Rita Hart, U.S. House, Iowa District 2

The Gazette sent questionnaires to Iowa's candidates for U.S. Congress and other candidates for state and county offices. The responses are unedited, unless to correct spelling or punctuation.

To see other candidates' responses, visit our Election 2020 Candidates page.

Rita Hart faces Republican Mariannette Miller-Meeks the election for Iowa's 2nd Congressional District. Miller-Meeks did not respond to the questionnaire.

State and local governments have seen revenues fall during the pandemic. Should Congress provide more direct aid to states and cities?

I support additional relief for the Iowans who need it and that includes states and cities. People are still hurting. I was glad when Washington came together to pass the first relief package. Even then, I said we need to ensure money is going where it is needed most. We need money for small businesses, not Wall Street and huge corporations that have access to the money they need. We need aid for state and local governments so as they prepare budgets for next year they don't have to lay off firefighters, cops, and teachers. So yes we need more relief for those who need it most. We need Washington to put the partisanship aside, reach across the aisle, and get it done.

The national debt is reaching World War II proportions and may exceed the U.S. GDP. What steps should be taken?

Paul and I own and operate a farm and we have to make tough decisions every year just like our neighbors and other businesses do. Congress should too. Washington has a huge problem with special interests taking advantage of the system. We've got to work together to tackle political corruption - ban members of Congress from becoming lobbyists, keep them from owning individual stocks, and get big money out of politics. That's how we avoid $1.5 trillion giveaways to the big corporations. I'd want to pass a 'No Budget, No Pay' bill so Congress has to do the job we expect it to do. I would work to phase out the subsidies to oil and gas companies, roll back the giveaways to pharmaceutical companies and big corporations, and I would want more oversight. We had to pass the relief package in the spring, it was important, but I said at the time we need to ensure the money gets where it needs to go - to the small businesses and workers that are taking the brunt of this pandemic.

How can Congress ensure health care access for everyone?

Let's start with the facts. I believe we need to build on the Affordable Care Act and fix what's broken because we can't go backwards without an alternative. My opponent disagrees and wants to repeal the ACA which would strip 230,000 Iowans of their healthcare.

Health care is personal to me - just like it is for so many Iowans. We need to protect and strengthen the protections for the 1.3 million Iowans with pre-existing conditions, guarantee coverage of essential health benefits, and lower prescription drug costs for our seniors.

Ensuring affordable access to all Iowans means strengthening the ACA and Medicare, eliminating surprise billing, making telehealth more widely available, and increasing competition. We have got to prioritize rural care, mental health, seniors, and working families. I have a strong record of doing just that.

Do you support the Green New Deal? What must be done to protect the environment and limit harmful emissions without crippling farming?

The Green New Deal is not a solution to the problems we face. The legislation that I would like to see would include a strategic plan to transition us to a more carbon free environment. We've got to work together to meet our climate and energy goals and create a cleaner and brighter future for our children and grandchildren.

I want to unleash the ingenuity of the American farmer to take on climate change. We need to be paying farmers for environmental services like planting cover crops, adding bioreactors, and putting in buffer strips. I want policies that let farmers lead on carbon sequestration.

Iowa is a leader in renewable energy. We need to build on that to reduce our carbon footprint. We need to protect the Renewable Fuel Standard and address 'small refinery' waivers for the Big Oil companies. Supporting ethanol and biofuels is about tens of thousands of jobs in rural Iowa. Without a strong RFS, those jobs go away and we lose ground in the fight against climate change.

What needs to be done about the nation's infrastructure? Where do you start, and how do you fund projects? Would you raise the gas tax?

We need public policy that adequately funds our roads and bridges, locks and dams, parks and outdoor spaces, our power grid and energy production, and a plan that provides rural broadband internet and ensures rural hospitals remain open. Adequate child care must be a part of any infrastructure plan that Congress passes. Iowa is a great place to live. We just have to ensure our communities, workers, and small businesses have what they need to compete and build a sustainable economy.

High-speed internet is a necessity for students, small business owners, and daily life. So there are two things. First, we need money for public-private partnerships to ensure the last mile gets covered. Second, we need to fix the data problems. We need to fix the terrible FCC maps that don't recognize where there is and is not good service.

