GOP hopefuls make their case at Iowa Ag Summit
Many of the GOP's top potential contenders for the 2016 presidential nomination gathered in Des Moines Saturday for the inaugural Iowa Ag Summit.
Among the prospective candidates who fielded questions from the event's host, agribusiness leader Bruce Rastetter, were former Florida governor Jeb Bush, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and many others.
The staff of The Des Moines Register provided full coverage. Here's their guide to the event.
Below are highlights from selected speakers, courtesy of reporters from The Register. Make sure to go to www.desmoinesregister.com for stories on all the potential candidates appearing at the Iowa State Fairgrounds on Saturday.
Scott Walker
Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker won cheers for taking a hard line on welfare benefits at the Iowa Agriculture Summit on Saturday but missed a chip shot when he couldn’t remember Norman Borlaug’s name.
Walker, the two-term Republican considering a run for president, was met with cheers when he described efforts in Wisconsin to require drug testing and participation in job training programs for residents receiving food stamps and other benefits.
“People in Madison, my state capital, some of whom are little more liberal than we are, say that when I propose things like work requirements or employability training for food stamps, that somehow that makes it harder to get assistance,” he said. “I gotta tell you we’re not — we’re making it easier to get a job.”
- Jason Noble, The Des Moines Register
For full story, go here.
Jeb Bush
Jeb Bush called for a path to "legal status" for undocumented immigrants and a "dramatic" expansion of visas for immigrants who can make economic contributions to the United States in his appearance at the Iowa Agriculture Summit on Saturday.
The former Florida governor described a series of steps undocumented immigrants should have to take before earning the right to remain in the country, but did not suggest they should receive U.S. citizenship.
He said the U.S. should model its approach to attracting foreign investors and highly educated immigrants on Canada's. Canada, he said, has more "economic immigrants" than the United States despite being far smaller.
- Jason Noble, The Des Moines Register
For the full story, go here.
Ted Cruz
Sen. Ted Cruz said Saturday in Des Moines that he backs production of biofuels like ethanol, but he declined to endorse the Renewable Fuels Standard, a federal program that requires transportation fuels to contain a minimum amount of renewable fuels.
"I support biofuels. I think they have a major role in the energy market. But I don't think Washington should be picking winners and losers," the Texas Republican said. "When it comes to energy, we should have an all of the above approach, but it should be driven by the market."
- William Petroski, The Des Moines Register
For the full story, go here.
Rick Perry
Rick Perry stressed his experience leading a state along the U.S.-Mexico border at Saturday's Iowa Agriculture Summit, weaving many points from the likely candidate's current stump speech into answers on immigration, energy and trade.
The former Texas governor and 2012 presidential candidate said Americans won't take Washington seriously on immigration reform until it secures the southern border. He recalled deploying 1,000 of Texas' National Guard troops along the border as governor, which he claimed resulted in a 74% decrease in apprehensions.
- Josh Hafner, The Des Moines Register
For the full story, go here.
Rick Santorum
Former Pennsylvania senator and 2012 Iowa Caucus winner Rick Santorum was back in Iowa Saturday touting his focus on the middle class and rural America at the Iowa Agriculture Summit.
He said policymakers need to keep small towns in mind to create programs that benefit "all of America, not just the population centers."
"Think of all the subsidies and mandates and things we do for the major cities of this country," he said.
"Everything from mass transit to housing subsidies to a whole host of other things we do for the government to help provide a quality life for those metropolitan areas. Most folks out here in rural America are just like 'leave us alone, and give us a shot.'"
- Brianne Pfannenstiel, The Des Moines Register
For the full story, go here.
Lindsey Graham
Sen. Lindsey Graham won laughs and cheers from the Iowa Agriculture Summit crowd Saturday, livening up an event that was largely dominated by dry policy discussions.
That's not to say, though, that Graham, a South Carolina Republican, didn't wade into the policy weeds as well.
In his most emphatic answer to a question from forum host Bruce Rastetter, Graham sought to link immigration reform with the growing financial costs of Medicare and Social Security as the Baby Boomer generation retires.
- Jason Noble, The Des Moines Register
For the full story, go here.
Mike Huckabee
Mike Huckabee wove his brand of folksy charm throughout his time at the Iowa Agriculture Summit Saturday, stressing the country's ag policies must shift to focus less on other nations and big business and more on lifting every day Americans.
The former Arkansas governor and winner of the 2008 Iowa caucuses broke down Americans into three groups. There are globalists who don't care if America leads the world and corporatists who care only for their business' profits. And then there are nationalists, like himself, Huckabee said, who want policies focused solely on what's best for American families.
- Josh Hafner, The Des Moines Register
For the full story, go here.
Chris Christie
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie led off the series of interviews at the Iowa Agriculture Summit Saturday, fielding questions about renewable fuels, trade and environmental protection.
He underscored the importance of farmers and people on the ground creating solutions to the biggest issues facing the agriculture industry and protecting from government overreach.
"I think it's really important for us to remember that these solutions, especially on complex issues like this, are best handled at the local level," he said.
- Brianne Pfannenstiel, The Des Moines Register
For the full story, go here.