Q&A with Senate 39 candidate Liz Bennett

Liz Bennett, 40, of Cedar Rapids, is the Democratic incumbent candidate for Senate District 39 in the Nov. 8 general election. Bennett, who is seeking her first term in the Senate after four terms in the Iowa House, is employed as a Wix.com website expert.

The Gazette posed a set of questions to all area statehouse candidates. Below is the transcript of Bennett’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?

Bennett: Child care, public education, and water quality.

Do you support the use of eminent domain for CO2 pipelines? Why or why not?

Bennett: No. I do not support eminent domain for private gain.

What restrictions or limitations should be placed on the use of eminent domain for CO2 pipelines?

Bennett: I do not support eminent domain for private gain.

The state is projected to have a budget surplus of more than $1 billion. What would be your top priorities for that surplus?

Bennett: Public education needs to return to top priority for our state. This starts with early childhood and continues through college and other workforce training. Additionally, we could invest surplus dollars into stimulating the childcare economy. This would have a positive impact on our entire economy, as many Iowans who want to work are currently unable to because of childcare responsibilities and a shortage of caregivers. Those who are able to find a spot often find childcare to be prohibitively expensive. The next few years may be very difficulty for average Iowans, and I think it may be worth considering whether we could return some of this surplus back to the Iowans who need it the most in the form of expanding the Earned Income Tax Credit, or even a stimulus program.

What changes - beyond those made in recent sessions - would you like to see made to Iowa's tax code?

Bennett: Middle Class Iowans are feeling the impact of taxes more than ever in this economy. For many, it's hard to see tax cuts benefitting the top 1 percent as they struggle to buy gas or groceries. Our basic agreement as a society is that we should all pay our fair share. Republican changes to tax code continue to shift the burden to middle class Iowans and future revisions should be made only towards the end of funding our priorities as a state and helping middle class and lower wage earning Iowans.

Under what circumstances should Iowans be able to access abortion services in the state? What if any, exceptions should apply to any abortion bans?

Bennett: The choice of whether to carry a pregnancy to term is one of the most private, personal decisions a person can make. This is a decision for a person and their doctor and the state should stay out of it.

What are your ideas for improving public schools?

Bennett: We can start by actually funding our schools from pre-K to college. We cannot expect our schools to have the supplies and equipment they need when our investment in schools doesn't keep up with inflation. We have the best-trained teachers in the nation who teach with passion and dedication, but we aren't equipping them.

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?

Bennett: Iowans are lucky to have so many educational choices, both public and private. Public dollars, however, are for public schools. This is especially so when they have been chronically underfunded for so long.

Should Iowa ban the use of hand-held mobile devices while driving?

Bennett: Possibly. I support this in theory because distracted driving us dangerous driving. I would need to see specific bill language in order to commit to supporting a bill, because this also raises concerns regarding civil liberties.

Should automated traffic cameras be banned?

Bennett: I support use of traffic cameras in areas like the s-curve in Cedar Rapids where speeding and traffic fatalities go hand-in-hand. I am open to reviewing other uses and I do not support policing for profit.