DES MOINES – Today, the Iowa Democratic Party filed an official complaint with the Federal Election Commission asking them to launch an investigation into the Ben Lange for Congress campaign, after Lange failed to disclose the single largest expenditure of his campaign on third quarter or pre-election FEC reports. Lange spent $66,264 on air time beginning September 30, the final day of the third quarter, but did not include the expense on his report.

After IDP Chairwoman Sue Dvorsky brought this discrepancy to light, Lange campaign manager Cody Brown said the disclosure would be on Lange’s pre-primary FEC report. The report, which was filed today, fails again to disclose the full expense of Lange’s $66,264 ad buy.

“It’s becoming increasingly clear that Iowans cannot trust Ben Lange,” Iowa Democratic Party Chairwoman Sue Dvorsky said. “Ben Lange said he would disclose every single dollar on his campaign finance reports, but he continually fails to do so. Ben Lange has already accepted $1.2 million in attacks ads on his behalf. When is he going to stand up and tell the truth about his campaign?”

In a press release issued on October 15, Lange campaign manager Cody Brown said, “The campaign launched its first television ad on September 30 and received an invoice outlining the expenses on October 1, the first day of the current reporting period. As a result, the expenditure for the television ad will be reflected in the October 21 Pre-General filing in compliance with FEC rules and regulations.”

But, the campaign’s finance report posted today only lists an expenditure of $60,666 for “palm cards and media,” an expense falling well short of Lange’s $66,264 media buy.

In addition to filing a second false report with the FEC, Lange once again failed to itemize every dollar in donations he received during the 13-day reporting period. Following a taping of Iowa Press on October 8, 2010, Lange said:

“Every single one. If it’s a dollar, they contributed. If it’s a dollar, then it’s recorded. If it’s a dollar, then it’s disclosed. That’s exactly the process we need to have. And I am willing to live with that.”

On the pre-election FEC filing, Lange failed to disclose nearly one-third of his donations.

View the complaint here.

Other out-of-district Republicans to campaign for Lange have included former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich, 4th District Congressman Tom Latham, and Minnesota Congressman John Kline.

“Ben Lange has not hesitated to tow the Republican Party line or welcome Republican leaders to campaign for him,” said Iowa Democratic Party Chair Sue Dvorsky. “It’s disingenuous for Lange to present himself as a Party outsider while bringing in people like Aaron Shock, Steve King, and Newt Gingrich to campaign for him.”

Aside from support on the campaign trail, Ben Lange has reached the top level of the National Republican Congressional Committee’s (NRCC) Young Guns program which describes itself as a “candidate recruitment and training program for House Republicans and it is designed to assist Republican candidates.” In fact, Lange prominently displays the Young Guns logo on the top of his campaign website.

“Iowa cannot afford to elect Ben Lange, his support of Republican leaders and policies that have been proven to fail will be rejected by voters in the 1st Congressional District,” added Dvorsky. “Congressman Braley has been an outstanding and independent voice for Iowa families and he will be rewarded for his commitment in November.”

“Throughout this entire campaign, Ben Lange has consistently tried to mislead Iowa voters,” Iowa Democratic Party Chairwoman Sue Dvorsky said. “Not only has Lange taken money from the same secret donors attacking Bruce Braley, but now he is in clear violation of FEC law by refusing to disclose the single largest expenditure of his campaign. Iowa voters deserve honesty and transparency in this election, not more lies from Ben Lange.”

In addition to filing a false report with the FEC, Lange also broke his promise to disclose every single one of his donors. Following a taping of Iowa Press on October 8, 2010, Lange said:

“Every single one. If it’s a dollar, they contributed. If it’s a dollar, then it’s recorded. If it’s a dollar, then it’s disclosed. That’s exactly the process we need to have. And I am willing to live with that.”

Yet in Lange’s third quarter report, he failed to disclose nearly $50,000 in donations. [Source: Lange for Congress Q3 FEC report, accessed 10/15/10. ]

The third quarter filing deadline ended September 30, 2010 at 11:59 p.m. Any expenditures made by the campaign prior to that date are required by law to be listed on FEC financial disclosure forms. News reports and records obtained from television stations show the Lange for Congress Campaign bought more than $66,000 of air time for an ad beginning September 30.

GOP Front Group Launches False Attack on Congressman Braley

DES MOINES - Days after promising to spend hundreds of thousands attacking Congressman Bruce Braley, the American Future Fund (AFF) has launched an outrageous and innacurate attack ad in the state featuring false statements and images of September 11th.

The ad falsely accuses Braley of supporting a mosque in the area near Ground Zero after showing images of the devastation at the site as well as the Japanese attacks on Pearl Harbor. Lacking any basis in reality, the AFF cites the overtly partisan Iowa Republican as their source for the claim. On August 23rd the Iowa Republican ran an article in which Braley stated. “this is a decision that the people of New York are going to have to deal with.”

“It’s shocking and sad that images from the most tragic days in American history are being used to scare and mislead Iowa voters,” said Iowa Democratic Party Chair Sue Dvorsky. “There is no place in Iowa politics for this kind fearmongering. Voters in the 1st Congressional District know Congressman Braley has stood up for them and the important issues facing the state, that’s why he will be reelected in November.”

The American Future Fund is a registered 501(c)(4) organization which means they are not required to disclose a list of donors, who in 2008 were responsible for total revenue of $7.5 million. The Des Moines based group has previously run attack ads in the state, most recently in 2008.

