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A Conversation With
Mike Blouin
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| IFL:
Mike, why did you decide to run for Governor?
MB: The answer is simple:
I believe I can make a difference in the future of this state.
My background as a former teacher, Iowa legislator,
Congressman and community developer provides me with a strong
sense of getting things done and providing real leadership and
results for Iowa's working families.
IFL:
Why are you the most qualified candidate for Governor? |
On March 27
Mike Blouin visited with President Mark Smith, Executive
Vice-President Jan Laue and Secretary-Treasurer Ken Sagar at
the Federation office in Des Moines.
Their discussion covered a range of issues which have
been printed in a question and answer format on these pages.
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MB: One word: experience.
I have been a 5th
grade teacher and a community college administrator.
I have worked in federal government and state government as a
department director. I
served in the Iowa Legislature and the US Congress.
And I have spent the last 18 years working in job creation
and community development all across this state.
IFL: What is the top issue facing Iowa?
MB: Protecting good jobs and
creating new ones. Iowa simply cannot be left behind in this
new economy. I have been
endorsed by 80% of the Democratic legislators.
There is a real sense that we can work together and have a
historic General Assembly. Democrats
have not controlled the Legislature and the Governor's office since
the election of 1964. Now is the time to change that fact and
take bold action to protect and strengthen the lives of working
Iowans.
“Working Iowans deserve
results from their government
and I can get that done.”
...Mike Blouin
Mike Blouin speaking
to Iowa union members.
IFL: Do you support increasing the minimum wage?
MB: Yes. It should
also be indexed to allow for increases to be added as inflation and
cost of living increases occur. There is no reason the minimum
wage has been ignored for so long. As a member of Congress, I
was proud to support an increase of the Federal minimum wage
and have a framed letter and bill signing pen from the President of
the United States on my desk.
IFL: Do you support allowing
local governments to use project labor agreements?
MB:
I have always supported the use of Project Labor Agreements
because they make sure a project gets built on time, within budget,
and you know the work will be the highest quality available.
That’s exactly the reason many private companies use PLAs
on all their building and expansion projects.
IFL: What is your position
regarding privatization of public services.
MB:
I disagree with the notion that the private sector can always
provide services at less expense than public sector employees.
Often we see the opposite—privatization costing money
rather than saving. For
example, as director of the Department of Economic Development, I
brought printing work back into the state print shop because it
saved taxpayer dollars and ensured a high quality product.
IFL: What do you think about Iowa’s education system?
MB: Iowa has lived too long
on reputation alone when it comes to education. We simply
cannot allow that to continue. There must be a generational
transformation when it comes to education. It starts with
early childhood and builds from there--we need to expect more from
students and we must support people who work in the
classroom. That means paying teachers more and making
sure that students--whether they plan to go to college or learn a
trade--have real options after high school. When it comes to
post-high school, affordability is the key. Our community colleges
and universities must be affordable and accessible. We cannot
price the children of working men and women out of a better
tomorrow.
IFL: What about health care?
MB: To me, there is no
reason that we do not cover every child in Iowa with some form of
health insurance. I propose accomplishing this by expanding
Medicaid and Hawk-I enrollment and by increasing Hawk-I coverage
levels. To accomplish
these goals I will establish a cabinet-level position charged with
improving the health security of Iowa women and children.
I have also proposed the Safe and Secure Seniors plan to help enhance the health, quality of
life, and independence of our seniors.
IFL: What is your outlook on the future of working Iowans?
MB:
We have to aggressively seek out new job opportunities that pay a
good wage with good benefits that a family can build a quality life
around. We need to protect and retain our jobs throughout the
state and ensure that workers have the protections they need--a safe
workplace, the ability to organize and quality of life options
unequaled in the country. We can do this. And I believe
that my background and record of accomplishments would allow me to
get this done. Working men and women would always be welcome
in my office and would be part of building a new Iowa.
IFL: How Will a Blouin
Governorship Make a Difference?
MB:
My running mate, Andy McGuire, and I are focused on
addressing the challenges we face as a state—creating jobs that
provide good wages and benefits, investing in education to make sure
our kids can compete in a global system, and working to extend
health care access and affordability to make sure that all Iowans
have the basic right of quality health care.
| IFL: Tell us about your running mate, Dr. Andy McGuire.
MB:
She is extremely qualified and committed to Iowa. Not
only is she a medical doctor, she has a MBA and stellar
credentials as a community volunteer--especially in early
childhood education. Also,
she could help us lead the nation in healthcare improvements
in Iowa because she understands the system so well.
Iowans tell me every day how frustrated they are with
our current system. Rising costs of insurance are
blocking wage increases and pricing some Iowans out of
coverage. That is immoral. The great thing about
Iowa is that the state is not too large to overcome its
challenges. Also, Dr. McGuire is a former Republican,
with a very
compelling story of why she is proud to be on this
ticket |
Meet Dr. Andy McGuire, Endorsed Candidate for
Iowa Lieutenant Governor
 Dr. Andy McGuire has been a leader in the fields of breast
cancer research, nuclear medicine and
public health. Her
record of caring for the public includes service as
a doctor at the Veteran’s Administration Hospital.
She will be key as the Blouin-McGuire administration
tackles growing problems with
health care.
An advocate of early childhood education, she will be a
valuable part of the Blouin-McGuire team working on the
implementation of education reforms.
She is active in the United Way of
Central Iowa’s Women’s Leadership Connection, the
University of Iowa’s College of Public Health Board of
Advisors and the Mercy Foundation.
In 2005, Andy received the Woman of Influence Award
from the Des Moines Business Record.
Andy grew up in Waterloo, went to
school at Creighton and lives in Des Moines. Andy and
her husband Dan have seven children.
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as a
mom, a doctor and a strong Democrat.
As Andy became more involved in groups and charities that
dealt with children’s and women’s issues, she realized the
Democratic Party represented her values much better than the
Republican Party. She
knows that in order for Iowa to move forward we need to elect men
and women who are committed to meeting our state’s education and
health care needs—that means electing Democrats.
IFL: Why should IFL members support this ticket?
MB: Because we can
get the job done. I am proud of my strong labor record and my
experience in job creation. I am passionate about bringing
quality jobs, accessible health care and improving education.
I am energized by this campaign and hopeful for our future.
It is especially important to have the support of organized labor.
Not just from the political perspective, but from a personal
perspective. There are
good people in the labor movement in Iowa and they matter
personally to me. Its time to get to work for a better
Iowa. |
Bruce
Braley 
