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Epidemics

Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds to Deliver Republican Response to President Biden's State of the Union Address

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

As President Joe Biden wraps his State of the Union address this evening, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds will give the Republican response. Reynolds, the state's first female governor, has positioned herself near the forefront of GOP governors opposing Biden's policies, particularly his handling of the pandemic.

Since taking office in 2017, Reynolds has pushed conservative policies, including limiting teaching about systemic racism and banning transgender girls from girls' sports teams. However, it's her response to the pandemic that has garnered national attention. Reynolds required Iowa schools to offer in-person learning for most of the pandemic and banned schools from requiring masks, leading the Biden administration to launch a civil rights investigation.

Reynolds has also challenged federal vaccine mandates and granted jobless benefits to Iowans fired for not getting vaccinated. She cut off pandemic-related unemployment payments early and says Democrats' federal pandemic relief has contributed to inflation and workforce issues. Despite this, the billions of dollars coming into the state helped make a big legislative win possible for her, including the signing of legislation to cut income taxes.

Key Takeaways:

  • Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds will deliver the Republican response to President Biden's State of the Union address.
  • Reynolds has positioned herself near the forefront of GOP governors opposing Biden's policies, particularly his handling of the pandemic.
  • She has pushed conservative policies, including limiting teaching about systemic racism and banning transgender girls from girls' sports teams.
  • Reynolds required Iowa schools to offer in-person learning for most of the pandemic and banned schools from requiring masks, leading the Biden administration to launch a civil rights investigation.
  • She challenged federal vaccine mandates and granted jobless benefits to Iowans fired for not getting vaccinated.
  • Reynolds cut off pandemic-related unemployment payments early and says Democrats' federal pandemic relief has contributed to inflation and workforce issues.
  • The billions of dollars coming into the state helped make a legislative win possible for her, including the signing of legislation to cut income taxes.
  • University of Northern Iowa political science professor Donna Hoffman says Reynolds is likely to focus on her COVID response and the economy.
  • Deidre DeJear, a Democrat running for governor in Iowa, says Reynolds being chosen for the speech shows she's following national Republican talking points instead of addressing challenges specific to the state.

Statistics:

  • $95 million: The amount of pandemic relief money sent back to the Biden administration by Reynolds last spring.
  • 2017: The year Reynolds took office as Iowa's governor.
  • 95%: The percentage of Iowa schools that offered in-person learning during the pandemic, according to Reynolds.
  • 95 million dollars million: The amount of money returned by Reynolds to the Biden administration.

Sources:

  • "The Ingraham Angle" on Fox News, featuring Republican governors, including Kim Reynolds.
  • "Iowa Press" on Iowa PBS, featuring Kim Reynolds.
  • "Cavuto: Coast to Coast" on Fox News, featuring Iowa Republican Senator Chuck Grassley.
  • Interview with University of Northern Iowa political science professor Donna Hoffman.
  • Interview with Deidre DeJear, a Democrat running for governor in Iowa.

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