Breaking down Iowa DOGE task force’s recommendations

CLOSE UP. A NEW STATE PROPOSAL WOULD TIE TEACHER PAY TO STUDENT PERFORMANCE. WHITE TASK FORCE LEADERS SAY IT COULD IMPROVE SCHOOLS. WHILE SOME EDUCATION EXPERTS SAY IT COULD DO THE OPPOSITE. IOWA’S U.S. SENATE RACE IS GETTING CROWDED. THERE ARE NOW FOUR DEMOCRATS IN THE RUNNING, AND WE SIT DOWN WITH THE NEWEST CANDIDATE TO JOIN THE FIELD. PLUS, ANOTHER DEMOCRAT JUMPS INTO IOWA’S THIRD CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT RACE. WHILE XAVIER CARRIGAN SAYS SETS HIM APART IN THE FIGHT TO TAKE ON ZACH NUNN. THIS IS IOWA’S NEWS LEADER. THIS IS KCCI EIGHT NEWS. CLOSE UP. GOOD MORNING. THANKS FOR JOINING US FOR KCCI EIGHT NEWS CLOSE UP. I’M CHIEF POLITICAL REPORTER AMANDA ROOKER. WELL, EARLIER THIS YEAR, GOVERNOR KIM REYNOLDS LAUNCHED A NEW TASK FORCE AIMED AT MAKING STATE GOVERNMENT MORE LIKE A BUSINESS. NOW, IOWA’S DEPARTMENT OF GOVERNMENT EFFICIENCY GROUP HAS RELEASED 45 RECOMMENDATIONS. ONE OF THEM IS RAISING SOME EYEBROWS. KCCI SUZANNE BEHNKE INVESTIGATES ONE PROPOSAL TO TIE TEACHERS FUTURES TO THEIR STUDENTS PERFORMANCE. THE CURRENT EDUCATION FUNDING MODEL IS NOT WORKING. THIS SYSTEM DOES NOT REWARD EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION. TERRY LUTZ CHAIRS THE SUBCOMMITTEE OF IOWA’S DOGE TASK FORCE. IT’S FOCUSED ON MAKING SURE TAXPAYERS ARE GETTING A RETURN ON THEIR INVESTMENT. WE ARE NOT SUGGESTING CUTTING COSTS. WE ARE FOCUSED ON SPENDING. SPENDING THAT REWARDS WHAT MATTERS HIGHER STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT. HE SAYS OUR STATE’S TEACHER PAY SYSTEM REWARDS YEARS ON THE JOB, NOT ACADEMIC RESULTS. WE’RE RECOMMENDING A PAY FOR PERFORMANCE SYSTEM IN K THROUGH 12 EDUCATION TYING TEACHER AND ADMINISTRATIVE COMPENSATION INCENTIVES TO STUDENT OUTCOMES. LUTZ SAYS NATIONALLY, IOWA STUDENTS ARE RANKED 24TH IN MATH, 26TH IN READING, AND 28TH IN SCIENCE. KCCI INVESTIGATES REQUESTED THE SOURCES FOR THOSE RANKINGS, BUT DID NOT HEAR BACK. THE 2025 KIDS COUNT REPORT FROM THE ANNIE E CASEY FOUNDATION SHOWS THE NUMBER OF IOWA FOURTH GRADERS NOT PROFICIENT IN READING IS UP, AS WELL AS EIGHTH GRADERS WHO ARE NOT PROFICIENT IN MATH. IOWA’S EDUCATION SPENDING HAS REACHED OVER $18,000 PER STUDENT, WHICH IS HIGHER THAN THE NATIONAL MEDIAN. BUT NOT EVERYONE AGREES WITH THAT ESTIMATE. MELISSA PETERSEN, A LOBBYIST FOR THE IOWA STATE EDUCATION ASSOCIATION, POINTS OUT THAT IOWA’S PER PUPIL FUNDING IS ABOUT $8,000, ALONG WITH LOCAL TAXPAYER SPENDING AT THE PER PUPIL FUNDING RATE. WE’RE LOOKING AT, WE ARE 30TH OR 32ND IN THE NATION, DEPENDING ON WHOSE RANKINGS YOU LOOK AT, AND SO TO SAY THAT WE’RE SPENDING A LOT OF MONEY ON PUBLIC EDUCATION, WHICH WE ACKNOWLEDGE WE ARE, BUT THAT SOMEHOW WE ARE OUT OF ALIGNMENT IS DISINGENUOUS BECAUSE IT’S NOT WE THINK WE NEED MORE SO THAT WE CAN DO BETTER. IN 2011, THEN GOVERNOR TERRY BRANSTAD PURSUED PERFORMANCE BASED PAY ABOUT THE SAME TIME PETERSEN STARTED AT ISCA. SHE SAYS THE PLAN DIDN’T WORK THEN, AND THAT DATA SHOWS THERE ARE