2014 Iowa Senate Debates: on Budget & Economy


Doug Butzier: Market-led recovery better than federal stimulus

Q: Do you support or oppose the statement, "Stimulus better than market-led recovery"?

A: Absolutely not. "Stimulus" packages are the most ridiculous economic hogwash ever foisted on an unsuspecting public. The economy would be much better off if individuals kept their tax money and chose how to spend it, rather than taking that same money and running it through the inefficiency of the Federal Government.

Source: E-mail interview: 2014 Iowa Senate race with OnTheIssues.org Sep 17, 2014

Sam Clovis: BBA to stop saddling generations to come

Question topic: Free enterprise and the right to private property turn mankind's natural self interest into the fairest and most productive economic system there is, and are the key to national prosperity.

Clovis: Strongly Agree

Question topic: Briefly list political or legislative issues of most concern to you.

Clovis: Balanced Budget Amendment: Our current profligate spending is ruinous in nature and will saddle generations to come with burdensome debt that will continue to retard the growth of our economy. Further, a BBA will limit the influence of special interests, the most corrupting aspect of government today.

Source: Faith2Action iVoterGuide on 2014 Iowa Senate race Jul 2, 2014

Matthew Whitaker: Top priority: Grow the economy

Inside the Ida Grove Skate Palace, the politicians were peppered with questions from about 100 Iowa voters. Before the forum, the candidates told us what issue is most important to them.

"Jobs and economy," said State Senator Joni Ernst.

"Balancing the budget," answered former State Attorney Matt Whitaker.

"Grow the economy," said Dr. Sam Clovis.

With an ever growing list of Republican candidates the biggest challenge, right now, may be standing out in a crowded field. "I want to go to Washington not as a career politician, but as a citizen legislator. The laws that I work on will apply to me when I'm done, since I've taken a term limit pledge to only serve two terms," Whitaker said.

"I am certainly not the status quo, and I won't represent the status quo. The American people are sick of that, and they want real change, by real people, who will do things that will really change this country and get it back on track," Clovis said.

Source: Siouxland News KTIV on 2014 Iowa Senate debate Nov 19, 2013

Sam Clovis: Top priority: Balancing the budget

Inside the Ida Grove Skate Palace, the politicians were peppered with questions from about 100 Iowa voters. Before the forum, the candidates told us what issue is most important to them.

"Jobs and economy," said State Senator Joni Ernst.

"Balancing the budget," answered former State Attorney Matt Whitaker.

"Grow the economy," said Dr. Sam Clovis.

With an ever growing list of Republican candidates the biggest challenge, right now, may be standing out in a crowded field. "I am certainly not the status quo, and I won't represent the status quo. The American people are sick of that, and they want real change, by real people, who will do things that will really change this country and get it back on track," Clovis said.

After the forum, the audience cast their vote in a straw poll. With 57-votes, the king of the palace Monday night was Sam Clovis. The winner of the Republican Primary will likely face Bruce Braley, the only Democrat in the race.

Source: Siouxland News KTIV on 2014 Iowa Senate debate Nov 19, 2013

Joni Ernst: I've castrated hogs so I know how to cut pork

Joni Ernst also landed what might have been the best line of the night with this gem: "We have to cut our spending and as a farmer's daughter who grew up in southwest Iowa castrating hogs with her dad, I can go to Washington and cut pork."

That was the first time the live audience reacted vocally. The line was both humorous and insightful.

Source: Kevin Hall in Iowa Republican on 2014 Iowa Senate debate Oct 24, 2013

  • The above quotations are from 2014 Iowa Senate Debates.
  • Click here for definitions & background information on Budget & Economy.
  • Click here for other issues (main summary page).
  • Click here for more quotes by Matt Whitaker on Budget & Economy.
  • Click here for more quotes by Joni Ernst on Budget & Economy.
Candidates and political leaders on Budget & Economy:

Retired Senate as of Jan. 2015:
GA:Chambliss(R)
IA:Harkin(D)
MI:Levin(D)
MT:Baucus(D)
NE:Johanns(R)
OK:Coburn(R)
SD:Johnson(D)
WV:Rockefeller(D)

Resigned from 113th House:
AL-1:Jo Bonner(R)
FL-19:Trey Radel(R)
LA-5:Rod Alexander(R)
MA-5:Ed Markey(D)
MO-9:Jo Ann Emerson(R)
NC-12:Melvin Watt(D)
SC-1:Tim Scott(R)
Retired House to run for Senate or Governor:
AR-4:Tom Cotton(R)
GA-1:Jack Kingston(R)
GA-10:Paul Broun(R)
GA-11:Phil Gingrey(R)
HI-1:Colleen Hanabusa(D)
IA-1:Bruce Braley(D)
LA-6:Bill Cassidy(R)
ME-2:Mike Michaud(D)
MI-14:Gary Peters(D)
MT-0:Steve Daines(R)
OK-5:James Lankford(R)
PA-13:Allyson Schwartz(D)
TX-36:Steve Stockman(R)
WV-2:Shelley Capito(R)
Retired House as of Jan. 2015:
AL-6:Spencer Bachus(R)
AR-2:Tim Griffin(R)
CA-11:George Miller(D)
CA-25:Howard McKeon(R)
CA-33:Henry Waxman(D)
CA-45:John Campbell(R)
IA-3:Tom Latham(R)
MN-6:Michele Bachmann(R)
NC-6:Howard Coble(R)
NC-7:Mike McIntyre(D)
NJ-3:Jon Runyan(R)
NY-4:Carolyn McCarthy(D)
NY-21:Bill Owens(D)
PA-6:Jim Gerlach(R)
UT-4:Jim Matheson(D)
VA-8:Jim Moran(D)
VA-10:Frank Wolf(R)
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Page last updated: Dec 06, 2018