Wondering what our senators are thinking

I have a few questions for U.S. Sens. Joni Ernst and Chuck Grassley. Are you getting your regular paychecks? Are you worried about making a mortgage payment, a car payment or putting food on your table? Are you forgoing medical appointments to reduce expenses? At any time during the past two months have you been financially stressed?

I suspect we all know the answers to those questions, so I have some more: What makes either of you think it is remotely justifiable to hold 800,000 of your fellow citizens hostage to a bad idea? Have you given any thought whatsoever to what $5 billion could do that would meet real needs, such as infrastructure improvements, educational grants, support for clean energy? Do you have any answers or are you so enthralled with you-know-who that none of this matters?

Connie Kennedy

Cedar Rapids