Miller-Meeks reports $72,702 cash on hand for 2nd District race

By James Q. Lynch 

The Gazette

CEDAR RAPIDS – Mariannette Miller-Meeks raised $92,098 for her bid to win the Republican nomination in Iowa's U.S. House 2

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 “Our fundraising has accelerated, our support is growing, our team is in place and we are fully committed to permanently retiring (Rep.) David Loebsack,” Miller-Meeks said. “Today's numbers are one more indication that the momentum is clearly in our corner.”

The Ottumwa ophthalmologist reported having $72,702 cash on hand March 31, the end of the Federal Election Commission's first-quarter reporting period.

She also noted her “extensive grassroots volunteer network allows us to keep our expenses low.” She reported $19,395 in operating expenses for the quarter.

Also Thursday, Chris Reed of Marion reported raising $14,735 for the first quarter and having $11,400 cash on hand as the campaign heads into the final eight weeks.

Earlier this week, Rob Gettemy of Marion reported raising $128,000, including a $100,000 loan from himself. Miller-Meeks reported having no debt.

Steve Rathje of Cedar Rapids reported raising $41,729 in the first three months of the year and has $55,585 cash on hand.

Rathje, Reed and Miller-Meeks all spoke to a Tea Party rally in Cedar Rapids Thursday. Reed took the opportunity to take a swing at Rathje, calling his tax holiday proposal a gimmick “that will put us further in debt.” Reed favors the flat tax.

Rathje is calling for a 60-day income tax holiday followed by a decrease in personal income tax and corporate income tax rates. His plan would create 6 million jobs, provide a $417 billion economic stimulus “and not cost the taxpayers one dime,” Rathje said at the rally.

Miller-Meeks said it's time to retire “Do-Nothing Dave” before he joins House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in raising taxes to pay for the debt they've created with “government gone wild.”

Loebsack used Tax Day to point out that “this Congress enacted more than $800 billion in tax cuts for working American families and 99 percent of families and individuals in Iowa benefited from at least one of the tax cuts enacted by Congress and signed into law."