BETTER SOLUTIONS. SMALLER TEACHER TO STUDENT RATIOS, SMALLER CLASS SIZES, MEASURING INDIVIDUAL STUDENT GROWTH WHEN YOU APPLY JUST A STANDARDIZED MECHANISMS TO THE ACHIEVEMENT OF SOME STUDENTS, WE FIND IT IS A BETTER MEASURE TO MEASURE GROWTH THAT HELPS BOTH EDUCATE THE STUDENT IN THE BEST FASHION POSSIBLE. AND IT ALSO, BY THE WAY, PROVIDES FEEDBACK TO THE EDUCATION PROFESSIONAL TO BE ABLE TO BEST MEET THE NEEDS OF THE STUDENT AND QUITE FRANKLY, IMPROVE THEIR PRACTICE. PETERSEN SAYS SHE WANTS TO SEE THE RESEARCH. THE TASK FORCE USED FOR THEIR RECOMMENDATION. EDUCATORS, SHE SAYS, WANT TO WORK WELL. EFFICIENCY IS REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT. MEETING THE NEEDS OF OUR STUDENTS IS MORE IMPORTANT. WELL, OUR SUZANNE BECK JOINS US THIS MORNING. SUZANNE HAS BEEN COVERING EVERY IOWA TASK FORCE MEETING. AND, SUZANNE, THE FRUIT OF THAT 45 RECOMMENDATIONS, WE HEARD ONE OF THEM. WHAT ARE THE BIGGEST THINGS THAT STOOD OUT TO YOU? THE BIGGEST THINGS THAT PROBABLY MOST PEOPLE WOULD CARE ABOUT. THE TEACHER PAY BEING TIED TO STUDENT PERFORMANCES IS ONE. ANOTHER ONE THAT CAME UP WAS THE PUBLIC EMPLOYEES RETIREMENT PROGRAM, AND ALIGNING IT WITH BUSINESS. THE TASK FORCE SAID IT’S IT’S WAY OUT OF ALIGNMENT. AND SO THEY WOULD SAY ANY NEW EMPLOYEE THEY WOULD RECOMMEND, ANY NEW EMPLOYEE THAT STARTS IN STATE GOVERNMENT WOULD HAVE A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT SETUP THAN WHAT’S CURRENTLY OFFERED THROUGH IPERS. THAT WAS A BIG ONE. THERE IS ANOTHER RECOMMENDATION THAT WOULD CALL FOR COMBINING COUNTY TREASURERS AND COUNTY RECORDER’S JOBS TOGETHER. SO THAT’S A REDUCTION OF 99 JOBS ACROSS THE STATE. AND THERE WAS A LOT OF TALK ABOUT HOW DO WE MOVE THINGS TO BE MORE EFFICIENT THROUGH THE USE OF TECHNOLOGY, THROUGH AI. SOMETIMES THAT COULD MEAN CONSOLIDATING SOME HARDWARE, RIGHT? LIKE THERE ARE DIFFERENT SERVERS. I THINK THEY SAID 130 SERVER ROOMS ACROSS THE STATE. WELL, HOW HOW CAN THEY CONSOLIDATE THOSE AND BRING THOSE BACK DOWN OR BRING THE NUMBER DOWN. SO, SO SOME THINGS LIKE THAT. BUT BUT SOME BIG THINGS AS WELL. THE RETIREMENT PROGRAM TEACHER BASED PAY BEING TIED TO STUDENT PERFORMANCE, LOOKING AT THE RETIREMENT BENEFIT PACKAGE. THOSE WERE SOME THINGS THAT STOOD OUT. SOME INTERESTING ONES THAT REALLY GET AT CUSTOMER SERVICE TO IOWANS. A RED HOT HOTLINE. SO IF YOU’RE TRYING TO REACH OUT TO IOWA WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS OR TRAINING PROGRAMS OF SOME KIND, AND YOU’RE YOU FEEL LIKE YOU’RE RUNNING INTO BUREAUCRACY, THERE WOULD BE A HOTLINE TO CONTACT TO HELP TROUBLESHOOT. MAYBE YOU’RE CALLING THE WRONG NUMBER. MAYBE YOU HAVEN’T FILLED OUT A CERTAIN FORM. BUT THAT WAS AN INTERESTING ONE TO HEAR. COME UP. AND THEN ALSO JUST LOOKING AT OFFERING MORE INTERNSHIPS, APPRENTICESHIPS, PRE AND PRE APPRENTICESHIPS. SO A LOT OF THESE DETAILS THAT WE DIDN’T GET INTO A LOT OF DETAILS. THE MEETING WAS ONLY ABOUT AN HOUR AND 15 MINUTES AND THEY COVERED ALL 45 RECOMMENDATIONS IN THAT TIME. BUT THOSE ARE DEFINITELY SOME OF