Harkin Asks Iowans: What Keeps You Up at Night? Senate in Session to Address the Republican "Nuclear" Option

HARKIN ASKS IOWANS: WHAT KEEPS YOU UP AT NIGHT?SENATE IN SESSION TO ADDRESS THE REPUBLICAN "NUCLEAR" OPTION,

Harkin Office Open throughout the Night to Hear Real Issues Affecting Iowans

Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) today announced that he will keep his Washington and Des Moines offices open through the night asking Iowans and Americans what keeps them up at night. While Iowans will be up tonight worrying about skyrocketing healthcare and education costs, planning for retirement, and rising gas prices, Republicans will instead lead an all-night session in their "nuclear" attempt to gain absolute power.

In an email to constituents today, Harkin asked Iowans to email and call in their concerns and raise the issues they wish their Senate would spend even a minute—let alone, all night—working on.

"The nuclear option is not healthy for our democracy, so I will be here with my fellow Democrats to fight to protect our constitutional checks and balances," said Harkin. "But while Republicans are threatening to blow up the Senate and stack the courts with radical judges, what about the people's business? What about all the things that Iowans are worried about? What about health care, education, rising gas prices, and the minimum wage? Unfortunately, the Republican leadership would rather spend all night focused on their quest for absolute power than address the issues that matter to everyday Americans."

The Senate will be in session round-the-clock tonight as Republican leaders push for a vote on the "nuclear option" to eliminate judicial filibusters. By going nuclear, Republicans will break the rules of the Senate to destroy 217 years of constitutional checks and balances, and will strike a severe blow at the bipartisan cooperation that the Senate depends on to address the needs of the American people.

"My office will be open all night, and my staff and I will be answering the phones to hear your concerns," Harkin wrote in an email today. "Maybe you are working a second job, wondering when Congress will finally act to raise the minimum wage. Maybe you are a parent tossing and turning over worries about how you will pay for your child to go to college. Maybe you are thinking about that doctor visit you have been putting off because your family doesn't have health care coverage. Or maybe you are a farmer getting hit hard by skyrocketing fuel prices."

Iowans can call either Harkin's Des Moines Office at 515-284-4574 or the Washington D.C. Office at 202-224-3254 throughout the night to share their concerns with Harkin. People can also email comments through Harkin's website, www.harkin.senate.gov .

http://harkin.senate.gov/news.cfm?id=238079