Patty Judge ad targets tax breaks for special interests

CEDAR RAPIDS - Patty Judge is launching a new television ad today that takes aim at what she calls a broken system in Washington that supports the wealthy and big corporations instead of middle class families.

The ad, 'Enough,” begins running today, a week ahead of the primary election that will determine which Democrat challenges incumbent Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley.

In the 30-second spot, part of the former one-term lieutenant governor's $100,000 primary television advertising campaign, Judge says special interests get too much help from a Congress that takes from Social Security and education to pay for those tax breaks.

Although she doesn't mention Grassley by name in the ad, Judge argues 'Chuck Grassley has played a big part in that over his 41 years in office.”

'From here in Iowa, it seems to be the wealthy and big corporations get enough help,” Judge says while leaning on a pasture fence. 'It's time Washington starts working for middle-class families.”

Judge is in a four-way race for the Democratic nomination with State Sen. Rob Hogg, attorney Tom Fiegen and veterans advocate Bob Krause. The winner in the June 7 primary will face Grassley, who is seeking a seventh term, in the November general election.

Judge, who has served as a state senator and Iowa Secretary of Agriculture in addition to lieutenant governor, wants to increase the minimum wage to $15 an hour, offer two years of fee community college for students meeting academic requirements and lift the cap on Social Security wage.

Grassley, she said, has supported tax breaks and loopholes for the wealthy and big corporations, including the Bush-era tax cuts for those at the top. Grassley has a history of supporting tax breaks to companies that ship jobs overseas, and has opposed bills aimed at protecting American jobs, Judge added.

Rather than more tax breaks, the special interests 'need to pay their fair share … because Washington is giving those at the top too much and it's time someone stood up for the rest of us.”

The ad will begin airing in the Cedar Rapids and Des Moines markets today.