Suzanne Herzog, U.S. Senate for Iowa

The Gazette sent questionnaires to Iowa's U.S. Senate candidates and other candidates for federal, 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. 

Suzanne Herzog faces Republican U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst, Democrat Theresa Greenfield and Libertarian Rick Stewart in the election for U.S. Senate. 

Click to see the other candidates' responses:

• Republican U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst

• Democrat Theresa Greenfield

• Libertarian Rick Stewart

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

Yes. Many cities and some states likely need limited financial help to continue essential services. Now that we are more than nine months into the calendar year, many have already resorted to taking on additional debt since the pandemic began. To reduce the cost of the assistance, it may be best to make the assistance a combined grant-loan program. This way the states or municipalities that do not need as much assistance can turn down the loan part of the package. The Federal Reserve has already done as much as it should as far as supporting municipalities directly is concerned. We should be dealing with this crisis more with fiscal, legislative tools. Congress should exercise its Constitutional authority over foreign commerce and tariffs to release the breaks that Trump slapped on our economy before COVID, to allow more states and cities to recover. For now, it is wiser and less risky to err on the side of more aid than needed until the pandemic is more manageable, than not enough.

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

The national debt was irresponsibly increased during a time of relative prosperity with overzealous corporate tax deductions and without the elimination of significant loopholes in the 2017 'Tax Cuts & Jobs Act'. It exacerbated income-inequality as well, which is bad for any economy, especially one struggling to recover from shocks like the pandemic. As we emerge into recovery, corporate tax rates should be increased to at least 25%, and many tax loopholes need to be eliminated. Enacting my healthcare reform proposals will: relieve downward pressure on workers' wages, unburden businesses of employee healthcare costs, and empower labor unions by taking the worthless bargaining chip for health insurance off the table in favor of better wages, working conditions, and paid-time-off. People will manage their skills and employment choices better when freed of employer-based, health insurance concerns. I will also introduce more anti-trust legislation for a healthier economy.

How can Congress ensure health care access for everyone?

By completely disassociating access to private health insurance from employment. We could then all have access to similarly affordable, high-quality policies and deduct the cost of health insurance from our own taxable income- instead of our employers getting the tax break to make choices for us, as they do now. Insurance premiums would be lower for everyone, with better risk-distribution over larger groups of people. Republicans are wrong to say that simply requiring more transparency for our complex, convoluted healthcare system will do anything to empower consumers, and that won't break up monopolies. Democrats' costly plan to throw a public option into the mix does not simplify, or fix our free-market system, and it won't contain costs. We should also make Medicaid a better safety net, for anyone of any income level to prevent medical bankruptcy with a temporary, percentage-of-income-based buy-in. Publicly-funded reinsurance for high-cost outliers is also part of the solution.

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

I cannot support the Green New Deal as no piece of legislation that broad should be introduced in Congress as it is destined to fail on more than one point of contention. I would support the Energy Innovation and Carbon Tax/Dividend proposal and deliberate the details. I would co-sponsor the Growing Climate Solutions Act and get busy ensuring it benefits our farmers so they get their fair share of earnings for carbon sequestration. I would sponsor a companion bill in the Senate for the House's Clean Economy Jobs and Innovation Act to ensure that renewable fuel standards are enforced with time-limits and complete transparency for any refinery exemption waivers. I would get input from sustainable agriculture groups like Practical Farmers of Iowa in preparation to contribute to the next Farm Bill. Legislation that creates economic incentives to change our behavior to rely more on renewable forms of energy, increase use of recyclable materials, and reduce non-recyclable waste are needed.

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?

There is widespread bipartisan support for addressing our country's long-neglected infrastructure improvement needs. How we pay for it, and how 'green' it should be seem to be among the biggest points of contention. Moving forward is more urgent than ever because so many cities plan to delay or cancel infrastructure projects because of budget cuts during the pandemic. The 1.5 trillion infrastructure bill that passed in the House needs a rapid, reasonable response with alternative proposals in the Senate, so that we can negotiate some middle-ground bill to pass as soon as possible. I would prioritize public safety projects first (such as roads and bridges), target infrastructure that sustains smooth commodity and manufacturing transport, and rapid funding for shovel-ready, potentially high-volume-use public transit projects, along with low-income school improvements. Federal programs to incentivize construction of low-income housing. We should have raised the gas tax long ago.

