Firsthand experience of Conlin’s graciousness

I don't know much about tax credits or subsidy payments to farmers, but I know that Sen. Chuck Grassley and his challenger, Roxanne Conlin, care about Iowa.

We elected Chuck as our senator 36 years ago. He's been a good senator for Iowans with money, but what about the growing number of struggling Iowans?

I'm confused about his recent votes. He was against health care for everyone and against extending unemployment benefits because both these programs would raise the deficit. Why wasn't Chuck concerned about deficit spending when he was chair of the Senate Finance Committee for President Bush? The $50 million earmarked for an indoor rain forest was evidently good deficit spending, but extending unemployment benefits for Iowans is bad deficit spending? Go figure!

I'm part of Hope Builders, a non-profit for the homeless in Des Moines. Last December, 80 people were living in snowdrifts. We asked for help and received good media coverage. Churches helped and we extended our request to elected representatives, but have not heard back yet.

We also reached out to local folks. That is when I had the opportunity to meet Jim and Roxanne Conlin. They became an instrumental part in helping us get 56 people off the frozen streets of Des Moines last winter.

I'm voting for Roxanne this November because I believe she will represent all Iowans, and her actions show she is a caring and compassionate person.

David Costello

Des Moines