THE MORE THE BIGGER PICTURE. BIG STANDOUT IDEAS. AND WE KNOW THAT YOU WILL CONTINUE COVERING THIS FOR US. SUZANNE, THANKS FOR JOINING US THIS MORNING. THANK YOU. WELL, AFTER THIS BREAK, IOWA’S U-S SENATE RACE IS HEATING UP WITH THE GROWING DEMOCRATIC FIELD SIGNALS ABOUT JONI ERNST SENATE SEAT. PLUS, THERE’S ANOTHER CANDIDATE RUNNING FOR IOWA’S THIRD CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT. WHY? XAVIER CARRIGAN WANTS TO REPRESENT IOWANS IN WASHINGTON. WELCOME BACK. THE RACE FOR U.S. SENATE IN IOWA IS HEATING UP, AND IT’S MORE THAN A YEAR BEFORE VOTERS HEAD TO THE POLLS. THERE ARE NOW FOUR DEMOCRATS IN THIS RACE. VETERAN NATHAN SAGE, STATE REPRESENTATIVE JD SCHOLTEN, STATE SENATOR ZACH WAHLS AND DES MOINES SCHOOL BOARD CHAIR JACKIE NORRIS. ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE, FORMER STATE SENATOR JIM CARLIN IS CHALLENGING INCUMBENT JONI ERNST, THOUGH ERNST HASN’T ANNOUNCED WHETHER SHE’LL RUN FOR REELECTION. I TALKED TO KCCI POLITICAL ANALYST DENNIS GOLDFORD ABOUT WHAT ALL OF THIS EARLY INTEREST COULD MEAN. THE 2026 RACE FOR U.S. SENATE IN IOWA IS DRAWING EARLY ATTENTION, AND DEMOCRATIC CONTENDERS. KCCI POLITICAL ANALYST DENNIS GOLDFORD SAYS THE GROWING FIELD SIGNALS DEMOCRATS SENSE AN OPENING WITH SO MANY PEOPLE ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE AUDITIONING FOR THE LEAD ROLE NEXT YEAR AGAINST SENATOR ERNST. THAT SUGGESTS THAT A NUMBER OF THEM BELIEVE THAT SHE IS VULNERABLE. WHILE ERNST WON REELECTION IN 2020, GOLDFORD SAYS HER MARGIN WAS NARROWER THAN OTHER TOP REPUBLICANS IN RECENT CYCLES. SHE WON BY ABOUT 100,000 VOTES STATEWIDE, BUT SHE HAD JUST UNDER 52% OF THE POPULAR VOTE. BY CONTRAST, IN 2022, SENATOR GRASSLEY HAD 56% OF THE POPULAR VOTE. GOVERNOR REYNOLDS, IN HER REELECTION CAMPAIGN, HAD 58% OF THE POPULAR VOTE. SO ERNST, WITH JUST UNDER 52%, DOESN’T LOOK AS STRONG. HE SAYS POLITICAL FORECASTERS NOW RATE ERNST SEAT AS LIKELY REPUBLICAN, A NOTCH MORE COMPETITIVE THAN PAST YEARS. THAT MEANS A SLIGHT BIT MORE VULNERABILITY, BUT STILL LIKELY IS BETTER THAN TOSS UP AMONG THE DEMOCRATS. JACKIE NORRIS IS RUNNING AS A MOM ON A MISSION. ZACH WALZ AND JD SCHOLTEN BRING LEGISLATIVE EXPERIENCE, AND NATHAN SAGE IS HIGHLIGHTING HIS WORKING CLASS BACKGROUND. GOLDFORD SAYS DEMOCRATIC VOTERS ARE ALREADY THINKING ABOUT WHO CAN RUN THE STRONGEST CAMPAIGN. THEY WANT TO KNOW, OKAY, WHO’S LIKELY TO MAKE THE BEST CAMPAIGNER SOLELY IN TERMS OF CAMPAIGN TECHNIQUES AND STYLE? THAT INCLUDES FUNDRAISING WITHOUT TURNING OFF VOTERS DURING A PRIMARY FIGHT. CAN YOU CAMPAIGN EFFECTIVELY WITHOUT? INSULTING OR ANGERING OTHER PEOPLE IN YOUR PARTY THAT MIGHT SUPPORT OTHER CANDIDATES, BECAUSE YOU’LL NEED THEM FOR THE GENERAL ELECTION? GOLDFORD SAYS WINNING STATEWIDE WILL TAKE A TWO PART STRATEGY. YOU’VE GOT TO MAXIMIZE TURNOUT IN THE MORE URBAN COUNTIES AROUND THE STATE, AND THEN IN ALL THE OTHER COUNTIES, WHICH ARE LESS POPULATED BUT TRADITIONALLY GO REPUBLICAN. YOU’VE GOT TO MAKE SURE OR AT LEAST ATTEMPT NOT TO LOSE THEM BY AS MUCH