Candidates:
- Congressman Bruce Braley (D): US Congressman (2007-present) Senate campaign site.
- State Senator Joni Ernst (R): Iowa State Senator (2011-present) Senate campaign website.
Jason's Bottom Line:
- This open-Senate seat is the result of the retirement of Senator Harkin (D-IA) - a longtime "Plains Progressive." This is one of the most surprising elections for me, because Joni Ernst is a consummate politician...but is crazy on many issues that Iowans care about. Braley hasn't done himself any favors with some comments - painting him as out of touch with Iowa voters. This remains a retail politics state - and it's going to be turnout that decides who goes to D.C.
- Bruce Braley is, like Senator Harkin, a plains populist to the core. He's smart, hardworking, and a fighter for the middle class. He supports policies to strengthen the middle class and reign in the out of control spending on elections by shadowy groups.
- Joni Ernst has been relying heavily on her military experience (which deserves our heartfelt thanks) and her folksy charm to win over voters. She won a heated Republican primary, and has been hitting the ground hard in the state. That being said, she is pretty far to the right of Iowans on many issues.
Issues:
Access to Affordable Health Care
- Bruce Braley: Congressman Braley has been a strong supporter of access to affordable health care. He supports strengthening the ACA by fixing unintended consequences, expanding the CHIP and SCHIP programs, expanding access to and coverage of Medicare, giving mental health full equity with physical health, requiring negotiation of prescription prices in Medicare, and a host of other policies to expand health care access.
- Joni Ernst: Ernst would vote to defund, repeal, and replace the ACA. That is where, as with most Republican candidates, things get fuzzy. Ernst supports replacing the ACA with "free-market alternatives that put patients first, and healthcare decisions back in the hands of doctors rather than bureaucrats." That is the vague language that we're left with - and an implied, "trust me..." Ernst has also been repeatedly called out by independent fact checkers for her false statements about the consequences of the ACA. She even supported state nullification of the ACA and the right of Iowa to arrest federal officials trying to enforce the law.
- Winner: Bruce Braley
- As a Senator, I believe Braley will continue his track record of common sense reforms to increase access and reduce costs to the healthcare system.
Education/Student Debt
- As a Senator, I believe Braley will continue his track record of common sense reforms to increase access and reduce costs to the healthcare system.
- Bruce Braley: Congressman Braley opposes school vouchers, supports increased funding to our schools, and believes in extending subsidized federal student loans to more students. Congressman Braley has led the charge in the House on tackling the unsustainable student loan debts that students face.
- Joni Ernst: Ernst wants to eliminate the Department of Education - but don't worry, that won't affect Pell Grants, according to Ernst. That's about all anyone could find.
- Winner: Bruce Braley
- Braley believes in education as an avenue to the middle class. Ernst believes that the problem with education in America is the Department of Education.
- Braley believes in education as an avenue to the middle class. Ernst believes that the problem with education in America is the Department of Education.
Pay Equity/Workplace Protections/Expanding the Middle Class
- Bruce Braley: A staunch supporter of equal pay, Congressman Braley co-sponsored the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act and fought for passage of the Paycheck Fairness Act, and supports increasing the minimum wage. Congressman Braley also co-sponsored ENDA.
- Joni Ernst: Ernst opposes raising the minimum wage and has not commented on equal pay for equal work.
- Winner: Bruce Braley
- We know where he stands - and it's not a campaign tactic. He's fought for these issues throughout his career.
- We know where he stands - and it's not a campaign tactic. He's fought for these issues throughout his career.
Reproductive Rights/Women's Health Care
- Bruce Braley: He has been a career-long supporter of women's access. He has voted repeatedly to protect choice, and expanding access. Braley has a 100% rating from NARAL, Planned Parenthood for 2014 (and the past 6 years), and Population Connection.
- Joni Ernst: Ernst believes that human life begins at conception and she has introduced legislation that would have banned all forms of abortion and prevented certain forms of contraception in the Iowa State Senate.
- Winner: Bruce Braley
- Senator Braley will make a strong ally for those fighting for women in the Senate.
Marriage Equality
This is a big one for me as I deal with Congress every day for work. The willingness of a member to bridge the partisan divide is so important to get anything done. The super-partisanship of Washington is the reason that Congress is dysfunctional and has the lowest approval ratings ever.
- Bruce Braley: Braley has a proven track record of working across the aisle to achieve returns for Iowans. Much like Senator Harkin, Braley brings a progressive tilt to his ideology, but he balances that with a pragmatism that is required to accomplish anything in Washington.
- Joni Ernst: Based on her tenure in the Iowa State Senate, and the way she has run her campaign thus far, I don't have high hopes that Ernst would be a pragmatic voice in the Senate. I think she would lead to more gridlock and less accomplishments for the people of Iowa.
- Winner: Bruce Braley
- We need someone who is willing to put partisanship aside and accomplish real gains for the middle class.
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