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| Joyce Schulte Discusses Campaign 2004
IOWA PRESS #3202>>
Yepsen: THE DEMOCRATIC CHALLENGER IN WESTERN IOWA'S REPUBLICAN-DOMINATED FIFTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT FACES AN UPHILL STRUGGLE AGAINST THE INCUMBENT, REPUBLICAN CONGRESSMAN STEVE KING. WE DISCUSS THAT CHALLENGE AND THE CAMPAIGN OF 2004 WITH JOYCE SCHULTE OF CRESTON ON THIS EDITION OF "IOWA PRESS."
FUNDING FOR THIS PROGRAM WAS PROVIDED BY "FRIENDS," THE IOWA PUBLIC TELEVISION FOUNDATION... GENERATIONS OF FAMILIES AND FRIENDS WHO FEEL PASSIONATE ABOUT THE PROGRAMS THEY WATCH ON IOWA PUBLIC TELEVISION;
AND BY THE IOWA BANKERS ASSOCIATION... FOR PERSONAL, BUSINESS, AND COMMERCIAL NEEDS, IOWA BANKERS HELP IOWANS REACH THEIR FINANCIAL GOALS.
ON STATEWIDE IOWA PUBLIC TELEVISION, THIS IS THE FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 10 EDITION OF "IOWA PRESS." HERE IS DAVID YEPSEN.
Yepsen: TO THIS POINT, MOST OF THE FOCUS ON THE CAMPAIGN OF 2004 HAS BEEN ON THE HIGH-PROFILE PRESIDENTIAL RACE. SO IT SERVES US WELL IN THE STRETCH RUN TO REMIND OURSELVES THAT THERE ARE OTHER CAMPAIGNS UNDERWAY, FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL. AND ON THIS EDITION OF "IOWA PRESS," WE BEGIN TO SPOTLIGHT THE CAMPAIGNS TO REPRESENT IOWA IN WASHINGTON, D.C. IN WESTERN IOWA'S FIFTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT, DEMOCRAT JOYCE SCHULTE IS SEEKING THE SEAT. HER OPPONENT IS THE REPUBLICAN INCUMBENT STEVE KING, WHO IS SEEKING REELECTION TO A SECOND TWO-YEAR TERM. CONGRESSMAN KING DID NOT ACCEPT OUR INVITATION TO JOIN US ON TODAY'S EDITION OF "IOWA PRESS," BUT CANDIDATE SCHULTE HAS. AND SHE JOINS US HERE AT THE "IOWA PRESS" TABLE TODAY. MS. SCHULTE, WE'RE GLAD TO HAVE YOU WITH US TODAY.
Schulte: THANK YOU. THIS IS MY PLEASURE.
Yepsen: ALSO WITH US AT THE "IOWA PRESS" TABLE ARE KAY HENDERSON, NEWS DIRECTOR WITH "RADIO IOWA," AND MIKE GLOVER, SENIOR LEGISLATIVE AND POLITICAL REPORTER WITH THE "ASSOCIATED PRESS."
Glover: MS. SCHULTE, YOUR OPPONENT DIDN'T DECIDE TO SHOW UP TODAY. PERHAPS HE DECIDED NOT TO SHOW UP BECAUSE HE THOUGHT HE DIDN'T NEED TO. I CHECKED BEFORE WE CAME OUT HERE, AND IN THE FIFTH DISTRICT, THERE ARE 149,320 REGISTERED REPUBLICANS, 90,454 REGISTERED DEMOCRATS. MAKE THE CASE WHY WE SHOULD TAKE YOU SERIOUSLY.
Schulte: WELL, I MADE THAT CASE EARLY ON FOR MYSELF. I LOOKED AT THE NUMBERS. AND IF ALL YOU LOOK AT ARE THE NUMBERS, YOU MAY DECIDE DIFFERENTLY. BUT I WAS LISTENING TO THE PEOPLE OUT THERE, MIKE, VERY SERIOUSLY. THE PEOPLE WERE SAYING THEY WERE DISSATISFIED. VERY SERIOUSLY, BOTH DEMOCRATS, REPUBLICANS, AND A GOOD NUMBER OF INDEPENDENTS WERE SAYING, "WE'RE JUST NOT HAPPY WITH THE WAY THINGS ARE GOING. WE'RE JUST NOT HAPPY WITH THE RESPONSES WE GET BACK FROM THE PERSON THAT'S IN THERE NOW. WOULD YOU PLEASE RUN?" AND I THOUGHT ABOUT IT FOR A LONG TIME. I GAVE IT A LOT OF MONTHS OF DELIBERATION TO SEE, YOU KNOW, WAS IT SOMETHING THAT I WANTED TO TAKE ON AND FINALLY CAME DOWN ON THE SIDE OF YES, LET'S DO IT.
Glover: AND IT'S BEEN SUGGESTED THAT INITIALLY IN THE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY CAMPAIGN LEADING UP TO IOWA'S CAUCUSES, YOU SUPPORTED DENNIS KUCINICH. HOW DOES THAT FIT IN THE MIX WITH THE FIFTH DISTRICT?
Schulte: I LISTENED TO DENNIS KUCINICH. I LISTENED TO ALL OF THEM. WHEN I LISTENED TO THE WORDS -- WHEN I LISTENED TO THE ENERGIES THERE, WHEN I GO BACK TO OUR DEMOCRATIC ROOTS AND VALUES, I SAID, "HEY, I'M GOING TO GO THROUGH THE DOOR FOR DENNIS. I DON'T KNOW IF I'M GOING TO STAY THERE OR NOT, BUT I'M GOING TO GO THROUGH THE DOOR FOR DENNIS." I MOVED EASILY TO JOHN KERRY. JOHN EDWARDS WAS ALSO ON MY RADAR LIST. SO, YOU KNOW, IT WAS AN EASY EVENING FOR ME.
