Joni Ernst was sworn in yesterday (twice) as Iowa’s first new U.S. senator in 30 years. You can view the ceremonial repeat swearing in on KCCI’s website. Vice President Joe Biden complimented Ernst on her “great victory”. He also made an inappropriate comment to one of her daughters. Republican Senator Lindsey Graham gave Ernst a livestock castration device mounted on a plaque engraved with the words, “MAKE ‘EM SQUEAL, JONI!”
Ernst is the first woman ever to represent Iowa in Congress, and while I think many women who came before her were more worthy of the honor, it’s good that the young generation will not grow up wondering whether Iowans would ever elect a woman to high office.
I’d been looking forward to see how Ernst would set the tone on her first day in the Senate. For the last two months, she has been dodging interviews–sorry, “keeping a low profile.” She hired staff and made time for her first foreign junket (a trip to Israel bankrolled by the American Israel Public Affairs Committee), but she has said little of substance about any current events. Watching Ernst’s first official remarks after being sworn in, I felt disappointed to hear a rehash of her stump speech. In two months she could have come up with something more than “it is certainly a long way from Red Oak to Washington, D.C” and “As a mother, soldier and independent voice [….]” I would like to know whether she has specific goals and legislation she wants to help pass. Instead, we got more vague talk about the “Iowa Way,” “working with our neighbors to find solutions to the many problems we face.” Ernst plans to visit all 99 counties every year. I hope at those town-hall events, Iowans will press for real comments about real issues.
Any relevant comments are welcome in this thread. After the jump I’ve enclosed the full transcript of Ernst’s video remarks yesterday, a list of her key staff hires, and excerpts from her recent interview with Kathie Obradovich. Ernst is “anxious to get to work.” I would advise her not to miss a single hearing of any of the four committees to which she has been assigned (Agriculture, Armed Services, Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs). Her campaign’s attacks Bruce Braley set the standard: missing a committee meeting = not doing your job and not caring about people.
Hi, I’m Joni Ernst. I am truly honored and humbled to speak to you today as Iowa’s newest United States Senator.
As I’ve said before, it is certainly a long way from Red Oak to Washington, D.C. But now that I am here, I am excited that I am in a position to bring our way – the Iowa way, with me on this important journey. What does the Iowa Way mean to me? Well, in part, it is about working with our neighbors to find solutions to the many problems we face rather than resorting to politics as usual that most Americans have come to expect from Washington. But let me be clear, I am here to work for you in order to craft and implement real solutions as we chart a new path forward for our nation.
Like so many Iowans, I also believe in the importance of hard work, service and sacrifice. As a mother, soldier and independent voice, I am committed to bringing these very values to Washington.
During this Congress, there is no limit to what can be accomplished when we work together. We must help grow a vibrant economy, ensure our veterans receive promised quality care and that our military has the tools to defend our nation’s security, protect Iowa farmers and our vital agricultural interests, and ensure the federal government runs effectively and efficiently.
America’s greatness comes from the people not government. I believe that you know what is best for Iowa more than those in Washington, which is why I am launching my 99 county tour across the state in the next few weeks to ensure I meet and hear from as many of my fellow Iowans as possible. Please also visit my website Ernst.Senate.Gov and tell me what you would like to see Congress accomplish.
Together, we will work together and build an America that ensures that we leave a better Iowa and a better country for our children and grandchildren. I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Thank you and may God continue to bless the great State of Iowa and the United States of America.
The Des Moines Register’s Jennifer Jacobs reported on Ernst’s lead staffers:
Staff can be a power multiplier, politics watchers said. If a senator has respected staffers, they can enhance what the senator is able to do. Here are the people U.S. Sen.-elect Joni Ernst has hired so far:
CHIEF OF STAFF: Lisa Goeas, a former top staffer for the National Federation of Independent Business and for the U.S. Small Business Administration.
STATE DIRECTOR: Cam Sutton, a retired insurance company CEO who is one of Iowa’s top donors to GOP candidates and causes.
DEPUTY CHIEF OF STAFF: Jon Kohan, who was Ernst’s campaign manager and is a former chief of staff to U.S. Rep. Mark Sanford, R-S.C.
LEGISLATIVE DIRECTOR: Ryan Berger, who was policy director for Ernst’s campaign and was legislative director for U.S. Sens. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., and Jeff Chiesa, R-N.J.
COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR: Brook Hougesen, a former press secretary for the National Republican Senatorial Committee.
PRESS SECRETARY: Angela Zirkelbach, an Iowa native and a former research director for the NRSC’s independent expenditure unit.
DEPUTY PRESS SECRETARY: Meg Baglien, who was a deputy communications director for Iowa U.S. Rep. Tom Latham.
Kathie Obradovich interviewed Ernst for the Des Moines Register. Excerpts:
Q: Anything worrying you so far about the new job?
A: No, nothing is worrying me. I think right now, I’m just more concerned about getting all of my family into town for tomorrow’s swearing-in activities. That’s been the most stressful part, but I’m looking forward to actually getting to work. I think the time between the campaign and actually starting here at the Senate was the toughest part for me, because I wasn’t a senator yet and I wasn’t really able to get to work like I wanted to. Just trying to put a staff together and get the offices situated, that has been kind of taxing doing that long-distance. […]
Q: Do you feel like you have anything to prove?
A: I’m always my own worst critic, to be honest. I just want to make sure I’m doing the right thing for Iowa and thinking through things very carefully and making sure that whatever I do is going to move Iowa and the United States forward. So, not necessarily that I have anything to prove. I feel confident and comfortable right now and I’m just anxious to get to work. […]
Q: You’ve recently been to Israel. (Weeklong trip paid for by the American Israel Public Affairs Committee’s educational fund). How will you decide whether to accept trips from interest groups?
A: We have our committee assignments and having those assignments will really, I think that will help dictate to me what will be important to do as far as education opportunities. … (She said the Israel trip was relevant to her work on the Armed Forces Committee, as well as agriculture.) … If it’s applicable and helpful to the people of Iowa and the committees that I sit on, those will be great educational opportunities for me.