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

All existing and new borrowers for undergraduate degrees should automatically enrolled in an income-linked repayment plan, where they are required to repay only a percentage of their annual earnings above a certain threshold. Repayment would start at an earning threshold of $30,000, and I would cut repayments to no more than 7% of income. Debt forgiveness should not be taxed up to $50,000. Student loan interest rates need dramatic cuts as my kids paid four times the rate that I did for federal loans for my first undergraduate degree. Students who attended failed or predatory, for-profit schools should have loans forgiven, with future federal funding denied to such schools. Low-quality, for-profit colleges should not be sustained with federal student loans, and furthermore weeded out with enforceable education consumer protections. These schools frequently took advantage of veterans and their hard-won education grants.

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?

A higher national minimum wage is now economically defensible. $13/hour is a good start for states and cities to build on. The national average is about a dollar less. Offering small or struggling employers financial support or credit for training programs, may be better than allowing workers to be paid so little that we end up with more people receiving other publicly-funded subsides to survive. Recent, objective studies of minimum wage increases generally did not demonstrate the significant unemployment effect anticipated, but it depends on the business or industrial sector. My healthcare reform proposal will incentivize wage increases in a more efficient labor market where employers use fewer benefits to recruit and retain good workers. Expanded Earned Income Credit is another important tool to battle income inequality as we find the right balance. Automatic wage adjustments tied to inflation could be made automatic if a new minimum wage is not reauthorized every 5 years.

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

Senators are granted generous allowances to run their office so there is no excuse for not being proactive and engaged with community members and groups throughout the state. My goal is to establish the most responsive team in Iowa's history. I also want my team to offer the most detailed and reliable legislative information. Instead of wasting time ranting with partisan accusations, I will be informing the public about the points of contention in great detail, and seeking varied input to foster ongoing collaboration. Transparency in every step of the legislative process is essential- from documenting resources that inform and substantiate proposals, to publishing timely legislative oversight findings of government agencies. From the best IT team to offer topical mailers, to frequent direct public engagement opportunities in Iowa and in Washington, I will maintain an atmosphere that welcomes and promotes public participation in the legislative process.

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

Yes. NO to adding more seats, YES to 18-year, staggered appointment SC Justice term limits, serving once but may serve on lower courts after, presidents eventually to nominate 2 each, 2 years apart, or more with death or resignation

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, statues, memorabilia may be privately collected or displayed in museums or designated historical sites with informative, appropriate context to be determined by local communities. There is no justification for such symbols to be publicly displayed on federal property. Glad to finally correct the historical error ever allowing military bases to be named after treasonous Confederate leaders

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

Undecided. We should establish a transparent national database of fact-checking and fake news identification efforts, incentivising participation from established and new fact checking bodies where they are required to publish sources and methods for their process. Then these members may contribute to a standardized rating process for various social media entities. The Federal government may have to play a role to help limit the worst offenders by requiring plainly displayed, easily recognized ratings, and/or link to the national database that explains how the rating was earned, founded efforts at disinformation, etc., somewhat like movie ratings

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

Yes. As a social scientist, I can't find enough modern-day justification to keep it. Clearly as a no-party candidate I am working to offer alternatives to a broken, two-party duopoly system that has created barriers to participation in the political process, and dysfunctional government. No extreme minority group should be enabled to impose less popular views on an unwilling majority with a path to office. No path to office should include losing the popular vote. I promote ranked-choice-voting as well.

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

Yes. Yes! If you have secrets to keep, don't run for public office! Transparency is essential to functional government.

Should there be term limits for members of Congress?

Yes. This has been one of the most popular topics people want to discuss with me on the campaign trail, regardless of party-affiliation. It makes sense to most of us. I have pledged to work to impose Congressional term limits and will observe them myself. 12 years tops for Senators, 6 years for Representatives. My goal is to set a record for what can be accomplished to improve the lives of Iowans and Americans in a single term in the Senate. I will only run for a second time if surveys suggest a majority of constituents are in favor of me doing so.