Des Moines, IA – Congressman Steve King has received a great deal of attention for the many disturbing statements he’s made while moonlighting as a spokesperson for the most extreme wing of his party. Consequently, his actual voting record receives far less scrutiny than it deserves.

For example, Steve King claims to work for all Iowans. Unfortunately, his voting record shows that the personal and economic security of women is not only far from his priority but, in fact, he has actively promoted an agenda which continues to jeopardize women and their families.

“Steve King has proved over and over that he sees nothing wrong with putting women and their families in jeopardy as long as there is a political gain for him,” said Iowa Democratic Party Chairwoman Sue Dvorsky.  “When issues as straightforward as cervical cancer screenings or violence against women become a partisan issue, it is clear that Steve King has lost all sense of responsibility to his constituents.”

On Women and Health care, Congressman Steve King:

• Has spent two years and $50 Million vigorously attempting to repeal the Affordable Care Act, which expands women’s access to a wide range of preventive health services.

• Opposes insurance coverage for birth control. [HR 141, 112th Congress]

• Co-sponsored an amendment that discriminates against women by allowing insurance companies to deny health care coverage for birth control and suggests that states had the right to ban birth control entirely, even for married couples. [Thomas Bill Guide, HR 1179, 112th Congress; House Judiciary Committee, February 28, 2012]

• Favored elimination of a law which requires insurance companies to charge women the same rates they charge men, which would increase health care premiums for women.[Roll Call 14, 1/19/2011]

On Women and Violence, Congressman Steve King:

• Voted twice against the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) which provides support to domestic abuse survivors and gives prosecutors the resources to convict violent abusers. [Roll Call 139, 3/28/12] [Roll Call 255, 5/16/2012]

• Congressman King has voiced his opposition to the Violence Against Women Act, arguing that it interferes “in the relationship of marriage.” [Draft Rules Committee transcript, 9/27/05].

On Women and Wage Discrimination, Congressman Steve King:

• Has consistently voted against measures to protect women from pay discrimination in the workplace.

• In 2009, Congressman King voted against the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, which makes it easier for women to sue employers who have engaged in wage discrimination. [CQ House Action Reports Legislative Week, 1/26/09] [Roll Call 768, 7/31/2007] [Roll Call 556, 7/31/2008] [Roll Call 37, 1/27/2009]

On Women and Sexual Harassment, Congressman Steve King:

• Called workplace sexual harassment a “terrible concept”, saying:

“It’s a terrible concept to define an action by the perception of the perceived victim.” [Slate.com, “Leave Herman Cain Alone!” November 2, 2011]

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Des Moines, IA – For a decade, Congressman Steve King has effectively kept media and political observers focused squarely on his many disturbing statements. Consequently his actual voting record receives far less scrutiny than it deserves.

“Steve King consistently makes headlines for comments which are completely unrelated to the priorities of his Iowa constituents,” said Sue Dvorsky, Chair of the Iowa Democratic Party. “Unfortunately, this media driven tactic has distracted voters from the devastating impact his personal agenda has had here in Iowa.”

Case in point, the House Republican led vote on Wednesday to repeal the Affordable Care Act.

For the past two years Congressman King has been one of the strongest proponents of fully repealing the health care bill – without proposing any alternative to protect young Iowans, seniors, and his other constituents who are benefiting from the bill.

Following the Supreme Court’s ruling on health care reform, King called for a full repeal of the law:

“I don’t want to hear any talk from Republicans about preserving any aspect of it. It just dilutes the argument. It’s all or none. This is it, we’re all in and I’m ready for that fight,” he said.

CBS Evening News reported that the House has taken 33 separate votes to repeal the health care bill, taking up two entire weeks of work in the House. According to CBS News, “The Congressional Research service tells us, that the House of Representatives costs us $24 million a week. So, with two weeks spent repealing the law, that comes to a little under $50 million.”

Spending $50 million on 33 votes to repeal the health care bill, while refusing to discuss how to create jobs and grow the economy is unacceptable.

Looking beyond the rhetoric, here is a snapshot of the abysmal voting record on health care Steve King is distracting voters from as he is busy making headlines and kowtowing to the fringe of his party.

• April 2011 – voted to eliminate the “Prevention and Public Health” slush fund.

• July 2010 – took the stance that federal health care needs to be defunded, repealed and replaced exclusively with the free market system.

• Jan. 2009 – voted NO on expanding the Children’s Health Care Program, which provides health care access to low-income children.

• July 2008 – voted NO on an overriding veto that would expand the Medicare program.

• Oct. 2007 – voted NO on a measure that would have added up to four million children to SCHIP eligibility.

• Feb. 2006 – voted YES on a measure denying non-emergency treatment for lack of Medicare co-pay.

Source: http://www.ontheissues.org/house/Steve_King.htm

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Unemployed should feel guilty, says King

Des Moines, IA – Asked on CNN’s “Starting Point” Tuesday morning why he opposes the President’s plan to extend middle class tax cuts, Steve King pivoted to an attack on unemployed Iowans.

