As the calendar zeroes in on Election Day, Iowa voters soon will cast ballots for local officeholders and state legislators. Iowans also must decide on a candidate to fill the vacancy opening up at Terrace Hill.
At the federal level, voters in Iowa’s five congressional districts will decide who will represent them in the U .S. House of Representatives for the upcoming 110th Congress. The next two-year term convenes in January.
Considering America’s commitment to foster democracy around the world, I encourage all voting-age Iowans to fulfill their civic responsibility here at home. Make sure you are registered to vote. Read about the candidates, learn about their positions on the issues that matter most to you and track the debates.
Iowa’s precinct caucus system, which kicks-off the nominating process for U.S. presidential candidates, arguably has helped create a savvy class of voters. In my visits with Iowans across the state, people are concerned about national security, health care security, job security, homeland security, food security, retirement security, energy security and economic security.
Farmers want to know about policy changes proposed for the next farm bill and federal incentives for renewable fuels and alternative energy.
Seniors want to continue receiving affordable prescription medicines and access to local health care services.
Parents want to be able to pay their bills, save for future college expenses and put money away for retirement.
Let’s take stock of the 109th Congress. For the last two years, Congress has worked to make life better for families, workers, retirees and taxpayers.
As chairman of the Finance Committee and senior member of the Judiciary Committee, I won efforts to:
• give tax relief for a strong economy;
• advance home-grown renewable energy to reduce dependence on imported oil;
• implement Part D, the first-ever voluntary Medicare prescription drug benefit that has enabled beneficiaries to save on average $1,200 a year and afforded seniors peace of mind that they have insurance against catastrophic drug costs;
• save $40 billion tax dollars as part of the Deficit Reduction Act;
• strengthen employer-based pension systems;
• address flow of illegal aliens with funds assigned to build a security fence along the U.S.- Mexico border;
• renew the Promoting Safe and Stable Families Program and target resources to improve access to family treatment programs for methamphetamine and other substance abuse;
• fix flaws in the bankruptcy system; and,
• make pro-consumer improvements to class-action lawsuits.
From my leadership positions in the U.S. Senate, I keep a short leash on the federal bureaucracy in my efforts to keep the people’s government accountable. That includes keeping close tabs on the FDA’s drug safety regime, attaching strings to government-issued credit cards, monitoring the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation’s financial structure to prevent an expensive taxpayer bail-out, and injecting common sense into the debate as the EPA sets dust-emission standards that would impact family farmers.
When lawmakers meet again in November to wrap-up spending bills, I will continue to fight for Iowa families and small business owners to address expiring tax relief measures, such as key deductions for college tuition and teacher-purchased classroom supplies, and permanent death tax reform.
As your senator, I appreciate the healthy feedback I receive from Iowans across the state. Remember to exercise the most fundamental element of representative government. Vote on Nov. 7.