Sand touts plans for Iowa
Democrat calls for new approach to state politics
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Rob Sand told a Fort Dodge audience Monday that he will bring a different approach to the governor's office that will produce solutions that work for Iowans on everything from water quality to mental health.
The Democrat said the state now has two "private clubs" – the Democratic and Republican parties – that make it difficult to get anything done.
"I've had enough of this," he told about 300 people in the Auditorium Building at the Webster County Fairgrounds.
Sand, who is the state auditor, said he wants to work across party lines to find solutions that work for the majority, use those solutions to make things a little better, then move on to the next issue.
"When different people who think differently work together we get better answers for everyone," he said.
Disagreement, he added, is a healthy part of the process.
"If you agree with a candidate on seven of 12 issues, vote for them," he said. "If you agree with them on 12 out of 12 issues, see a psychiatrist. Disagreement is natural, Disagreement is OK.''
Sand attributes many of Iowa's problems to 10 years of complete Republican control of state government. But he isn't advocating for complete Democratic control of state government. He said anyone who thinks that would be a good idea should "please visit California or New York.''
He said he expects there will still be a Republican majority in the legislature next year, and he told his audience about some of the proposals he will present to it if elected governor.
To address ongoing concerns about the quality of the state’s water, he proposes the "single biggest expansion of wetlands and grazing lands in our state's history."
"Nothing filters water better than what God made – wetlands," he said.
Sand, who frequently talks about his enjoyment of hunting and fishing, said wetlands offer recreational opportunities as well as all-natural water purifying abilities,
His water quality plan also includes refusing to give immunity to corporations caught polluting, and making manure management plans more transparent.
To help address mental health concerns, Sand said he wants to make sure that therapy delivered remotely via online options is reimbursed by Medicaid at the same level that in-person treatments are.
Iowa has essentially privatized Medicaid, which is the joint federal-state health insurance for the poor and disabled. Sand said he does not want to go back to the prior system, but added he will be proposing reforms to the current one.
Mental health professionals, he added, need to be paid a competitive salary.
He said he will protect the Iowa Public Employees Retirement System. He said IPERS, as it is commonly known, is one the of the soundest pension funds in the country.
"If I'm governor, IPERS is going to be safe," he said.
Sand said it would be unrealistic for him to promise to repeal Iowa's ban on abortions after a fetal heartbeat can be detected. But he said he will veto any attempt by the legislature to limit access to in vitro fertilization or contraception.