AS OTHERS HAVE IN THE PAST. DES MOINES SCHOOL BOARD CHAIR JACKIE NORRIS IS THE LATEST IOWA DEMOCRAT TO ENTER THE RACE. SHE’S A FORMER NONPROFIT LEADER OF FORMER TEACHER AND FORMER CHIEF OF STAFF TO MICHELLE OBAMA. I SAT DOWN WITH NORRIS TO TALK WITH HER ABOUT WHY SHE’S RUNNING TO BE IOWA’S NEXT U.S. SENATOR. I AM RUNNING FOR US SENATE AGAINST JONI ERNST, AND I THINK IT’S TIME FOR AN EDUCATOR IN THE SENATE. I HAVE SERVED ON THE SCHOOL BOARD AND ALSO A FORMER TEACHER. AND YOU CAN’T HELP BUT SEE WHAT’S HAPPENING IN CLASSROOMS AND IN EDUCATION TODAY AND NOT WANT TO STEP UP AND FIGHT FOR FAMILIES AND FIGHT FOR KIDS. SO, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU SEE KIDS THAT ARE HUNGRY AND IT’S HARD TO GET ACCESS TO FOOD WHEN YOU SEE IT, HARD TO GET ACCESS TO CHILDREN’S HEALTHCARE, ESPECIALLY IN RURAL COMMUNITIES. AND WHEN YOU SEE CHILD CARE WORKERS GETTING WAGES, GETTING PAID SO LOW THAT THEY HAVE TO HAVE TWO JOBS, RIGHT. WE’RE TURNING OUR BACK ON KIDS AND FAMILIES AND, YOU KNOW, RED VERSUS BLUE, THE YELLING, THE CHAOS. IT’S IT’S NOT GETTING US ANYWHERE. AND SO I THINK IT’S TIME THAT SOMEBODY ROLLS UP THEIR SLEEVES AND JUMPS IN AND DOESN’T JUST TALK TOUGH, BUT ACTUALLY GETS THERE, TAKES THEIR SET OF EXPERIENCES AND HAS THE FIGHT TO GET SOMETHING DONE IN WASHINGTON. NOW, MANY PEOPLE IN CENTRAL IOWA MAY KNOW YOU AS SCHOOL BOARD PRESIDENT, BUT FOR VOTERS WHO MAY NOT KNOW YOU YET, WHAT DO YOU WANT THEM TO KNOW ABOUT YOUR BACKGROUND AND YOUR VALUES? I, I THINK THE MOST IMPORTANT THING I’D WANT THEM TO KNOW ABOUT ME IS I’M A MOM, AND I TELL PEOPLE THAT NOT JUST BECAUSE THAT’S KIND OF WHERE MY HEART LIES. I’M THE MOM OF THREE BOYS, BUT I’M ALSO SOMEBODY WHO UNDERSTANDS HOW YOU HAVE TO JUGGLE A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS. AND I THINK THAT’S THE THING THAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER, THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THIS STATE, NOT JUST WOMEN, THAT ARE JUGGLING BOTH THEIR JOB CAREER ADVANCEMENT AND AT THE SAME TIME TRYING TO RAISE HAPPY AND HEALTHY KIDS. AND AND SO THAT’S REALLY IMPORTANT. AND SO I TALK ABOUT THAT A LOT BECAUSE IT’S NOT EASY. I ALSO WOULD WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW I’M A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER. I’VE HAD A SMALL BUSINESS FOR FIVE YEARS. IT’S REALLY HARD. I MEAN, I JUMPED INTO OWNING A SMALL BUSINESS AND I DID NOT THINK IT WAS GOING TO BE THAT HARD. SO I GIVE INCREDIBLE RESPECT TO PEOPLE THAT ARE DOING IT EVERY DAY BECAUSE THE THE FEAR OF NOT MAKING PAYROLL OR TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW YOU STAY COMPETITIVE AND PROVIDE HEALTH CARE BENEFITS AND WORKPLACE FLEXIBILITY, IT’S A LOT. AND SO I WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW THAT ABOUT ME. I’VE LED LARGE NON-PROFITS AND I’VE WORKED IN POLITICS, RIGHT? SO I’VE WORKED FOR BARACK AND MICHELLE OBAMA. I’VE ALSO WORKED FOR THE GEORGE H.W. BUSH FAMILY AT POINTS OF LIGHT. AND SO THAT TO ME IS REALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, WHAT I WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW IS I JUST WANT TO GET STUFF DONE. AND I DON’T CARE ABOUT LABELS. IT REALLY DOESN’T MATTER. THAT’S NOT HOW WE TALK HERE. WE JUST TALK ABOUT WHAT’S THE PROBLEM AND HOW ARE WE GOING TO TACKLE IT. AND THAT’S THE APPROACH I WANT TO BRING, AND THAT’S WHAT I WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW ABOUT ME. IF YOU ARE ELECTED TO THE US SENATE, WHAT ARE YOUR TOP THREE PRIORITIES? YEAH, I THINK WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT OUR FAMILIES. SO THE PRESSURE, I THINK OUR FAMILIES ARE IN CRISIS. THERE’S ECONOMIC PRESSURE AGAIN, WHETHER IT’S CHILD CARE, THE AFFORDABILITY, IF YOU CAN EVEN FIND IT. THE ACCESS ISSUE IS A SIGNIFICANT ISSUE THAT HAS TO BE TALKED ABOUT. I ALSO THINK HOUSING IS VERY DIFFICULT TO AFFORD HERE. MOST PEOPLE ARE STRUGGLING TO AFFORD IT. SOME FAMILIES ACTUALLY AREN’T ABLE TO BUY HOMES UNTIL THEY’RE IN THEIR MID 30S, AND THOSE ARE TWO REAL THINGS. I THINK WE ALSO HAVE TO TALK ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH. OUR KIDS AND FAMILIES ARE STRUGGLING. OUR YOUNG PEOPLE. THE INCREASE IN ANXIETY, DEPRESSION, CELL PHONE ADDICTION, THOSE THINGS ARE REAL. AND IF WE DON’T PROVIDE MORE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, MORE WELL-PAID CAREGIVERS TO SUPPORT THOSE YOUNG PEOPLE, THAT WILL BE PERVASIVE AND WILL CONTINUE TO FOLLOW US AND PUT A LOT OF STRESSORS ON THE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM. SO THOSE ARE JUST TWO THINGS THAT I AM VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT AND WANT TO TALK ABOUT AND BRING TO THE UNITED STATES SENATE. YOU ARE ENTERING A NOW PRETTY CROWDED PRIMARY. WHAT SETS YOU APART FROM YOUR DEMOCRATIC OPPONENTS? YEAH, YOU KNOW, MY EXPERIENCES HAVE INFORMED THE WAY I THINK ABOUT POLICY. AND SO WHEN I THINK ABOUT BEING A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER, I THINK ABOUT EXACTLY WHAT THAT PERSON IS THINKING, RIGHT? SO EVERY TIME THE ANNUAL REVIEW COMES AROUND AND YOU’RE TALKING ABOUT A WAGE INCREASE, YOU’RE THINKING ABOUT, OKAY, HOW AM I GOING TO AFFORD THAT? I’M ALWAYS THINKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS COSTS, AND HOW IS THAT GOING TO INCREASE. AND, YOU KNOW, ARE MY SERVICES. ARE THEY KEEPING UP WITH EXPENSES? SO I’M ALWAYS THINKING ABOUT THAT. AND THAT’S JUST ONE EXAMPLE. BUT I, I’M GOING TO BRING MY WHOLE SELF TO THIS CAMPAIGN. AND SO ALL OF THE EXPERIENCES I HAVE ALLOW ME TO, I THINK, CONNECT WITH PEOPLE. AND AT THE SAME TIME, I JUST WANT TO GO OUT THERE AND LISTEN TO PEOPLE. I THINK WE DON’T DO ENOUGH OF THAT. RIGHT. AND THE THE STORIES ARE WHAT INFORMS POLICY. SO WHEN SOMEBODY SITS DOWN AND TALKS TO YOU ABOUT WHETHER IT IS ACCESS TO CHILD CARE, WHETHER IT’S THE FACT THAT THERE ARE KIDS IN A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS AND THERE’S NO PLACE FOR THEM TO BRING THEIR CHILD, THOSE THINGS MATTER. AND SO I’M GOING TO TAKE MY SET OF EXPERIENCES THAT THAT AS A MOM, A