Glover: AND THAT FITS WELL WITH THE FIFTH DISTRICT?
Schulte: WELL, I THINK THERE'S THINGS OUT THERE THAT REALLY FITS FROM WHAT DENNIS WAS SAYING. I THINK THERE'S THINGS THAT THEY ALL SAID THAT FIT.
Glover: AND WHAT DO YOU THINK -- WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE CAMPAIGN THAT JOHN KERRY IS RUNNING, THE GENERAL ELECTION CAMPAIGN?
Schulte: WELL, GENERALLY I LIKE MR. KERRY. GENERALLY I LIKE MR. EDWARDS AS WELL. I THINK THEY BOTH SPEAK TO SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT NEED TO BE CHANGED AND SOME OF THE THINGS THAT PEOPLE IN THE FIFTH DISTRICT ARE SAYING WE NEED SOME CHANGES ON.
Glover: AND YOU THINK HE'S RUNNING A SUCCESSFUL CAMPAIGN? YOU'RE HAPPY WITH THE WAY THE CAMPAIGN IS GOING?
Schulte: I'M NOT GOING TO ADVISE HIM ON HIS CAMPAIGN. HE'S FAR SMARTER, PERHAPS, THAN I AM AND CERTAINLY HAS A LOT MORE ADVISORS AROUND. I'LL LET HIM WORRY ABOUT THE MECHANICS ON THAT SIDE.
Henderson: WITH, LET'S TALK ABOUT YOUR CAMPAIGN. FIRST OF ALL, WHO ARE YOU? WHAT ARE YOUR CREDENTIALS FOR OFFICE? HAVE YOU BEEN ACTIVE POLITICALLY YOUR ENTIRE ADULT LIFE?
Schulte: I'VE BEEN EXTREMELY ACTIVE ALL OF MY ADULT LIFE, KAY, AND I LOVE THAT QUESTION. THIRTY SOME YEARS OF SERVICE TO PEOPLE. I'VE BEEN ACTIVE IN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY CERTAINLY HERE IN IOWA, WORKING ON THE FRINGES WITH LEGISLATORS TO LOOK AT A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT LEGISLATIVE NEEDS, A LOT OF THEM IN EDUCATION, SOME IN JUVENILE DELINQUENCY. SOME OTHER THINGS HAVE COME ALONG, LITTLE PIECES HERE AND THERE. SECRETARY FOR THE FIFTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT CENTRAL COMMITTEE FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS. ACTIVE ON CENTRAL COMMITTEES IN TWO DIFFERENT COUNTIES. ACTIVE AROUND THE DISTRICT WITH JUVENILE DELINQUENCY AND EDUCATION. SO I AM FAR FROM, WHAT, A JOYCE-COME-LATELY TYPE OF PERSON?
Henderson: WHAT IS YOUR BACKGROUND? ARE YOU AN IOWA NATIVE?
Schulte: OH, NO. I GREW UP -- WELL, I PARTIALLY GREW UP HERE, KAY. I ACTUALLY WAS BORN AND RAISED ON A FARM IN MISSOURI, BUT I HAD THREE UNCLES WHO CAME TO IOWA VERY EARLY IN THEIR LIFE, STARTED FAMILIES IN JEFFERSON AND CHURDAN. SO I GREW UP ON A FARM OUTSIDE OF JEFFERSON, IOWA, PARTIALLY, MY SUMMERS, AND IN A RESTAURANT IN CHURDAN, IOWA, AND WITH MY UNCLE WHO WAS A BUILDER IN JEFFERSON, IOWA, AND HAVE COUSINS ALL THROUGH IOWA.
Henderson: YOU SAY YOU'VE BEEN ACTIVE IN JUVENILE ISSUES. IS THAT YOUR PROFESSION?
Schulte: WELL, I STARTED MANY YEARS AGO WITH HOSPICE AND WITH HOSPITAL COUNSELING, CREATED A HOSPITAL MINISTRY PROGRAM FOR THE DIOCESE OF JEFFERSON CITY. THAT WAS RECOGNIZED INTERNATIONALLY, SO I WAS IN BRUSSELS, BELGIUM, AT ONE POINT, TO EXPLAIN WHAT THAT PROGRAM WAS ALL ABOUT. WHEN I CAME TO IOWA, I CAME IN JUVENILE DELINQUENCY, AS DIRECTOR OF QUAKERDALE AT MANNING. SO I SPENT A NUMBER OF YEARS THERE WORKING BOTH IN JUVENILE DELINQUENCY AND IN EDUCATION AND NOW AS A DIRECTOR OF STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES PROGRAM IN SOUTHWESTERN COMMUNITY COLLEGE IN CRESTON.
Yepsen: LET'S TURN OUR ATTENTION TO THE CAMPAIGN ITSELF. WE LIKE TO GIVE CANDIDATES A LITTLE FREE THROW OUT HERE, SO GIVE US YOUR COMMERCIAL. WHY YOU FOR CONGRESS?
Schulte: WELL, NUMBER ONE, I LISTEN TO THE PEOPLE. I THINK, DAVID, THAT WHERE WE HAVE TO BE IN A CONGRESSIONAL SETTING IS AS THE TRUE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE PEOPLE. AND SO IF I CAN'T HEAR THE PEOPLE'S VOICE, THEN HOW CAN I GO TO WASHINGTON AND BE THEIR REPRESENTATIVE? SO I DON'T WANT TO CLOSE OFF AND ONLY LISTEN TO THE VOICE THAT I HAVE JUST RIGHT AROUND ME OR THE VOICE OF MY OWN OPINIONS, AND SO I'M A STRONG ADVOCATE FOR LISTENING TO THE PEOPLE AND HEARING WHAT ARE THEY SAYING THROUGHOUT THE GREAT FIFTH DISTRICT.
