On Tuesday, November 8, 2016, Donald J. Trump was elected the 45th president of the United States. Throughout the following days, college campuses and large cities were in havoc. Thousands of people have marched streets or held rallies in places like Chicago, New York and L.A. to protest the president-elect. One Iowa legislator, Bobby Kaufmann, says he won’t have it.  

Representative Kaufmann, who chairs the government oversight committee in the Iowa House, plans to bring forward a bill called “Suck It Up Buttercup” to ensure taxpayer money is not used on things like cry rooms, stress dogs or materials to comfort students who feel traumatized by this year’s election.  On Fox and Friends, Rep. Kaufmann said, “ I have heard some reports of some schools bringing in ponies to get students though the election. For me that is a waste of taxpayer money, and that also does not prepare kids for life, because in life there are winners and losers.” Mr. Kaufmann has put in the bill a number of repercussions for protesters and state-funded schools.

Kaufmann told the Des Moines Register that he would go after state-funded schools that are offering more materials to students who are upset about the election than they originally offer for standard occasions. He also mentioned new penalties for people who block traffic while protesting–inspired by the students who shut down I-80 in Iowa City Friday night.

District 10 State Senator Jake Chapman said, ‘Under the United States Constitution individuals and groups have a right to peaceably assemble. However, it is not a constitutional right for individuals and groups to protest on interstates and highways. These recent protests are not only dangerous for the protesters themselves but also for motorists. Furthermore, these protesters block interstate commerce. Unfortunately, the criminal charge for these protesters is a simple misdemeanor. For the safety of our citizens and for the free flow of interstate commerce, I have submitted a bill request to increase the penalty from a misdemeanor to a felony.’  Senator Chapman plans to see that bill though this upcoming session in January.

Representative Kaufmann told the Simon Conway Show, “I’m gonna find out exactly how many taxpayer dollars are being used for these cry zones and for all these different safe zones…And I’m gonna take whatever that number is and we’re gonna triple it and cut it from the university budget.”

ADM School Counselor Jennifer Rebel is very much against the bill. “We should validate everyone’s opinions, not tell them to suck it up,” Rebel said. Rebel was also adamant about allowing students to debrief somewhere, regardless of the issue.  

Melissa Smith was not so much against the bill, but had a few concerns with it.  She said, “I do not think the reaction to the election is productive. If people are upset about the election, they should take action instead of crying about it.”  Her concern is if the Iowa Legislature starts taking away funding, regardless of the situation, it becomes easier and easier to take away funding for mental health issues.

Smith said, “In high school I learned that I have the right to protest until it infringes on others rights. Blocking traffic is doing that. If they need to change the charge from a misdemeanor to a felony for blocking traffic to protect those rights, so be it.”   

Representative Kaufmann plans to make his bill reality in the House of Representatives in the 2017 session. The Republican party is at its strongest around the country. Republicans now control Iowa’s House, Senate and Executive branch.

Nationally, the GOP has control of both Houses, the Executive branch, and the Supreme Court with new appointees President-Elect Trump will appoint. Bills like these are much more likely to pass with GOP-controlled governments. The “Suck It Up Buttercup” bill may become law in just a few short months.