MILITARY MOM, YOU KNOW, SMALL BUSINESS OWNER, NONPROFIT LEADER, SOMEBODY WHO’S WORKED IN GOVERNMENT AND EDUCATOR. AND I’M GOING TO BRING ALL OF THAT TO THIS RACE AND TO THE CONVERSATION, BECAUSE I THINK IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT AND VALUABLE TO BRING THAT EXPERIENCE TO BEAR. WHAT WILL YOUR CAMPAIGN LOOK LIKE NOW THAT YOU’RE LAUNCHING? YOU’VE GOT A LITTLE LESS THAN A YEAR INTO THE PRIMARY. HOW DO YOU PLAN TO INTRODUCE YOURSELF TO IOWANS ALL ACROSS THE STATE? YOU KNOW, I THINK THE MOST IMPORTANT THING I WANT TO DO IS SHOW UP, YOU KNOW, SHOWING UP IS A SIGN OF RESPECT. SHOWING UP IS SAYING, I’M HERE TO LEARN. I’M HERE TO LISTEN, YOU KNOW? SURE. I NEED TO INTRODUCE MYSELF TO PEOPLE, AND I WANT THEM TO LEARN ABOUT ME. AND I ALSO WANT TO HEAR FROM THEM ABOUT THE THINGS THAT ARE ON THEIR MINDS. AND SO I THINK IT’S GOING TO BE A COMBINATION OF BOTH SHOWING UP. AND WHEN I’M THERE, I’LL TALK ABOUT WHO I AM AND THE CORE VALUES THAT PUSH ME EVERY DAY. AND, YOU KNOW, LOOK, I’M A FIGHTER FOR KIDS, I AM, I JUST YOU CAN’T, YOU CAN’T, YOU KNOW, NOT BE. IF YOU’RE A TEACHER AND YOU’RE A SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER, YOU YOU SEE THESE BEAUTIFUL HUMAN BEINGS AND YOU JUST WANT TO FIGHT FOR THEM. AND SO BUT I’LL GET OUT THERE, I’LL HEAR THE STORIES AND AND TELL THE STORIES ALL ACROSS THE STATE. AND SO I THINK IT’S ABOUT WORKING HARD, SHOWING UP AND LISTENING AND GETTING OUT THERE AND SAYING SOME THINGS THAT MAYBE PEOPLE ARE UNCOMFORTABLE TALKING ABOUT, BUT THAT NEED TO BE SAID ABOUT WHAT THE STRESSORS ARE RIGHT NOW. ON WORKING FAMILIES. IF YOU’RE ELECTED TO THE SENATE, YOU’LL BE REPRESENTING PEOPLE ALL ACROSS THE STATE. IOWA IN THE LAST SEVERAL ELECTIONS HAS SWUNG TO THE RIGHT. HOW WOULD YOU REPRESENT IOWANS WHO MAY HAVE BELIEFS OR POLITICAL IDEOLOGY THAT DIFFERS FROM YOUR OWN? YEAH. YOU KNOW, I JUST WANT TO GET THINGS DONE. AND I THINK THAT’S WHAT AMERICANS WANT. THEY WANT TO SEE PEOPLE THAT ARE WILLING TO WORK TOGETHER TO SOLVE PROBLEMS FOR THEM. AND SO, LOOK, DONALD TRUMP WAS ELECTED PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES HERE IN IOWA. AND SO I’M GOING TO WORK WITH DONALD TRUMP, IF THAT’S WHAT I NEED TO DO TO GET GOOD THINGS DONE FOR IOWA, WHETHER IT’S FOR VETERANS HEALTH CARE OR IT’S, YOU KNOW, OTHER ISSUES ADDRESSING UNCERTAINTY AND TARIFFS, THAT’S THE WAY WE HAVE TO MOVE FORWARD IS WE HAVE TO BOTH FIGHT FOR OUR IDEALS AND OUR CORE VALUES AND THE THINGS THAT WE BELIEVE IN, BUT ALSO BE PRAGMATIC. IF THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES AND TIMES WHEN WE CAN WORK WITH DONALD TRUMP AND WITH THE WITH THE SENATE AND WITH THE HOUSE, WE SHOULD DO IT. AND THAT’S WHAT OUR PUBLIC SHOULD EXPECT OF US. MY LAST QUESTION FOR YOU IS JUST IF YOU WERE TO TALK TO ALL THE PEOPLE OF IOWA, WHY SHOULD THEY VOTE FOR YOU? WHY ARE YOU THE BEST CANDIDATE IN THIS RACE? YOU KNOW, I ANYBODY WHO KNOWS ME KNOWS I’M A FIGHTER. I WORK SO HARD AND I THINK THAT’S BEEN THE SECRET TO MY SUCCESS. I MY FIRST JOB, I