Yepsen: AND THAT'S IT?
Schulte: WELL, THAT'S NOT ALL THERE IS TO IT, BUT I THINK THAT'S THE HUGE PIECE THAT GOES ON. WE HAVE TO CERTAINLY TAKE THOSE ISSUES UP THERE AND DEAL WITH THEM ON A NATIONAL BASIS. IOWA SHOULD NEVER TAKE SECOND PLACE TO ANY OTHER STATE IN TERMS OF ANY OF THE ISSUES, ANY OF THE DOLLAR FACTORS THAT COME ALONG, AND WE SEEM TO DO THAT ON A REPETITIOUS BASIS.
Glover: THERE ARE A SERIES OF ISSUES, WHICH ARE SPECIFICALLY LINKED TO THE FIFTH DISTRICT IN IOWA AND WE'LL GET TO THOSE IN A MINUTE. BUT I WANT TO STEP BACK FOR A SECOND AND LOOK AT A COUPLE OF WHAT WE CALL HOT-BUTTON SOCIAL ISSUES AND SEE WHERE YOU ARE ON THOSE. ABORTION RIGHTS?
Schulte: YOU KNOW, ABORTION IS A VERY PAINFUL SUBJECT FOR ALL OF US WHO HAVE DEALT WITH THAT OR HAVE ANY EXPERIENCE WITH THAT. THAT HITS AT THE HEART AND THE SOUL AND THE CORE OF ALL OF US, I THINK. IT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT ANY OF US LIKE. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HAS TO BE CONSIDERED IN ALL OF THAT IS WHAT IS THE PERSON'S CHOICE AND THOUGHTS, THE FAMILY'S CHOICE AND THOUGHTS ON THAT, AND WHETHER THE STATE OR THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD LEGISLATE AND OVERRULE ANY OF THOSE CHOICES. I'M COMFORTABLE WITH WHERE ROE V. WADE HAS COME OUT ON ALL OF THE SUPREME COURT APPEALS, ET CETERA. SO I'M OKAY ON THAT SIDE. NOW, TAKE IT ANOTHER STEP FURTHER, THOUGH, MIKE. IF WE'RE GOING TO ASSUME THAT ABORTION IS MURDER, THEN THE FETUS IS GOING TO HAVE TO BE GIVEN LEGAL STATUS. IF THAT'S THE CASE, THEN WILL WE HAVE TO INVESTIGATE ALL THE MISCARRIAGES THAT COME ALONG?
Glover: ANOTHER HOT-BUTTON SOCIAL ISSUE IS GAY MARRIAGE. PRESIDENT BUSH SUPPORTS A PROPOSAL TO INSERT IN THE CONSTITUTION A BAN ON GAY MARRIAGE. HOW WILL YOU VOTE ON THAT?
Schulte: WELL, I THINK THAT'S A STATE'S RIGHT ISSUE. STATES ARE THE ONES THAT GIVE THE CIVIL UNION CERTIFICATES OR RIGHTS TO, AS WE WOULD CALL IT, MARRIAGE.
Glover: DO YOU FAVOR CIVIL UNIONS?
Schulte: I WOULD LET THE STATE COME OUT ON SOME OF THAT, I THINK, MIKE.
Glover: AND THE FINAL HOT-BUTTON SOCIAL ISSUE IS GUN CONTROL. WOULD YOU FAVOR TOUGHENING CURRENT GUN CONTROL LAWS, MAKING THEM THE SAME? REPUBLICAN LEADERS IN CONGRESS HAVE SAID THEY'RE NOT GOING TO EXTEND THE CURRENT BAN ON ASSAULT WEAPONS. SHOULD THAT BAN BE --
Schulte: IF YOU LISTEN TO THE POLICE CHIEFS, THE COUNTY SHERIFFS AROUND THIS NATION AND CERTAINLY THE STATE, YOU'RE GOING TO HEAR A LOT OF THEM SAYING THAT LAW SHOULD HAVE BEEN EXTENDED. NOW, I'VE NEVER GONE QUAIL HUNTING WITH AN AK-47. I PREFER A SHOTGUN MYSELF, YOU KNOW. AND I THINK MOST IOWANS UNDERSTAND ME WHEN I SAY I'M NOT IN FAVOR OF GIVING UP MY SHOTGUNS OR MY RIFLES, BUT I DON'T USE AN AK-47 FOR THAT. THAT'S NOT THE ARMAMENT OF CHOICE WHEN YOU'RE HUNTING UNLESS YOU'RE HUNTING PEOPLE. AND THEN YOU'RE GOING TO GO TO THE ASSAULT RIFLE, OR THEN YOU'RE GOING TO GO TO THE HUNDRED CLIP BULLET PACKAGE. AND THEN YOU'RE GOING TO BE FAR MORE ARMED THAN ANY OF OUR DEPUTIES, ANY OF OUR SHERIFFS AND POLICE OFFICERS. THERE'S SOME REAL CONCERN FOR THAT OUT THERE. I THINK WE HAVE TO PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT THEY'RE SAYING ON THAT. IF WE GET INTO A NATIONAL REGISTRY, I'M NOT SURE AS A GUN OWNER THAT THAT WOULD DO MUCH. I WOULD CERTAINLY REGISTER MINE. BUT WHAT ABOUT THE FOLKS WHO ARE BUYING THE AK-47S OR SATURDAY NIGHT SPECIALS? ARE THEY TRULY GOING TO COME FORWARD? AND I THINK THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION THERE.
