King Talks Jobless, Immigrants and Debate on Debates and More

Iowa Congressman Steve King, R-Kiron, took the podium as the keynote speaker of the Judge Joseph Story County Republican dinner Monday holding up a sheet of paper with the things that he had prepared to say and set them to the side saying he would “probably disregard them as usual and say things as they come to mind.”

He then touched on several topics including those that have made headlines in recent weeks including his comment on the non-working, immigration, and the debate over debates with his opponent for the 4^th District, Christie Vilsack. About 150 people attended the event.

On Non-Working:

King said all people needed to do more to increase the gross domestic product, a measurement of goods and services produced in the United States, because it would increase the standard of living for everyone.

“The idea that somehow we can pay people not to work and then bring people into America to do the work Americans wont do ...” King said pausing.

He said that he added up the number of people of working age who were not working. He said he counted everyone between the ages of 16 to 74 because Walmart hires at 74 and unemployment is also paid at that age and said he discovered that the number of non-working people and unemployed exceeded 100 million. King said that means one out of every three people you pass on the street is not working.

“Before 2008, legal immigration was taking up all the new jobs,” King said meanwhile some American families were on their third generation of welfare.

On Immigration:

King said Obama created four new classes of people with his recent executive order on immigration that King calls “The Dream Act light” when he directed US immigration to create a work permit out of thin air and “constitutionally in my view out the window went prosecutorial discretion.”

King said he is suing the president and has already met with constitutional lawyers and wants to block Obama's executive immigration order.

On Debates:

King said he offered six dates, six towns and six debates to Vilsack's campaign in March and said Vilsack didn't accept any of them. Both campaigns released debate/forum schedules but have yet to work out the details. King said the most recent schedule has been scrambled a bit.

“We think there is going to be a debate on WHO Radio on Sept. 6. I'll be there. We think there might be one at Mason City. … I'll be there,” King said.

King said he wanted to debate in a Lincoln Douglas style debate format and all they would need is a place to set two chairs.

“We don't need moderators, we don't need rules. Let's just have that conversation so we can find out what's in my head and what's in hers.”