Lee Hein, State Representative Dist. 66

   Why are you running for re-election for state representative? When I first ran for office, spending in Des Moines was out of control. Not only had Gov. Culver and the legislature overspent, they also sank our state almost a billion dollars in debt. It was clear to me that no one in Des Moines was listening to us and truly representing the people in Jones and Jackson counties.

   I am proud of the work I have done over the years to rein in government spending, cut wastefulness in budgets, and put taxpayers’ hard-earned money back in their pockets. Our accounts are full with around $2 billion in surplus, allowing us to implement the largest tax cut in Iowa history, a bill that I helped write, floor managed and got to the Governor’s desk for her to sign. It reduces the individual’s tax rate to 3.9 percent and eliminates state tax on retirement income.

   Of course, there have been other laws I’ve worked on that I’m really proud of – whether it has to do with helping rural communities, cutting government red tape for small businesses, getting the government off the backs of farmers, or standing firm on conservative principles. I am proud of the work I have done on behalf of the constituents in my district.

   The Biden Administration has been a disaster for our country and poses significant challenges for Iowans. That’s why I’m running for re-election. I will work to push back against the Biden Administration’s federal overreach and do what we can to preserve Iowans’ way of life and small-town communities. My work in Des Moines is not done, and I am humbly asking for your vote on June 7.

   This legislative session continues to remain in session. It seems the Governor’s “school voucher/scholarship bill” is one of the reasons why. Where do you stand on this particular legislation? For many years, I served on the local school board, working with parents, administrators and teachers to provide the best education for our students in our community. I know how valuable public schools are and am proud of the incredible schools that are in Jones and Jackson counties.

   I don’t think what has been happening across the country is happening in Iowa schools. But I believe it should be up to parents to do what’s best for their kids. During my time in the House, I have continually voted to fully fund our public schools while also making sure our laws allow parents a strong voice. I’ve voted to make it easier to open a charter school, expand open enrollment, increase the Student Tuition and Textbook tax credits for kids in private school and more. I am interested in considering any policy that gives parents more of a say in their child’s education. Because they are your kids, not the governments.

   I would be supportive of Education Savings Accounts as long as we can ensure that they do not come at the cost of our rural school districts. The devil is always in the details but I believe that we can pass an ESA policy and support our public schools to ensure that every young Iowan has access to a great education.

   What are some significant issues you anticipate in the upcoming legislative term for 2023? With inflation, rising fuel prices, and supply chain issues, Iowans’ paychecks aren’t stretching as far as they used to. With that being the case, it’s more important than ever that we are passing policies that allow Iowans to keep even more of their hard-earned money. That’s what we did this session as I helped write the largest tax cut in Iowa history into law. We can continue to lower Iowans’ income taxes and property taxes to help ease the burden on Iowans.

   Additionally, our freedoms continue to be under attack from the Biden Administration. The Iowa Statehouse is where we hold the line and make sure Iowans’ freedoms are protected. I have a record of voting to protect the Second Amendment, medical freedom, religious freedom, and freedom of speech. No matter what the federal government throws at us, I will continue to support conservative policies that ensure Iowans’ rights and liberties are maintained.

   How does your experience/background prepare you to be an effective state representative, specifically for Dist. 66? I was born and raised here. I am the fourth-generation to work my family’s farm and I get to do it with my son. Growing up here and raising my own family in this community has helped shape me and the work I do in Des Moines.

   I know the challenges facing family farmers because I am one. And I know how our rural communities depend on those family farmers. I spend a lot of time listening to others rather than pretending like I know it all. Through my experience on the school board, I know how hard our schools are working on behalf of our students and I know how parents deserve to have the final say in their kids’ education. I’ve seen my wife work so hard at her small business – I see the challenges our Main Street businesses face. I’ve sat around our table and balanced our checkbook – I know what families are going through and why the government shouldn’t be taking more of that hard-earned money.

   Of course, I have the experience of having already served you. It has been an honor to represent you in Des Moines. It’s my hope that you’ve always felt heard, truly represented, and proud of the way I have voted on your behalf.

   What are the biggest priorities pertaining to helping the State of Iowa bounce back from the COVID-19 pandemic? How do you see the legislature addressing those priorities? The biggest issues I see us facing as we recover from the COVID-19 pandemic are supply chain issues and a workforce shortage, which go hand in hand. This session we passed some reasonable reforms to the state’s unemployment benefit system to ensure that our unemployment system is helping Iowans return to the workforce, not incentivizing them to stay home. I also supported policies that make the state partner with regent universities to support students who are studying to fill the most needed positions in our state, and are staying here in Iowa once they graduate.

   And of course, we can’t address the workforce shortage without addressing child care access. We’ve addressed this issue in a number of ways during my time in the Iowa House. We doubled the income eligibility for the child care tax credit and eliminated the cliff effect so Iowans can take a promotion or a raise without losing their child care assistance entirely. I know there’s still work to be done in this area so that parents can go to work and have more access to care. I will take a look at plans that will incentivize businesses to help their employees with child care, whether that be by providing child care on site, or offering a stipend to help with child care costs. These changes would allow more Iowans to be able to participate in the workforce.

   Additional comments: I am thankful you have trusted me in the past to be your voice at the capitol. During this race, it’s been disappointing that Des Moines’ special interest groups and dark money organizations have been trying to influence this race.

   I assure you, I am not beholden to special interest groups, lobbyists or primary opponents, I’m only beholden to you. Just as I have had your backs with my votes helping rural Iowa, on life, family values, pro-Second Amendment, pro-farmer and helping pass the biggest tax cut in Iowa history, I'm humbly asking for you to have my back on June 7 in the primary. I will not let you down.