In addition to federal money, Iowa will receive more than $200 million in outside investments, creating a public-private partnership committed to keeping Iowa on the cutting edge of technology and innovation.

This is one of the 66 Recovery Act broadband projects across the country, that are expected to create 5,000 jobs as they drive economic development. Once completed, the project will install new access points across the state and upgrade the direct connections for community institutions.

Here are some photos from the convention:

Representatives Bruce Braley and Dave Loebsack are among 105 co-sponsors of H.R. 4812, the Local Jobs for America Act. The bill “would provide direct funding to local governments to create, restore or save up to one million public and private jobs for the next two years.” According to the House Education and Labor Committee, the bill includes “$75 billion over two years to local communities to hire vital staff” and “[f]unding for 50,000 on-the-job private-sector training positions.” Some provisions that the House of Representatives approved in separate legislation are included in this bill too, such as $23 billion to “help states support 250,000 education jobs” and extra money for law enforcement and firefighters. Groups endorsing the bill include the U.S. Conference of Mayors. Read full post…

2010 Legislature did good work in short order
Editorial from the Des Moines Register
The Iowa General Assembly shortened its session to 79 days to save taxpayers’ money, yet managed to balance the budget in a severe recession, streamline state government and pass a raft of bills affecting everything from bicycle safety to puppy mills.

If shaving 20 days off the calendar has the effect of concentrating lawmakers’ minds, they ought to consider doing it every year. Despite daunting fiscal challenges, the 2010 session was a success in many respects. Read full article…

Culver to sign gun/domestic violence, ‘Ed Thomas’ bills
From the Des Moines Register

A new Iowa law prohibiting a person convicted of domestic abuse from having guns will be signed by Gov. Chet Culver Monday.

Senate File 2357 would essentially match Iowa law with an already existing federal law. Advocates of the bill say is necessary because law enforcement officials are sometimes more comfortable with and likely to use state laws. Read full article…

More needy college students will have access to bigger Pell Grants, and future borrowers of government loans will have an easier time repaying them, under a vast overhaul of higher education aid on its way to President Barack Obama’s desk…

…Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, praised the bill as a victory for middle-class families.

“Now they’ll have the assurance that their kids will be able to afford to go to college and again, when they get out, they won’t be burdened with a huge debt,” he said. Read full article…

Braley to announce re-election bid Wednesday in Dubuque
From the Dubuque Telegraph-Herald

Bruce Braley, D-Iowa, will announce his campaign for re-election at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday in Dubuque.
Braley will tour the Roshek Building, which remains under renovation as IBM operates on the upper floors. Following the tour, the congressman will hold a press conference in the lobby announcing his re-election.
Braley will also visit Waterloo and Davenport to announce his campaign.

Boswell to introduce ethanol pipeline
From the Journal Express (Knoxville, IA)

Today, Congressman Leonard Boswell (D-IA) and Congressman Lee Terry (R-NE) held a news conference to highlight a bipartisan effort to boost our country’s homegrown energy industry by improving infrastructure for moving ethanol from the Midwest to the rest of the country. The Renewable Fuel Pipeline Act of 2010, H.R. 4674 will also create jobs and strengthen the agriculture industries in Iowa and Nebraska. Read full article…

Rep. Bruce Braley, D-Iowa, is introducing legislation to help improve mental health care and other services that veterans receive in Department of Veterans Affairs-administered facilities.

“The VA is facing an increased and unprecedented demand for medical services today as aging World War II, Korean War and Vietnam War veterans require more medical care, and thousands of veterans are returning home from Iraq and Afghanistan with serious physical and mental health needs,” Braley said Thursday in Dubuque. Read full article…

Lieutenant Governor says LGBT students still face challenges
From Radio Iowa

Lieutenant Governor Patty Judge told students at the annual Governor’s Conference on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgenger (LGBT) Youth Thursday that the state has come a long way in the five years since the conference started. Judge, a Democrat, says changes in law have added protections for LGBT students in schools and all Iowans in Civil Rights law. But, Judge says there are still challenges. Read full article…

AADR presents honorary membership to Senator Tom Harkin
From Eurekalert.org

The American Association for Dental Research (AADR) is presenting an honorary membership to Senator Tom Harkin (D-Iowa). Harkin will be recognized at the AADR/Research!America Advocacy Day, March 2, 2010, in Washington, DC. Read full article…

Two members of Congress from Iowa have announced millions in federal funds will be going to two of the state’s public transit agencies.

Rep. Bruce Braley announced Wednesday $5.6 million will be going to Dubuque to redesign streets in the city’s Millwork District to provide safe and convenient transportation for motorists, cyclists and pedestrians. Read full article…

Lt. Governor Judge tours HUSCO plant
From the Dubuque Telegraph-Herald

Iowa Lt. Gov. Patty Judge stopped in Maquoketa Friday as part of the “Moving Iowa Forward” tour scheduled by Judge and Gov. Chet Culver.

She toured the HUSCO International plant where hydraulic and electrohydraulic controls are manufactured. Read full article…

Loebsack: Health reform moving ahead
From the Burlington Hawkeye

Forget what the polls and pundits are saying against health reform and Congress as a whole.

Rep. Dave Loebsack, a Democrat, said from what he hears around the 2nd District, people still want Congress to move forward on health reform and act in a bipartisan way. Read full article…