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10/8 – No lunch meeting, instead fun meeting 4-6pm Parlor City in NewBo for Happy Hour, outside if possible.
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10/10 – Cedar Lake Clean-up, ask Michelle Bell for details
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We have two speakers coming up in October, Ashley Hinson (10/1) and Abby Finkenauer (incumbent) (10/15). They are running for the 1st Congressional District. Please email Nate any questions you would like both candidates to answer. Submit your questions to Nate by Monday, so he can forward them on.
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We are looking for a new speakers. If you know of someone willing to speak to our group please send their information to Joe, Sharon, Ryan and/or Nate.
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Looking for a new place to meet. Butcher Block is no longer an option because they are now closed on Thursdays.
Speaker:
Ashley Hinson
Intro – Ryan Brems
Current Iowa House representative
Past award-winning journalist
Mother of two
Marion resident
Ashley Hinson
10 years as journalist on KCRG
Seeks community input
Beliefs/Platform:
Direct tax relief – SAVE legislation
Filed bill to report on bad actors at schools, became law
Workforce development
Liability bill passed at end of session due to Covid, businesses covered if playing by the rules
Second chances to get people employed in building trades
Iowa workers compensation law
Largest tax cut in Iowa’s history w/ balanced budget
Iowa has $305M budget surplus currently
Guardians and conservators – bill for increased transparency
Chair of transportation committee – ended burden on hay transporters
Husband co-owns small insurance agency
If Elected:
Tax certainty
Getting people back to work
Small business pass-thru exemption, make permanent
Getting manufacturing back in US, set up in rural Iowa
Healthcare reform – regulation and cost increases from Obamacare, seek efficiencies in billing system
Generic drugs to market faster
Reforming immigration system to help with workforce development
Secure border for national security
Reform guest worker visa programs – need guest workers in Iowa for agriculture and technology
Wants to take Iowa common sense to congress
Q&A:
Larry Burr - Health care costs – two rates, depends on insurance negotiations
Ashley – “Gym membership” model – monthly fee for regular visits to primary care provider
Larry – more like concierge service – shared among providers, base fee plus pay as you go
Nate Vriezelaar - ITR Economist has prediction of great depression in 2030’s due to health care costs, entitlements, national debt
Ashley – Balanced budget amendment, increase transparency for spending increases, look at research funding
Ryan Brems – Noting political divides, how can you bring decency back to DC?
Ashley – She quit good paying job for public service, wants to forge good relationships, attitude that we’re all still people
Nate Vriezelaar – Social Security trust fund going to $0 in 2033 or 2034 at which time SS checks will be reduced about 25%. Thoughts?
Ashley – Doesn’t support cuts to Social Security because people have planned on it, doesn’t want to raise taxes, looking at plans like those by AMAC, look at long term solvency, retirement age, cost of living formula, encourage early savings for compounding interest
Nate Vriezelaar – Trump has proposed getting rid of Obamacare and pre-existing conditions, do you support pre-existing?
Ashley – Supports pre-existing conditions, wants to look at targeted fixes for healthcare
Nate Vriezelaar – You’re an Iowa house representative, going to federal level, would you have to live in DC?
Ashley – Goes to Des Moines now Jan-April 3-4 nights/week back home on weekends, would be similar in DC, kids and husband stay home in Marion, kids come along on campaign trail
Joel Miller – Noting rhetoric around election fairness, mail-in ballots, voter fraud – what is your perspective on election integrity?
Ashley – We have a great election system, trusts it as acandidate, voted absentee, encouraging people to vote however they’re comfortable
Follow up question from Ashley – I’ve seen the ballot box at Marion HyVee, but heard they’re going away.
Joel Miller – Secretary of State issued ban on ballot boxes, but rescinded to allow ballot boxes only on county property, so removed those other ballot boxes to avoid lawsuit. Ballot boxes at Jean Oxley County Service Center up to and including election night.
Ashley – Are there cameras on the ballot boxes?
Joel – Yes, cameras, boxes anchored in concrete, emptied every day
Nate Vriezelaar – Going to work polls on 11/3, challenge to members to help
Presentation:
Cheri Monahan – Pribble Jr Golf Classic on 8/3
Supported by Metro Rotary clubs for over 40 years
Middle and HS students
127 golfers participated over 4 days
107 men, 20 women
Women at tournament last 3 years
In kind donations from the 4 golf courses totals over $10k
Service above self – winners select United Way charity of choice and will participate
Contact Cheri for list of winners