Henderson: ONE OF THE OTHER ISSUES ON THE FEDERAL LEVEL THIS ELECTION CYCLE IS IRAQ. IF YOU WERE TO BE ELECTED TO CONGRESS, HOW WOULD YOU VOTE IN REGARDS TO WITHDRAWING TROOPS, PROVIDING MONEY FOR THE OPERATION?
Schulte: KAY, YOU'VE HIT ON A QUESTION OR A TOPIC, MAYBE I SHOULD SAY AN ISSUE, THAT JUST SPEAKS REAMS IN WESTERN IOWA. THERE'S NOT A PERSON THAT DIES THAT WE DON'T FEEL, AND SOMETIMES IN A VERY EMOTIONAL STRAIGHTFORWARD WAY, THE PAIN OF THAT FAMILY, THE LOSS OF THAT MILITARY PERSON. I HAVE A SON WHO FLIES FOR THE U.S. AIR FORCE. SO IF ANYBODY WANTS ME TO PUT A PERSONAL PICTURE ON IRAQ AND ON THE MILITARY, I CAN DO THAT VERY QUICKLY. WE'VE GOTTEN INTO A MESS. MAYBE SOME WOULD CALL IT A HORNETS NEST. WE'VE GOTTEN OURSELVES TO THE POINT WHERE IF WE WITHDRAW, THERE'S MANY, MANY PEOPLE SAYING THAT THAT WILL UNLEASH EVEN FURTHER, SOME OF THE TERROR THAT'S GOING ON AROUND THE WORLD. WHEN YOU TRAVEL TODAY, AS AN AMERICAN, YOU TRAVEL A LITTLE MORE DISCRETELY THAN I DID SOME YEARS AGO. SO THE ISSUES ARE REAL. THERE ARE PEOPLE IN THE WORLD THAT DON'T LIKE WHAT AMERICA STANDS FOR. THEY GENERALLY WILL LIKE AMERICANS IF THEY GET TO KNOW YOU AND SAY HI TO YOU, BUT THEY DON'T LIKE THE POLICIES. SO TO GO BACK TO SOME OF THOSE POLICIES, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO LOOK AT THE WAY WE'VE TREATED OUR FRIENDS, ALLIES AROUND THE WORLD. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO REFURBISH, RENEW THOSE RELATIONSHIPS AROUND THE WORLD. THIS PICTURE OF TERRORISM IS MUCH LARGER THAN JUST TERROR AGAINST --
Yepsen: EXCUSE ME --
Schulte: AGAINST THE UNITED NATIONS -- OR THE UNITED STATES.
Yepsen: BUT WHAT DO YOU DO ABOUT IT? I MEAN, DO YOU PULL OUT OF IRAQ? WHAT DO YOU DO ABOUT TERRORISM?
Schulte: I CAN'T PULL OUT OF IRAQ IMMEDIATELY. I WOULD WORK TO GET US, ON A STAIRSTEP BASIS, OUT OF IRAQ. BUT THEN WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO LOOK AT WHERE THE TERRORISTS ARE IN OTHER COUNTRIES AND DO IT IN A VERY CAREFUL, SMALL BASIS. SOMALIA, YEMEN ARE KNOWN TO BE HARBORING SOME OTHER TERRORIST SITES.
Henderson: DO YOU FAVOR THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION POLICY PREEMPTION? THIS PAST WEEK THERE'S BEEN AN EPISODE IN RUSSIA OF TERRORISM, AND RUSSIA SEEMS TO BE EMBRACING THAT SORT OF CONCEPT. DO YOU THINK THAT'S A CONCEPT THAT SHOULD BE THE HALLMARK OF U.S. FOREIGN POLICY?
Schulte: I THINK THERE'S SOME DIFFERENT PIECES IN PREEMPTION. WE CALLED GOING INTO IRAQ PREEMPTIVE WITHOUT FACT, AT LEAST FACTS THAT WE CAN FIND NOW. SO IT WAS PREEMPTION BASED ON FANTASY OR ON FICTION OR ON HOPED FOR OR SOMETHING. I'M NOT SURE THAT'S THE TRUE DEFINITION OF PREEMPTION. RUSSIA MAY HAVE A STRONGER CASE FOR PREEMPTION WITH THE CHECHENS THAT SEEM TO BE HITTING THEM. IRAQ HAD NOT HIT US. IT WAS THE AL QUAEDA THAT HIT US. WE HAD ENEMIES ON 9/11. BY THE WAY, TODAY IS JUST ON THE EVE OF THE MEMORY OF ALL OF THAT. I THINK WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO SUPPORT THE MILITARY. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO CLEAN UP THE CORRUPTION THAT GOES AROUND THIS IRAQ SITUATION. WE'RE LOSING BILLIONS OF DOLLARS THAT NOBODY CAN FOLLOW.
Yepsen: HAD YOU BEEN IN CONGRESS, WOULD YOU HAVE VOTED FOR THE WAR ON IRAQ?
Schulte: I SAID AT THE POINT, DAVID, AND I CAN ONLY REFLECT ON THIS SINCE I WASN'T THERE TO VOTE, I THOUGHT IT WAS THE WRONG VOTE --
Yepsen: AT THE TIME YOU THOUGHT IT WAS WRONG.
Schulte: -- AT THE TIME. AT THE TIME I THOUGHT IT WAS THE WRONG VOTE.
