Ernst opposes Obama on several fronts

DES MOINES — Freshman U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst continues to oppose President Barack Obama on nearly every front at home and abroad.

In a Friday talk with reporters, Ernst criticized the president's veto of the Keystone XL pipeline 'jobs bill,' his nominee for attorney general, negotiations with Iran and Internet regulation he supports.

She criticized Democrats who have 'obstructed' the 'necessary and serious' discussion of finding a resolution to continue funding the Department of Homeland Security. However, the Red Oak Republican reiterated her position that a solution must defund Obama's executive actions shielding some illegal immigrants from deportation — the sticking point with Democrats.

'From what I've heard from Iowans is their first priority is rolling back the president's executive amnesty,' said Ernst, who spent last week visiting 18 Iowa counties.

That's also the chief reason she will join U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley in opposing confirmation of Loretta Lynch as attorney general.

Ernst said she is concerned about Lynch's statements to the Judiciary Committee that Obama's executive order on immigration was appropriate.

'With her support for the president's action, I don't feel I can support her,' Ernst said.

Neither does she support the FCC's adoption of Internet regulations the president supports. The adoption of so-called net neutrality that calls for regulating the Internet like a utility would make Internet service more expensive, less competitive and less innovative, Ernst said.

'What's best for Iowa is to not have federal government interfering with the Internet,' she said.

Ernst is a co-sponsor of a resolution welcoming Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to deliver an address to a joint session of Congress. She called it 'unfortunate' the Obama administration felt slighted by House Speaker John Boehner's invitation to the prime minister.

It's appropriate Congress hear from an ally, she said, especially in light of concerns with the Obama administration negotiations with Iran.

Those negotiations 'are not looking very strong,' she said, and would 'leave the door open for a nuclear Iran.'

It appears to her the United States is moving closer to Iran's position on developing nuclear capabilities 'without Iran moving an inch. Ernst called that 'unacceptable.'

Finally, Ernst said she was disappointed Obama vetoed the 'common-sense' Keystone pipeline legislation. Approval would have created thousands of jobs, she said, and grown the economy.