WATERLOO, Iowa (Legal Newsline) – The Iowa Corn Growers Association PAC has endorsed U.S. Rep. and Senate-candidate Bruce Braley – a Democratic candidate whose past remarks concerning farmers could be interpreted as insulting.
Braley, a plaintiffs lawyer by trade and former head of the Iowa Trial Lawyers Association, received an abundance of media attention for his past remarks concerning Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley being a “farmer.”
In January, Braley told a group of trial lawyers at a Corpus Christi, Texas, fundraiser he needs their “help” to stop Grassley – an Iowa farmer prior to launching his extensive career in Congress – from becoming the next chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, which could happen if Republicans regain a majority in the Senate.
In spite of the media spectacle, ICGA announced the endorsement of Braley on Tuesday, stating in a press release that the congressman has a strong record of fighting to grow Iowa’s rural economy.
“He worked for three years across party lines to pass the bipartisan Farm Bill that is critical to Iowa jobs and Iowa’s farming communities,” the press release states. “He has also fought staunchly to protect the Renewable Fuel Standard, which supports nearly 75,000 Iowa jobs.”
ICGA sees Braley as a better choice than his Republican rival, state Rep. Joni Ernst.
“In contrast (to Braley), Joni Ernst would have opposed the Farm Bill and says she is ‘philosophically opposed’ to the Renewable Fuel Standard,” the press release states.
The RFS program was created under the Energy Policy Act of 2005, and established the first renewable fuel volume mandate in the U.S.
Although campaign finance records show the ICGA has not doled out any cash to Braley so far in the 2014 election cycle, the National Crown Growers Association has contributed $6,000 to his campaign.
Reach David Yates at elections@legalnewsline.com
Growers PAC endorses candidate who made 'farmer' remark about U.S. senator
