DES MOINES–Iowa Democratic Party Chair, Derek Eadon, issued the following statement in preparation for President Trump’s address to the Joint Session of Congress this evening:
“No matter what President Trump says at tonight’s address, today is a day where Donald Trump took steps to destroy Iowa’s rural economy as we learned of an executive order that will directly impact Iowa farmers. While campaigning, Trump made a promise to Iowa’s agriculture community that he would protect the Renewable Fuels Standard that supports thousands of Iowa families. It appears that President Trump is poised to break his promise to Iowa farmers with an executive order that guts the Renewable Fuels Standard and stabs Iowa farmers in the back.”
“When President Trump appointed RFS opponents Rick Perry and Scott Pruitt to leadership positions in his administration, agricultural and business leaders showed concern. Those leaders were right to question Donald Trump. Iowa Republicans defended Trump and asked Iowa farmers to trust President Trump when it came to protecting the RFS. Terry Branstad and Kim Reynolds advocated for Donald Trump, and they will need to explain this betrayal to rural areas that are already suffering under their leadership. We have seen schools consolidated, health services cut, population decline, and now our agricultural economy will be the next victim.”
“Today’s report that President Trump plans to eliminate a quota during the refinery process is a direct attack on Iowa’s agricultural community. During his first month in office, the only thing President Trump has proven to the American public is that he cannot be trusted and cares only about lining the pockets of his billionaire buddies. When Iowa farmers start to see a decrease in profits and less money in their bank accounts, they’ll have President Trump to thank and the Iowa Republicans who defended him to blame.”