Require Congress to eventually ratify the president’s emergency moves
President Donald Trump has been testing the boundaries of presidential emergency powers in many ways, including raising tariffs on our allies, like Canada and Great Britain. He wrongly claims that our trade deficits with those countries are a national emergency under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act of 1977. This is much like former President Joe Biden tried to do with student loan forgiveness by claiming it was a national emergency under the Heroes Act passed during the COVID-19 pandemic.
There are good reasons for Congress to cede specific powers to the president in the case of a real emergency, when there is need for very quick action to protect our national security. Neither of the examples above were emergencies or needed to protect our national security. Whenever Congress passes a bill that cedes specific congressional powers to the president in emergency situations, the bill should also require that Congress either confirm or reject emergency actions within a short period of time, say 30 days.
There are several bills making their way through Congress to limit presidential emergency power. One bill, the Limiting Emergency Powers Act of 2025 (H.R. 125), would terminate any national emergency unless a joint resolution affirming the declaration is enacted within 30 days. Let your U.S. representative and senator know that you want them to support these efforts.
Kurt Johnson, Urbandale
Let’s unpack Ashley Hinson’s claims about God’s will
At her recent town hall meetings, Rep. Ashley Hinson has expressed her belief that when a man tried to assassinate Donald Trump at a political rally last year in Butler County, Pennsylvania, God intervened to save his life, so that Trump could save the country. Setting aside the claim that Trump has been saving the country, Hinson’s musings about God’s motives and actions deserve a closer look.
Recall that Trump was not the only one who needed saving that day. Fifty-year-old Corey Comperatore, a volunteer firefighter, was shot and killed trying to shield his wife and daughters from bullets intended for Trump. If Hinson thinks that God intervened to save Trump, how are we to interpret God’s apparent decision not to save Comperatore from the same shooter at the same crime scene?
Yes, the Lord works in mysterious ways, which mere humans cannot always fathom (even if they have been elected to Congress). Ultimately, Hinson’s oft-repeated comment about God protecting Trump is best understood as a naked effort to make sure the president knows just how much she worships him.
Steve St. Clair, Decorah
CultureALL values the cultures of our community
Like the other 101 CultureALL Ambassadors and Open Book storytellers, I am proud to share my culture throughout Iowa. Last year alone, our dynamic network of presenters delivered sensory-rich experiences to 62,945 participants in 44 communities at schools, retirement communities and corporations.
I personally use music and a story about my own life to show the importance of valuing the cultures in our community. Whether it’s through music and stories, artifacts and dance, games or art, CultureALL Ambassadors enrich the life of participants as well as presenters. These Ambassadors and Open Book storytellers receive an honorarium as a symbol of respect for their expertise, talents and commitment to sharing their cultures in ways that bring Iowans together. CultureALL cannot succeed without these Ambassadors and storytellers as well as the individuals and corporations who financially support the work of CultureALL. Happy birthday, CultureALL.
Abe Goldstien, Des Moines
Why every Iowan will be worse off if Medicaid is slashed
President Donald Trump and Iowa Republicans are working overtime to cut $880 billion in Medicaid funding to pay for a grotesque tax cut for their fat cat donors.
These cuts will hurt every Iowan’s access to essential health care services. Whether you have private health insurance from your employer, Medicare or Medicaid, we all share the same doctors, nurses, specialists, emergency rooms and nursing home workers. When Republicans cut Medicaid insurance, all our health care providers have fewer financial resources to hire and pay the salaries and benefits of all the people that care for all of us.
Iowa has a shortage of every type of health care provider, including doctors, nurses, direct care workers, pharmacists and emergency room staff. This is especially the case in rural hospitals, nursing homes and clinics. Cutting Medicaid insurance funding will only make these shortages grow and shutter rural providers.
Cutting Medicaid will also increase the number of people without health insurance. Uninsured Iowans still get sick, need and get care. More uninsured Iowans will increase the financial stress already on the health care providers we all rely on when they are forced to eat the costs of caring for these uninsured patients.
Iowa has a huge cancer problem. In 2025, 21,000 Iowans will be diagnosed with cancer. Do you think it will be easier to get cancer care for you or a family member by making it harder for fewer and overworked health care providers to care for you?
Trump and Iowa Republicans are slashing Iowa’s Medicaid insurance program to pay for more tax cuts so ultra rich people can become even richer. Meanwhile, everyday Iowans pay their taxes and struggle to get ahead and make ends meet. During his campaign, President Trump and many other Republican politicians promised that he would not cut Medicaid.
Contact Sen. Chuck Grassley and Sen. Joni Ernst now and tell them they have the power to keep Trump’s promise or make him a liar.
Joe Bolkcom, Des Moines
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Let’s unpack Ashley Hinson’s claims about God’s will and Donald Trump | Letters
Reporting by The Register’s readers / Des Moines Register
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