Follow the money: Did donations influence gas tax votes?

Money 2By Bob Eschliman
Editor

 

In the run-up to passage of the omnibus transportation funding bill, Senate File 257, which resulted in the 10-cent increase in Iowa’s motor fuel sales and use tax, a number of lobbyist groups declared their support for the legislation.

But only two of those groups, Associated General Contractors of Iowa and the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation, provide direct contributions to political candidates. And while there is nothing to indicate the organizations tied their donations to votes on SF 257, the two groups were the bill’s most vocal proponents.

The following is a summary of the top donations made to state politicians during the 2014 election cycle, based on filings with the Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board.

 

AGCI Top Ten

  1. Gov. Terry Branstad (R-Boone) – $30,000
  2. Speaker of the House Kraig Paulsen (R-Marion) – $11,000
  3. House Majority Leader Linda Upmeyer (R-Clear Lake) – $11,000
  4. Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal (D-Council Bluffs) – $11,000
  5. Senate Minority Leader Bill Dix (R-Shell Rock) – $11,000
  6. Rep. Josh Byrnes (R-Osage), House Transportation Chairman – $10,000
  7. Rep. Brian Moore (R-Bellevue) – $10,000
  8. Sen. Tod Bowman (D-Maquoketa), Senate Transportation Chairman – $8,000
  9. House Minority Leader Mark Smith (D-Marshalltown) – $8,000
  10. Rep. Dave Maxwell (R-Gibson) – $6,000

 

Oil PricesIFBF Top Ten

  1. Gov. Terry Branstad (R-Boone) – $29,000
  2. Sen. Tod Bowman (D-Maquoketa), Senate Transportation Chairman – $8,800
  3. Rep. Brian Moore (R-Bellevue) – $7,000
  4. Rep. Josh Byrnes (R-Osage), House Transportation Chairman – $6,500
  5. Rep. Rep. Norlin Mommsen (R-DeWitt) – $6,500
  6. Rep. Quentin Stanerson (R-Center Point) – $6,500
  7. Sen. Daryl Beall (D-Fort Dodge) – $5,750 **
  8. Sen. Roby Smith (R-Davenport) – $5,500 *
  9. House Majority Leader Linda Upmeyer (R-Clear Lake) – $5,000
  10. Sen. Amanda Ragan (D-Mason City) – $4,800
  11. Sen. Julian Garrett (R-Indianola) – $4,800 *

 

Combined Top Ten

  1. Gov. Terry Branstad (R-Boone) – $59,000
  2. Rep. Brian Moore (R-Bellevue) – $17,000
  3. Sen. Tod Bowman (D-Maquoketa), Senate Transportation Chairman – $16,800
  4. Rep. Josh Byrnes (R-Osage), House Transportation Chairman – $16,500
  5. House Majority Leader Linda Upmeyer (R-Clear Lake) – $16,000
  6. Speaker of the House Kraig Paulsen (R-Marion) – $14,500
  7. Senate Minority Leader Bill Dix (R-Shell Rock) – $13,500
  8. Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal (D-Council Bluffs) – $12,000
  9. Rep. Rep. Norlin Mommsen (R-DeWitt) – $11,500
  10. Rep. Quentin Stanerson (R-Center Point) – $11,500

* – indicates the legislator voted “No” on final passage of SF 257
** – indicates the legislator was defeated in 2014 election

•  •  •

Never be left out of the loop on important issues that affect your pocketbook ever again! Subscribe to The Iowa Statesman today! One year (52 isues) for just $25!

•  •  •

The Complete List of Donations
The following is the complete list of campaign donations in 2014 made by AGCI and IFBF, broken down by those who voted for SF 257, further broken down by chamber and party affiliation, those who didn’t vote in favor of the bill, and other state politicians and political parties.

