Pam Egli, Iowa Senate District 32

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. 

Pam Egli faces Republican Sen. Craig Johnson in the election for Iowa Senate District 32. Johnson did not respond to the questionnaire.

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

Three of the biggest issues for the people of District 32 are education, health care and mental health care services, and infrastructure. Our education systems are underfunded and that is causing Iowa to continue to fall behind other states. Iowa once led the nation in education, but that is not the current status. We need to help students access post-high school education through training in a trade or higher education without burdening them with excessive debt. Another area of concern for Iowans is our access to affordable healthcare and mental health care services. Our rural medical facilities and EMS services need to be funded so living in rural Iowa is a safe place to reside with accessible medical services. Our mental health access and services need to be available when required. It is not acceptable that people are held in the ER or jails while waiting to receive mental health care necessary for survival. Finally, the infrastructure in rural Iowa needs our immediate attention. This includes maintaining our roads and bridges as well as having access to fast, reliable broadband. we have seen, as a result of the pandemic, the importance of broadband to serve students, small businesses, farmers, and people who work remotely. Having access to broadband is no longer considered a luxury. It is a necessity.

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

The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provides this guidance: 'Everyone should wear a cloth face cover when they have to go out in public, for example to the grocery store or to pick up other necessities." We also, know that keeping physical distance of at least 6 feet is important, as well as frequent hand washing. I agree these are the guidelines we should follow.

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

Funding priorities for Iowa need to be education, health care and mental health, our infrastructure, and the environment. The budget should be examined in a bipartisan manner setting priorities and working together in order to improve the lives of Iowans. 

We need to examine how we fund schools. We know we have not done as well as other states, as Iowa has fallen from being number 1 in the nation. With education being a mechanism to bring young families to Iowa, we need to invest in our public education to make it a drawing card of our state.

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?

Iowa needs to focus on water quality in our state. We have worked to add watersheds in Iowa, but need to continue to encourage good conservation practices. Both rural and urban areas can work to improve water quality.

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

Iowa lacks access to safe and affordable child care for working parents. We know there is a need for child care. Increasing reimbursement rates would help providers. When parents can not afford childcare and are forced to leave their place of employment, it is not just lost wages at that time, but it results in lost career opportunities. This is an area where Iowans can come together for solutions to this problem.

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

Americans need to address the issue of racial injustice. However, I believe we need to invest in our law enforcement to better provide for their needs.

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

Yes 

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

No. As written, the bill is more of a tax shift, rather than increasing the revenue to support the environmental areas and mental health as intended from this bill. We need to support both environment and our mental health services.

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

No

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. I understand that the college students bring revenue to the colleges, but I am unsure about taking the focus off of "student" and emphasizing "athlete".

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

Undecided. I need additional information and discussion as to how this benefits Iowans.

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

Yes

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

Yes 

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

Yes. I believe through bipartisan discussion we could come up with a reasonable increase.

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

Yes 

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. I would like to be involved in discussion on how this is currently affecting Iowans.

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

No 

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

Undecided. I believe in common sense gun laws. My response would be determined on the wording of the bill.