Congressman Bruce Braley (D. IA-1), who is running for retiring Senator Tom Harkin's (D. IA) seat, will be hosting a Facebook live chat on Friday, March 29th:
http://www.blogforiowa.com/...
After that successful first chat, we asked folks to let us know which issues you’d like to hear more about — and the answer was clear. That’s why I’m asking you to be a part of my second Facebook chat to discuss the economy and job creation here in Iowa, and continue the conversation we began back in February.
Will you join me on Friday, March 29th to discuss these important issues during my next Facebook live chat?
During this chat, I’ll be talking about my record of standing up for Iowa’s middle class, steps I’m taking to bring good jobs to Iowa and answering your questions online via live streaming video.
I’ll even be joined by a very special guest with experience as a small business owner right here in Iowa. - Blog For Iowa, 3/26/13
You can RSVP to the Facebook chat on Bruce's Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/...
You can see Bruce here meeting with Dr. Jeff Manternach at Key City Vision Center in Dubuque, IA discussing aid for small businesses:
http://www.thonline.com/...
By the way, Braley picked up few more endorsements for his campaign. Locals 222, 230, 431, 440 and 1149 of the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) endorsed Braley's campaign today
http://www.heraldonline.com/...
“We are proud to endorse Bruce Braley for Senate,” the locals said. “He is a ferocious champion of working families and the middle class. His experience growing up in Brooklyn as the son of a grain elevator operator and a teacher helped shape his passion for economic justice.”
In the House of Representatives, Braley has proven himself as a tough and smart leader. He has fought to ensure equal pay for equal work, strengthen the right to organize, and reform America's broken immigration system.
“Bruce has been a rising star from day one—and the people of Iowa have benefitted,” the locals said. “He never forgets where he came from or who he represents.”
Braley is running to replace Senator Tom Harkin who is retiring after five outstanding terms of service. As Chairman of the Senate Health Education Labor and Pensions Committee, Harkin has put the needs of workers front and center. “Tom Harkin never stopped fighting for us,” the locals said. “We can think of no one better to follow in his footsteps than Bruce Braley.” - Herald Online, 3/26/13
Last week, Braley received the endorsement from the Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers Local 3 Iowa Union:
http://wcfcourier.com/...
Jeff Smith, president of Local 3, said, “We’re excited to endorse Bruce Braley for Senate. He has a long record of getting things done for Iowa that expand economic opportunities, create jobs, and create a level playing field for the middle class. We know he’ll do even more in the Senate.”
The Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers Local 3 union, headquartred n Marshalltown represents more than 400 members in Iowa.
It is the latest of several union endorsements for Braley, including United Auto Workers Region 4, SEIU Iowa - Local 199, AFSCME Iowa Council 61, the Iowa State Council of Machinists, and the Great Plains Laborers’ District Council. - 3/21/13
It's great that Braley is already gaining the endorsements from major unions because it was organized labor that helped build the middle class. Meanwhile, Tea Party Congressman Steve King (R. IA-4) gave another indication that he's planning to run for Senate:
http://www.desmoinesregister.com/...
U.S. Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa, hinted Monday he is leaning toward a run next year for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Democratic Sen. Tom Harkin, saying the odds are “a little more than 50-50” that he will launch a campaign.
“I have never wanted to be the guy who looked back and said, “Woulda, coulda, shoulda ... so that is part of the consideration. … This is by far the most positive kind of opportunity for a Senate seat that I am ever likely to see,” King told reporters in Des Moines.
But King said he is still conducting a political analysis of the pros and cons of launching a statewide Senate race, and he left the door open for a decision to simply seek reelection to the U.S. House in Iowa’s 4th Congressional district. He noted that as a construction company owner there were times that he felt everything weighed in favor of him moving forward on a project, but then he would toss his bid forms in the trash basket.
He said a decision is likely soon, although he didn’t want to be pinned down to a specific date to make an announcement. He said he plans a meeting with his top campaign people in about a week, adding that he recognizes other Republicans are interested in running in 2014 for his House seat and for the Senate seat that Harkin plans to vacate when he retires.
Two other Republicans who are seen as possible U.S. Senate candidates are Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds and Iowa Agriculture Secretary Bill Northey. - Des Moines Register, 3/25/13
Here's a little taste of what Braley would be going up against once King makes his announcement:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/...
Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa), a relentless opponent of comprehensive immigration reform, on Saturday outlined a simple solution to the complex issue: build a better border fence.
"I supported the fence," King told Eagle Forum President Phyllis Schlafly on her radio program, according to Right Wing Watch. Building a fence along the approximately 2,000 mile Mexican-American border would not "be too much of an engineering marvel," King argued.
"We can do the Panama Canal 100 years-plus ago and I’ve been over there to take a look at the Great Wall of China that was built more than 2,000 years ago, and that’s 5,500 miles long," King said. "So building a fence is not that hard; I’ll just show you how to do it if it’s too complicated for our public policy people to get their mind around." - Huffington Post, 3/25/13
So yeah, that's what we should be expecting in this race. So if you want to join the Facebook chat, please RSVP here:
https://www.facebook.com/...
And if you would like to donate or get involved with Braley's campaign, you can do so here:
http://www.brucebraley.com/