Glover: MS. SCHULTE, LET'S COME BACK A LITTLE BIT CLOSER TO HOME. HOWEVER YOU DESCRIBE THE FIFTH DISTRICT IN IOWA IN WESTERN IOWA, IT IS ONE OF THE MOST RURAL DISTRICTS IN AMERICA. AND THERE HAS BEEN A TWO-CENTURY TREND OF PEOPLE LEAVING THE FARM AND HEADING FOR THE BRIGHT LIGHTS OF THE BIG CITY.
Schulte: UNFORTUNATELY.
Glover: WELL, UNFORTUNATELY OR FORTUNATELY. HOW DO YOU REVERSE THAT? WHAT DO YOU DO TO SPARK RURAL DEVELOPMENT IN THAT DISTRICT?
Schulte: I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS, MIKE, THAT CAN BE DONE. I'VE TALKED ABOUT THEM ALL OVER THE DISTRICT, QUITE HONESTLY. THE AG POLICY THAT I WOULD LOOK AT AND THE WHOLE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT POLICY IS BASED ON THE FACT THAT AGRICULTURE IS THE CORNERSTONE FOR THAT AREA. SO WE'VE GOT TO INCREASE -- CONTINUE THE INCREASE OF THE ETHANOL PRODUCTION. WE'VE GOT TO INCREASE THE PRODUCTION OF SOY DIESELS. THOSE PRODUCTS ARE RIGHT OUT THERE. WE KNOW HOW TO DO IT AND WE CAN DO IT WELL. WE NEED MORE OF IT, IN MY OPINION: METHANE, ETHANOL. BY THE WAY, RUDOLPH DIESEL, WHO CREATED THAT DIESEL ENGINE, HAD NO INTENTION OF IT BEING A PETROLEUM-BASED DIESEL. THAT JUST HAPPENED, AS DID HENRY FORD WITH THE CAR ENGINE, BASED ORIGINALLY ON ALCOHOL USE. WE CAN GO BACK TO MUCH OF THAT. THERE'S SOME OTHER THINGS WITH BIOMASS. THERE'S SOME THINGS THAT I THINK WE CAN DO IN TERMS OF CREATING HYDROGEN FOR SOME FUTURE DEVELOPMENT IN THE HYDROGEN VEHICLE OR ENGINE PROCESS. I LOVE TO SEE THOSE WIND TURBINES UP IN THE NORTHERN PART OF THE DISTRICT. I'D LIKE TO SEE THOSE FROM MINNESOTA TO THE MISSOURI LINE. I THINK THAT WOULD BE A GOOD WAY TO AUGMENT THE ELECTRICITY PROCESS THAT'S HERE.
Glover: WOULD YOU HAVE VOTED FOR THE CURRENT FARM BILL?
Schulte: OH, THERE'S SOME AWFULLY GOOD PIECES IN THERE AND THERE'S SOME OTHER THINGS THAT I THINK NEED TO GO BACK AND BE AMENDED. WHETHER I WOULD HAVE VOTED ON IT, I THINK I PROBABLY WOULD HAVE BASED ON THE WHOLE OF IT AND THEN HOPED THAT I COULD COME BACK AND --
Glover: WHAT DON'T YOU LIKE ABOUT IT?
Schulte: I DON'T LIKE THE WAY THE SUBSIDIES ARE GOING TO THE LARGEST FARMS. EIGHTY PERCENT OF THE SUBSIDIES ARE GOING TO THE TWENTY LARGEST FARMS. I THINK THAT'S WRONG. I THINK WE HAVE TO GO BACK AND TURN IT UPSIDE DOWN, WORK MORE FOR THE SMALLER FAMILY FARMER WHO CAN THEN PERHAPS GROW A LITTLE BIT AND BECOME MORE COMPETITIVE JUST ON A NATURAL BASIS. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE, ON AN AG PROGRAM, MORE IN TERMS OF ORGANICS. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE IN TERMS OF NICHE PRODUCTS, BECAUSE I THINK WE CAN DO SOME OF THAT. THERE'S SOME PEOPLE THAT ARE GROWING SOME UNUSUAL PIECES THAT FIT RIGHT INTO A GOOD FOOD PROGRAM FOR THIS NATION.
Henderson: THE MISSOURI RIVER IS AG POLICY, SO TO SPEAK, BECAUSE OF THE NAVIGATION ON IT. DO YOU SUPPORT THE IDEA THAT THE MISSOURI AS IT CHANNELS RIGHT THERE ON THE CUSP OF WESTERN IOWA, SHOULD IT BE A BARGE CHANNEL OR SHOULD THE WATER BE HELD IN THE DAKOTAS FOR RECREATION?
Schulte: I LOVE THE DAKOTAS, S. DAKOTA IN PARTICULAR. I LOVE THAT RIVER. I'VE TRAVELED THAT FROM MISSOURI ALL THE WAY UP. IT'S A BEAUTIFUL RIVER. AND IT IS PART OF OUR AGRICULTURAL HISTORY THERE. IT IS A PART OF THAT HISTORY OF THE WORLD.
Henderson: BUT DOES THAT MEAN BARGE TRAFFIC SHOULD BE HISTORY?