Senate Democrats
Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal (D-Council Bluffs)
AGCI – $11,000
Iowa Farm Bureau – $1,000

Senate President Pam Jochum (D-Dubuque)
AGCI – $2,500

Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Bolkcom (D-Iowa City)
AGCI – $4,000

Sen. Bill Dotzler (D-Waterloo)
AGCI – $4,000

Sen. Matt McCoy (D-Des Moines)
AGCI – $5,000

Sen. Amanda Ragan (D-Mason City)
AGCI – $3,000
Iowa Farm Bureau – $1,000
Iowa Farm Bureau – $3,800 (in kind – via Victory Enterprises)

Sen. Tod Bowman (D-Maquoketa)
AGCI – $8,000
Iowa Farm Bureau – $5,000
Iowa Farm Bureau – $3,800 (in kind – via Victory Enterprises)

Sen. Jeff Danielson (D-Waterloo)
AGCI – $1,500

Sen. Bob Dvorsky (D-Coralville)
AGCI – $3,000

Sen. Rita Hart (D-Wheatland)
AGCI – $3,000

Sen. Rob Hogg (D-Cedar Rapids)
AGCI – $5,000

Sen. Wally Horn (D-Cedar Rapids)
AGCI – $5,000

Sen. Herman Quirmbach (D-Ames)
AGCI – $3,000

 

MoneySenate Republicans
Senate Minority Leader Bill Dix (R-Shell Rock)
AGCI – $11,000
Iowa Farm Bureau – $2,500

Sen. Rick Bertrand (R-Sioux City)
AGCI – $0
Iowa Farm Bureau – $4,500

Sen. Tim Kapucian (R-Keystone)
AGCI – $5,000

Sen. Dan Zumbach (R-Ryan)
AGCI – $4,000

Sen. Bill Anderson (R-Pierson)
Iowa Farm Bureau – $250

Sen. Michael Breitbach (R-Strawberry Point)
AGCI – $2,000

Sen. Mark Costello (R-Imogene)
AGCI – $5,500
Iowa Farm Bureau – $2,100

Sen. David Johnson (R-Ocheyedan)
AGCI – $3,000
Iowa Farm Bureau – $250

Sen. Ken Rozenboom (R-Oskaloosa)
AGCI – $2,000

Sen. Mark Segebart (R-Vail)
AGCI – $2,000

Sen. Tom Shipley (R-Nodaway).
AGCI – $2,500
Iowa Farm Bureau – $250

•  •  •

Never be left out of the loop on important issues that affect your pocketbook ever again! Subscribe to The Iowa Statesman today! One year (52 isues) for just $25!

•  •  •

House Republicans
Speaker of the House Kraig Paulsen (R-Marion)
AGCI – $11,000
Iowa Farm Bureau – $3,500

House Majority Leader Linda Upmeyer (R-Clear Lake)
AGCI – $11,000
Iowa Farm Bureau – $5,000

Speaker Pro Tempore Matt Windschitl (R-Missouri Valley)
AGCI – $4,000
Iowa Farm Bureau – $1,500

