Iowa pays the price when groups outside the state spend millions of dollars on negative campaign ads. Iowa Pays the Price is the name of a non-partisan organization which is hosting roundtable discussions this week about the effects of money on the political process. It held meetings in Durant and Davenport this morning and will host more in Clinton, Maquoketa, Dubuque, and Dyersville.
Co-Chair Brad Anderson says five years ago, campaign spending on federal races in Iowa totaled $30 million. Last year, that number skyrocketed to $112 million. He cites research from a group called, MapLight, which reports two-thirds of that money is from organizations located outside Iowa.
Anderson says most Iowa residents support the wind industry and a tax credit it receives. No ads were bought to promote them, but millions of dollars have been spent on ads attacking them.
He says the ads are confusing and add to the reasons many people don't vote.
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Iowa Pays the Price is asking Iowa residents to sign a petition saying they support campaign finance reform, and a constitutional amendment to reverse the Citizens United supreme court decision.