boy, here’s a picture we use a lot when talking about Republicans

Contact: Josh Levitt

jlevitt@iowademocrats.org

Young’s Shady Deal with the National Republican Campaign Committee Raises Serious Ethical Questions

DES MOINES – Congressman David Young claims to be working for the people of Iowa, but it’s crystal clear he’s firmly in the back pocket of Washington Republicans.

The Washington Post reported that David Young signed a secret contract with the National Republican Campaign Committee (NRCC) that forces Young to hand over his legislative agenda, along with complete political justification, to the group in exchange for campaign cash and assistance. The Post specifies that the agreement Young signed requires House incumbents to provide, “detailed, written legislative strategy that provides short-, immediate-, and long-term legislative goals, including political justifications for those goals.”

“Iowans expect their elected representatives to put the interests of Iowans first. But just months into his first term, it’s apparent David Young is completely beholden to Washington,” said IDP Press Secretary Josh Levitt. “By signing this shady, secret contract with the NRCC, David Young has ceded his responsibility to legislate on behalf of Iowa’s Third District in exchange for campaign cash from Washington. This news confirms that David Young is the consummate DC insider who is putting his own re-election over the interests of Iowa.”

Young and his Chief of Staff (a federal government employee) were required to sign the secret contract in order to participate in the NRCC’s Patriot Program, which according to the Post, is an initiative that brings “special attention” and “mounds of campaign cash” to vulnerable incumbents like David Young. Before moving back to Iowa to further his political ambitions, Young worked as a chief of staff – so he understands how inappropriate it is for a federal employee to mix political and government business. But that didn’t stop him from blurring ethical lines.

According to the House Ethics Manual, official resources “may not be used for campaign or political purposes.” It’s fair to assume that official resources are used in the creation of legislative plans. Further, the manual says that:

“…materials in the congressional office files – including, for example, back-up memoranda on issues – are not to be shared with the campaign or otherwise used for campaign purposes. Those materials are to be used for official purposes only. Congressional staff members should not do research on behalf of the campaign or write campaign speeches or other materials while on official time or using official resources.”

David Young’s decision to hand over his legislative agenda to a political organization raises a number of important questions:

LOYALTY: Where do David Young’s loyalties lie – with Washington Republicans or his constituents in Iowa?

ETHICS: How is it ethical for David Young to have his agenda managed by Washington Republicans, not his constituents in the Third District?

POLICY: Which policies did David Young include in the agenda he submitted to the NRCC? Did the NRCC have any input on bills Young should introduce or co-sponsor?
It’s no surprise to see a DC insider like David Young turn to Washington for campaign help with his re-election in serious danger. But handing over his legislative agenda to Washington Republicans is plain wrong. Iowans deserve to have these important questions answered.