For immediate release

Contact Adam Mason, 515-282-0484 or adam@iowacci.org


Rep. King attempting to sell out Congress, Iowa CCI members say
Amendment to DISCLOSE Act would open floodgates to unlimited campaign donations

Thursday, June 24, 2010, Des Moines, Iowa – In the wake of the Citizens United Supreme Court decision, Congress is working to pass the DISCLOSE Act and the Fair Elections Now Act. The bills would require corporations and special interests to report their spending on campaign ads, and provide for publicly funded elections respectively. If Steve King has his way, corporations and special interest will be able to give even more money to candidates for Congress during their campaigns.

An Amendment being offered by King to the DISCLOSE Act would eliminate contribution limits to candidates for federal office.

“It’s unconscionable that Rep. Steve King wants to give even more power to the corporate interests and lobbyists funding our elections,” said Adam Mason, State Policy Organizing Director at Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement (Iowa CCI). “I doubt that constituents in Iowa’s 5th district think Rep. King should be spending his time allowing BP executives or Wall Street bankers to give unlimited sums of cash to political candidates.”

“Rep. King must show his constituents that he’s accountable only to us and not special interests funding his campaign,” said Gary Larsen, a CCI member and farmer from Exira, IA. “He should immediately co-sponsor the Fair Elections Now Act and work to make it a reality.”

The bipartisan Fair Elections Now Act, sponsored by US Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Reps. John Larson (D-CT) and Walter Jones (R-NC), shifts power from special interests to individuals by allowing candidates for Congress to rely on small donations and public funds.

Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement is a group of everyday people who talk, act and get things done on issues that matter most. With thousands of members from all walks of life -- urban and rural, black and white, immigrants and lifelong Iowans -- CCI has been tackling tough issues and getting things done for more than 30 years. For more information about Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement, visit www.iowacci.org.

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