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Presidential Candidate Ted Cruz Visits Sheldon

Sheldon, Iowa — Republican Presidential candidate Ted Cruz made two campaign stops in the four northwest Iowa counties on Friday; one in Sheldon and one in Orange City.
Ted Cruz in Sheldon 6-26-15
In his opening remarks, Cruz talked about the challenges facing America. He said he was against Friday’s Supreme Court decision allowing same-sex marriage in all 50 states. He made the point that marriage is not a constitutional issue, and said that he is not comfortable with five judges making the decision for all Americans. He called for the American public to stand up, because their constitutional rights are “under assault.”

Cruz says that the central issue of his campaign is to reignite the economy, and get back to the promise of America. He says American kids can have “a better life and their kids an even better life”.

Cruz says his three principals for jobs and growth are:

1. …tax reform, which equals economic growth. He called for a flat tax that would allow all Americans to fill out their tax return on a post card. He also called for the abolition of the IRS.

2. …secondly, regulatory reform. He says most importantly, ObamaCare neads to be repealed. He says we should make the 2016 Presidential campaign a referendum on the repeal of ObamaCare. He also says it’s important to defend our Constitutional rights — most importantly free speech and religious liberty. He also called for the repeal of the common core education standards.

3. …and finally, he says we need to restore American leadership in the world. He says, QUOTE: “Our allies don’t trust us and our enemies don’t fear us.” He compared the currant state of America to the late 1970’s, drawing a parallel comparison to the US under the leadership of Jimmy Carter.

Cruz also called for the defeat of radical Islam.

On the national debt he reiterated economic growth would come from tax reform and regulatory reform, allowing the economy to grow and the national debt to come down.

He also stated “The biggest divide in the country is not between Democrats and Republicans it’s between career politicians and the American public.”

King: Let’s Abolish Civil Marriage Altogether

Washington, DC — Iowa Congressman Steve King says Friday’s U-S Supreme Court decision on gay marriage is another example of “extreme judicial overreach,” just like the decision on Obamacare.
steve king forster center

(as he says)”If gay marriage is to be the policy of this land — that needs to be a decision made by the people through their elected representatives — not by judicial fiat,” King says.

King says this decision is like the Dred Scott decision on slavery, and the other Supreme Court decisions that banned prayer in public schools and allowed abortion.


(as he says)”The Supreme Court has a terrible record in trying to transform our society and put an end to issues,” King says. “The only way we put an end to issues if it is the will of the people. It’s not the will of the people to have same-sex marriage. Now there is no reason to have civil marriage whatsoever.”

King says there’s a way to deal with the ruling.


(as he says)”So, I’m calling upon the states, just abolish civil marriage, let’s go back to holy matrimony the way it began. Do that alone,” Kin says. “And by the way, I want to send a message to the Supreme Court — a good strong message — and in the next days and weeks I will be introducing legislation to do just that.”

On the other side of the issue, Congressman Dave Loebsack says he is “happy that same-sex couples are one important step closer to the equality they deserve.”

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VanderPlaats: Gov’t Completely Out Of Control

Des Moines, Iowa — Same-sex couples have been able to legally marry in Iowa for the past six years and on Friday the U.S. Supreme Court ruled same-sex marriages are legal in all 50 states.
Bob Vander Plaats 2015
Bob Vander Plaats is president of The Family Leader, a Christian conservative group and he calls Friday’s ruling a “defining moment” for the country.


(as said) “This is going to get every common sense red, white and blue American out of the woodwork to take an active role in their government and to really hold in check a government that’s gone completely out of control,” Vander Plaats said.

Vander Plaats and The Family Leader helped defeat three IOWA Supreme Court Justices who were up for a retention vote in 2010, the year after the justices had joined the 2009 ruling which paved the way for same-sex marriage in Iowa. Same-sex marriage will now be a “huge issue” in the Iowa Caucuses according to Vander Plaats.


(as said) “It’s going to be a defining moment in our country,” Vander Plaats says. “And it’ll be a defining moment in the 2016 election.”

Nine Republican presidential candidates will attend the “Family Leadership Summit” that Vander Plaats’ group is hosting in Ames next month.

Radio Iowa assisted with this story.

