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RFK will continue to make money from drug litigation if confirmed as HHS secretary
Ethics records show that Robert F. Kennedy plans to continue collecting fees related to prior referrals during his appointment as HHS secretary.
Scripps News
- If Kennedy takes over the Department of Health, Americans will die
- Let’s make America’s 250th birthday celebration a great one
- Iowa has no independent representatives in Congress
- Excusing violent attacks on police is inexcusable
- Republicans embrace nonsense, not common sense
- Why has hands-free driving taken so long?
If Kennedy takes over the Department of Health, Americans will die
We know the damage that will be done and the lives that will be lost if Robert F. Kennedy Jr. takes charge of our health care system because we have seen it in action. Kennedy has a well-documented history of opposing life-saving vaccines, and he has pledged to stop funding research into treatments and cures for deadly diseases.
Still, Kennedy has been nominated to lead HHS, the Department of Health and Human Services — and Senator Joni Ernst hinted at confirming his nomination. If President Donald Trump has his way, the head of HHS, the agency designed to “improve the health, safety and welfare of America,” would be a man so opposed to facts and science that our nation could face a deadly disaster. resurgence of childhood diseases such as polio and measles.
We deserve better than this. Kennedy will threaten the lives of Iowans. Not only does Kennedy oppose life-saving vaccines, but he has also said he “does not believe infectious diseases pose a tremendous threat to human health” and has pledged to stop funding research into treatments and cures. Kennedy will erode the public health institutions that protect Americans from infectious diseases and contaminated food, and he will put vital programs including Medicare and Medicaid at grave risk.
Kennedy’s anti-vaccination conspiracy theories are already having deadly consequences. After his 2019 visit to Samoa, where Kennedy met the prime minister and other high-profile figures, a devastating measles outbreak killed 83 people, mostly infants and children. Widespread fear and distrust of vaccines was perpetuated by Kennedy’s misinformation and harsh rhetoric opposing efforts to contain the outbreak. Hawaii Governor and emergency room doctor Josh Green, who was deployed to Samoa during the outbreak, said the outbreak was “driven in large part by RFK Jr.” and called him “a terrible choice for HHS secretary.”
The devastating events that followed his visit to Samoa could be a preview of what will happen when Kennedy is at the helm of our nation’s public health care system. HHS is responsible for approving drugs, overseeing vaccines, funding lifesaving research and coordinating responses – for everything from pandemics to natural disasters.
If Kennedy takes charge of America’s health care system, people across the country will get sick and die.
The American people deserve a leader at HHS who believes in science, who believes in vaccines, and who is committed to lowering costs and protecting health care coverage. Kennedy will not trust the science and the experts, but instead he will continue his campaign to spread dangerous disinformation. The consequences of Kennedy’s HHS leadership would threaten every household in Iowa and the entire country.
John Forbes, Urbandale, former state representative
Let’s make America’s 250th birthday celebration a great one
How do we celebrate the 250th anniversary of the United States in Iowa in 2026? Has Governor Kim Reynolds appointed a committee to plan our statehood celebration? Are we planning on having an extra special Iowa State Fair with a 250 year exhibit? Should we invite President Donald Trump and other foreign leaders to the fair to celebrate?
We need to start planning this huge party now. We need to build an Epcot Center type exhibit with a theater on the fairgrounds where Iowans and visitors can witness our 250 years of history. We can top it all off with a gigantic fireworks display in the stands and invite Lee Greenwood to sing his famous song.
I’m sure other states will have big celebrations, but we should be celebrating our 250th anniversary at the best state fair in the world, the Iowa State Fair.
Tony Powers, West Des Moines
Iowa has no independent representatives in Congress
Sens. Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst – indeed, our entire Iowa delegation to Congress – have given their blessing to President Donald Trump’s pardon of the more than 1,500 people who attacked our democracy and ransacked our nation’s Capitol four years ago . Why? Grassley probably gave the most pathetic excuse. “Following the Biden precedent… it is difficult for me to criticize Trump.”
Really, Chuck? Can’t you see the difference? Neither Hunter Biden nor anyone in the Biden family vandalized the Capitol or tried to overturn an election they were angry about losing. That included those Biden pardoned to protect from Trump’s promise of “retribution.” Four years ago, Ernst called the entire ordeal “horrendous” and said the perpetrators “should all be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.” And she pledged, as a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, to “fight to make that happen.” Of course she didn’t.
But that was then and this is now. Whatever reputation Grassley and Ernst may have once had as independently minded representatives of the people is gone.
They’re both just political hacks, and have been that way for a while. It’s shameless!
Richard Maynard, Indianola
Excusing violent attacks on police is inexcusable
Imagine an angry group of citizens, some armed, invading the Iowa Capitol and threatening our legislators, governor and lieutenant governor with bodily harm.
As we protect our elected officials, members of the Des Moines Police Department and the Iowa State Patrol are being injured, some seriously. Is there a scenario in which forgiving those who attacked our law enforcement officers is acceptable?
So how can President Donald Trump say he supports police while pardoning those who harmed them?
Dorothy Lifka, Des Moines
Republicans embrace nonsense, not common sense
State Rep. Steve Holt of Denison was interviewed on Iowa Public Radio on Jan. 21 and said President Donald Trump’s agenda and that of Iowa Republicans is about common sense.
It is not common sense for those found guilty of harming and causing the death of security officers on January 6 to be pardoned. In restorative justice practices, the perpetrator should be held accountable for their offense and meet their victim if possible. If these conditions are not met, there will be no reconciliation.
Furthermore, it was Republicans who shouted Blue Lives Matter as African Americans marched through the streets. Apparently there isn’t much concern for the blue side of the right because their leader is ignoring the police involved in the January 6 riot. What we in the Midwest call that is bullshit!
Denny Coon, Ankeny
Why has hands-free driving taken so long?
I found the Register story “Lawmakers again push to ban phones while driving” very interesting because this bill, or a similar version, has been under discussion since 2018. Everyone quoted in the piece was optimistic that the bill would pass this year. There was no mention of who is against this bill, either now or in the past. I know common sense has been out of fashion for a decade or so, but who would be against this bill and more importantly why are they against it?
Dan Walter, West Des Moines
