Tracy Ehlert, Iowa House District 70

The Gazette sent a questionnaire to Iowa Legislature candidates representing Linn, Johnson and surrounding counties. The responses are unedited, unless to correct spelling or punctuation. 

To see other candidates' responses, visit our Election 2020 Candidates page. 

Rep. Tracy Ehlert faces Libertarian Myra Matejka in the election for Iowa House District 70. Matejka did not respond to the questionnaire.

What are the three biggest issues facing the state? How would you address them?

Healthcare Issues: Need to invest in mental health resources. Need to invest funding into the children's mental health program that was created in 2019. Need affordable, accessible healthcare plans for all.

Economic Issues: Need good jobs with good benefits and safe work conditions. Need to support our small businesses, particularly after COVID and the Derecho. Make Iowa attractive so that those that graduate here stay here and others want to live and work here. Need to address childcare issues which not only affect families but employers, therefore having an impact on the economy.

Education Issues: Need to invest more in education starting with Early Childhood Education. Public schools have been underfunded for years, need to fund them adequately. Adequately fund colleges to keep tuition low and student loan debt down and invest more in trade programs for those that may not want to go onto college after graduation.

What, if anything, needs to change about the state's response to the coronavirus pandemic?

While this is a completely new situation we were put in and some new systems needed to be created, it would have been extremely helpful to have some of the efforts done in a more timely manner. There were individuals waiting months for unemployment, childcare programs did not receive any financial relief for months and COVID test sites were not set up right away (and are still fairly limited).

What do you consider as budget priorities? What would you do to ensure these see funding? Which areas would you target funding reductions?

Priorities are: Education, Healthcare and the Economy. We must invest in early ed and appropriately fund public schools, college and trade programs, make sure all Iowan's have access to affordable healthcare plans and all Iowan's have access to good jobs with good benefits and safe work conditions. I would limit funding to areas that do not benefit the majority of Iowa's population.

What, if any, changes would you make to the way the state funds its K-12 education system?

K-12 funding needs increased. It has been underfunded for way too long. The majority of Iowa's children attend public schools, these children are going to be our next workforce, our leaders, our policy makers. This is not an area Iowa can afford to skimp on.

What should the state do to further address water quality issues? What, if anything, should the state do to increase funding for water quality improvements?

The major water quality problem in Iowa is nonpoint source pollution. We need to continue to work on solutions to curbing this type of pollution. This includes focusing on CAFOs in our agricultural areas but also thinking of creative options to curbing urban pollution (such as managing lawn fertilizers) as well.

What should the state do to address the availability of safe and affordable child care across Iowa?

Even prior to COVID and the Derecho, Iowa had a need for more childcare slots, and high quality, safe, affordable childcare. This is even more in demand now. Iowa needs robust funding for Early Childhood Education starting at birth. This funding can be used in a variety of ways: increase Child Care Assistance (CCA) reimbursement rates to programs/providers, address the childcare cliff effect for families, increase funding for the T.E.A.C.H. and WAGE$ program which helps pay for Early Ed degrees and provides bonuses to childcare staff, give increases to local ECI areas so they can addresses the unique needs of the area they serve, hire adequate staffing at DHS to ensure 100% of compliance checks are conducted and follow up is done when reports are made, give incentives to businesses that help with solutions such as providing onsite childcare or help pay for employees childcare.

What is your response to recent protests calling for racial justice? What changes to law enforcement policy or budgeting do you support? 

Racial Justice is important to me. I work in a school that serves 40% English Language Learners and over 80% Black and Brown children. Seeing these children and their families (and my own non-white friends and family members) not being treated the same way I do in every situation is not ok. I am very happy with the work that our local Advocates for Social Justice organization has been doing. They have created many learning opportunities for the community to understand the issues better and get involved in productive ways. The Plan for a More Perfect Union that was passed in the Iowa House this year was a great start at addressing some of what was needed but there is still more work to be done and the Advocates for Social Justice have some other great ideas that I support.

Will you support a constitutional amendment to restore voting rights for felons?

Yes. After serving their sentence, all Iowan's should have the right to vote.

Will you approve the governor's IWILL tax relief/mental health plan?

Undecided. I would like to see some other options before committing.

Will you seek voter approval of a constitutional amendment on abortion (SJR2001/HJR2004)?

No. How an individual decides to manage their reproductive healthcare is not for voters to decide, that is up to the patient and doctor to make a decision on.

Will you support a ban hand-held electronic devices while driving (SF2248/HF2375)?

Yes. If it is enforced it will keep those on the road (drivers, walkers/joggers, bicyclists) safer.

Will you support allowing financial compensation for college athletes (SF2330/HF2282)?

Undecided. I lean towards yes on this but would like to hear more constituents thoughts.

Will you support making daylight saving time permanent (SF2077/HF2059)?

Undecided. Not a priority for me, would like to hear constituents thoughts.

Will you support allowing end-of-life options for patients with terminal conditions (SF2156/HF2302)?

Yes. Mentally capable adults have a fundamental right to determine their own medical treatment options in accordance with their own values, beliefs and personal preferences.

Will you support closing loopholes to protect mobile home occupants/tenants (HF2351/SF2238)?

Yes. An out-of-state corporation profited on Iowa mobile home tenants by purchasing and increasing their rent by 50% and more, tenants need protection from some of the current loopholes.

Will you support increasing the state minimum hourly wage from $7.25?

Yes. Iowans earning minimum wage cannot afford rent for a one-bedroom home anywhere in the state unless they work at least 67 hours a week, according to a new report released by the National Low Income Housing Coalition. I support an increase to at least $10 per hour.

Will you support raising the state tobacco tax by $1 to $2.36 per pack?

Undecided. Iowa is currently the 26th highest at taxing tobacco putting Iowa in the average category for tobacco tax. This doe allow room for an increase when compared to other states, but I would like to hear from constituents on this issue.

Will you support modifying or repealing Iowa's bottle bill law?

Undecided. I could be open to modifying but I would not want to see it repealed. According to the Iowa DNR an estimated 71% of beverage containers are redeemed annually in Iowa. This shows that the majority are redeeming containers for a deposit and this helps reduce and clean up litter.

Will you support requiring helmets for minors operating motorcycles/motorized bikes?

Yes. Seatbelts are required to be worn inside a vehicle, a seatbelt requirement was recently added to school buses, this would be a similar protection measure for minors.

Will you support eliminating criminal penalties for possessing marijuana?

Yes. This would free up valuable criminal justice resources.

Will you support establishing a moratorium on constructing large-scale animal feeding facilities?

Yes. CAFOs produce huge amounts of animal sewage and other pollutants, until we have this pollution under control I do not believe any new CAFO's should be constructed.

Will you support creating an 'extreme risk' or 'red flag' firearms protective order?

Yes. I support the right to bear arms, but also want to protect those who may be harmed through the use of a gun in situations where it could have been prevented such as in suicide attempts and domestic abuse situations.