Schulte: NO, I DON'T THINK SO. I THINK BARGE TRAFFIC MAY HAVE TO DECIDE SOME OF THAT FOR ITSELF, BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT MORE THAT'S GOING NOW BY RAIL AND BY TRUCK. SO BARGE TRAFFIC MAY SORT OF DECIDE SOME OF THAT ON THEIR OWN. THAT'S AN EXTREMELY TOUCHY AREA. THERE'S THREE MAJOR ISSUES THAT JUST ALMOST ARE DIAMETRICALLY OPPOSED TO EACH OTHER. I WOULD REALLY PREFER A LITTLE BIT MORE STUDY ON THAT TO SEE WHERE IT COMES OUT. IT'S CRITICAL THAT WE GET THE AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS MOVED OUT AND THAT WE GET OTHER AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS MOVED IN. WHETHER WE HAVE TO DO THAT BY BARGE OR BY BARGE ONLY I THINK IS THE REAL QUESTION.
Glover: WAS IT A MISTAKE TO CHANNELIZE THE MISSOURI?
Schulte: NO, I DON'T THINK SO. I THINK AT THE TIME THERE WERE SOME GOOD THOUGHTS PUT INTO IT. SO I WOULDN'T WANT TO GO BACK AND SAY THAT IT WAS A BAD IDEA.
Yepsen: WELL, MOST OF IT WAS DONE FOR FLOOD CONTROL PURPOSES, WASN'T IT? THE BARGES CAME LATER.
Schulte: IT WAS INITIALLY, YES, FOR FLOOD CONTROL, AND WE HAD A LOT OF FLOODS. FLOOD WERE PRETTY DANGEROUS TO THE LANDOWNERS. THEY EITHER SWEPT IN GOOD SOIL OR SWEPT OUT EQUALLY GOOD SOIL. IT RUINED FARMING FOR A NUMBER OF PEOPLE FOR YEARS.
Glover: JUST THIS PAST WEEK YOUR CANDIDATE FOR PRESIDENT, JOHN KERRY, WAS IN IOWA APPEARING AT A DES MOINES HOSPITAL. HE TALKED ABOUT HEALTH CARE ISSUES. WHAT SHOULD BE DONE TO FIX THE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM IN THIS COUNTRY?
Schulte: MIKE, THAT REALLY TOUCHES FOR EVERY ONE OF US BECAUSE WE HAVE SUCH AN INFORMAL NATIONAL HEALTH POLICY ALREADY. IF PEOPLE ARE UNINSURED, THEY MAY WAIT UNTIL THE 'ENTH MOMENT BEFORE DEATH TO GO TO AN EMERGENCY ROOM, WITH NO INSURANCE. AND EVERY TAXPAYER PAYS THE BILL FOR THAT. WE HAVE PEOPLE UNINSURED IN THIS COUNTRY EQUAL TO THE POPULATION OF 24 STATES.
Yepsen: SO WHAT DO YOU DO ABOUT IT?
Schulte: I THINK I WOULD LOOK AT THE HR-676 BILL THAT JOHN CONYERS HAS PUT IN AS A POTENTIAL MODEL FOR THAT.
Glover: AND THAT WOULD DO?
Schulte: WELL, I THINK IT WOULD COVER EVERYBODY IN THOSE BROAD, BASIC AREAS, AND IT WOULD ALSO EQUALIZE OR PUT A PARITY ON MENTAL HEALTH AND DRUG ALCOHOL TREATMENT HEALTH. IT WOULD BRING EVERYBODY UP TO A CERTAIN STANDARD AND IT WOULD RELIEVE A LOT OF THE COST THEN ON THE COMPANY'S BUSINESSES.
Glover: SO YOU WOULD FAVOR A CANADIAN-STYLED, SINGLE-PAYER NATIONAL HEALTH CARE SYSTEM.
Schulte: I DON'T KNOW IF I'D WANT TO CALL IT A CANADIAN STYLE, MIKE. I THINK I'D PREFER CALLING IT A CONYER STYLE.
Glover: BUT A SINGLE-PAYER HEALTH CARE SYSTEM.
Schulte: IT WOULD BASICALLY BE A SINGLE PAYER. THERE WOULD BE SOME OTHER PIECES. INSTEAD OF THE 8.5-PERCENT PAYROLL THAT WE'RE PAYING NOW, MOVE IT DOWN TO ABOUT 3, 3.5.
Yepsen: THAT SAVES BUSINESS MONEY BUT THE TAXPAYER THEN ASSUMES THAT COST. WHERE DO YOU GET THE DOLLARS TO PAY FOR THIS PLAN?
Schulte: WELL, THERE'S SOME OTHER POINTS IN THAT HR-676 THAT COMES IN AND SHORES UP THE COST ON THAT. THERE'S SOME PUBLIC MONEYS THAT WOULD GO INTO IT AS WELL. SOME PRIVATE MONEYS WOULD PROBABLY BE IN THERE AS WELL AS OUT OF THE POCKET.
Glover: AT THE END OF THE DAY, WOULD AMERICA PAY LESS OR MORE FOR HEALTH CARE UNDER THAT SYSTEM?
Schulte: MY UNDERSTANDING IS SUBSTANTIALLY LESS, ABOUT ONE-THIRD OF WHAT WE'RE CURRENTLY PAYING.
Glover: BECAUSE?
Schulte: OF THE SPREAD OF THE COST OVERALL.
Glover: AND INEFFICIENCIES BUILT INTO THE CURRENT SYSTEM --
Schulte: THERE'S A LOT OF INEFFICIENCIES BUILT INTO THE CURRENT SYSTEM.
Yepsen: BUT YOU'RE SAYING THERE'S NO -- THERE'S NO NET COST TO THE TAXPAYER? THERE IS A COST TO THE TAXPAYER.
Schulte: WE'RE SPENDING A HUGE DOLLAR FACTOR RIGHT NOW SO --
Yepsen: HOW -- EXCUSE ME. HOW WOULD YOU FINANCE THE TAXPAYER COST OF THIS HEALTH CARE PROGRAM? WOULD YOU RAISE TAXES?
