Making Iowa great again: Gov. Reynolds, local state legislators credit high national ranking to recent reforms

REINBECK – Governor Kim Reynolds, Representative Pat Grassley and Senator Bill Dix touted the bold agenda and leaps in progress made by Republicans in the statehouse during the annual Grundy County Republicans Reagan Dinner in Reinbeck on Friday night.
 
Reynolds, Grassley and Dix each took time to speak to the crowd about recent successes, new bills and initiatives, to announce that each of them will be running for re-election, and to ask for their continued support during the upcoming Republican Primaries season.
 
“When we called on you to help us get the majority, you did,” Dix said. “We promised we wouldn’t let you down, and we haven’t. We’ve had a historic, record-setting session. We’ve made collective bargaining reforms that will give tax payers better deals each year; we’ve passed a bill that will make sure your tax dollars won’t fund abortions; and Governor Reynolds has made a bold proposal that’s the largest income tax re-write in recent history, so you can keep more of your hard-earned money. It’s an exciting time in our state legislature.”
 
Dix added that he’s now working on a measure to add the right to bear arms to the Iowa Constitution, as Iowa is one of only a few states in the nation to not have that measure included in its constitution.
 
And despite the recent picketing outside of his home in Shell Rock – in which over 100 protestors slammed the Republican legislator for his policies, which they called harmful to veterans, seniors, working families, healthcare and education – Dix says he’s never had more fun serving his constituents.
 
“The six years I served in the minority were much more difficult than [any of that],” he said. “I’m excited and honored to serve you everyday, and I’ve never had more fun representing you than I have the last year and a half, and I hope to continue that. I have an opponent running against me, and I need your help and support to continue leading for you.”
 
Governor Reynolds took the podium next to give an enthusiastic and charged speech about Iowa as a land of opportunity, with Iowa’s recent ranking as the No. 1 Best State, according to U.S. News & World Report.
 
“There are great things happening in this state,” Reynolds said in reference to the ranking. “Now we’re starting to recognize that some of those initiatives we passed over the last year are already starting to create significant change. This ranking truly is a tribute to the Iowans who work hard each and everyday to make this such a great state to live in.”
 
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