Joni Ernst, 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. 

Joni Ernst faces Democrat Theresa Greenfield, Libertarian Rick Stewart and No Party candidate Suzanne Herzog in the election for U.S. Senate. 

Click to see the other candidates' responses:

• Democrat Theresa Greenfield

• Libertarian Rick Stewart

• No Party candidate Suzanne Herzog

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

I fully support getting our local communities the assistance the need during this pandemic. In fact, I'm backing bipartisan legislation that would allow cities like Cedar Rapids to access funding to make up for revenue shortfalls relating specifically to COVID.

Since the onset of this pandemic, I've worked quickly and across the aisle in a bipartisan effort to swiftly pass major legislation, called the CARES Act that passed 96-0, to get immediate support to Iowans and help get our economy back on its feet. I've worked hard to get support to more than 60,000 Iowa small businesses, assistance that has been a lifeline for them and the countless hardworking Iowans they employ.

Unfortunately, my opponent, Theresa Greenfield, has stated she opposes every proposal that has come up to help Iowans, from both Republicans and Democrats. In fact, she is running attack ads against me for voting for the CARES Act. But I won't apologize for my bipartisan work to help small businesses, doctors, nurses, and front-line workers.

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

Just like hardworking Iowans do every day, the federal government should be balancing its budget. That's why I am fighting for a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution, and I introduced legislation to prevent Congress from being paid or leaving Washington if we don't pass a budget.

One of my priorities is on cutting wasteful spending and 'Making 'em Squeal.' For example, I am working to reign in taxpayer-funded perks for former presidents, who continue to get benefits from our tax dollars even after they leave office. I also outed bureaucrats at a federal agency who were spending taxpayer dollars for animal parts purchased at the now infamous 'wet markets' in China. I immediately introduced bipartisan legislation to put an end to taxpayer money being used at these wet markets ever again. It's unbelievable what you can find when you go looking into our government's bloated budgets, and I'm going to continue to work to protect your tax dollars and cut needless Washington spending.

How can Congress ensure health care access for everyone?

I come from a modest family that has struggled with pre-existing health conditions, including my brother and sister who have Type 1 diabetes. No American should ever be denied coverage because of pre-existing conditions. That's why I have led efforts to force insurance companies to cover them and I voted to protect those with preexisting conditions.

I've also worked across the aisle to help lower prescription drug costs and increase the availability of affordable medications. And I'm working with Senator Grassley and AARP to help control drug costs for our seniors.

I'm fighting to protect choice, increase rural care, improve transparency, lower the costs of drug pricing, and end surprise medical billing.

However, my opponent Theresa Greenfield's plan could take away your health insurance, eliminate your choices and insert government-run health care – putting a bureaucrat between you and your doctor and potentially increasing wait times. This radical liberal plan isn't the answer.

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

Unlike the radical liberals financing my opponent Theresa Greenfield's campaign, I do not support the Green New Deal. And, unlike my opponent, I do not want extreme new environmental rules that would kill jobs and hurt Iowa farmers, while letting the world's biggest polluters — like China — off the hook.

We must keep our air, water and soil healthy. Growing up on a farm and living in rural Iowa, I understand firsthand that our farmers are the first conservationists. That's why I've fought to strengthen our conservation programs and support the growth of renewable energy.

Iowa has led the way on supporting clean energy production–from our innovative wind energy industry to our hardworking biofuel producers. I'm proud to support bipartisan bills to incentivize further use of clean wind energy. And I have been a relentless fighter for our biofuel producers and farmers, by securing E15 year round and standing up to Washington bureaucrats to always uphold the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS).

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?

Working across the aisle, I'm extremely proud to have successfully helped secure funding for the Cedar Rapids Flood Mitigation Project right here in Linn County. During the 2008 floods, I was here with my boots on the ground in the Iowa National Guard. In the Senate, getting the funding for this project has been a top priority and I'm thrilled to have gotten it done.

I've worked hard with Democrats and Republicans to pass a major infrastructure package that was signed into law by then-President Barack Obama. And, just this past year, I worked on bipartisan legislation that will help improve our roads and bridges, better manage our waterways, and enhance operations at the Army Corps of Engineers, a package that advanced with bipartisan support. Expanding broadband to our rural communities has also been a top priority.

While I do not support a gas tax increase, I do think there are ways to generate revenue for these projects through a combination of measures.

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

Like so many Iowans, I worked my way through college–from construction jobs with my dad to the morning biscuit line at Hardees. I understand how costly school is because I've been there.

When I was working at Midlands Technical College, I worked with students every day on resume writing and job skills. College students deserve to know more about the decisions they are making before taking out a loan. That's why I led a bipartisan effort to ensure that students and families know how much they owe heading into college, as well as what outcomes they can expect when they graduate.

I have also worked on legislation to create a tax incentive for businesses to help their employees pay down student debt.

I will always demand honesty and transparency for Iowans, not unrealistic promises–like Ms. Greenfield's party's plan that would force union workers, farmers and Iowa families to foot the bill for wealthy kids to go to college, costing billions of dollars every year.

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?

To help pay for college, I worked the morning biscuit line at Hardees. I know how important every dollar is.

I'm open to looking at solutions to make sure we are ensuring opportunities for all Iowans. However, I believe that it's critical the minimum wage is determined locally, because what's right for Iowa is not the same as what's right for California and New York.

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

Every year I meet with folks in every single county in Iowa on what I call my '99 County Tour.' I hold regular open and public town hall meetings to hear directly from Iowans. In fact, I've held at least one town hall in every county across Iowa, and even held 35 public town hall meetings last year alone.

In the Senate, I take Iowans' voices to Washington to make sure you are represented. I work every day across the aisle to get results for Iowa. More than 60 percent of my bills have bipartisan support. Georgetown University ranked me one of the most bipartisan senators, from any state, of the last 25 years. The results of that work are clear: I'm a champion for farmers, and rural Iowa, and am proud to have the endorsements of the Iowa Farm Bureau and the Iowa Corn Growers Association because of my work for our rural communities.

On the other hand, my opponent, Theresa Greenfield hasn't even been to nearly half of the counties in Iowa since she started campaigning 16 months ago.

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

No. Attempts by those on the Left, who are financing my opponent Theresa Greenfield, to pack the courts are divisive and it's unacceptable that my opponent has flip-flopped on this issue and hasn't been clear about where she stands.

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):

I've long said that I believe it's time for that flag to come down and for us to keep moving forward. We have one flag and it is the American Flag.

I've supported a bipartisan measure to review the names of our military bases.

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

No. I believe this would be an overreach of the federal government's authority.

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

No. This would dilute and weaken Iowans' voices and it's alarming my opponent Theresa Greenfield has been silent on this issue for months.

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

No. While I believe it's the right thing to do, and I've long called for President Trump to release his taxes, I don't think it should be required.

Should there be term limits for members of Congress?

Yes. I've said before that I think term limits are a good idea, but that we should also apply term limits to the unelected Washington bureaucrats in the federal government as well.