Letter: Facts don’t support Blum’s statements

Congressman Rod Blum's Aug. 31 Gazette ad portrays Blum as a bipartisan advocate for Iowa. Knowing Blum's far right record this caught my eye. Blum stated he supported three bipartisan bills, but failed to include the date and legislation number for verification.

Blum's ad touts his vote for the 'bipartisan 5 year Highway Bill” as proof he's compromising 'when it makes sense for Iowa.” The actual facts don't support Blum's statement. On July 15, 2015, Blum was Iowa's only Congressman to vote against the original Highway Bill (HR 3038) sponsored by Paul Ryan. Even Steve King voted for Paul Ryan's Highway Bill. Four months later Blum did vote for the watered down Highway Bill (HR22).

In 2014, with the help of House Speaker John Boehner, Blum ran for Congress as a moderate Republican. Blum wants voters to forget he has governed as a far right congressman. Blum's very first vote was against Boehner as Speaker. Ignoring Blum's disloyalty to Boehner, who came to Iowa to campaign for Blum, voting against his party's leader did not help the First District.

While Blum has not made some of the offensive comments Steve King has made, Blum's actual voting record is even further right than King.

Iowa's 1st District deserves a leader with a proven record of bipartisan leadership. Iowa's 1st District deserves Monica Vernon.

Sara Riley

Cedar Rapids