“When you add that all up, roughly a third of Americans of working age are not contributing to the gross domestic product of the United States,” King said. “They should do their fair share.”

He later added that the unemployed should feel guilty for not doing their fair share to support the economy.

Watch the video of King’s appearance here: http://bit.ly/NmhsoI

“The fact that Steve King would give a punch to the gut to the unemployed population is an insult to all Iowans,” said Iowa Democratic Party Chair Sue Dvorsky.  “In Iowa, we value hard work. But for Steve King to insinuate Iowans who are unemployed are lazy is untrue, and frankly, insulting. Instead of spending his time denigrating his constituents on TV, he should start listening to them, and supporting job creation legislation that would relieve some of the stress on our working families and the unemployed.”

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AMES, IA [courtesy of Vilsack for Congress 6/27 Press Release] – Congressman Steve King’s acceptance of five pay raises worth nearly $20,000, trips around the world from private groups worth over $130,000, and protection of taxpayer-funded pensions for members of Congress who go on to make millions as Washington lobbyists is the subject of Christie Vilsack’s second radio ad, which will begin airing across the 4^th District today.

“In Iowa, we’re taught the values of hard work and responsibility. Unfortunately Congressman King has forgotten these values and, during his ten years in Congress, he has been focused on protecting his own interests instead of doing what’s best for his constituents,” said Christie Vilsack. “I want to go to Congress to create layers of economic opportunity in the 4^th District, not to protect my own interests or Washington lobbyists. These 39 counties deserve someone who will put their needs first and work every day to bring jobs and economic opportunity to the small towns and cities in the district.”

The new ad, “Washington,” is available online here. Christie Vilsack has called on Congressman King to return his five pay raises to taxpayers, and has pledged to vote against and give back any pay raises until the federal budget is balanced.

Script and Background: “Washington”

After ten years in Washington, just how Washington has Congressman Steve King become?

Well, we know Congressman King took five pay raises, which increased his salary by nearly $20,000, but opposed a $1,500 bonus for our troops.King has accepted five pay raises as a member of Congress: Congressman King has accepted $19,300 in pay raises from taxpayers. His salary in 2003 was $154,700. Today, Congressman King earns $174,000. [Congressional Research Service; Washington Post, 6/28/09; Roll Call 85, 2/25/2009; Roll Call 580, 6/27/2007; Roll Call 261, 6/13/2006; Roll Call 327, 6/28/2005; Roll Call 451, 9/14/2004; Roll Call 463, 9/4/2003]

Opposed a bonus for active duty service members that failed by one vote: Congressman King had the opportunity to give active duty service members in Iraq a nd Afghanistan a $1,500 bonus for their service and sacrifice. He chose to vote against this amendment, which was defeated by only one vote. [HR 3289, Vote #554, 10/17/03]And then there’s his travel.

Since arriving in Washington, King has accepted at least 30 trips from private groups, including trips to Berlin, Moscow, and Sydney, Australia, worth more than $130,000 in all.As a member of Congress, King has enjoyed trips across the globe from private groups: According to Legistorm, King has accepted 31 trips worth $137,113 since taking office. As of 2011, King had taken the most expensive trips out of all the members of Iowa’s Congressional delegation. [Legistorm.com, accessed 6/26/12]Then there’s this.

King voted to protect taxpayer-funded pensions for Washington lobbyists. So it’s not that surprising that the American League of Lobbyists in Washington posted on Twitter “Three cheers for Congressman Steve King.”Congressman King Voted to Protect Taxpayer-Funded Pensions for Lobbyists: House Republicans voted against a measure that would have prohibited former members of Congress earning more than $1 million as lobbyists from receiving Congressional pensions. The provision would apply to members who retire from Congress after the date of enactment. [H.R. 5652, Vote 246, 5/10/12]

American League of Lobbyists tweeted in support of Congressman King: “@LobbyistsLeague: Three cheers for Congressman Steve King (R-IA): “#Lobbyists do a very effective and useful job on this hill” http://ow.ly/1cKnY” [Twitter.com, 3/1/10]You see, that’s the way Washington works, but it’s just not the Iowa way.

Read the facts at SteveKingVotes.org.

CHRISTIE VILSACK:

I’m Christie Vilsack, candidate for U.S. Congress, and I approve this message.

Paid for by Christie Vilsack for Iowa Incorporated.

Des Moines – If you thought it was bad a few weeks ago when  Steve King compared immigrants to dogs, check out Steve King defending his offensive statements.

Instead of apologizing for his offensive remarks, Steve King stood by them and said people who took offense should just leave the country.

“We’ve received the pick of the litter from all over the planet. You pick the vigor, the most perky … What is the pick – the alert, the frisky, that’s the one you want. If someone is insulted by that, I don’t know that they belong in this country,” King told Fox News Latino.