Rod Blum: Desire to reform Congress drives second term

U.S. Rep. Rod Blum has been defying expectations since he was first sworn into office in January 2015.

His first vote was against then-House Speaker John Boehner, a fellow Republican who had campaigned for him.

He joined the House Freedom Caucus, a conservative group of Republicans, while also backing the agenda of No Labels, a bloc of elected officials who vow to reach across party lines.

He has voted as conservatively as GOP U.S. Rep. Steve King of northwest Iowa, according to one measure, but also backed several bipartisan measures and focused on reforming Congress.

Now as Blum, 61, is seeking a second term as the Iowa's 1st District representative, the Dubuque businessman points above all to his constituent services and focus on reforming Congress as the top reasons he deserves to continue.

'I have … stood up to the political class in Washington, D.C.,' Blum said recently. 'I think I've done an excellent job of standing up to Washington, D.C., in my own party when it needs to be stood up to, and then also compromising when it's for the good of Eastern Iowa.'

Those good-for-Iowa bills he points to are an education bill, a highway transportation bill and the 21st Century Cures Act that would boost funding for the National Institutes of Health, as well as his support for the agriculture industry, seniors, veterans and people who are disabled.

Blum also has co-sponsored or supported reform bills that call for term limits, ending the congressional pension program, banning lobbying by former members of Congress, banning first-class air travel and luxury car leases paid for by the public and tying congressional pay to that of average Americans.

Though he has been criticized for not holding public meetings with constituents, Blum has held fairs — on jobs, senior wellness and veterans — that have offered to help those groups with specific issues.

During the recent Lincoln Dinner hosted by the Republicans of Black Hawk County, Iowa Republican Party Chairman Jeff Kaufmann acknowledged the work that Blum has done in Congress and in the district, and how it has had trickle-down impacts.

'You don't know any other way to represent people than the way you do, and that is with your entire heart and soul and integrity, so on behalf of the Iowa Legislature and the people that are going to be better served by a Republican Senate, and maintaining a Republican House, thanks to both of you; you are helping,' Kaufmann told Blum and U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa.

He said both have 'coattails' that are helping down-ballot races.

In three polls in the 1st District, Blum led in all of them, though one from a Democrat-led group showed a tightening race. Indeed, a poll released Friday showed Vernon with a 1-point lead, The 1st District is race considered one of the most competitive in the country, as the first-term Republican has been labeled among the most vulnerable incumbents and represents a Democrat-leaning district.

But Blum believes he has had the right priorities that fit the district.

Blum has focused particularly on balancing the budget and 'reigniting the economy' since he ran for the seat in 2014, and bested Democrat Pat Murphy by 2.2 percentage points. The seat was open in 2014 due to former U.S. Rep. Bruce Braley's unsuccessful bid for U.S. Senate.

'I'm a balanced budget guy, but obviously, we shouldn't balance the budget on the backs of senior citizens, veterans or, for sure, disabled people,' Blum said.

His budget focus, however, has opened him up to attacks from Democrats in general and from opponent Monica Vernon in particular.

Because Blum has voted for non-binding budget bills that hasten balancing the budget with cuts, Democratic groups have singled out how those cuts would impact Iowans. Vernon, meanwhile, has focused on Blum's support for a budget that would raise the retirement age for Social Security benefits.

'There's thousands of ideas in there. Does that mean I agree with them all? Of course not. Of course not. But they're not binding anyway,' Blum said. 'You get to vote yes or you get to vote no. You don't get to say, 'Well, I vote yes on these items and no on those.' It's all or nothing, but in political season, it's picked apart.'

But Blum doesn't apologize for wanting to balance the budget. He has called the national debt 'immoral' and leading to 'financial Armageddon.'

'Politicians, even Republicans, they come back to their districts, and they talk tough, but when they get to Washington, they don't vote tough,' Blum said this past spring. 'I'm so serious about this for our children and our grandchildren. We've got to get this spending under control.'

Blum said he generally doesn't believe the nation can grow the economy by cutting government. Instead, he said government should focus on policies that boost growth, like reducing regulations, lowering corporate tax rates while eliminating corporate welfare and simplifying personal income tax rates.

'That's how we get out of this budget mess, is restrained spending increases, at the top line, in total, …. But then we just need to grow this economy,' Blum said.

Though he acknowledges a Congress — and a country — that is divided, Blum said he wants to see lawmakers work together to get things done. He said gridlock is not caused by the members but by the handful of leaders who control what legislation moves.

'I've consistently said … as an example, Social Security and Medicare, we need to do something. It needs to be bipartisan,' Blum said. 'Some of our ideas. Some of the Democrats' ideas. Put it together, and let's solve this, keep these programs solvent for another 50 years. Now, I'm willing to do that. Is the leadership?'

ROD BLUM

Party: Republican

Residence: Dubuque

Age: 61

Career: Software company owner

Education: Loras College, B.A., 1977; University of Dubuque, M.B.A., 1989

Political experience: Currently serving first term in Congress

Website: http://www.rodblum.com/