Emily’s List running ad in support of Vernon

CEDAR RAPIDS - Emily's List, an early endorser of Monica Vernon's congressional bid, has announced a six-figure television ad buy in the U.S. House 1st District primary election race.

Vernon, a former business owner and Cedar Rapids City Council member, is competing with former Iowa House Speaker Pat Murphy for the Democratic nomination in the June 7 primary. The winner will face Republican Rep. Rod Blum.

The Emily's List Women Vote! ad, 'Promise,” says Vernon is committed to protecting Social Security and Medicare, programs that are critical to Iowa's seniors.

'Iowa women and seniors know they can trust Monica Vernon to protect Medicare and Social Security,” said Emily's List President Stephanie Schriock. She will stand up to 'Republicans' extreme attacks on seniors' earned benefits and the economic security of Iowa families.”

Murphy's campaign called that ironic considering Vernon's position on Social Security, which has been a topic of discussion in four debates.

In addition to Vernon receiving the endorsement of the NewDemsPAC that supports a plan to raise the retirement age and reduce Social Security benefits, and increase out-of-pocket expenses for health care, McLaughlin pointed out she opposes Murphy's proposal to eliminate the cap on payroll Social Security taxes. Rather than pay the tax on only the first $118,000 of income, under his plan 'millionaires and billionaires would pay their fair share into Social Security,” McLaughlin said.

The ad also explains to voters why for the past two months Vernon has refused to join Murphy in signing a pledge to prohibit outside groups from coming into the race, McLaughlin said.

'With three weeks to go, Emily's List is coming in with a $150,000 ad buy to prop her up,” he said.

McLaughlin also noted that Vernon told a Waterloo forum the pledge was unnecessary because she didn't expect there to be outside spending.

'I think she should consider donating $150,000 to a charity of her choice whether that's the Madge Phillips Center or the Dubuque Labor Harvest or anything else,” McLaughlin said. 'We need politicians who stand by their word. She said she is against Citizens United. Now in the final stretch of her campaign, she wants to have $150,000 spent on her behalf.”

Vernon campaign manager Michelle Gajewski suggested McLaughlin and Murphy have selective memories.

'Pat Murphy seems to conveniently forget that he has taken thousands of dollars from the Republican Koch brothers who spend money trying to elect politicians who will dismantle Social Security,” Gajewski said. Vernon has been endorsed by groups and individuals who knows 'she's the only Democrat in this race they can count on to protect Social Security and Medicare.”

In his legislative races, Murphy received $2,900 in contributions from KochPAC, a conservative political action committee for Koch Industries, an oil and gas company that has facilities in Iowa.

The Emily's List ad will run through Election Day in the Cedar Rapids media market on broadcast and cable television.

Women Vote! is Emily's List's independent expenditure arm that works to educate and mobilize women voters on behalf of pro-choice Democratic women candidates.