Iowa Corn Growers Association Announces Corn PAC Endorsements
The Iowa Corn Growers Association’s (ICGA) Political Action Committee (PAC) today endorsed 67 candidates for the 2016 election cycle. Established with bipartisan support of Iowa’s corn farmers more than a decade ago, the ICGA PAC ensures members have a voice and a seat at the table on issues impacting Iowa’s farmers.
“Each new legislative session brings with it policy changes which can impact our farm businesses,” said Iowa Corn Growers Association PAC Chair Mark Recker, a farmer from Arlington. “The ICGA PAC endorsements provide our members another voice in the process to educate and influence policy decisions made at the state and federal level. The voluntary ICGA PAC is an essential tool we use to help select political leaders who have demonstrated their support to the Iowa Corn Growers Association’s policy priorities.”
The Iowa Corn Growers Association PAC Committee, includes six farmer-members appointed by the ICGA President comprised of three democrats and three republicans. They objectively evaluate all candidates regardless of party affiliation. ICGA PAC decisions are made through an objective analysis including candidate responses to a survey and their voting record on ICGA’s policy priorities such as biotechnology, conservation and water quality funding, ethanol, farm bill, taxes, trade, transportation funding, research, and value-added agriculture, including livestock.
The success of ICGA's legislative policy efforts hinges on a bi-partisan approach to achieving its policy objectives, bringing both sides together for the best interest of Iowa's corn farmers. This is why the priorities of ICGA are the only criteria the PAC uses to make candidate endorsements. All decisions must be supported by a majority vote which ensures endorsements are non-partisan. The committee is recognized and respected for its bipartisan approach to achieving the policy objectives of Iowa corn growers by supporting lawmakers who work to implement ICGA member priorities.
Endorsements for the 2016 federal election cycle include the following (in alphabetical order):
U.S. Senate:
Chuck Grassley
U.S. House of Representatives
Rod Blum, Steve King, Dave Loebsack, David Young
Iowa Senate
Chris Brase, Michael Breitbach, Mark Costello, Tom Courtney, Jeff Danielson, Mike Gronstal, Tim Kapucian, Liz Mathis, Ken Rozenboom, Brian Schoenjahn, Mark Segebart, Amy Sinclair, Steve Sodders, Mary Jo Wilhelm, Dan Zumbach
Iowa House of Representatives
Chip Baltimore, Clel Baudler, Bruce Bearinger, Brian Best, Gary Carlson, Dennis Cohoon, Peter Cownie, Dave Deyoe, Cecil Dolecheck, Dean Fisher, John Forbes, Joel Fry, Mary Gaskill, Tedd Gassman, Pat Grassley, Chris Hagenow, Chris Hall, Mary Ann Hanusa, Greg Heartsill, Lee Hein, Chuck Holz, Dan Huseman, Dave Jacoby, Megan Jones, Bobby Kaufmann, Jerry Kearns, Jarad Klein, John Landon, Jim Lykam, Dave Maxwell, Brian Meyer, Helen Miller, Norlin Mommsen, Scott Ourth, Ross Paustian, Todd Prichard, Walt Rogers, Patti Ruff, Sandy Salmon, Mike Sexton, Dave Sieck, Mark Smith, Linda Upmeyer, Guy Vander Linden, John Wills, Matt Windschitl, Gary Worthan
Editor’s Note: Funding for endorsements of candidates from the Iowa Corn Growers Association PAC comes only from voluntary PAC donations by ICGA members. Neither ICGA membership dues, nor checkoff dollars, are used for PAC contributions.
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The Iowa Corn Growers Association (ICGA) is an 8,000-member strong grassroots-driven organization, headquartered in Johnston, Iowa, serving members across the state, and lobbying on agricultural issues on behalf of its farmer members to create opportunities for long-term Iowa corn grower profitability. For more information, visit iowacorn.org.
For More Information:
Lisa Cassady, Public Relations Manager, lcassady@iowacorn.org, (515)225-9242
Mindy Larsen Poldberg, Director of Government Relations, mpoldberg@iowacorn.org, (515)225-9242