Barrett Hubbard, Iowa House District 66

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. 

Barrett Hubbard faces Democrat Rep. Art Staed in the election. Click here to read Staed's responses.

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

Budget - The 2022 fiscal budget in the State of Iowa is going to be hit hard with the reduced income resulting from the Coronavirus pandemic. The citizens of this state are already hurting from loss of jobs and recovering from the Dericheo storm back in August. Tax rates need to stay at the same levels.

Crime - Crime rates are rising, and just whole cloth releasing people from prison is not the answer. The criminal justice system and the mental health system need to be separated. People with mental illness that commit crimes do not need to be thrown in with the rest of the prison population as they will never get the help that they need.

Education - Education is extremely important as the children in school today are the leaders of tomorrow. However the majority of children in school today are not taught how to think and look at issues from all points of view, they are taught what to think by their teachers and professors.

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

The response to the coronavirus pandemic has been the biggest public policy disaster in American history. From the very beginning of the pandemic it has been a hyper-politicized issue with both sides trying to use it to score points with the American people and to gain power in this election. The result of this way of handling the issue has lead to the deaths of almost 200,000 Americans with Coronavirus. What should have happened is that our politicians and leaders should have come together and had the best interest of the American people in mind with every decision that they made. Experts from top universities and programs regardless of their political ideology or view on the virus should have been brought together and a unified plan put in place that would have protected the most vulnerable while minimizing the impact to the economy and maintaining as of normal life as possible.

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

Education is always a priority as they are training the next generation to be the future leaders and members of our society and accounts for roughly 50% of the annual budget of the state.

Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice are a big issue and is becoming more of a focus every day. We can NEVER defund the police at any level because without police our society will devolve into anarchy instantly.

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

Without having a complete understanding of how all of the funding for K-12 education is broken out from Federal, State, and Local sources, I would leave it be for the time being, but would not be opposed to changes if there was a benefit to the tax payers of the State of Iowa.

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?

We are called to be good stewards of the environment, this means that we need to use the natural resources responsibly so that they are available for future generations to use in the same manor. There have been major improvements in how we have managed our natural resources in the state and those should continue. The Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) has provided over 1.4 Billion in funding assistance for community to upgrade their drinking water, waste water and storm water improvements.

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

The biggest problem with the availability of safe and affordable child care in Iowa is the lack of providers. If a person is seeking financial assistance for child care and on their application they list a close family friend or relative that is willing to watch their children, those individuals should have an expedited background check and approval process to be certified as a provider for those specific children. If they would like to expand their services and provide child care for other families they will have to complete the complete background check and approval process that a certified daycare provider has to. This could substantially increase the number of providers and maybe some will want to become a small business owner of a daycare center.

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

BLM and Antifa are anti-American organizations that have the sole purpose to destroy the fabric of America so that a communist government can be put in its place. The recent publicized deaths of African Americans at the hands of police are not acceptable in a civilized society. The rioting and looting have done nothing to help the cause of "racial justice". There are reforms and training that can be required for police departments, but the real issue is not going to be solved by implementing those changes. To really address this problem we have to way deeper, we need to stop dividing up Americans into categories and groups of people that need some special rights that the rest of the groups do not get. We are all Americans and politicians and leaders need to encourage unity and a coming together of all people. Also there needs to be cultural change across this country where people take responsibility for their actions.

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

Undecided

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

Undecided

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

Yes

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

Yes 

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

Undecided

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

Undecided

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

No

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

Undecided

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

Undecided

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

Undecided

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

Yes

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

Yes 

Will you support eliminating criminal penalties for possessing marijuana?

Undecided

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

Undecided

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

No