Iowans need more than a healthy economy

Vice President Mike Pence wrote in a July 11 guest editorial that the Trump agenda is working for Iowa. To support his claim, Vice President Pence cited tax cuts, the elimination of regulations and the repeal of Obamacare's individual mandate penalty as the impetus behind 'pay raises, better benefits, and cash bonuses” that benefit 6 million Americans and 20,000 Iowans. The Trump agenda's 'extraordinary” results also include the creation of 3.7 million new jobs since November 2016.

I am happy to see the long trend in job creation and lower unemployment that began under President Barack Obama continuing. And I would applaud the Trump administration for its efforts on behalf of Iowa's working families if the economy was the only thing that mattered.

But as a Bible verse, with which Vice President Pence should be familiar, says: 'Man does not live by bread alone.” Iowans need clean water, good education and fair elections, too. In these, the Trump agenda is failing us. It has rolled back clean air and water regulations that protect our health by holding polluters accountable. It has proposed deep cuts to education funding that will undermine teacher training. The president casts doubt on credible reports that Russian agents have disrupted, and are disrupting, our elections.

Mr. Vice President, I'd gladly return some of the 5 cent average pay raise we received last month if it would help you and the Trump agenda keep Putin out of my polling place.

Mike Klug

Iowa City