Joni Ernst

U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Red Oak, announced Monday she will hold traveling office hours across Iowa for the month of July in all 99 counties.

Office hours are slated for 1 p.m. July 27 at the Newell City Hall located at 207 E. 2nd St. in Newell. Staff will be available to discuss Social Security, veterans’ benefits, passports, immigration and other federal programs. Ernst will not be present.

U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst announced upcoming traveling office hours in Buena Vista County April 6 from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Buena Vista County Veterans Affairs office on 1709 Richland St.

Representatives from Ernst’s office will be available in counties throughout the state to assist Iowans with problems or questions related to government benefits such as Social Security, veterans benefits, passports and others issues.

Obama expected to veto legislation

Sen. Joni Ernst scored a victory against the EPA Wednesday, as the Senate passed a resolution of disapproval to the EPA’s definition of the Waters of the U.S.

Ernst, R-Red Oak, introduced the resolution that passed by a 53-44 vote. The resolution still needs approval by the House and must be signed by the President, who has promised a veto.

Sex assault center hopes she can help with funds

By WHITNEY ROBINSON

Joni Ernst made her first appearance in Storm Lake Thursday morning after being elected as a US Senator from Iowa. The last time the Red Oak Republican visited here was two weeks before the November election.

Learning about sexual abuse center

U.S. Senator Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, will visit Storm Lake on Feb. 19.

Ernst announced her public schedule in Iowa for the week of Feb. 16-20. The Iowa Senator continues her 99-county tour and will visit 18 counties to meet with as many Iowans as possible across the state.

Final election results for Buena Vista County:

• Joni Ernst (R) — 3,514; Bruce Braley (D) — 2,023

• Steve King (R) — 3,597; Jim Mowrer (D) — 2,270

• Terry Branstad (R) — 4,087; Jack Hatch (D) — 1,556

BY JOHN CULLEN

As a person approaching age 65 in a few months, I cannot vote for Joni Ernst for U.S. Senate. I don’t trust her to keep Social Security and Medicare safe.

Joni Ernst has a solution to the problems of government: Blow it up. Worried about Social Security? Scrap it for private vouchers that may or may not sustain Grandma. Don’t like the EPA dragging its feet on renewable fuels? Get rid of it. Think the Affordable Care Act is a drag on the economy? Repeal it. “We need to come up with a plan that is patient-centered,” the Red Oak Republican said during her first general US Senate campaign appearance in Storm Lake on Friday.

Claims she doesn’t run negative ads

By WHITNEY ROBINSON

Republican U.S. Senate candidate Joni Ernst campaigned in Storm Lake on Friday.

Fear and hatred are the best guttural emotions to engage in political discourse, which in the Iowa race for US Senate is presented to us in TV ads. The dark master of the art, Karl Rove, through his American Crossroads slush fund has trotted out the immigration issue to use against Democrat Bruce Braley in his race with Republican Joni Ernst. Braley would allow criminals to get food stamps and prescription drugs while paying nothing for them, the story goes, which of course is rubbish.