Letter to the Editor: Apology accepted, invitation extended

By Mark Kuhn, Floyd County Supervisor

At a meeting in her United States Senate office last Tuesday, Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, apologized for not introducing me at a recent Senate hearing, saying she did not know committee protocol for introducing a witness from a senator’s home state. I accepted her apology. Here’s what happened.

I arrived in Washington, D.C., last Tuesday to attend an Iowa County Supervisors White House Conference the next day. When my plane landed, I heard a phone message from a member of Sen. Ernst’s staff asking me to call her to arrange a time for a phone call from Sen. Ernst.

… I walked to Sen. Ernst’s office, introduced myself to the staffer at the front desk and told him why I was there.

A few minutes later I was greeted by Sen. Ernst’s chief of staff and welcomed by Iowa’s junior senator. Sen. Ernst and I visited for about seven minutes with her chief of staff present. We discussed the details of the non-introduction, and both of us came away with a better understanding of what took place. It was a frank and cordial meeting.

Sen. Ernst said she did not mean to slight me. She said she thought Sen. Booker was going to introduce me. I accepted her apology. We shook hands, proving it’s never too late to be civil to one another.

We continued visiting. I mentioned that the bill that was discussed at the senate hearing could be considered on Thursday, but I was told it was not on the calendar. Sen. Ernst said she was not aware of that.

Sen. Ernst asked me to say hello to Floyd County Auditor Gloria Carr, who she knew while serving as the auditor from Montgomery County, Iowa.

Finally, Sen. Ernst said if there was anything further she could do, to please let her know.

Sen. Ernst, please accept my invitation to meet with Floyd County residents Jeff and Gail Schwartzkopf to learn about their health issues caused by the Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation (CAFO) near their home.

Perhaps you could meet with the Schwartzkopf family on your next visit to Floyd County in 2018 as part of your 99-county tour of Iowa? If you do, please be assured you will receive a good neighbor welcome, and likely gain a better understanding of this important issue in Floyd County.