Voice may be going, but Hatch pushes on

By BROOKS TAYLOR

Mt. Pleasant News

Jack Hatch?s voice was a tad faint and raspy as he addressed Henry County residents at county Democrat headquarters Friday afternoon.

When asked about it, Hatch chuckled and acknowledged that sprinting down the home stretch can be rough on more things than the voice.

Hatch, the Democratic party candidate for governor, however, was in good spirits, feeding off the small but unequivocally supportive gathering on Main Street in Mt. Pleasant.

?We feel really encouraged,? he said but acknowledging the polls in the race had more clouds than sunshine. ?The polls appear to be against us. People, however, are responding to us.?

Hatch hopes to make up considerable ground on the weekend prior to the election and said gatherings like the one in Henry County is what the campaign needs.

?People just have to listen, we are running a campaign based on ideas and also the belief that we can do better,? he said.

?Unfortunately, this campaign seems to be focused on money and polling numbers,? he continued. ?The Republicans have so much money and the Democrats can?t change that.?

During his travels throughout the state, he said he has heard a lot of concern about jobs and parents worried about their children?s ability to find jobs in Iowa and remain in the state.

?There is a great insecurity from people about their income and parents are worried about their kids getting jobs and staying in Iowa. People would love to see their kids remain in Iowa,? Hatch said.

One of the major differences between him and his opponent ?is that we value education differently. I want to fund early childhood education ensuring that every four-year-old in Iowa has a chance to go to school.

?I also want to keep kids in school, it is an investment,? he said, explaining that he would raise the minimum compulsory education statute to 18. Currently, students only have to attend school until age 16. Hatch said the age was set at 16 many years ago when children were needed to help out on the farm. That, he said, has changed but the statute hasn?t.

The current state senator urged those attending to vote Democratic. ?I want Tom Vilsack to come back here and know Henry County voted Democratic.?

He said it is obvious the effort is there. ?I know you are trying. You have a great state senator (Rich Taylor) and you have a good team. We want to do the unexpected and move the state forward. When we get elected, politics will be fun and it will be fun in Iowa.?

Hatch also said he would propose a middle-class income tax cut, rewarding families with dual income. ?We have the sixth highest dual income tax rate in the nation. I also would raise the dependent child tax credit from $40 to $500.?

Although his party strongly encourages early voting, Hatch said he feels that there are many voters who remain undecided and have not cast their ballot. He said 75 percent of Iowa voters have not cast their ballots yet. ?People are feeling excited and making up their mind now.?

That being said, Hatch said he knew he had a difficult road ahead of him when he filed his nomination papers.

?People should be embarrassed by the recent scandals (in state government) and hold the administration accountable,? he remarked. ?It is tough taking on a five-term governor who has a lot of campaign money.?