BLUM: Accomplishing important bipartisan achievements

It's hard to believe that it's been nearly two years since Eastern Iowans sent me to Congress to represent them in Washington! Your support is an honor I will never forget and something I will always work hard to continue to earn.

I'm proud of my first two years representing you in Congress. As a career small-business man, the gridlock can be frustrating at times, but working together we were able to accomplish some important bipartisan achievements. We passed a long-term highway bill that gives our states, communities, and businesses much needed certainty; a long term K-12 education bill that returns more control to local school districts and parents; and the 21st Century Cures Act that would invest almost $9 billion in research to cure horrible diseases like cancer and Alzheimer's.

I've also been able to work across the aisle to pass several pieces of legislation. President Barack Obama signed my bipartisan bill to honor Iowa veteran Sergeant First Class Terryl Pasker who was killed in action in Afghanistan, and now his memory is permanently honored by having the Cedar Rapids post office named for him. My office also worked across the aisle to author and pass legislation to make sure the federal government protects whistleblowers like the citizens who exposed the abuse of our veterans occurring at the VA Hospitals.

Cleaning up Washington has been another of my priorities, because I don't believe that politicians should be allowed to cash in on public service. The first bill I introduced was a lifetime ban on lobbying if you've served in Congress. I also introduced - along with Democrat Gwen Graham - a bill to ban taxpayer funded first class flights and luxury car leases for members of Congress, and founded the bipartisan Term Limits Caucus with Texas Democrat Beto O'Rourke. I've co-sponsored legislation to end the Congressional pension program - while declining my own pension - and co-sponsored legislation to tie the pay of politicians and bureaucrats to the pay of average Americans.

I've also steadily argued that we must work out a bipartisan plan to protect Social Security and Medicare to prevent them from going bankrupt so that Iowa seniors get the benefits they've earned. We need to take some Democrat ideas, some Republican ideas, and finally save these programs for good. This is personal for me - my mother relied on these programs for decades before she passed away. I also think we must reject the scare tactics of some politicians who attack anyone who suggests reforms instead of engaging in an honest dialogue.

I believe this election is straightforward. If you like the way the country is headed: slow economic growth, an unstable world, more debt, regulations, and taxes; then vote for my opponent. But if you're like me and believe we can do so much better, that we can reignite our economy, clean up Washington, and balance our budget just like every Iowa family does, then please vote for me. I would be honored to continue working hard everyday to represent Eastern Iowans to the best of my ability.

' More information: http://rodblum.com; Facebook: @BlumforCongress; Twitter: @BlumforCongress