Photo credit: Iowa House Republicans
State Representative Larry Sheets (R-Moulton) is running for re-election in Iowa House District 80 that includes Appanoose County, Monroe County, the eastern half of Mahaska County, and the western half of Wapello County. He is not being contested in the Republican primary on June 7, but does have a Democrat challenger, Levi Grenko of Centerville, in the general election in November. Sheets is running for a third term.
Sheets currently serves on the House Economic Growth, Environmental Protection, and Local Government Committees. He is the vice chair of the House Labor Committee. He also serves on the Economic Development Appropriations Subcommittee.
Before getting involved in politics, Larry started out his 34 year career as an engineer at AT&T Bell Laboratories. During these years, he also served as a member on the Moulton-Udell School Board, Judson University President’s Advisory Board, Hope Pregnancy Center Board, Indian Hills Sustainable Agriculture Advisory Board, as well as the Christian Education Chairman at his church. He has received 16 US patents, along with accepting a conservation award for planting 120,000 trees on his farm. He and his wife Carol have eight children.
Sheets returned a survey that Caffeinated Thoughts had sent him.
Why do you want to serve as a state legislator?
I fell in love with Iowa, its culture and its people. I am doing what I can to represent them and preserve their culture and way of life.
Describe your worldview and what role that would play as a state legislator:
World view includes more than can be written in this note. I believe in individual responsibility, care for the needy, protection of the weak, rewards to the industrious, equality under the law, thankful that our rights derive from out Creator and the sanctity of human life derived from our Creator.
Your top three issues of concern are?
- Jobs for the industrious;
- Rights and dignity of the People ;
- The ethic of life
What is your position on education, in particular Common Core, Next Generation Science Standards, Iowa Core and high stakes testing?
No to a federally sponsored program like Common Core which is a lowest common denominator concept.
The Next Generation Science Standards do not use the scientific method employed since before Newton, but explained by him. Iowa Core is Common Core in disguise. The testing suggested (Smarter Balanced) subverts the curriculum, since teachers will teach to the test.
How do you define local control in education?
Local school boards controlling curriculum, testing, discipline, where the money follows the child, and federal and state departments of education cease to exist.
When does someone become a person and at what point should they be granted all constitutional protections of a person under the law?
At conception the DNA is human and alive. Therefore it is human and should have all human rights recognized.
Do you support recently passed legislation in the Iowa House allowing kids under 14 to use handguns with parental supervision:
Yes, I believe that gun safety should be taught early and well supervised by parents.
Do you support Constitutional carry and the Second Amendment:
I swore to protect and defend the US Constitution, which includes the 2nd Amendment.
Do you support raising any taxes. And, have you supported raising any taxes in the past? If so, which ones?
I have not supported raising taxes in the past. Severe emergencies such as war or cataclysm would warrant increased burden, if temporary. We are taxed enough already.
What will you do as a state legislator to lessen the tax burden on farmers and small businesses?
I have voted for property tax relief. I believe our corporate income tax at 12% is the highest in the nation. The next highest I believe is Pennsylvania at 9.9%. We are surrounded by states with much lower tax rates, making our products too expensive, and inhibits future investment in our state.
Do you support traditional marriage and is there anything you hope to do as a state legislator regarding marriage and how?
I support traditional marriage. It has served the purposes of civilization for millenniums. I want to take this issue to the People to decide.
What is your position on Christians refusing service at same-sex weddings?
When Muslim and Jewish establishments serve pork, then I might reconsider my opposition.
What will you do as legislator, if anything, to strengthen religious liberty?
We are working on a religious/ conscience act, but the timing is critical.
Do you support allowing Syrian refugees into Iowa?
Yes to those who swear allegiance to the principles in the Declaration of Independence and the US Constitution. We must study them to see if they have murderous intent. Mafia types from Sicily, IRA types from Ireland, Nazi types from Germany, etc., and ISIL types from Syria should be, and have been, filtered from entering our ports.
When do you believe life begins and what types of pro-life legislation would you support?
Life begins at conception. No abortion except to save the life of the mother
Should taxpayer money pay for Planned Parenthood?
No, and that’s being worked on.
In what circumstances would you go against the leadership of your own caucus if elected?
When leadership conflicts with the best interest of my district, the people of Iowa, or my convictions.