Ashley Hinson, U.S. House, Iowa District 1

The Gazette sent questionnaires to Iowa's candidates for U.S. Congress and other candidates for state and county offices. The responses are unedited, unless to correct spelling or punctuation. 

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

State Rep. Ashley Hinson faces Democrat U.S. Rep. Abby Finkenauer in the election for Iowa's 1st Congressional District. Click here to read Finkenauer's response.

State and local governments have seen revenues fall during the pandemic. Should Congress provide more direct aid to states and cities?

In order to get our economy moving again like it was before the pandemic, Congress needs to make sure our states and cities have the resources they need to support small businesses and workers who have been hurt from the pandemic. However, we need to know exactly where any additional federal money is going. States and cities that weren't fiscally responsible should not be bailed out with Iowa tax dollars. We're in good fiscal shape as a state because of responsible conservative budget management by the governor and the legislature. Congress should absolutely not increase taxes as a result of the pandemic to pay for any additional packages.

The national debt is reaching World War II proportions and may exceed the U.S. GDP. What steps should be taken?

The national debt is an issue where both parties have failed to take action. In Congress, I'll work across the aisle to get out of control spending under control. As a mom with two young boys, I believe we have a responsibility to make sure debt isn't piled on the backs of our children and grandchildren. I voted to cut taxes and balance the budget in the Iowa House, creating Iowa's surplus. In Congress, I would do the same and support a Balanced Budget Amendment.

How can Congress ensure health care access for everyone?

Congress needs to come together and pass a bipartisan bill that allows everyone to have an option to access health care at an affordable cost. Unfortunately, under the Affordable Care Act, premiums have nearly doubled, costing Iowa families thousands of dollars each year. It's clear that the ACA is not working for everybody and that significant changes are needed. However, we cannot replace Obamacare until we have a plan in place that will always protect those with pre-existing conditions. We need to offer more health insurance and benefit options, so individuals have choices and don't have to rely on the ACA, and we need to bring both sides to the table to come up with a bipartisan solution to make health care better. Health care is too important of an issue to continue this decades-long game of partisan tug of war. I will work with anyone who wants to work productively to solve this problem.

Do you support the Green New Deal? What must be done to protect the environment and limit harmful emissions without crippling farming?

I do not support the Green New Deal. The Green New Deal would cost our country $94 trillion, eliminate air travel, ban affordable energy, and destroy our agriculture industry in Iowa. Iowa produces almost 30 percent of the United States' ethanol, and radical policies like the Green New Deal would bankrupt this industry. Congress has failed to come to the table and propose a feasible option that will protect our environment without crippling our economy. I trust Iowa farmers to be the good stewards of the land that they are. I would support new federal policies that would reward farmers and biofuel producers for practices that reduce their carbon footprint. I believe ethanol industries should be rewarded for their low-carbon practices, just as other industries are.

What needs to be done about the nation's infrastructure? Where do you start, and how do you fund projects? Would you raise the gas tax?

In the Iowa House, I chaired the transportation committee and worked on a number of bipartisan bills to help fund and improve our infrastructure. It is critically important that both state governments and the federal government invest in infrastructure. I support the use of Road Use Tax Fund dollars to fund infrastructure improvements and would be open to a gas tax at the federal level. I would want any funding stream, including a gas tax, to have a sunset component to it (expire after a specific amount of time). I would have to know that 100% of the money raised from the gas tax in our state was going directly to funding federal infrastructure projects in Iowa.  

What is your stance on how the federal government should help Americans with student loan debt?

I believe that the government needs to be creative in the way we deal with student loan debt. For example, looking into ways for employers to use pre-taxed dollars to help pay back loans. I don't believe that the government should be responsible for paying back individuals' student loan debt because that's not fair to the millions of Americans who have worked so hard to pay off their own student debt. We need to focus on educating students on the true cost of college before they make the decision to invest in their education, so they understand the long-term effects of taking on the debt.

Do you support raising the $7.25-an-hour federal minimum wage? If yes, what would you raise it to? Would you tie the wage to inflation? If no, why not?

I am open to increasing the federal minimum wage, but I do not support raising it above $10 an hour in Iowa. The $15 an hour minimum wage increase that Congresswoman Finkenauer proudly supports would devastate Iowa small businesses. The minimum wage was never intended to be a wage that an individual can raise a family on. Cities like San Francisco and New York City have a very different cost of living than cities here in Iowa, and a one-size-fits all federal wage would force many of our small businesses to shut down and lay off our workers. That is not what we need in a time when we need economic growth and stability more than ever.

How will you involve the public in your decision-making process?

I feel that politicians in Washington often forget who their bosses are — the taxpayers. In the Iowa House, I listened to my constituents and took their needs to Des Moines, and I will do the same in Washington. Throughout my campaign, I have made myself extremely accessible. I have formed a series of coalitions that serve as public policy advisory groups to me so I can hear directly from folks who are experts in their fields, whether it be farmers, small business stakeholders, or law enforcement. For example, I am not a farmer and I'm not a part of law enforcement. I rely on farmers and law enforcement experts in my district for their expertise. Iowans know they have a direct line to me.

Would you support adding more seats to the Supreme Court or limiting the length of time a justice can serve on the court?

No. I do not support adding more seats to the Supreme Court or limiting the length of time a justice can serve on the court.

Should the Confederate flag be removed from federal property?

Yes 

Should military bases named for Confederate leaders be changed?

Yes 

Explain your answer (for both questions above):

I support measures being taken in Washington to study this issue and would support military bases named for Confederate leaders being changed. However, it is important to preserve and teach history so that as Americans, we can continuously learn and not repeat horrible mistakes when it comes to racial inequality in this country.

Should the federal government regulate social media to prevent fake news and misinformation?

Yes. This is an extremely difficult question with strong arguments on all sides of the issue. I do believe that social media websites and platforms have a responsibility to prevent fake news distribution and misinformation, but I also know just how difficult it is to do that without limiting free speech. For example, no matter how vile a Facebook comment is on my page, my team and I never delete it because I believe, as a public official, protecting free speech is very important. I'd support continued bipartisan efforts to build consensus on how we can prevent fake news and misinformation without violating people's constitutional rights.

Would you support a constitutional amendment to eliminate the Electoral College?

No. The electoral college was established to give rural states like Iowa equal representation. Eliminating the Electoral College would silence our voices here in Iowa, and it would be a grave mistake. This is not a difficult question.

Should candidates for federal office be required to release their federal income tax returns?

Yes. Across the board, I believe that we need more transparency in our government.

Should there be term limits for members of Congress?

Yes. I would support a term limits bill in Congress if it came to the floor of the House.