Young visits with constituents

 Iowa’s Third District Congressman David Young paid a visit to Red Oak and the surrounding communities to discuss issues Congress is working on. 

The Republican said he’s identified three major concerns from area constituents: economic security, national security, and making sure constitutional rights and liberties are secure:

He said residents have not seen their median income change in the past 10 years. Unemployment remains at around 5 percent, with underemployment rates coming in higher. 

“People are concerned about being able to provide for their retirement, making sure they can put their kids in school and other essentials,” Young said. 

“In rural Iowa, which is the strength of Iowa’s economy overall, last year ag income was down 33 percent, which is huge. It’s not a very rosy projection for ag income next year as well.” 

Commodity prices remain low, he added, although yields are high.  

Fuel prices have fallen, but Young said he is unsure if the savings will drive down debt. 

Young said steps are being taken to resolve the issues. 

“We in Congress can bring permanence and certainty to the tax code and simplify it. Much of our tax code is on two-year terms,” Young said. “Things expire, and we have to act retroactively to change or fix it. We need to fix things on the long term and make it permanent so people can invest in the economy.”

Young said another concern involves new U.S. Environmental Protection Agency  regulations. 

“Let’s say Red Oak wants to build a new subdivision with housing. Builders now have to question whether they can develop the land, and have to check with the EPA,” Young said.

Young attempted to defund the “Waters of the USA” rule, but could not get the legislation defunded in the Senate. Young said there are further options to end the legislation. 

“It’s stalled in the courts in two different lawsuits, and Iowa is a part of one of those lawsuits,” he said. “In order to remove it completely, we’ll need a president who agrees that it’s a land grab and a grab for private property rights.”

Young said Congress has passed a five-year highway bill which gives states more flexibility to manage funds. 

“We’ll see more of those funds get to our bridges, highways and roads. It’s up to a lot of the folks in southwest Iowa to lobby their state legislators to advocate for them with the State Department of Transportation to make sure we get our fair share here in rural Iowa,” Young commented. 

Young said Congress also has repealed the unpopular “No Child Left Behind” education legislation and passed a bipartisan bill called the “Education Student Success Act.” 

With the change, he said, is a shift of power back to the state, localities and parents to make decisions with their teachers and administrators on what’s best for students. 

Young said Congress reviewed Obama’s proposed budget on Feb. 9. 

He said it will not pass for several reasons. 

“It doesn’t balance, and on it, there’s an added $10 per barrel on oil, which would increase gas prices by a quarter per gallon. The House of Representatives will pass a balanced budget that will not increase taxes and give us some fiscal discipline,” said Young. 

The Red Oak Express

2012 Commerce Drive
P.O. Box 377
Red Oak, IA 51566
Phone: 712-623-2566 Fax: 712-623-2568

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