Schulte: NO. NO, I DON'T BELIEVE AN INCREASE IN TAXES WOULD BE NECESSARY ON THAT.
Henderson: YOUR OPPONENT HAS BEEN INTRIGUED BY THE IDEA OF SHIFTING FROM AN INCOME TAX TO A NATIONAL SALES TAX, A CONSUMPTION TAX, IF YOU WILL. DO YOU SUPPORT THAT PROPOSAL?
Schulte: OH, NO, NOT AT ALL.
Henderson: WHY NOT?
Schulte: WELL, IF I'M GOING TO GO BUY A CAR AT $20,000, DO I PAY ANOTHER 30 PERCENT SALES TAX ON TOP OF ALL THE LOCAL AND STATE SALES TAX? NOW, AS A CONSUMER, THAT'S JUST GOING TO WEIGH DOWN EVERY CONSUMER OUT THERE. AND THEN IF IT COMES IN IN A YEAR, SAY, NOVEMBER OF '05, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A HUGE MASSIVE BUYING SPREE TO AVOID THAT TAX BEFORE NOVEMBER '05. I'LL GUARANTEE YOU YOU'LL BUY A NEW CAR AT LEAST BY OCTOBER OF '05 TO AVOID THAT BIG NATIONAL SALES TAX. WE'RE NOT GOING TO DECREASE ANY OF THE BUDGET PROCESS OF GOVERNMENT COLLECTING THE TAXES. IT'S ALL GOING TO BE ON THE BACKS OF THE WORKING FAMILY. I CAN ALMOST GUARANTEE THE VERY WEALTHY ARE GOING TO SHELTER THEIR MONEY. SO, NO, I WOULDN'T BE IN FAVOR OF THAT.
Glover: IN DEALING WITH TAX AND BUDGET POLICY, THE GOVERNMENT JUST ANNOUNCED NOT LONG AGO THAT THE DEFICIT FOR THIS YEAR IS GOING TO BE ABOUT $422 BILLION. THAT'S THE BIGGEST DOLLAR DEFICIT IN HISTORY, ALTHOUGH IT, AS A PERCENTAGE OF THE GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT, IT'S SMALLER THAN SOME OTHERS. DO YOU THINK THAT'S SOMETHING TO WORRY ABOUT?
Schulte: YEAH, YEAH, BECAUSE YOUR KIDS AND YOUR GRANDKIDS ARE GOING TO BE PAYING MY DEBT, YOUR DEBT ON THAT -- OR YOUR PORTION ON THAT BIG DEBT.
Glover: WHAT DO YOU SAY TO THOSE WHO ARGUE THAT RUNNING BUDGET DEFICITS AT A TIME OF A BAD ECONOMY AND A WAR IS THE WAY YOU OUGHT TO RUN THE ECONOMY AND THAT THIS DEFICIT ISN'T THAT BIG COMPARED TO THE SIZE OF THE ECONOMY OVERALL?
Schulte: HISTORICALLY IT'S NEVER WORKED. I'M NOT SURE WHY WE WANT TO REPEAT HISTORY.
Yepsen: ONE OF THE MORE EMOTIONAL ISSUES IN IOWA SURROUNDS HOG CONFINEMENTS, AND I KNOW THAT'S CERTAINLY AN ISSUE IN PARTS OF WESTERN IOWA AS WELL.
Schulte: IT IS.
Yepsen: IS THERE -- IS THERE A FEDERAL ROLE IN DEALING WITH THAT PROBLEM, OR IS THAT SOMETHING WE HAVE TO LOOK TO STATE OFFICIALS TO SOLVE?
Schulte: I REALLY THINK THAT'S PROBABLY MORE OF A STATE-BY-STATE ISSUE. AS WE TAP INTO SOME OF THE NEW TECHNOLOGIES, SOME OF THAT PROBLEM MIGHT DISAPPEAR.
Glover: WELL, LET'S ASSUME YOU'RE CZAR OF IOWA AND YOU CAN JUST DO WHATEVER YOU WANT IN IOWA TO DEAL WITH THAT ISSUE. WHAT WOULD YOU DO? HOW WOULD YOU SOLVE THAT PROBLEM?
Schulte: I THINK ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS WE'D HAVE TO DO IS TO EMPOWER THE COUNTIES IN SOME SORT OF A CODE OR PROCESS OF IDENTIFYING WHERE THE FACILITIES COULD BE BUILT, SHOULD BE BUILT, SHOULD NOT BE BUILT, ET CETERA. MY OWN PREFERENCE WOULD BE, HAVING LIVED ON A FARM, IS IF I LIVED THERE FIRST, I WOULD HAVE THE POWER OF DOMAIN. IF MY HOG FACILITY WAS THERE FIRST AND YOU WANT TO PUT YOUR BIG, FANCY HOUSE TOO CLOSE TO IT, THEN THE HOG FACILITY SHOULD HAVE THE POWER OF DOMAIN.
Glover: BUT LOCAL OFFICIALS SHOULD HAVE CONTROL OF IT?
Schulte: I REALLY THINK SO.
Henderson: AT THE BEGINNING OF THE PROGRAM, YOU SAID IT WAS EASY TO SUPPORT THE NOMINEE OF YOUR PARTY, JOHN KERRY. ONE OF THE TAX POLICIES HE HAS ADVANCED IS REPEALING THE BUSH ERA TAX CUTS ON THE WEALTHIEST AMERICANS. DO YOU SUPPORT THE REPEAL OF THOSE TAXES?
