Cory Booker shakes hands with MP residents at Hy-Vee

Cory Booker, a U.S. senator from New Jersey and 2020 Democratic presidential candidate, shook hands with Mt. Pleasant residents at Hy-Vee on Saturday, May 25.

Booker said he is a 'retail politician” and was brought up to shake hands, meet people where they are, hear from them, learn from them and in turn let them hear his heart and experiences.

'This is a really critical part of our election, and it's wonderful to have an opportunity today to meet so many voters,” Booker said. 'I heard from really great Iowans who have concerns about Social Security and retirement, funding for public schools and the agriculture sector.”

Booker said that the U.S. can create a solvent Social Security by having higher income earners pay more into Social Security taxes. That way, the retirement age won't have to be raised, he said.

When it comes to public schools, Booker said the federal government needs to step up and help teachers by raising their salaries, relieving their debt, and fully funding specialneeds education.

Finally, farmers don't want handouts, and federal policies should be in place that will support independent family farmers, Booker said.

'These are proud folks who have been making a living on the land for generations,” Booker said. 'Corporate consolidation is driving up prices for farmers and giving them less people to sell to, so they get squeezed on both ends.”

Booker said he wants to make sure the U.S. has a tariff policy that joined up with allies like Canada to focus on one of the big challenges, which is China, adding that the current tariff policy is hurting farmers.

Iowa State Sen. Rich Taylor said he likes Booker 'very much.”

'He's one of my top democrats,” Taylor said. 'I haven't endorsed anyone yet. We've got such good democratic candidates. I want to talk to all of them before making a decision.”

Taylor said he likes Booker because he's young, intelligent and can win the general election. Booker has good ideas on education, health care and prison reform that are 'middle of the road,” Taylor said.

Kay Young, of Mt. Pleasant, said that the choice for presidential candidates is 'so great.”

'I would be happy with any of the 22 or so as long as it's not (President Donald) Trump,” Young said. 'He is harming our country.”

Young started attending meet and greets with presidential candidates a long time ago, she said as she pulled a picture out of her wallet of her meeting former president Barack Obama in Mt. Pleasant before he was elected.

Upon meeting Booker, she handed him a letter with 15 points that are important to her in the 2020 presidential election. The items included women's right for abortion, the U.S.'s alliances in the Middle East, climate change, education and artificial intelligence.

'We're allies with Saudi Arabia, and they're one of the worst in the world in terms of human rights,” Young said.

Young also said that she would like whoever is elected in 2020 to find ways to educate people on climate change who don't understand or don't believe it. Finally, she said that artificial intelligence is going to become a bigger problem than people realize, and that should be addressed as well.

Curt Swarm said he too is visiting with all the candidates he can before making up his mind.

Ginny Swarm said they are intrigued by Booker's gun-control agenda, which would include requiring licenses for gun owners, comprehensive FBI background checks and proof of completion of a fun-safety course.

'We're appreciative he speaks about that and has a plan for that,” Ginny said. 'Booker is actually getting down on our level and visiting with us. We really like him, but we like a lot of the candidates.”

Jami Telgren, of Mt. Pleasant, said she will keep meeting candidates as long as they keep coming around Henry County.

'I think (Booker) is more progressive than he lets on, which I like,” she said.