Iowa House District 55 candidates agree on much; disagree on gay marriage, minimum wage, school vouchers

Iowa House District 55 candidates Darrel Branhagen (R) and Rick Edwards (D) found much to agree about at the Friday night forum hosted by the AAUW, but parted ways on several issues.

• Both supported a raise in gas taxes to fight the battle of crumbling Iowa infrastructure. Edwards felt it would be desirable to fund from other sources but if an increase in the gas tax was the only way, such a move should be supported by a tax credit for low income Iowans.

• Both supported local control in the issue of frac sand mining and other environmental issues. Edwards said the State will try to assert control. Branhagen agreed but noted there are times when the state needs to be involved, for example, "what if your local supervisors decided to approve a hog confinement in a flood plain? You would want the state involved."

• When asked about raising the Iowa minimum wage, Branhagen was strongly opposed and said it was a job killer and would drive many into poverty.  Edwards strongly disagreed and said his study of other states that had raised the minimum wage indicated they did not lose jobs, and that he would advocate for a raise to at least $10.10 per hour.

• In regard to gay marriage, Branhagen referred to gay marriage as an "oxymoron," stating that marriage was between and man and a woman. However, he supported civil unions that would convey the same privileges.  Edwards said he supported same sex marriage and that "human rights are not up for a vote."

• While both candidates made strong pitches for individual rights and freedoms as part of their candidate positions, neither endorsed the legal use of marijuana for recreational/personal use. Both were supportive of directions taken for medical use in Iowa.

• Branhagen supported the use of school vouchers, citing it as a way to provide school improvement via competition. Edwards was strongly opposed, saying that private schools can be good, but public schools are what we depend on and that we can't afford the voucher system, noting Iowa ranks 39th in the nation in per student funding.

• When asked what the most important issue was, Branhagen said it was maybe "out of the box" to say it, but he was gravely concerned regarding the proliferation of farm chemical use and the resultant problems. Edwards wholeheartedly agreed and said we need to figure out a different way to grow food.