Joni Ernst in Washington Senate Debate
On Social Security:
Something like personal savings accounts for younger workers
Democratic TV ads in Iowa have repeatedly misrepresented Joni Ernst's position on Social Security, claiming she "would privatize Social Security" or that she has "proposed privatizing Social Security." But Ernst hasn't proposed or endorsed any plan to
change Social Security. At most, Ernst has said that she would consider allowing "younger workers," or those "just entering the workforce," to put some portion of their Social Security payroll taxes into interest-bearing or stock market-based "personal
savings accounts" for their retirement.The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee aired a TV ad in August called "Team," saying that Ernst "would privatize Social Security." But that goes too far. Ernst hasn't advocated for a completely privatized
program, and she certainly hasn't talked about making changes for seniors currently collecting benefits or those nearing retirement, such as the white-haired man featured in the DSCC's ad.
Source: FactCheck.org PacWatch on 2014 Iowa Senate debate
Oct 7, 2014
On Abortion:
Affordable access to contraception
Braley supports access to abortion. Ernst opposes abortion. That led to a fierce back-and-forth where Braley said Ernst introduced legislation that would've banned all forms of abortion and prevented certain forms of contraception.
Ernst responded that the amendment Braley referenced "would not do any of the things that he stated it would do. That amendment is simply a statement that I support life."
"I always stand with our women on affordable access to contraception," added Ernst, who stood on a seven-inch riser to put her at eye level with her opponent. "That's something that
Congressman Braley has been trying to mislead our women voters on. I do believe in a woman's right to contraception."
Source: Des Moines Register on 2014 Iowa Senate debate
Sep 29, 2014
On Health Care:
FactCheck: False claim that ObamaCare cut Medicare benefits
Braley would keep and fix the Affordable Care Act, otherwise known as Obamacare. Ernst would repeal it.Ernst's low point was "stubbornly pushing the claim that ObamaCare cut Medicare benefits,
an argument repeatedly debunked by nonpartisan fact checkers, and her confusion on a question about current 'job-killing' regulations, where she cited cap-and-trade, which is not law," a pundit said.
Source: Des Moines Register on 2014 Iowa Senate debate
Sep 29, 2014
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 Jobs:
Raising the minimum wage would not improve the economy
Ernst said she does not believe there should be a federal minimum wage, and Braley responded, "If 300,000 Iowans would get a pay raise simply by raising the minimum wage to $10.10 an hour, that tells me that a lot of Iowans are missing out on this
booming economy that Sen. Ernst is talking about."Instead of responding directly, Ernst said Braley's proposal to raise the minimum wage would not improve the economy. She said her state Senate record shows the right way to boost the economy.
Source: The Hill 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
On Energy & Oil:
Meeting with Big Oil doesn't make me feel uncomfortable
Billionaire Tom Steyer's new ad against Republican Joni Ernst slams the Senate hopeful for opposing the renewable fuel mandate in Iowa. The 30-second ad buy by Steyer's NextGen Climate group highlights a meeting between Ernst, ExxonMobil and the American
Petroleum Institute (API).While ExxonMobil and API oppose the mandate, which requires refiners to mix a set amount of ethanol and other biofuels into the nation's fuel supply, Ernst is quoted in a clip stating the meeting with industry didn't make
her "feel uncomfortable."
The ad scolds Ernst for "her big oil backers," which NextGen claims are "trying to gut Iowa renewables."
While the ad blasts Ernst for being against the renewable fuel standard, Steyer has criticized ethanol in the past.
In an interview in 2010, Steyer said ethanol was not the way to go. NextGen also has routinely criticized any expansion of fossil fuels, and continued use of them in order to cut greenhouse gas emissions.
Source: The Hill PacWatch on 2014 Iowa Senate debate
Aug 19, 2014
On Crime:
Independently investigate sexual crime in military
Joni Ernst, who served more than 20 years in the military, said that she was sexually harassed in the military and, given her experience, is backing the removal of cases of sexual assault from the military chain of command, a position that puts her at
odds with much of the GOP.Ernst tells TIME, "These were some things where I was able to say stop and it simply stopped but there are other circumstances both for women and for men where they don't stop and they may be afraid to report it.
Legislation must ensure that sexual crimes in the military are both independently investigated and prosecuted." [The Pentagon opposes independent investigations, requiring that reports go through the military chain of command].
Sexual assault in the military is reaching epidemic proportions, discouraging many women from enlisting. In 2012, of the 26,000 cases of unwanted sexual contact in the military only 3,000 were reported and only 400 went to trial.
Source: Time magazine on 2014 Iowa Senate debates
Aug 15, 2014
On Jobs:
Top priority: Jobs and 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 am a
strong conservative and I have a proven record in the Iowa State Senate. Others may say that having a record is a good thing, but in this case I will gladly put up my conservative record," said Ernst.
"I am certainly not the status quo, and I won't rep
Source: Siouxland News KTIV on 2014 Iowa Senate debate
Nov 19, 2013
On Budget & Economy:
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
On Health Care:
Voted against Medicaid expansion in Iowa
Ernst scored in response to the first question, which was about ObamaCare.
She pointed out that she was the only one on the stage who has actually stood up against ObamaCare, because she voted against Medicaid expansion in Iowa.
Source: Kevin Hall in Iowa Republican on 2014 Iowa Senate debate
Oct 24, 2013
On Tax Reform:
Passed the largest tax cut in Iowa history
Ernst's status as the only elected official in the race can be both an asset and a detriment. During the first debate, it was an asset.
The state senator from Red Oak highlighted some of her more conservative votes and pointed to Iowa's ability to get things accomplished, like passing the largest tax cut in state history.
Source: Kevin Hall in Iowa Republican on 2014 Iowa Senate debate
Oct 24, 2013
Page last updated: Feb 26, 2019