Iowa Family Leader’s past funding problematic

After reading the May 13 Associated Press story on the past funding of the Iowa Family Leader (formerly the Iowa Family Policy Center), I would encourage that group to show full disclosure of any past taxpayer dollar spending. Until those potential issues are cleared, I advise all political candidates, including presidential ones, to run, don't walk, away from this apparently hypocritical group's leadership.

It seems that Bob Vander Plaats' pursuit of power and money changes with the political wind. When more personal power could be gained, the Iowa Family Policy Center defaulted on their government service agreement mid-contract. After using $800,000 of federal taxpayer's money for their organizational capacity, they dropped their public service role to successfully court funding from national conservative-base organizations and national candidates.

As one taxpayer, I feel The Family Leader has an obligation to complete its five-year Marriage Matters services contract for $550,000 from the federal government. They should also pay us back the $800,000 they received for organizational building to become eligible for federal contracts.

Accountability counts and I feel fleeced.

John Klein

Carroll