By Bob Renaud, Campaign Manager for the Grassley for Senate Campaign
"U.S. Senate candidate Roxanne Conlin, who said she’s running "because I’m fed up with tax breaks for the very wealthy" (Daily Iowan, May 5, 2010), was forced by a Democratic opponent to answer for personally benefiting from tens of millions of dollars of special tax credits.
"It’s clear that she still abides by the same double standard that sank her campaign for governor 28 years ago: ‘Do as I say not as I do.’ That’s an insult to hard-working Iowans who see more of their paychecks going to the government instead of staying in their own pockets.
"In 1982, Conlin attacked tax breaks for the wealthy. Then it was revealed that she herself had used special interest tax breaks to shelter hundred of thousands of dollars of income. So much so that she paid zero state income taxes, despite having a net worth of over $2 million.
"In today’s debate, Conlin acknowledged the tax breaks and didn’t dispute the charge that her and her husband’s company received at least $20 million in tax breaks during the last two years alone. In fact, the way she answered the question raises more questions than it answers."
The U.S. Senate personal financial disclosure report that Conlin filed indicates a net worth that may exceed $45 million.