Rep. Lee Hein (R-Monticello)
AGCI – $3,000
Iowa Farm Bureau – $1,500

Rep. Rob Bacon (R-Slater)
AGCI – $1,500
Iowa Farm Bureau – $100

Rep. Clel Baudler (R-Greenfield)
AGCI – $4,000
Iowa Farm Bureau – $500

Rep. Darrel Branhagen (R-Decorah)
AGCI – $4,000
Iowa Farm Bureau – $4,000

Rep. Josh Byrnes (R-Osage)
AGCI – $10,000
Iowa Farm Bureau – $6,500

Rep. Gary Carlson (R-Muscatine)
AGCI – $3,000
Iowa Farm Bureau – $2,500

Rep. Dennis Cohoon (R-Burlington)
AGCI – $4,000

Rep. Cecil Dolecheck (R-Mount Ayr)
AGCI – $1,500
Iowa Farm Bureau – $100

Rep. Jack Drake (R-Griswold)
AGCI – $3,000
Iowa Farm Bureau – $500

Rep. Greg Forristall (R-Macedonia)
AGCI – $1,500
Iowa Farm Bureau – $100

Rep. Tedd Gassman (R-Scarville)
Iowa Farm Bureau – $2,500

Rep. Mary Ann Hanusa (R-Council Bluffs)
AGCI – $3,000
Iowa Farm Bureau – $500

Rep. Dave Heaton (R-Mount Pleasant)
AGCI – $3,000
Iowa Farm Bureau – $1,500

Rep. Dan Huseman (R-Aurelia)
AGCI – $4,000
Iowa Farm Bureau – $500

Rep. Megan Jones (R-Sioux Rapids)
AGCI – $1,000
Iowa Farm Bureau – $500

Rep. Bobby Kaufmann (R-Wilton)
AGCI – $5,000
Iowa Farm Bureau – $3,000

Rep. Dave Maxwell (R-Gibson)
AGCI – $6,000
Iowa Farm Bureau – $3,000

Rep. Linda Miller (R-Bettendorf)
Iowa Farm Bureau – $100

Rep. Norlin Mommsen (R-DeWitt)
AGCI – $5,000
Iowa Farm Bureau – $6,500

Rep. Brian Moore (R-Bellevue)
AGCI – $10,000
Iowa Farm Bureau – $7,000

Rep. Dawn Pettengill (R-Mount Auburn)
AGCI – $4,000
Iowa Farm Bureau – $500

Rep. Mike Sexton (R-Rockwell City)
AGCI – $2,000
Iowa Farm Bureau – $500

Rep. Quentin Stanerson (R-Center Point)
AGCI – $5,000
Iowa Farm Bureau – $6,500

Rep. John Wills (R-Spirit Lake)
AGCI – $2,000
Iowa Farm Bureau – $100

Rep. Jim Worthan (R-Storm Lake).
AGCI – $2,500
Iowa Farm Bureau – $100

 

Pumping GasHouse Democrats
House Minority Leader Mark Smith (D-Marshalltown)
AGCI – $8,000
Iowa Farm Bureau – $250

Rep. Sharon Steckman (D-Mason City)
AGCI – $1,500

Rep. Marti Anderson (D-Des Moines)
AGCI – $1,500

Rep. Deborah Berry (D-Waterloo)
AGCI – $1,500

Rep. Dave Deyoe (D-Nevada)
AGCI – $3,000
Iowa Farm Bureau – $500

Rep. John Forbes (D-Urbandale)
AGCI – $3,000

Rep. Lisa Heddens (D-Ames)
AGCI – $1,500

Rep. Bruce Hunter (D-Des Moines)
AGCI – $3,000

Rep. Dave Jacoby (D-Coralville)
AGCI – $1,500

Rep. Jerry Kearns (D-Keokuk)
AGCI – $1,500

Rep. Vicki Lensing (D-Iowa City)
AGCI – $1,500

Rep. Jim Lykam (D-Davenport)
AGCI – $4,000
Iowa Farm Bureau – $100

Rep. Mary Mascher (D-Iowa City)
AGCI – $1,500

Rep. Brian Meyer (D-Des Moines)
AGCI – $1,500

Rep. Helen Miller (D-Fort Dodge)
AGCI – $1,500
Iowa Farm Bureau – $100

Rep. Jo Oldson (D-Des Moines)
AGCI – $3,000

Rep. Sally Stutsman (D-Riverside)
AGCI – $1,500
Iowa Farm Bureau – $100

Rep. Todd Taylor (D-Cedar Rapids)
AGCI – $1,500

Rep. Beth Wessel-Kroeschell, (D-Ames)
AGCI – $1,500

•  •  •

Never be left out of the loop on important issues that affect your pocketbook ever again! Subscribe to The Iowa Statesman today! One year (52 isues) for just $25!

•  •  •

Those Who Voted No
Sen. Chaz Allen (D-Newton)
AGCI – $3,000

Rep. Chip Baltimore (R-Boone)
AGCI – $4,000
Iowa Farm Bureau – $1,000

Rep. Bruce Bearinger (D-Oelwein)
AGCI – $3,000
Iowa Farm Bureau – $500
Iowa Farm Bureau – $2,700 (in kind – via Victory Enterprises)

Sen. Tony Bisignanon (D-Des Moines)
AGCI – $4,000

Sen. Tom Courtney (D-Burlington)
AGCI – $2,000

Rep. Peter Cownie (R-West Des Moines)
AGCI – $4,000
Iowa Farm Bureau – $2,000

Rep. Dave Dawson (D-Sioux City)
AGCI – $1,500

Rep. Nancy Dunkel (D-Dyersville)
AGCI – $3,000
Iowa Farm Bureau – $3,000

Sen. Randy Feenstra (R-Hull)
AGCI – $4,000

Rep. Abby Finkenauer (D-Dubuque)
AGCI – $2,000

Rep. Dean Fisher (R-Garwin)
Iowa Farm Bureau – $1,000

Rep. Joel Fry (R-Osceola)
Iowa Farm Bureau – $1,000

Sen. Julian Garrett (R-Indianola)
Iowa Farm Bureau – $1,000
Iowa Farm Bureau – $3,800 (in kind – via Victory Enterprises)

