Emma On the Issues

Senior Citizens

"I promise to help Iowa's seniors. Iowans over 65 constitute 15 percent of our state's population and yet their needs are often overlooked. More must be done to provide affordable health care and prescription drugs. We also need to eliminate taxes on pensions and Social Security benefits."

Protecting Our Communities

"The new sex offender law in Iowa is forcing violators to move from urban areas to rural communities. Our rural communities run the risk of losing their wholesome family values. I will work to ensure that our neighborhoods stay safe from these violent offenders."

Energy Prices

"Iowa needs a sound energy plan that promotes ethanol, biodiesel, and other renewable fuel sources and gives us our energy independence. The cost of current energy sources makes it difficult for families and small business owners to make ends meet. We can and must do better to hold down Iowans' energy costs and to make Iowa the renewable energy capital of the world."

Property Tax Relief

"Iowa has the 13th highest commercial property tax rate in the country and the 16th highest residential property taxes. High taxes stifle business and farm growth and drive away employers and individuals who are forced to seek property tax relief in other states."

Eminent Domain

"I will protect individuals' private property rights by protecting against government seizure of property."

Education

"I am committed to making Iowa schools world-class by ensuring that funding is directed to the classroom and not to the bureaucratic system.  I will insist on more local control, parental involvement, and choice.  I am opposed to state-sponsored day care and would vote against any plan to require 3- and 4-year-olds to attend government-mandated preschool."

Economic Incentives

"This issue is tremendously important to Iowa's economic future. The Values Fund was a great start, but it is necessary to ensure that the money is actually creating jobs and having the intended effect. Recent announcements by Maytag and Rubbermaid illustrate that tax incentives to bring new industry to Iowa are critical, as well as tort reform, job training, and well-reasoned labor practices."

Right To Work

"I strongly support and will fight any attempt to change the law. Forced unionization is wrong. Under present law people can choose whether to join a union. This fundamental choice should be left to the individual in order to keep Iowa competitive in attracting business and industry to our state."

Workers' Compensation

"Other states have incorporated a requirement that work be the predominant cause for an injury in order to qualify for workers' compensation benefits. I believe that in order for Iowa to be competitive in attracting business and industry we must also incorporate this standard. This was the original intention of the workers' compensation laws and recent Iowa Supreme Court decisions clearly support this position."