116 3rd St SE
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
Q&A with House 80 candidate Art Staed
Incumbent Democrat seeks to represent newly-created district
Art Staed, 73, of Cedar Rapids, is the Democratic candidate for House District 80, a new district that was created during the 2021 redistricting process. Staed, a retired educator, has represented District 66 in the statehouse since 2013.
The Gazette posed a set of questions to all area statehouse candidates. Below is the transcript of Staed’s answers. Polls will be open on election day from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
What do you think are the three most important issues the state is facing? What would you do to address them?
Staed: Affordable and accessible quality health care and mental health services
Adequately funding public schools and educational training opportunities for our workers
Supports for small businesses and entrepreneurs — creating jobs
Do you support the use of eminent domain for CO2 pipelines? Why or why not?
Staed: No. Eminent domain should only be used for a clear and compelling public benefit for Iowans and not for private gain.
What restrictions or limitations should be placed on the use of eminent domain for CO2 pipelines?
Staed: Just compensation for property loss, and damages to use, have to be guaranteed along with safety. Public health and safety risks with the construction and use of these pipelines should be addressed and mitigated first. Finally, the companies should obtain a vast majority of voluntary easement agreements (90 percent or more) before granting them eminent domain authority.
The state is projected to have a budget surplus of more than $1 billion. What would be your top priorities for that surplus?
Staed: Budget surplus priorities:
- Expand Child and Independent Care Tax Credits
- Increase the Childcare Assistance subsidy for providers (to help cover childcare costs for families)
- Invest in our education system with mental health services funding for both PreK-12 and university students; adequately fund PreK-12 schools and public universities.
- Increase provider reimbursement rates for Iowa’s Medicaid services
- Fully fund the Resource Enhancement and Protection Program (REAP)
What changes — beyond those made in recent sessions — would you like to see made to Iowa's tax code?
Staed:
- Support a more progressive income tax structure that directs largest tax cuts to the lowest and middle-income earners and smallest tax cuts for the highest earners.
- Bring back the Solar Energy Tax Credit
- Double the Earned Income Tax Credit which helps low-income, working Iowans
- Increase the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit
- Exempt retirement income from state income tax
Under what circumstances should Iowans be able to access abortion services in the state? What if any, exceptions should apply to any abortion bans?
Staed: Every woman should be afforded personal reproductive liberty, with a fundamental right of a woman to control her body and destiny. This includes protections for abortion services, as well as the services related to pregnancy and contraception. Reproductive decisions should be made by the woman and her physician — not politicians.
What are your ideas for improving public schools?
Staed:
- Provide the needed financial resources for public schools, which will result in smaller class sizes, more course offerings and opportunities for students
- Support our academic curriculum developed by educators and curriculum experts
- Provide systems — like access to mental health services — that support our teachers, students and staff
- Stop the attacks on our public school system and attempts to siphon funding for private purposes
- Address the teacher shortage and hiring of other critical school personnel by providing better compensation and incentives to choose teaching as a career
- Reduce tuition at our universities and community colleges — making higher education and job skills training affordable for everyone
- Restore Iowa Chapter 20 bargaining rights for public employees
Do you support further use of state funds to help parents pay the costs of non-public schools or home schooling for grades K-12? Why or why not?
Staed: Currently, Iowa already provides more than $100 million taxpayer dollars annually to private schools and home-school services. I am not in favor of increasing funding for private schools when our public school system continues to be grossly underfunded.
Should Iowa ban the use of hand-held mobile devices while driving?
Staed: Yes. I continue to support legislation that would prohibit the use of electronic devices while driving except when using hands-free mode or voice activated commands.
Should automated traffic cameras be banned?
Staed: No. Cameras make our roads and intersections safer by preventing accidents and deaths, and are more cost-effective than hiring additional law enforcement. These traffic citations are not considered moving violations and do not harm a person’s driving record.
State Rep. Art Staed, Democratic candidate for Iowa House District 80.
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