Bobby Kaufmann


Bobby Kaufmann is the Iowa State Representative from the 73rd District. A Republican, he has served in the Iowa House of Representatives since 2013.
, Kaufmann serves on several committees in the Iowa House – the Commerce, Government Oversight, Judiciary, Local Government and Veterans Affairs committees.

"Suck it up, Buttercup" bill

Following the 2016 presidential election, Kaufmann announced that he planned to introduce a bill in the January legislative session that would penalize state universities that used public funding to offer election-related counseling and other support services to students that are beyond the scope of existing mental health resources. The bill, which Kaufmann nicknamed the "Suck it up, Buttercup" bill, would cut the budget of state universities by double the amount they spend on such activities and introduce criminal penalties for protesters that block highways.
In an interview with Fox & Friends on November 16, Kaufmann criticized the establishment of post-election "cry rooms" and that he "was hearing reports of some schools that were bringing in ponies to be able get students through the election." When pressed for more details on these reports of coddling students during a live interview later that day with the Canadian radio show As It Happens, Kaufmann hung up and accused the program of having an agenda.

Electoral history

Kaufmann was elected in 2012, defeating Democrat Dick Schwab; he was reelected in 2014 over challenger David Johnson.

Family

Kaufmann is the son of former Iowa State Representative and current Republican Party of Iowa chairman Jeff Kaufmann.