Update on government shutdown

I wanted to give you an update on the government shutdown. I voted to keep the government open while we continue bipartisan work in the appropriations process.

Unfortunately, Democrats voted to shut down the government unless we gave into their liberal wish list demands including: $1.5 trillion in new spending, free health care for illegal immigrants and $500 million in funding for PBS and NPR.

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While Chuck Schumer plays political games (and let’s be honest, is trying to avoid a primary from AOC), real Americans will pay the price. Our military, Border Patrol, and first responders pay is at risk, and Americans will lose access to critical services.

I was proud to vote to keep the government open, and urge my Democrat colleagues to stop trying to score political points and vote to reopen the government. In the meantime, I am withholding my pay. I have also cosponsored several bills to ensure our troops and first responders are paid during the shutdown.

My offices will also all remain open and ready to serve Iowans. Please don’t hesitate to reach out should you have a question.

Fighting for common sense at Linn-Mar

Last week at Linn-Mar High School — where my 14-year-old son goes to school — students were shown morning announcements promoting “Bisexual Plus Awareness Week” without parental knowledge or consent. One segment encouraged students to use terms like “bisexual plus” and discussed “non-monosexual identities,” stating that attraction isn’t limited to traditional binaries.

This sexual content does not belong at school. Students should be learning reading, writing, and arithmetic — not about sexual attraction. This is not the first time Linn-Mar has tried to box parents out.

In 2022, the school tried to allow kids to change their gender at school without parental consent.

I have called for a full investigation — what administrators green-lit this content and why did they not notify parents or give us the ability to opt our kids out? Mama bears like me are fed up. Our kids shouldn’t be exposed to sexual content at school or hear about various kinds of attraction on the morning news. We need to let kids be kids.

Parents don’t want criminals running a school district

Speaking of education, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement recently arrested the Superintendent of Des Moines Public Schools, where they found a loaded gun, $3,000 cash, and a fixed blade knife in the school-owned vehicle he was in.

As a mom, it sickens me that this con man with an active deportation order from 2024 was running the largest school district in the state.

And to make matters worse - the Des Moines School Board put him on paid leave after his arrest and continued to have taxpayers foot his $300,000 salary instead of firing him right then and there. Those defending him are so out of touch with the vast majority of parents who feel so upset and violated that this fugitive was placed in this position of trust.

He should have never been trusted around kids, and we have to get to the bottom of this to ensure no other kids are endangered.