Hinson doesn’t value Iowans’ freedoms

As Americans, one of the greatest gifts we are born with is the gift of freedom. Every year on July 4, we celebrate the signing of the Declaration of Independence. The day our Founding Fathers declared America was free from British rule.

But that was just the beginning. Since 1776, we have worked to make sure every American is awarded the same freedoms. We amended our Constitution to abolish slavery and make sure everyone has the freedom to vote, no matter their race or gender. We passed the Civil Rights Act to ensure every American has the freedom to live without discrimination and we passed the Marriage Equality Act to protect the freedom to marry who we love.

When our freedoms have come under attack from foreign nations, veterans like me have fought to keep our country safe.

Americans expect our lawmakers to fight to uphold our freedoms too. But today, our freedoms are under attack by some Republican politicians. Lawmakers like Congresswoman Ashley Hinson have consistently voted to take away our freedoms, so she can rule for wealthy corporations and the rich that fund her campaigns.

Rep. Hinson took away our freedom to earn a living wage when she voted to cut workers’ compensation benefits, prohibited counties from increasing minimum wages and benefits, and limited collective bargaining rights for public employees during her time in the Iowa House of Representatives.

Rep. Hinson voted against our freedom to go to the doctor and get the medicine we need without going broke when she voted against President Biden’s American Rescue Plan Act. Her opposition to the bill also undermined our freedom to afford the things we need to take care of our families, like child care and groceries.

Rep. Hinson voted against lowering costs and slowing inflation when she opposed President Biden’s Build Back Better Act. This vote, again, undercuts our freedom to access affordable health care, to feed our families and to live free from the impacts of climate change.

More recently, Rep. Hinson again voted against our freedom to purchase medical necessities like insulin and hearing aids without breaking the bank.

Rep. Hinson even moved to restrict the freedoms of thousands of women, like me, who fought for our country when she voted against the Equal Access to Contraception for Veterans Act. After the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, Rep. Hinson celebrated the decision that takes away the freedom of women across the country to access safe and legal abortion.

In Iowa and across America, we value our freedom. It’s clear that lawmakers like Congresswoman Ashley Hinson do not. We need leaders who respect and protect the rights of everyone, no matter their race or background. That’s why this November, we must turn out at the ballot box and elect leaders who will uphold the freedoms we hold dear.

Laura Hubka is a U.S. Navy veteran from Howard County, Iowa. She also serves as the Howard County Democratic Party Chair and as a Veteran Liaison for the Democratic Party of Iowa’s 2nd Congressional District.