Republican Response: Iowa Sen. Ernst promises GOP focus on Americans' concerns



WASHINGTON (AP) — A freshman senator from Iowa says Republicans are willing to work with President Barack Obama on some issues but that it will also reject failed policies.

Sen. Joni Ernst offered her party's response to the State of the Union Address. She said her party wants to simplify the tax code by lowering rates and eliminating unspecified loopholes and to ease trade barriers with Europe and Asia. She also pushed for approval of measures that the president appears poised to veto, including GOP efforts to force construction of the Keystone XL oil pipeline, balance the budget without raising taxes and restrict abortions.

Ernst also shared her story of farm work and wearing plastic bread bags over her only pair of good shoes on rainy school days.

Ernst gained attention for a campaign ad in which she spoke of her farm experience castrating pigs and vowed to use that attitude against Washington's big spenders.