies that strengthen and expand the middle class and help create the environment for job creation. Bruce wrote a tax cut for businesses that hire unemployed workers; helping an estimated, 100,000 Iowans get back to work. He worked to create a job-training program for Iowans who wanted to get a new job in the field of renewable energy.

• Bruce supports raising the federal minimum wage to $10.10 per hour and tying it to the rate of inflation.
• Bruce is a cosponsor of the Paycheck Fairness Act, which will strengthen protections against wage discrimination.
• Bruce is a huge supporter of LGBTQIA (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and asexual) equality. He supports ENDA (Employment Non-Discrimination Act) along with many other equality bills and is a member of the Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus. 
• While in Congress, he voted to repeal the discriminatory policy, “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”
• While in Congress, he voted for an amendment that would ban the federal government from preventing states from legalizing the use of medical marijuana.
• While in Congress, he voted to ban the National Security Agency (NSA) from collecting records under the PATRIOT Act. 

Staci Appel for U.S. House

I will be supporting Staci Appel this fall for United States House of Representatives for Iowa Third Congressional District. If Staci wins, she will make history as being the first woman to represent Iowa in Congress. Staci’s opponent is a radical Republican who is against all things progressive, which is complete opposite of Staci.

Staci Appel has fought for the middle class in the Iowa State Senate. She had a steadfast commitment to the people she served and Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal (my current State Senator) took notice,”I have never seen a freshman legislator come to the capitol and work as hard as Staci Appel.” Staci worked on legislation that included Iowa’s statewide smoking ban, preschool for every 4 year old and she even championed the bill making Iowa the first state in the nation to require equal pay for equal work. Staci even has the endorsements of EMILY’s List, Women’s Campaign Fund, and the Planned Parenthood Action Fund. 

Staci Appel voted to pass many progressive bills in the Iowa State Senate:

• (HF 2539) Health Care Expansion Plan – Allows people under the age of 25 or enrolled as full-time students to be covered by their parents insurance and requires every child 12 years or under who receives medical assistance to receive dental assistance. (Before Obamacare)
• (HF 653) Election Day Voter Registration – Allows Iowans to register to vote on the same day as the election using identification including driver’s licenses.
• HPV Vaccination Coverage Bill  – Requires health insurance to cover vaccination or immunization for the human papilloma virus (HPV)
• (SF 427) Full State Equality – Bans discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in public accommodations, education, employment, and housing, and includes creditors and insurance companies.

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It is important for progressives to take back the U.S. House from the radical Republican Party and keep the U.S. Senate. If we don’t our great nation will head down a dangerous path where the wealthiest Americans and corporations will continue to buy America and control where our nation goes. They believe in exclusion and elitism. They believe in speaking and working for the interests of the corporations and the wealthiest Americans and not as the nation as a whole. They stand for cuts to programs that help the middle class  and working poor. They especially stand for cuts to social security, medicare, and food stamps. They also want to further cut funding to live-saving research like stem cell research. they believe in amending our nation’s constitution to ban equal human rights for LGBTQIA people. They want to take women’s reproductive rights away and give those rights and choices to the politicians. This what you are letting happen if you don’t vote for progressives like Bruce Braley and Staci Appel. 

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Jack Hatch for Iowa Governor

This fall I will support Jack Hatch for Iowa Governor because I believe Iowa needs a fresh start and I believe Jack Hatch will bring that to the Governor’s office. Jack served five terms in the Iowa State House, served as U.S. Senator Tom Harkin’s State Director, and this year completed his third term in the Iowa State Senate.

Jack Hatch has been a leading progressive voice in Iowa from health care reform to environmental protection and has written some of the most significant legislation of the past three decades in Iowa, including the following:

• Writing Iowa’s first and toughest environmental protection legislation (underground storage tank cleanup)
• Leading statewide health care reform
• Improving Iowa’s mental health system
• Fighting to expand access to Medicaid
• Creating the country’s largest minority scholarship program

Jack Hatch supports raising the Iowa minimum wage to $10.10, because he believes no one who works full-time should live in poverty. Jack also recognizes that most Iowans who are in minimum-wage households are women and children. Jack wants to give Iowa’s hardworking middle class families a tax break.  Jack also feels strongly about reducing college debt and creating vocational training in skilled occupations. His plans would allow students to cut debt by finishing school in three years and would provide a low-interest loan to the neediest families. 

Brad Anderson for Iowa Secretary of State

I will support Brad Anderson this fall for Iowa Secretary of State. I support Brad Anderson because Iowa needs a change in the office. Iowa needs someone who will do the job instead of focusing on partisan politics. 