Schulte: FOR THE MOST PART I DO BECAUSE RIGHT NOW WHAT WE'RE SEEING IS THAT THOSE PEOPLE WHO EARN BETWEEN $30- AND $500,000 ARE REALLY PAYING FOR ALL OF THE WEALTHY WHO ARE ESCAPING THE TAXES.
Yepsen: EVERY POLITICIAN I KNOW SAYS THEY'RE FOR FREE TRADE BUT FAIR TRADE.
Schulte: YEAH.
Yepsen: SO WHAT DOES THAT MEAN TO YOU? WHAT DO YOU DO PROSPECTIVELY ABOUT THIS QUESTION OF BALANCING THE NEED FOR AGRICULTURE TO TRADE WITH SOME OF THE DOWN SIDES WE'RE SEEING IN GLOBALIZATION?
Schulte: WELL, THERE'S CERTAINLY NOT BEEN A GOOD TRADE SYSTEM SET UP WITH NAFTA. WE'VE NOT HELPED MEXICO. WE'VE NOT HELPED OUR OWN COUNTRY. WE'VE LEFT BEHIND HUMAN RIGHTS. WE'VE LEFT BEHIND WORKERS' RIGHTS. WE'VE LEFT BEHIND THE ENVIRONMENT. AND I DON'T THINK ANY OF THOSE THINGS ARE REALLY GOOD THINGS WE WANT TO GIVE TO OUR KIDS.
Glover: IF YOU WERE A MEMBER OF CONGRESS, WOULD YOU HAVE VOTED FOR NAFTA?
Schulte: I SAID AT THE POINT -- AND I'M GOING TO GO BACK TO WHAT I MENTIONED A WHILE AGO, BECAUSE I'VE BEEN A STUDENT OF HISTORY. NO, I SPOKE OUT AGAINST IT AT THAT POINT IN TIME. AND I SAID I DON'T THINK THAT IT IS SET UP THE WAY IT NEEDS TO BE SET UP IN ORDER TO ACCOMPLISH WHAT WE WANT IT TO ACCOMPLISH.
Glover: AND WHAT DO YOU SAY TO YOUR FARM CONSTITUENTS WHO SAY WE NEED TO HAVE FREE-TRADE DEALS TO OPEN UP FOREIGN MARKETS?
Schulte: I'M NOT SURE THAT FREE IS WHAT THEY'RE REALLY WANTING. IF IT CAME TO THEM BEING IMPLODED AGAINST BY FREE AT THE SAME LEVEL THAT WE'RE IMPLODING ON SOME OTHER COUNTRIES, I THINK THE PEOPLE I KNOW IN WESTERN IOWA WOULD SAY NO, IT'S NOT FAIR.
Yepsen: WE'VE GOT ABOUT THIRTY SECONDS LEFT, MS. SCHULTE, AND I'LL GIVE IT TO YOU. WHAT DO YOU WANT VOTERS IN WESTERN IOWA TO REMEMBER ABOUT YOU AS THEY HEAD TO THE POLLS ON ELECTION DAY?
Schulte: OH, THAT'S MARVELOUS. I WANT THEM TO REMEMBER THAT I'VE HAD ABOUT THIRTY-FIVE BEAUTIFUL YEARS OF REALLY BROAD-BASED EXPERIENCE; THAT AS A THIRTY-ONE-YEAR-OLD MOTHER, I BECAME WIDOWED, RAISED THOSE TWO BOYS. THEY WERE SEVEN AND A HALF AND ONE AND A HALF AT THAT POINT, DAVID. THEY'RE NOW -- WELL, I'D HAVE TO GET THE CALCULATOR OUT AND I DON'T WANT TO DO THAT ON PUBLIC TV.
Yepsen: AND WE'RE OUT OF TIME.
Schulte: PARDON.
Yepsen: AND WE'RE OUT OF TIME. I HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE.
Schulte: ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.
Yepsen: THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING WITH US. WE APPRECIATE IT.
Schulte: ALL RIGHT.
Yepsen: NOW, ON OUR NEXT EDITION OF "IOWA PRESS," WE SHIFT OUR SPOTLIGHT FROM THE FIFTH TO THE FOURTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT. AND JOINING US ARE THE TWO MAJOR-PARTY CANDIDATES: REPRESENTATIVE TOM LATHAM, THE REPUBLICAN INCUMBENT FROM ALEXANDER JOINS US; AS DOES HIS DEMOCRATIC CHALLENGER, PAUL JOHNSON OF DECORAH. WE RETURN NEXT WEEKEND TO CONTINUE OUR PREELECTION COVERAGE WITH AIRTIMES ON FRIDAY AT 7:30 AND SUNDAY AT NOON. DEAN BORG RETURNS NEXT WEEKEND HERE AT THE "IOWA PRESS" TABLE, AND I HOPE YOU WILL AS WELL. I'M DAVID YEPSEN OF "THE DES MOINES REGISTER." THANKS FOR JOINING US HERE ON STATEWIDE IOWA PUBLIC TELEVISION.
CAPTIONS BY: MIDWEST CAPTIONING DES MOINES, IOWA.
FUNDING FOR THIS PROGRAM WAS PROVIDED BY "FRIENDS," THE IOWA PUBLIC TELEVISION FOUNDATION... GENERATIONS OF FAMILIES AND FRIENDS WHO FEEL PASSIONATE ABOUT THE PROGRAMS THEY WATCH ON IOWA PUBLIC TELEVISION;
AND BY THE IOWA BANKERS ASSOCIATION... FOR PERSONAL, BUSINESS, AND COMMERCIAL NEEDS, IOWA BANKS HELP IOWANS REACH THEIR FINANCIAL GOALS.
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