State Representative Lindsay James of Dubuque is the Iowa House minority whip.
No matter who we are or what corner of the state we call home, most Iowans want similar things: to make a good living, care for our families, and feel safe and connected to our communities. Iowans want to be able to afford the things that matter most and be able to go to the doctor without going broke.
As former Vice President Mike Pence makes his way to Iowa this week, it’s important to remember that MAGA Republicans and Pence don’t have Iowans’ best interests at heart.
The Trump Administration failed when it came to economic strategy. The federal government handed out massive new tax breaks to corporations and special interests, while allowing wealthy companies to keep price gouging the rest of us. That drained our pocketbooks from both ends and shortchanged our small businesses and communities.
With the help of U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley, Pence and President Donald Trump packed the court with right-wing justices who overturned Roe v. Wade, stripping Americans of their fundamental reproductive rights.
The Trump Administration also failed to take the COVID-19 pandemic seriously, leading to hundreds of thousands of preventable deaths. The administration’s botched response to the pandemic also led to a major economic slowdown, resulting in a record high unemployment rate and thousands of small businesses being forced to shut their doors.
And maybe worst of all, Trump and MAGA Republicans participated in a criminal conspiracy to overturn the will of the people and undermine our democracy. They helped plan, promote, and pay for the January 6 insurrection and tried to cover up their role in this attack by blocking the FBI investigation of these crimes. Even after Trump supporters threatened Pence’s life, he refused to fully condemn the former president for his actions that day.
Meanwhile, Democrats are delivering on an agenda focused on people, not politics. We are lowering costs for working families, fighting inflation, and investing in combating climate change.
Since President Joe Biden took office, the U.S. economy has added thousands of jobs each month, bringing the unemployment rate back to its pre-pandemic level. Democrats, including U.S. Representative Cindy Axne, helped pass President Biden’s American Rescue Plan, which put money in our pockets and helped with health care and essential services. The bill sent Iowa $3.9 billion in relief checks, expanded the child tax credit, provided nutrition assistance, and lowered health insurance premiums. Thanks to those who voted yes, Iowans went to the doctor without the fear of going broke.
And just this month, Congressional Democrats passed and Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act, a historic piece of legislation that will help fight climate change, lower drug prices and reduce the deficit.
Iowans want a leader who stands up for working families, who puts people over corporations and who respects the outcomes of our elections. We need to put our people first, not politics.
Top photo of Lindsay James published with permission.