Rep. Pat Grassley (R-New Hartford)
Iowa Farm Bureau – $1,500

Rep. Stan Gustafson (R-Cumming)
Iowa Farm Bureau – $100

Rep. Chris Hagenow (R-Windsor Heights)
AGCI – $4,000
Iowa Farm Bureau – $2,000

Rep. Chris Hall (D-Sioux City)
AGCI – $3,000

Rep. Curt Hanson (D-Fairfield)
AGCI – $4,000
Iowa Farm Bureau – $500

Rep. Greg Heartsill (R-Melcher-Dallas)
Iowa Farm Bureau – $1,000

Rep. Jake Highfill (R-Johnston)
AGCI – $3,000

Rep. Wally Horn (D-Cedar Rapids)
AGCI – $5,000
Iowa Farm Bureau – $250

Rep. Ron Jorgensen (R-Sioux City)
AGCI – $1,000
Iowa Farm Bureau – $100

Rep. Jarad Klein (R-Keota)
Iowa Farm Bureau – $1,500

Rep. Kevin Koester (R-Ankeny)
AGCI – $3,000
Iowa Farm Bureau – $500

Rep. Bob Kressig (D-Cedar Falls)
AGCI – $3,000

Rep. John Landon (R-Ankeny)
AGCI – $1,000
Iowa Farm Bureau – $100

Rep. Rick Olson (D-Des Moines)
AGCI – $1,500

Rep. Scott Ourth (D-Ackworth)
AGCI – $3,000
Iowa Farm Bureau – $500

Rep. Todd Prichard (D-Ionia)
AGCI – $1,500
Iowa Farm Bureau – $100

Rep. Walt Rogers (R-Cedar Falls)
Iowa Farm Bureau – $500

Rep. Patti Ruff (D-McGregor)
AGCI – $3,000
Iowa Farm Bureau – $1,000
Iowa Farm Bureau – $2,700 (in kind – via Victory Enterprises)

Rep. Kirsten Running-Marquardt (D-Cedar Rapids)
AGCI – $1,500

Rep. Sandy Salmon (R-Janesville)
Iowa Farm Bureau – $2,500

Rep. Tom Sands (R-Muscatine)
AGCI – $5,000
Iowa Farm Bureau – $100

Sen. Charles Schneider (R-West Des Moines)
AGCI – $1,500

Sen. Jason Schultz (R-Schleswig)
Iowa Farm Bureau – $250

Rep. Larry Sheets (R-Moulton)
Iowa Farm Bureau – $250

Sen. Roby Smith (R-Davenport)
Iowa Farm Bureau – $5,500

Rep. Chuck Soderberg (R-Le Mars)
AGCI – $1,000
Iowa Farm Bureau – $100

Sen. Rob Taylor (R-West Des Moines)
Iowa Farm Bureau – $100

Rep. Guy Vander Linden (R-Oskaloosa)
AGCI – $1,000
Iowa Farm Bureau – $100

Rep. Ralph Watts (R-Adel)
Iowa Farm Bureau – $100

Sen. Jack Whitver (R-Ankeny)
Iowa Farm Bureau – $1,250

Rep. Mary Lynn Wolfe (D-Clinton)
AGCI – $1,500

•  •  •

Never be left out of the loop on important issues that affect your pocketbook ever again! Subscribe to The Iowa Statesman today! One year (52 isues) for just $25!

•  •  •

Others Who Received Donations
Republican Party of Iowa
AGCI – $5,000

Governor Terry Branstad (R-Boone)
AGCI – $30,000
Iowa Farm Bureau – $29,000

Secretary of State Paul Pate (R-Ottumwa)
AGCI – $1,000

Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey (R-Spirit Lake)
Iowa Farm Bureau – $1,000

Sen. Daryl Beall (D-Fort Dodge) – defeated in 2014 election
AGCI – $5,000
Iowa Farm Bureau – $1,000
Iowa Farm Bureau – $4,750 (in kind – via Victory Enterprises)

Michael Moore (R-Washington) – defeated in 2014 election
AGCI – $5,000

Rep. Dan Muhlbauer (D-Manilla) – defeated in 2014 election
AGCI – $3,000

Rep. Joe Riding (D-Altoona) – defeated in 2014 election
AGCI – $3,000
Iowa Farm Bureau – $500

Joe Seng (R-Davenport) – defeated in 2014 election
Iowa Farm Bureau – $2,250

Jeff Smith (D-Spirit Lake) – defeated in 2014 election
AGCI – $2,000

Rep. Frank Wood (D-Eldridge) – defeated in 2014 election
AGCI – $3,000