Kevin Miskell for Congress

Background:

I am a fifth generation family farmer, born and raised on a farm that has been in my family for over one hundred and fifty years.

For the past 21 years I have been active in grassroots politics, working to save the family farm, promoting sustainable agriculture and fighting to protect the environment. During these past two decades, I have worked with elected officials on both the state and national level on legislation relating to agriculture, food safety, rural economic development and renewable energy.

During the past four years, I served as Vice President of Iowa Farmers Union, a progressive grassroots organization that promotes the viability of small family farms, sustainable agriculture and advocates for clean air and clear water.

Since 2003 I have worked on the staff of three presidential campaigns. In 2003, I worked for Senator Bob Graham. When Graham dropped out of the race, I was hired by Senator John Edwards' campaign to serve as his Midwestern Director of Rural Policy and Outreach and worked again in this capacity in 2007.

Because of my national campaign experience, Joe Trippi has offered to serve as a senior strategist for my campaign. I am deeply honored and am directing my full attention to running for Congress in Iowa's 4th Congressional District and Leading Iowa in a New Direction for the 21st Century.

Goals:

The future of America today rests in our hands. We must take back our government and return to the era when our elected officials stood up to protect the freedoms guaranteed in our Constitution.

It is time that America return to a foreign policy based on common sense and mutual respect for foreign nations and ended the war in Iraq, torture and domestic surveillance.

I am running for Congress because I want to build an America where all share in the prosperity of the American dream and have equal access to quality education, affordable health care and economic security.

Issues:

First, I believe America needs to create a prosperous economy for all its citizens by investing in our children's education, expanding our manufacturing base and creating legislation that supports fair trade and enforcement of labor and environmental regulations.

Second, we must secure health for every American. Creating a national health care plan that is affordable and available to all Americans is the starting point for any civilized society. That is why I support universal health care; lowering the cost of prescription drugs; strengthening Medicare; and offering the best possible care to all citizens.

Third, ending the war in Iraq is vital to guaranteeing our safety at home and abroad. We must bring our troops home as quickly and safely as possible, and offer our veterans, who risked their lives, the benefits that they deserve. It is time now to act in peace and invest in our children's future.

Grassroots Support:

As someone who has been active in grassroots politics for over 20 years, I understand the importance of organizing at the local level.

My campaign is about expanding the rights of all citizens, including more people in the democratic process and encouraging civic engagement and access at every level of government.

This is something that I have fought for these past 21 years and I look forward to bringing these values to Congress.

DFA Values:

As an economic populist I believe it is the duty of elected officials to protect the rights of America's middle class and hard working citizens over the demands of large corporations.

Rather than give tax breaks to the rich and increase loopholes for multinational companies that ship jobs overseas, I want to see economic fairness built into legislation that keeps America's economy strong by securing our manufacturing base, creates job opportunities for our middle class and rewards hard work, creativity and perseverance.

I also believe that our government must guarantee the rights of all its citizens, create a level playing field for economic mobility and actively work to protect the environment. When basic liberties, rights and freedoms are secure, then all of America can grow and prosper.