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Keokuk County and portions of Tama, Poweshiek, and Iowa counties
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Legislative - House 76 Name: Betty De Boef (I) - RAge: 55 Home: What Cheer Experience: Partner in farming operation 35 years and wood grinding operation. Worked in health care industry and in factory (Pella Corp.) Education: Graduated from Pella Christian High School in 1969 and attended Dordt College, Sioux Center Memberships (limit to five, please): What Cheer Lions Club, First Church of the Nazarene in Oskaloosa, Keokuk County Republican Central Committee, Iowa County Republican Women Past elective public offices you have held: Have served in Iowa House of Representatives cince January 2001 Family: Husband, Harold; children: Jennifer Grove, 33; Eric De Boef, 32; Michael De Boef, 29; Lisa Ruckman, 25 How much do you anticipate spending on your campaign? Really am unable to know What do you think the main issues are in your race? Quality of education in our state, vibrant economy, improved tax and regulatory system, strong agricultural industry, definition of marriage – a union between one man and one woman The Gazette Questionnaire 1. Iowa has 1 percent of the nation's population, but 6 percent of the government. What steps should the state take to reduce the cost of state, county, city and school district government? Please be specific about your ideas. Change collective bargaining laws. This is a real burden to school districts. Also, there are a lot of ways that school districts could consolidate services, an example would be by pooling health care programs. I also believe there is room for more efficiency in administrative costs. Encourage more schools to share administrators. I believe there is more sharing that could occur between counties, particularly in rural Iowa, such as sharing a county engineer, etc. 2. Should Iowa build a new maximum security prison? If yes, should it be in Fort Madison or should other communities be allowed to bid on the project? I have not decided whether or not I support building a new maximum security prison. Certainly if we did, it should be open to all communities to bid on the project. 3. Should Iowa raise its 36-cents-per-pack cigarette tax? To what? What should the money be used for? I could be in support of a limited cigarette tax increase. Up to 50 percent a pack, I could support. The money should be used for health care only. 4. What changes would you make, if any, in the state economic development program, the Iowa Values Fund? Are you satisfied with the number and quality of new jobs being created? Are there different tools needed to spur startup entrepreneurial activity? I have never been an advocate of the Values Fund. I believe it sets up an unfair playing field between businesses that have grown without state aid and those being given big incentives to locate in Iowa. There is only a very limited benefit form the Values Fund in my district, which is true of most of rural Iowa. I believe we need to do more in the areas of tax reform and regulatory relief to spur startup entrepreneurial activity and to keep business in Iowa. 5. Most everyone agrees Iowa's property tax system is archaic, burdensome and unfair. Yet lawmakers annually avoid the task of reforming it. What are your ideas on tax reform? Would you act on such a tough issue? We passed a bood bill providing property tax relief in the House in the 2005 session, HF847. This would have provided tax relief for property owners, but the Senate refused to take it up. I was one of 65 "aye" votes on this bill. 6. Too many 20-somethings leave Iowa for jobs. What ideas do you have to keep those young adults in the state? Providing a more business-firendly tax and regulatory reform policy in the state would provide more opportunity for business to provide good paying jobs, which would cause more young people to stay in Iowa. Also, we need to do a better job of selling our state to our college students. Iowa is a safe, wholesome place to raise a family and we need to promote that fact more. 7. Should Iowa's restrictions on embryonic stem cell research be lifted? Should Iowa have any regulation of that research? No. I believe in protection of life for the unborn. There is plenty of promise on adult stem cells. We do not need to destroy embryonic life. I support current law in this area. 8. Yes or no: Should the Iowa Legislature approve a constitutional amendment defining marriage as a legal union between one man and one woman? Why? Yes. Marriage has been defined as a union between on man and one woman throughout history by most creeds and societies because that is the natural and most healthy way to conceive and nurture children. Our society needs healthy families to flourish and this is the best model. Also, it still would require a vote of the people, which is the democratic way. 9. Both candidates for governor -- Rep. Jim Nussle and Secretary of State Chet Culver -- have indicated they support the death penalty. Yes or no: Should the Legislature reinstate the death penalty in Iowa? For what crimes? Yes. We should reinstate the death penalty for crimes which combine kidnapping, rape and murder of children and also for those who commit murder against law enforcement personnel. 10. Should the Legislature limit or increase the number of racing and casino licenses available in Iowa? Why? Limit. Gambling is a bane in our society and causes many more social problems than we can measure. 11. Gov. Tom Vilsack championed and the Legislature approved new initiatives in child care and early childhood education. The systems could flounder without ongoing commitment. Do you agree with the direction? Is it sustainable? If change if needed, what are they? I believe the system that was passed of funneling the money through empowerment boards is the proper way to do it. This allows private preschools an opportunity to benefit instead of having it all go through the public school system. I believe it is sustainable. 12. Steps have been taken to increase teacher pay to 25th in the nation. Gubernatorial candidates have talked about going further. How high should teacher salaries go and how fast should the increases be funded? I believe we have taken a very good step in the past legislative year in boosting teachers’ salaries to 31st in the nation. I believe we should tak a break now and make sure this pay increase is sustainable before we make promises we cannot keep. 13. Should the 55 mph speed limit on Iowa's primary highways be increased? Is 70 mph right for four-lane rural interstates? Why? Yes. I voted for the 70 mph speed limit on interstate highways because I believe they are safe at that speed and it is more in alignment with surrounding states. 14. What, if any, role should the state take in establishing a plan to reduce health insurance costs for small businesses and their employees? I would like to see the state provide the mechanism to allow small businesses and their employees to join a pool with other small businesses to help contain health care costs. I am very interested in exploring the small employer plan used in Ohio, to see if it would work in Iowa to help small group polans. I am committed to ensuring that Iowa’s insurance agents continue to play a role in providing this coverage. |
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