Potential Presidential Candidates Speak At Iowa Agriculture Summit
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The clear rift over immigration opened up publicly Saturday at an Iowa forum on agriculture, energy, trade and food policy.
Most of the nine possible Republican presidential candidates for 2016 called for enforcing existing laws. But outliers Jeb Bush, the former governor of Florida, and South Carolina’s Sen. Lindsay Graham proposed offering the estimated 11 million immigrants in the U.S. illegally a path to legal status.
The policy difference will likely remain a key issue as the race for the 2016 Republican nomination unfolds. Immigrants are an important workforce in agriculture and food processing in the early caucus state and around the country.
Bush and Graham’s positions are politically risky in Iowa, where conservatives are disproportionately opposed to a path for legal status for those living here illegally.
Texas Former Governor Rick Perry
Texas’ Perry says states should handle energy subsidies
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Former Texas Governor Rick Perry is telling Iowa Republicans he’d prefer that states, rather than the federal government, handle energy subsidies.
Perry spoke at an agricultural policy forum in Des Moines Saturday that drew several 2016 GOP presidential hopefuls. Asked about supporting federal subsidies or tax credits for renewable fuels and wind energy, Perry said he philosophically felt that such decisions should addressed by the states.
A 2007 law increases the volume of renewables blended into transportation fuel to 36 billion gallons by 2022. The federal Environmental Protection Agency in 2013 proposed reducing the increase. Leaders from both parties in Iowa say that would hurt the state’s economy.
Others on the program included former Florida Governor Jeb Bush, former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee and Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker.
Former Florida Governor Jeb Bush
Republican Jeb Bush says he’d be an upbeat candidate
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) – Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush says he will be an upbeat candidate for president if he runs for the Republican nomination.
Speaking to about 200 people squeezed into the backroom of a Cedar Rapids restaurant Saturday night, Bush said he hopes his campaign would be hopeful and optimistic.
Bush isn’t yet a formal candidate, but he acted like one during his first trip to Iowa as a presidential prospect.
While in the leadoff caucus state for two days, he spoke at a congressional fundraiser and met with state party officials in the Des Moines area. He also participated in an agriculture forum along with eight other potential GOP candidates.
Texas Senator Ted Cruz
Texas’ Cruz tells Iowans he opposes renewable fuel quota
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Texas Senator Ted Cruz is telling Iowa Republicans and agribusiness leaders that he opposes the federal standard for renewable production, including ethanol.
At a forum focused on agricultural issues on Saturday, Cruz likens the federal renewable fuel standard to “corporate welfare.”
Cruz tells the audience of roughly 1,000 that he has “every bit of faith that businesses can continue to compete, continue to do well without going on bended knee to the government.”
Iowa is the nation’s largest producer of ethanol.
A 2007 law increases the volume of ethanol and other renewables blended into transportation fuel to 36 billion gallons by 2022. The federal Environmental Protection Agency in 2013 proposed reducing the increase. Leaders from both parties in Iowa say that would hurt the state’s economy.
Cruz Says Clinton Should Be Investigated For E-mails
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Senator Ted Cruz says the Justice Department should investigate Hillary Rodham Clinton’s use of a private email account to conduct official business while she was secretary of state.
The Texas Republican and possible 2016 presidential contender said Saturday that the department “absolutely” should launch an investigation to determine whether Clinton violated any laws, adding that it has an “obligation to do so.”
Cruz made the remarks at an agricultural forum in Des Moines that featured several 2016 Republican presidential hopefuls.
Clinton is considered the front-runner for the Democratic presidential nomination, although she has yet to announce her plans.
Clinton’s extensive use of her own email account and private server has raised questions about whether she adhered to accountability rules. She has asked that her work correspondence be made public.
New Jersey Governor Chris Christie
Christie offers support for renewable fuels, local oversight
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – New Jersey Governor Chris Christie has offered support for maintaining the current level of biofuels that are blended into gasoline.
Christie spoke Saturday at an Iowa agricultural forum for 2016 presidential hopefuls hosted by Republican businessman Bruce Rastetter.
A 2007 law increases the volume of renewables blended into transportation fuel to 36 billion gallons by 2022. The federal Environmental Protection Agency in 2013 proposed reducing the increase. Leaders from both parties in Iowa say that would hurt the state’s economy.
Christie also said he wants to enforce existing immigration laws, and he criticized the Obama administration for overreach in applying the Clean Water Act.
Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee
Huckabee calls for tougher immigration oversight
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee says the United States should better restrict illegal immigration and seek to gauge why people want to move here.
During an agricultural forum for 2016 presidential hopefuls in Des Moines on Saturday, Huckabee said the United States was not asking people seeking to immigrate here if they “love America.”
Huckabee also offered support for maintaining the level of biofuels, such as ethanol, blended into gasoline. He said ethanol production helped support energy independence for the United States.
The forum was hosted by Iowa Republican businessman Bruce Rastetter. Nine Republican presidential prospects were on the program, including former Florida Governor Jeb Bush, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie and Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker.
Former Pennslyvania Senator Rick Santorum
Santorum says US immigration system is not working
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum says the immigration system in the United States is not working.
Santorum spoke Saturday at a forum in Des Moines that focused on agricultural issues. It drew nearly a dozen Republicans considering a presidential campaign in 2016.
Santorum says the country must better secure the border and create legal programs for workers with different skills.
Santorum also is repeating his support for maintaining the amount of biofuels blended into gasoline.
A 2007 law increases the volume of renewables blended into transportation fuel to 36 billion gallons by 2022. The federal Environmental Protection Agency in 2013 proposed reducing the increase. Leaders in Iowa say that would hurt the state’s economy.
South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham
South Carolina’s Graham would overhaul immigration
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham says Republicans in Congress should work with Democrats to overhaul the immigration system, noting that American businesses need legal workers.
Graham told an agricultural policy forum in Des Moines that a “practical solution” on immigration was needed. He said he favored letting some immigrants living in the country illegally stay in the country, if they met certain conditions, like learning English and paying taxes.
Graham was part of the bipartisan, so-called Gang of Eight senators who crafted immigration legislation that eventually offered citizenship for immigrants. It passed the Senate in 2013, but died in the House.
Graham was one of eight potential 2016 presidential candidates at the forum. Others included former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee and Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker.