WAS A RECEPTIONIST. I ANSWER THE PHONES. I MADE $17,000 AND. AND I’VE ACCOMPLISHED SOME PRETTY GREAT THINGS IN MY LIFE. AND THE WAY I GOT THERE WAS JUST PUTTING MY HEAD DOWN AND DOING THE WORK. AND THAT’S REALLY WHAT I WANT TO DO FOR PEOPLE HERE IN THIS STATE, BECAUSE THEY MATTER. THEY MATTER, YOU KNOW? THEY MATTER SO MUCH. AND I’D WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW THAT I’M A DEEP EMPATH. I CARE, I CARE ABOUT THEIR SUCCESS. I CARE ABOUT KIDS. AND I CAN’T WAIT TO MEET PEOPLE. SO THAT’S THAT’S MY MESSAGE. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR MAKING TIME. WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT. THANKS, AMANDA. APPRECIATE IT. STILL TO COME ON CLOSE UP, WE TURN TO ONE OF IOWA’S MOST COMPETITIVE U.S. HOUSE RACES. WHY? WAUKEE DEMOCRAT XAVIER KERRIGAN WANTS TO REPRESENT IOWA’S THIRD DISTRICT, AND WHY HE SAYS HIS WORKING CLASS STATUS SETS HIM APART. WELCOME BACK TO CLOSE UP. A THIRD DEMOCRAT HAS ENTERED THE RACE FOR IOWA’S THIRD CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT, XAVIER KERRIGAN LIVES IN WAUKEE. HE SAYS HE WANTS TO REPRESENT WORKING CLASS IN WASHINGTON. HE’LL FACE STATE REPRESENTATIVE JENNIFER FIRST AND STATE SENATOR SARAH GARRETT IN THE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY RACE. NOW, WHOEVER WINS WILL TAKE ON REPUBLICAN INCUMBENT REPRESENTATIVE ZACH NUNN. I TALKED WITH XAVIER KERRIGAN ABOUT WHY HE’S RUNNING AND WHY HE SAYS IOWA DEMOCRATS NEED A NEW DIRECTION. IT’S NOT ABOUT LEFT OR RIGHT. IT’S ABOUT THE WORKING CLASS VERSUS THE RULING CLASS. XAVIER KERRIGAN SAYS HE’S RUNNING FOR CONGRESS BECAUSE HE’S FRUSTRATED BY WHAT HE SEES IN WASHINGTON. HE SAYS HE BELIEVES EVERYDAY IOWANS DESERVE BETTER. HOW MUCH LONGER ARE WE GOING TO SIT THERE AND TOLERATE THIS INSANITY? HOW MUCH LONGER ARE WE GOING TO SIT HERE AND TOLERATE THE LIES AND THE VIOLATIONS AND THE AND THE LAWBREAKING? KERRIGAN LIVES IN WAUKEE, WORKING AS A CORPORATE TRAINER. BEFORE THAT, HE SAYS HE TRAVELED THE GLOBE TEACHING. I TAUGHT AT ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY, OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY. I TAUGHT OVERSEAS IN JAPAN, SOUTH KOREA, SAUDI ARABIA. BUT I’M AN EDUCATOR. I’M STILL AN EDUCATOR. EVEN IN THE CORPORATE SECTOR. AND IT’S ALL ABOUT JUST HELPING OTHERS. HIS CAMPAIGN CENTERS ON FIGHTING POLITICAL CORRUPTION AND BUILDING A MOVEMENT OF WORKING CLASS CANDIDATES. I’M GOING TO USE THOSE FIRST TWO YEARS. HOPEFULLY THOSE FIRST FOUR YEARS BUILDING UP OTHER REPRESENTATIVES IN OTHER DISTRICTS ACROSS THE NATION. AND THEN WE FORM A CAUCUS. AND NOW OUR VOTES MATTER. KERRIGAN ALSO SUPPORTS MEDICARE FOR ALL AND SAYS IMPROVING IOWA’S WATER QUALITY IS NON-NEGOTIABLE. WHAT ARE WE DOING AS A NATION IF WE CANNOT GET THE BASIC ESSENTIALS TAKEN CARE OF, INCLUDING WATER? WE NEED TO NOT ONLY GET THAT FIGURED OUT, BUT WE NEED TO HAVE LONG TERM SOLUTIONS THAT HELP EVERYBODY IN THE ACROSS THIS NATION. HE FACES TWO HIGH PROFILE STATE LAWMAKERS WHO ARE ALSO VYING FOR THE DEMOCRATIC