Joni Ernst in Politico.com
On Abortion:
Personhood amendment is a statement of pro-life principle
Ernst, a state senator since 2010, was prodded to explain several positions she staked out on her way to winning the Republican primary in June, such as supporting a Personhood amendment.Ernst defended her support for a
Personhood amendment to the Iowa Constitution. Braley attacked Ernst for supporting the measure in the state legislature, which he said would allow doctors to be prosecuted for terminating pregnancies.
That amendment is simply a statement that I support life." She added that she supports "a woman's right to contraception."
Source: Politico.com e-zine on 2014 Iowa Senate debate
Sep 28, 2014
On Education:
Eliminate Department of Education but keep Pell Grants
Ernst said her plan to eliminate the U.S. Department of Education won't affect Pell Grants. The Republican said she still would get rid of the federal agency, but college loans would then be housed within the Treasury Department.
She said 94 percent of Education Department employees are deemed as nonessential, and that their salaries are better spent in the state.
Source: Politico.com e-zine on 2014 Iowa Senate debate
Sep 28, 2014
On Energy & Oil:
Drives hybrid car, but doubts climate change is man-made
Ernst said she does not know if climate change is man-made. Braley attacked her for wanting to eliminate the Environmental Protection Agency and the Clean Water Act. "I do
believe in protecting our environment," said Ernst. "I drive a hybrid car, and my family recycles everything. So I don't know the science behind climate change.
I do believe in protecting our environment, but without the job killing regulations that are coming out of the EPA."
Source: Politico.com e-zine on 2014 Iowa Senate debate
Sep 28, 2014
On Social Security:
Open to privatizing Social Security, but honor promises
Ernst was prodded to explain several positions she staked out on her way to winning the Republican primary in June, such as being open to privatizing Social Security, opposing a federal minimum wage, hoping to eventually phase out ethanol subsidies,
and wanting to eliminate the Department of Education.Ernst defended keeping privatization on the table as one option to save Social Security.
many options out there. I haven't endorsed one option over another." Braley said privatizing should not be on the table and neither should raising the retirement age.
Source: Politico.com e-zine on 2014 Iowa Senate debate
Sep 28, 2014
On Tax Reform:
Make tax code fairer, flatter and simpler: but not FairTax
Ernst said she did not actually embrace the FairTax. Braley accused Ernst of wanting to install a 23% flat sales tax, which she firmly denied. "I have not endorsed any tax plan, so I want to make that very clear," she responded.
She said that she supports reform if it makes the tax code "fairer, flatter and simpler." Democrats circulated the transcript of a radio interview in the summer of 2013 in which she seemed to say that she backs the controversial tax.
Source: Politico.com e-zine on 2014 Iowa Senate debate
Sep 28, 2014
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