Does Congressman King think Iowans have sent him to Washington to spend his time and resources launching political attacks on his opponent? Because that’s what he spent an afternoon doing.

Yesterday afternoon, King held a video town hall on Livestream. The event was promoted by his congressional office on his official Facebook Page, through a mass email, and by his congressional press staff on Twitter. King read questions submitted via email and used the opportunity to launch over-the-top attacks on Christie Vilsack. 

Instead of having a real discussion about his FAIR Tax plan he warned viewers to “Brace up, we will be getting attacks from the Vilsack campaign attacking me on wanting to abolish all of the federal taxes that are taxed on productivity and put it over, instead, on consumption.” It’s not surprising that King would rather accuse the Vilsack campaign of attacks than explain why he supports a FAIR Tax. Even independent sources have found that this national, 23 percent sales tax on everything you buy, would raise taxes on anyone making between $15,000 and $200,000 and double-tax seniors who have saved for retirement.

He then attacked Christie Vilsack, saying, “I just don’t know what [Christie Vilsack] believes in.” Despite the fact that Christie has spent more than a year discussing her ideas and views with people across the 4^th Congressional District, and has most recently announced her ideas for making health care affordable and accessible in this country. He even used the event to repeat the outrageous attack that Christie Vilsack lives in Washington D.C., and failed to tell viewers that she actually lives in Ames.

He also said he would “be real happy to debate Christie Vilsack” on the issue of immigration, despite the fact that he has spent months unwilling to have a serious discussion about this issue. 

Over-the-top attacks aside, the use of his congressional office for these purely political purposes is actually against ethics guidelines in the House of Representatives. Page 123 of the House Ethics Manual states:

“official resources of the House must, as a general rule, be used for the performance of official business of the House, and hence those resources may not be used for campaign or political purposes. The laws and rules referenced in this section reflect ― the basic principle that government funds should not be spent to help incumbents gain reelection.”

Despite this clear prohibition, King repeatedly discussed his campaign against Christie Vilsack and used his congressional resources to spread false information.

Iowans expect their representatives to get to work, not use taxpayer resources to campaign. Congressman King says he deserves the five pay raises he has taken, but he he’s not getting the job done.