NOMINATION. KERRIGAN HASN’T HELD PUBLIC OFFICE, BUT SAYS THAT SETS HIM APART. I COME WITH ZERO BAGGAGE, RIGHT? I HAVEN’T SCRATCHED ANYONE’S BACKS. I HAVEN’T HAD ANYONE SCRATCHING MY BACK. SO I DON’T OWE ANYONE ANYTHING. SO IF I MAKE IT THERE TO CAPITOL HILL, I’M COMING UP THERE WITH A CLEAN SLATE. KERRIGAN DOESN’T CLAIM TO BE THE BEST CANDIDATE, BUT SAYS VOTERS DESERVE SOMEONE WHO UNDERSTANDS THEIR STRUGGLES FIRSTHAND. I’M NOT THE BEST CANDIDATE IN THE RACE, BUT I AM A CANDIDATE WHO ACTUALLY REPRESENTS THE WORKING CLASS BECAUSE I’M IN THE WORKING CLASS. I WORK TWO JOBS JUST TO MAKE ENDS MEET. I’M WHERE YOU ARE. I FEEL WHAT YOU FEEL. I KNOW WHAT’S GOING ON. CLOSE UP. WE’LL BE RIGHT BACK AFTER THIS BREAK. STAY WITH US. WELCOME BACK. WE’VE BEEN TALKING A LOT ABOUT THE 2026 ELECTION, BUT IF YOU WANT THAT POTHOLE FIXED ON YOUR STREET, OR YOU WANT BETTER SAFETY AT YOUR CHILD’S SCHOOL, YOU’LL WANT TO PAY ATTENTION TO THE LOCAL RACES ON THE BALLOT THIS NOVEMBER. IN LESS THAN THREE MONTHS, CENTRAL IOWA VOTERS WILL ELECT CITY AND SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS AND DECIDE ON MAJOR FUNDING MEASURES. THE DES MOINES ANKENY AND SOUTHEAST POLK SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE PUTTING BOND REFERENDUMS ON THE BALLOT TO PAY FOR NEW BUILDINGS AND FACILITY UPGRADES. POLK COUNTY AUDITOR JAMIE FITZGERALD SAYS LOCAL OFFICIALS ARE THE ONES WHO LIVE IN YOUR COMMUNITY AND OFTEN HAVE THE BIGGEST IMPACT ON YOUR LIFE. YOU’RE GOING TO SEE YOUR SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER IN THE GROCERY STORE. YOU’RE GOING TO GO TO A FOOTBALL GAME AND SEE THE MAYOR. THESE ARE FOLKS THAT ARE MAKING SOME HUGE DECISIONS FOR YOU, AND THAT WE REALLY WANT YOU TO GET TO KNOW, AND WE’LL CONTINUE COVERING THOSE RACES AS WELL. THANKS FOR JOINING US FOR KCCI EIGHT NEWS CLOSE UP. WE’LL SEE YOU BACK HERE NEXT SUNDAY. HAVE A GREAT DAY.

Close Up: Breaking down Iowa DOGE task force’s recommendations

Updated: 12:01 PM CDT Aug 10, 2025

Editorial Standards ⓘ

On this week’s Close Up, Chief Political Reporter Amanda Rooker and Suzanne Behnke, our chief investigations reporter, break down recommendations made recently by the Iowa DOGE task force, including performance-based pay for teachers.Task force leaders say that could improve schools, while some education experts say it could do the opposite. You can watch the full show in the video above.» Subscribe to KCCI’s YouTube page» Download the free KCCI app to get updates on the go: Apple | Google Play

On this week’s Close Up, Chief Political Reporter Amanda Rooker and Suzanne Behnke, our chief investigations reporter, break down recommendations made recently by the Iowa DOGE task force, including performance-based pay for teachers.

Task force leaders say that could improve schools, while some education experts say it could do the opposite.

You can watch the full show in the video above.

» Subscribe to KCCI’s YouTube page

» Download the free KCCI app to get updates on the go: Apple | Google Play