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KMCH: Mathis Opens Linn County Campaign Headquarters [KMCH, 4/22/22]
Mason City Globe Gazette: Mathis: Capping Insulin Prices Is A Must [Mason City Globe Gazette, 3/27/22]
Times Citizen: Mathis talks teachers, infrastructure in Eldora [Times Citizen, 12/6/21]
Cedar Rapids Gazette: Liz Mathis lists more than 100 endorsements for U.S. House campaign [Cedar Rapids Gazette, 7/29/22]
HINSON THE HYPOCRITE SAYS ONE THING IN IOWA, DOES ANOTHER IN DC
Ashley Hinson’s first year in office has been defined by saying one thing to Iowans but doing another when she’s with her party bosses in Washington. Nowhere is that clearer than when Hinson was caught taking credit for work she didn’t do by touting $829.1 million of “game-changing” funding to modernize and expand locks and dams on the Mississippi River despite voting against the law that made that funding possible.
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which Hinson tried to block, is set to bring major investments to Iowa to rebuild roads and bridges, expand broadband access, alleviate supply chain stress, and create good-paying construction jobs. Despite campaigning on her desire to bring infrastructure investments to the district, when she had the opportunity to deliver, Hinson fell in line with her party leaders and voted against Iowans’ interests.
Similarly, Hinson talks a big game on the campaign trail about wanting to lower health care and prescription drug costs. But in Washington, Hinson has repeatedly voted against lowering the health care costs.
Hinson opposed allowing Medicare to negotiate with drug companies to lower prices and voted against legislation to cap out-of-pocket insulin costs at $35 a month, both of which would save Iowans hundreds of dollars a month to access life-saving medicine. Hinson has also taken hundreds of thousands of dollars in campaign contributions from the drug and insurance industries.
Hinson’s attempts to take credit for legislation she’s tried to block is a slap in the face to the farmers, small business owners, and communities that would benefit from lowered health care costs, better roads and bridges, and economic growth in Iowa. It’s another reminder that Hinson is a typical politician who isn’t looking out for Iowa – instead her first term exemplified Washington gamesmanship at its worst.
A THREAT TO THE ECONOMIC SECURITY OF IOWA’S WORKING FAMILIES AND SENIORS
Iowa’s working families and seniors can’t trust Ashley Hinson to fight for them. Before Hinson even got to Congress, she declared that she was “open” to raising the retirement age for Social Security. Now she’s promised that if Republicans take control of the House, they will have to make “tough decisions” about Social Security and hinted that cuts may be on their way despite the “fear that’s tagged onto it.” Hinson has even voted to force billions of dollars in cuts from Medicare, threatening health coverage for thousands of Iowans.
She’s also repeatedly opposed efforts to lower costs for hard-working Iowans. In Congress, Hinson tried to stop a middle-class tax cut that would help make life more affordable for working families. Instead, Hinson has supported tax cuts for the wealthy and large corporations, which cost Iowa nearly $2 billion annually. She’s also voted against holding corporations accountable for price gouging and fraud and bringing manufacturing jobs back from China and helping American companies innovate and compete.
Hinson has stood in the way of meaningful progress for Iowans, putting the donors and special interests fueling her campaign first. Hinson has accepted hundreds of thousands of dollars from lobbyists and corporate special interests, and she has voted to support them at the expense of Iowa’s seniors, workers, and families.
SIDING WITH EXTREME PARTY LEADERS AGAINST IOWA WOMEN
As reproductive freedom is in jeopardy, Hinson has stood in lock-step with her party leaders to put politicians in the middle of decisions that should be made between women and their doctors.
In the state legislature, Hinson co-sponsored a dangerous and extreme “heartbeat bill” that banned abortion even in cases of rape or incest. In Congress, she threw her support behind a complete abortion ban which could also ban IVF and some forms of contraception and could throw doctors who provide abortion services in jail. And as reports show Republicans are considering pursuing a nationwide abortion ban, her extreme record makes clear where she would fall.
PATH TO VICTORY
After redistricting, Iowa’s new Second Congressional District remains largely similar to the previous IA-01, solidifying its standing as a highly competitive battleground district that will decide control of the House. This historically Democratic district retains left-leaning strongholds in Cedar Rapids, Waterloo, and Dubuque after redistricting, and Democrats enjoy a voter registration advantage in this district with 185,578 registered Democrats over 169,366 registered Republicans.
As a former evening news anchor in the Cedar Rapids media market for 20 years, Liz Mathis is uniquely well positioned to flip this seat. During Mathis’ time as a journalist, non-profit leader, and a state senator of nearly 10 years, she has gained the trust of Northeast Iowans and earned a reputation for being an independent-minded leader who delivers results. Mathis also is building a formidable warchest to take on Hinson. In her most recent pre-primary FEC report, Mathis had $1.4 million cash on hand, trailing Hinson by less than $150,000. Finally, polling from February shows Mathis and Hinson statistically tied, and the Cook Political Report upgraded their rating of Iowa’s 2nd Congressional race toward Mathis.
This district is historically won or lost within the margin of error, and this year will be no different as Liz Mathis has built a strong campaign that will flip this seat.
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