Conlin on a “Fight To Fix It” Tour of Iowa
She began to work at the age of 14 to help her family put food on the table.
She suffered loss of hearing in one ear as the result of an ear infection that went without medication because her family lacked health insurance.
She worked as many as four jobs to pay for college and law school.
Now, Roxanne Conlin, a Des Moines attorney who owns her own legal practice and once ran for Governor of Iowa in 1982, is a Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate who hopes to challenge the seat held by Republican Charles Grassley.
Conlin took her "Fight To Fix It" Tour to southwest Iowa on Saturday, Feb. 20, making a stop at the Lied Public Library, Clarinda.
"I am fed up with what I see happening in Washington," Conlin told the gathering of about 20 Democratic activists and residents. "I'm fed up with the bail out of Wall Street and with high unemployment."
For example, Conlin said some of the nation's largest banks that received billions in taxpayer funds to keep them solvent are now using that money to purchase Treasury bonds at a profit.
"The government gave out money like candy with no strings attached," she said. "Right now, big banks are using the money to invest in Treasury bonds that pay 2 to 3 percent interest.
"We must take actions to make sure that our institutions are not too big to fail, but we are not," she said.
Conlin said she sees the problem in Washington as elected officials not doing the people's work.
"We've sent people there (Washington) to fix it and to make it better," Conlin said. "But, we are not moving forward. There are still children who are cold and hungry."
Conlin has made a pledge not to accept any special interest or PAC money to fund her campaign.
"It's expensive to run for office but I want people to know for sure that I am working just for them," Conlin said. "I'm just taking money from individual people."
Barbara Cunningham, Shenandoah, asked Conlin how, if elected, she would work "to fix the pointing of fingers at each other" in the government.
Conlin said she would focus on the two big issues of "debt and deficit" and would work to have Congress readopt "pay as you go" policies. Such policies mean that for a new program to be created, a cut to another program or tax increase must be implemented to pay for it.
Bob Chambers, rural Essex, asked how she would deal with corporations being able to funnel money into campaigns due to a recent decision by the U.S. Supreme Court.
Conlin said that the ruling "didn't make corporations just people (on political speech) but ‘Super People.'"
"This is an example of activist judges freeing corporations to do anything they want to," she said. "A shareholder vote has appeal to me ... corporations will have to decide if they want to alienate some of their (customers)."
She then mentioned her successful class-action lawsuit against Microsoft. That action was settled for $255 million - Iowa's share of the settlement was $180 million.
"Of that amount (to Iowa), $439,000 will go to schools to help close the digital divide," Conlin said. "I am very proud of that settlement."
Marlene Mandeville, Clarinda, asked Conlin about her ag background.
"None," she said. "I do understand finance and agriculture and finance are closely related. My grandparents were farmers and I romanticize family farmers. But, I do know how to drive a tractor and I do know how to milk a cow."
Cunningham asked about the upcoming Elementary and Secondary Education Act in Congress and what Conlin's view of that legislation is.
"What makes the difference in the lives of children are their teachers," Conlin said. "No School Left Behind" is not working - it is good to identify failing schools but you shouldn't punish failing schools by taking away resources - you fix it with resources."
William Buck, Clarinda, asked about health care legislation. He also discussed how the Veteran's Administration (VA) negotiates for the best cost for drugs for veterans while Medicare Part D is forbidden from negotiating those same types of discounts.
"The VA does get it (prescription drugs) from drug companies and they do negotiate and pay much less for that medicine," Conlin said. "(For Medicare Part D) drug prices have gone up 85 percent."
Buck added that his care under the VA compared to when he had private insurance "is hand over fist better through the VA than in private care."
He added that the discussion of healthcare rationing under the proposed legislation already exists.
"On the rationing of healthcare, the insurance companies are doing it now," Buck said, citing the example of the problems his wife, Kathy, had in obtaining medical care until entering the VA system herself.
Conlin also added that a problem with America's current healthcare system is "that patient care is managed to maximize healthcare for a profit."
She added that when the healthcare debate is framed as "Medicare for all" instead of the "Public Option," a majority of Americans are for healthcare reform.
Mandeville asked who would pay for a government health program.
"We are now buying the most expensive care - in the emergency room," Conlin said. "We are all paying for it now."
For the future, Conlin said she is focusing on a one-on-one, neighbor to neighbor campaign because, as people tell her, "Grassley has changed."
"Iowa is not a huge state - you can do it one-on-one."
Source: Clarinda Herald-Journal
