I get the feeling in the legislature... its more than just a feeling...I have heard Republicans and Democrats...in fact I heard the Speaker of the House (of Representatives) say it last night at a meeting that...we are not done with that issue. So...I think you’re going to see more criminal justice reform. My hunch is...if President Trump is re-elected...you will see more of that too...and President Trump has made Historically Black Colleges and Universities a top priority. So...I would think by our action... Gary...at the Republican Party level... individual level...and (including) the Chairman of the (Iowa) Republican Party, and (a) leader of the (Democratic) Black Caucus, sitting down with no rules and having a stability conversation...all the way to pushing what our President has done. That is probably a much longer answer than what you wanted, but as you can tell, I’m kind of proud of what we’ve been doing. Gary: Well, thank you for that information. Celeste: With all the hardships that Iowa has recently faced, such as trade losses with China and weatherrelated catastrophes, how likely is the national Republican ticket (President Trump and Vice President Pence) going to secure Iowa’s vote this November? Kaufmann: I thank you for that question. I feel very good...not cocky...not arrogant... but in a very cautiously optimistic way...I feel very good about Iowa. We have record dollars that are going into our absentee voting...and record numbers going into... actually... people using their own shoe leather in order to outreach to Iowans. When you mentioned the trade loss with China...that’s certainly a fair point to make. Our farmers... and of course, not only do you have a large amount of farmers in this state...our economy is very much driven by that. So, even people that live in our towns are related to (agriculture) policy...and impacted by it. Traditionally...the polls show this over, and over, and over again... the strength of rural Iowa...I really believe that our farmers were so tired of the trade differential. Let me tell you something...it’s going to be a nonpartisan statement...or maybe a bipartisan criticism...of both Democratic and...to be honest with you...Republican presidents...have completely ignored that. So, I’m not going to lay all the blame on President Obama and President Clinton...I’m going to lay blame on the two Bush Presidents too...and before that. So, I believe there is an acknowledgment by our farmers...and the polls (support that) ...that they are willing to sacrifice in order to permanently fix this trade differential. Also, along those lines...we’ve got the Japan deal, and USMCA (United States, Mexico, and Canada Agreement). We are already seeing...especially in our dairy sector in northeast Iowa, we get most of Wisconsin, that’s a pretty strong sector...that things have changed appreciably. The waters of the U.S. was something...during the Obama administration...that would’ve put into place 97% of Iowa land under regulation. If you want to get a farmer fired up...regardless of whether it’s a Republican or Democrat proposing it...tell them that we are going to regulate their land. Obviously, there are regulations for certain environmental situations that they all accept. President Trump eliminated that...and there isn’t a farm-related Iowan in this state that doesn’t realize that has happened. Finally, I would just bring up the basis point that when we have complete control of this virus (COVID-19)... hopefully...God willing...we are going to have a vaccine...and then we are going to be facing...straight on...an economy. I would make the case... and I think it’s a case that can be made very strongly...that Donald Trump has done it once before. Joe Biden has been in office for nearly a half-century, and I can make the argument...I believe... that his policies do not work. So, I feel very good about that...and I would just point to previous actions to reinforce that. Gary: Do you have any final thoughts that you would like to share with our readership? Kaufmann: Two things, Gary, if you will indulge me. We sometimes...as the ‘first-in- the-nation’ state...get criticized because we’re not diverse enough. There is something in our past...and you have articulated our past very well in terms of when Iowa has been at the forefront of several issues that were crucial to minorities...and I absolutely reject that, and I want to make sure your readers are reminded that... this state made Barack Obama. He was President of the United States because he got his start here in Iowa. During 2016, on the Republican side, a Latino American got first place in our caucuses, a Latino American got third place in our caucuses, and an African American got fourth place in our caucuses. I really believe in my heart of hearts...and I hope that I’m sending a signal by giving you examples on both sides of the parties (Democrat and Republican)...I truly believe our state...although not as diverse as New Mexico, California or New York...I truly believe...in our voting... on both sides of the aisle...that we actually made one of my favorite quotes by Martin Luther King, Jr. come true and that is...we judge people by the content of their
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