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Presidential Candidates To Make Area Appearences

Northwest Iowa — More presidential candidates are coming to northwest Iowa.
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Republican Dr. Ben Carson was here yesterday. We recently told you about Democrat Bernie Sanders coming to Sheldon on July 3rd.

Today, Republican Ted Cruz will make three stops through northwest Iowa. A Town meeting is planned for this afternoon at the Sheldon Community Services Center at 1:00 PM. He’ll meet local business owners in Orange City later this afternoon, at 3:30 PM at Stadcentrum. Cruz will make an appearance at the Pierson City Park, in Pierson this evening at 6:30 PM.

Republican Bobby Jindal will be in Sioux City on Thursday, July 2 at the Sioux City Public Museum. Republican Mike Huckabee will be in Sioux City on July 1 at 2:30 PM inside Minerva’s Restaurant.

Democrat Martin O’Malley will campaign in Sioux City, on Sunday noon at 3648 Lindenwood Street.

Republican Rand Paul will be at Morningside in Sioux City at 11:00 AM on July first. Then it’s on to Sioux Center for a stop at the city’s public library, at 2:30pm. And he’ll stop by the “Barefoot Bar”, in Okoboji, Iowa, at 5:30  PM.

Carson, King Dissappointed In ObamaCare Ruling

Statewide Iowa — Republican presidential candidate Ben Carson says he’s “deeply disappointed” in the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision that “ObamaCare” subsidies are legal. Carson is urging ObamaCare opponents not to “waste time and energy mourning” the decision, but to instead “redouble” the effort to get Congress to repeal the law.
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(as said) “We have to come out with something that is really appealing,” Carson says. “…That’s going to require some legislative changes, which means we’ve got to get brave people in there in leadership positions.”

Carson, who made stops in Rock Rapids and Sioux Center on Thursday, June 25th, says it’s important to “get rid of things” in ObamaCare that are “killing the economy” and that means ending the “employer mandate” which requires businesses with 50 or more full-time employees to provide health insurance or pay a fine.


(as said) “It used to be as your company was growing, you were really happy. You got 40 and then you got 50 and then you got 100 employees. That doesn’t happen anymore. Now you get to 40 and you start backing off,” Carson says. “That antithetical to growth in our society.”

Iowa Congressman Steve King, a leading critic of ObamaCare, issued a video statement on Thursday on the ruling.


(as said) “This is a frustrating day when you’re in the business of writing laws and watching the Supreme Court amend them at their will,” King said, “by using their own judgment on what public policy should be in the United States.”

King says when it comes to the Affordable Care Act, the court has decided to “make it up” as it goes along.


(as said) “And they have ruled, essentially, that the law doesn’t mean what it says,” King says.

This decision on “ObamaCare” was the first of two big rulings expected from the court before it recesses for the summer.


(as said) “I’m really concerned about what can happen with the decision on marriage,” King says. “They’ll likely conclude that the Constitution doesn’t mean what it says either.”

Senator Chuck Grassley, the senior member of Iowa’s Congressional delegation, issued a written statement. Grassley says he respects the court, but Grassley says ObamaCare “remains a terrible law” and he remains “committed to repealing and replacing it with effective reforms driven by the marketplace, not the heavy hand of government.” Congressman Dave Loebsack, the only Democrat in Iowa’s Congressional delegation, calls today’s decision “a big relief for the thousands of Iowa families who would have faced large, unforeseen, out of pocket increases in their health care costs.” Loebsack says it’s time to “move forward and work to strengthen this law, not continue to try and dismantle it.”

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Story from Radio Iowa

Here is King’s full video statement:

Ocheyedan Residents To Vote For Council Member

Ocheyedan, Iowa — The death of a member of the Ocheyedan City Council and a petition have resulted in a special election in that city.

(file photo)
(file photo)

The City of Ocheyedan will be having a special election to fill the vacancy on the city council on Tuesday, July 14th.

Council member Gene Turner passed away recently. The Ocheyedan City Council appointed Kevin Hertz to fill the vacancy until the city election in November.

However, some Ocheyedan residents filed a petition for a special election to fill the vacancy, forcing the election on July 14th.

The two choices on the ballot will be Kevin Hertz and Clyde Hoekstra.

The Osceola County Auditor’s Office says polls will be open on July 14th from noon to 8 PM.