Vote Smart: Most Iowa congressional candidates ‘lack courage’

CEDAR RAPIDS - Iowa candidates' response rate to the Political Courage Test was better than average, but not good, according to its sponsor, Vote Smart.

Afraid of their opponents, more than 70 percent of congressional candidates now refuse to answer basic questions on the key issues voters in their districts and states are concerned about, according to Vote Smart, a non-partisan group that includes former Iowa U.S. Rep. Jim Leach as a board member emeritus.

The most recent results show a dramatic 20-year decline in the response rates from 72 percent in 1996 to only 24 percent this year.

One-third of Iowa congressional candidates responded. Only 4th District candidates Rep. Steve King and his Democratic challenger Kim Weaver 'shows courage” by responding to citizens' questions on more than 50 percent of the issues on the Political Courage Test.

However, Vote Smart said GOP Sen. Chuck Grassley and his Democratic challenger Patty Judge, 1st District Republican Rep. Rod Blum and challenger Monica Vernon, 2nd District Democratic Rep. Dave Loebsack, and 3rd District candidates Republican Rep. David Young and Democratic challenger Jim Mowrer all 'lack courage” because they refused to answer citizens' questions on more than 50 percent of the issues on the Political Courage Test despite repeated attempts by Project Vote Smart, national media and political leaders of both major parties.

Second District GOP challenger Chris Peters has 'unknown courage” because Vote Smart still is gathering information.

Given the low response rate, Vote Smart has done an end run around the candidates by researching their public records and publishing all candidates' positions on 13 key issues in entertaining and easy-to-use interactive applications at VoteSmart.org.

To see how your congressional candidates stack up, visit votesmart.org/voteeasy/.