March 28, 2024

Axne starts first term in 'good form'

I am writing regarding statements made by former Congressman David Young in his announcement for the 3rd District congressional seat.

I read Young's richly ironic claim that Axne was engaging in "partisan politics". I believe Mr. Young should look first to his own record. According to most political sources, our former congressman voted in line with the president's position 99% of the time during Young's last term in office.

He also stated that Axne was "voting to enrich their campaigns with your tax dollars." I believe that he is referring to HR 1, part of which would provide public financing of political candidates to offset rich donors buying votes.

As to his statement that "Since January, hard-working Iowans have been left behind by Cindy Axne while she's ... breaking promises." Axne has been to the southwest Iowa flood zone at least five times, speaking with emergency managers, town and county officials, as well as those citizens.

In her four months in office (three weeks of which were served during the government shutdown), she has introduced and co-sponsored multiple bills, ranging from the support of the renewable fuel and energy industries, to rural entrepreneurs and small business owners being able to access capital.

Axne also led a bipartisan effort to halt the EPA's abuse of refinery exemptions by large refineries, working to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act, and making the biofuel producer tax credits permanent. She was appointed by the Governor to the bipartisan Flood Recovery Advisory Board last month. Axne was also successful in adding an additional $3 billion to the House Emergency Disaster Bill to address the needs of Iowans following the floods.

Axne has kept her promise to keep in touch with her constituents, visiting each county monthly.

So, to Young and residents of Iowa's 3rd District, I am of the opinion that Axne has started her first term in the House of Representatives in good form, gaining a reputation for getting things done in Congress, looking out for her constituents, and meeting with those constituents to talk about the issues and to then act in Iowa's best interests.