I'm open to looking at most pay options. We need to improve transparency on federal tax dollars and the programs that fund our infrastructure projects.

What is your stance on how the federal government should help Americans with student loan debt?

Iowans deserve the opportunity to refinance their student loans for lower interest rates – just like big banks get every day. We also need to make sure that students and parents have an understanding of their obligations when it comes to federal loans. The federal government and financial institutions have a responsibility to be upfront about what these loans mean for students' long-term financial stability. My opponent has supported closing the Dept. of Education which would eliminate federal student loans, making it harder for students to go to college.

We also need to empower students to choose a path that's right for them. We can invest in job training, apprenticeship, and continuing education through public-private partnership programs to provide the next generation with the skills they need for good jobs with livable wages and good benefits. It's why school-to-work programs, like the one I administered for the Calamus-Wheatland Schools, are a step in the right direction.

Do you support raising the $7.25-an-hour federal minimum wage? If yes, what would you raise it to? Would you tie the wage to inflation? If no, why not?

Absolutely we need to raise the minimum wage and it needs to be raised so that Iowans do not need to work a second, third, or even fourth job to care for their families. I support a $15/hour minimum wage with the usual small business exemptions and I support indexing the minimum wage to the median hourly wage so that those who are fighting to get into the middle class can get ahead. Too many families are one missed paycheck or one unexpected medical bill away from catastrophe. It has been more than ten years since the minimum wage was increased and I think it's time we give Iowans a pay raise.

We have to protect workers from wage theft and make sure they are getting paid for overtime and being kept safe on the job. Union jobs, for example, allow working families to live a decent life. In the legislature, my opponent consistently voted against unions and the good jobs they provide.

How will you involve the public in your decision-making process?

First and foremost, we need leadership that brings people together instead of dividing us. I've told the story many times of how I grew up in a big family with a Democratic dad and Republican mother. We had a caucus at our dinner table every night. I learned how to listen to the other side and recognize that, even when we disagree, there's work that has to be done together. From the very beginning, this campaign has been about listening and should I have the honor of representing the people of Iowa in Congress, I'll work hard through town halls, meetings, community events, and proactively reaching out to those who disagree with me to get input and work towards solutions that we can all get behind.

Would you support adding more seats to the Supreme Court or limiting the length of time a justice can serve on the court?

No. Concerns around the makeup or composition of the Court will not be solved by adding more seats or limiting the term of a supreme court justice which would require a constitutional amendment.

Should the Confederate flag be removed from federal property?

Yes

Should military bases named for Confederate leaders be changed?

Yes

Explain your answer (for both questions above):

Confederate flags belong in museums and any institution — be it a school, military base, or community center — named after a confederate leader should be renamed. The history of our nation, from its founding to present day, needs to be a part of school curricula and preserved in our museums to be understood in a historical context.

Should the federal government regulate social media to prevent fake news and misinformation?

Yes. The chief civic duty of all Americans is to be a good citizen and I believe we all have a role to play in responsible and respectful public discourse. We must protect the right to free speech, but, I believe that social and digital platforms have a responsibility to ensure that misinformation is removed from their sites and that the federal government has a role in ensuring that that responsibility is met.

Would you support a constitutional amendment to eliminate the Electoral College?

No. Ending the electoral college will not be my focus in Congress. We need other electoral reforms badly and immediately. We must end partisan gerrymandering and restore the Voting Rights Act. Voting should be easy, accessible, and secure.

Should candidates for federal office be required to release their federal income tax returns?

Yes

Should there be term limits for members of Congress?

No.

I think the larger problem in Washington is a corrupt political system that allows politicians to pick their voters and get rich in office. We simply must end partisan gerrymandering in this country. The system we have now, where districts are drawn in a partisan fashion is a fundamental flaw in the current system. Iowa's nonpartisan method of drawing state legislative and congressional district maps is a good model for the rest of the nation.

My first bill will tackle political corruption in Washington. We need to close the revolving door by banning members of Congress from becoming lobbyists and prevent conflicts of interest by banning members of Congress from owning individual stocks or serving on corporate boards. We can pass a 'No budget, no pay' law so members of Congress are forced to do their job in a timely fashion, and get dark, unaccountable money out of politics by overturning Citizens United Supreme.