Sure, let's build a steel mill. Not like this.

Alexander Schmidt is the Democratic nominee for Iowa House of Representatives in District 60, covering the entirety of Mitchell and Worth Counties as well as portions of Cerro Gordo and Floyd Counties.

The "plan," announced a few days ago in the Oval Office is to build the largest and "most tremendous" steel mill in U.S. history, (somewhere?) in Lee County along the Mississippi River.

The session is meeting to consider $1.4 billion in tax credits for the project.

If I were a member of the Iowa House of Representatives from the 60th District, I'd enter this 2026 special session with a duty to deliver economic relief for all Iowans while being a responsible steward of their tax dollars.

If I were going into this special session: here are a few of the questions I would ask about the project:

Why is it being rushed like this? There is far too much contradiction in the statements about the project from the Commerce secretary, the President and Governor in this matter.

Where are the economic and environmental impact studies?

Does this company's history of cancelled projects and bankruptcy give any cause for concern? The company's parent still owes the state of Minnesota $22 million out of a $71 million infrastructure debt.

The degree to which this is a boondoggle can not be understated. Is the operation of this facility even feasible in this location?

To me, it seems like corporate welfare for a multi-billion dollar foreign company with an awful track record.

The state of Iowa needs more manufacturing jobs, but this is not a sincere proposal from a government working in good faith. It is, quite obviously, political posturing.

I would vote NO.