“Iowa has a proud reputation for civic participation, but there is always room to improve when it comes to voter turnout. I believe the time has come for Iowa to take the reins as number one in the nation in voter turnout, and I have a plan to get us there within the next decade.” – Brad Anderson

1. Simplify the Vote by Mail Process: Anderson supports allowing voters to sign up to vote-by-mail and check a box to automatically receive a ballot in the mail every election.
2. Online Voter Registration: Online voter registration has proven to be secure and save local auditors’ time and taxpayers money.
3. Create and Promote an Election Info Hub: Work with local auditors to provide a one-stop Election Information Hub for voters to check on accurate dates, times and polling locations for local and statewide election.
4. Reduce Number of Elections: Reduce voter fatigue and apathy by reducing the number of elections. Combining many small elections into larger elections.
5. Do No Harm: “Rather than chipping away at our voting laws and passing expensive, unnecessary bills that would make it more difficult for Iowans to vote, as Secretary of State I will devote our time and resources to finding ways to strengthen the integrity of our elections and get more Iowans to turnout for our elections.” – Brad Anderson

“New Businesses created in Iowa will help us grow our economy and bring jobs to our state, so it is incredibly important that we have a business filing system that is welcoming, affordable and efficient. My goal is simple – a new business should be able to log into the Secretary of State’s website and easily file their paperwork and pay the filing fee in under ten minutes.” – Brad Anderson

1. Create an Online Checklist to help New Business Owner Determine which Filing is Needed for their Business
2. Create an Online Filing Template for New Business Owners
3. Pay Online

Sherrie Taha for Iowa Secretary of Agriculture

I am supporting Sherrie Taha for Iowa Secretary of Agriculture this fall. Sherrie was elected and currently serves as a Commissioner for the Polk County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD). She has served as the Recording Secretary/Treasurer for ATU Local 441 and on the Board of the League of Women Voters Metropolitan Des Moines.

Sherrie Taha believes as I do that it is Iowa’s responsibility to manage and care for our natural resources for future generations and ourselves. She recognizes that soil and water are fundamental to our lives and we cannot live without them. This is why Sherrie believes that it is vital we protect our water and soil from polluters.

Sherrie Taha also recognizes that Iowa agriculture is heavily focused on feed and fuel, which is why she believes we need to include food production in Iowa instead of importing our food.

Jon Neiderbach for Iowa State Auditor

I am supporting Jon Neiderbach this fall for Iowa State Auditor because Iowa needs an Auditor that actually does the job.  The current Auditor for some reason did not see any of the corruption in the Governor’s offices.

Jon Neiderbach graduated from Grinnell College with a B.A.  in Political Science in 1978 and went to the University of Oregon. Jon worked for 15 years at the non-partisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau, which provides fiscal, and policy information and analysis for legislators. He also worked for 15 years as a Management Analyst for the Iowa Department of Human Services.

Jon Neiderbach plans do to do thorough audits, complete audits, fight for transparent government, and listen to Iowans.

“Iowa law requires that every audit address not just finances but also assess a government entity’s efficiency, effectiveness, and whether it operates in a business-like manner, yet the current State Auditor rarely does this. As your State Auditor, I will ask tough questions about spending and efficiency, and will require every unit of Iowa government to develop and report on real measures of program effectiveness.” – Jon Neiderbach

Michael Fitzgerald for Iowa State Treasurer

I am supporting Michael Fitzgerald for Iowa State Treasurer. Michael is the current State Treasurer. He is active on several national organizations including the College Savings Plans Network, National Association of State Auditors, Comptrollers, and Treasurers, National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators, and State Debt Management Network.

Michael Fitzgerald was born in Marshalltown, Iowa. He went to the University of Iowa where he received a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. Prior to being elected State Treasurer in 1982, he worked as a marketing analyst for Massey Ferguson Company in Des Moines for eight years.

Tom Miller for Iowa State Attorney General

I am supporting Tom Miller for Iowa Attorney General. Tom is Iowa’s current Attorney General and has done a great job! He has a reputation for integrity, high quality legal work and strong work on behalf of ordinary Iowans. 

Tom Miller was born in Dubuque, Iowa. He went to Loras College in 1966 and received his law degree from Harvard Law School in 1969. After law school, Tom served as legislative assistant to U.S. REpresentative John C. Culver (D-IA). He has served as legal education director with Baltimore Legal Aid, and taught part-time at the Maryland School of Law. In 1973, he returned to Iowa, opened a Law practice and served as city attorney of McGregor and Marquette, Iowa, and first ran for Attorney General in 1974.

Tom Miller is serving his eighth four-year term as Iowa State Attorney General. He has a long record of achieving results through cooperation with other State Attorneys General and with Attorneys General (NAAG) committees and led major multi-state working groups working on tobacco issues, antitrust enforcement, agriculture, and consumer protection. He is well known for his work to prevent crime and assist crime victims to protect consumers, and to be an advocate for people. 

Marti Nerenstone for Iowa State House

I am supporting Marti Nerenstone for Iowa State Representative House District 16. Marti is a Veteran and she is an attorney who emphasizes on the rights of children and adults who may not otherwise have access to legal representation. Marti has served as the president of the Iowa Organization of Women Attorneys, and in 2011, she became president of the Pottawattamie county Bar Association.

Marti Nerenstone will promote economic opportunities for every Iowan. She supports education at all levels. She is an advocate for access to affordable quality health care, especially mental health services. She will promote and protect Iowa’s natural resources and environment. She is an advocate and defender of equal rights for every Iowan.

 

 

 

 

 

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