GOP chair challenges Conlin to share Microsoft money

Republican Party of Iowa Chairman Matt Strawn has challenged Democratic U.S. Senate hopeful Roxanne Conlin to prove her commitment to education by donating a substantial portion of her windfall from a settlement with Microsoft Corporation.

According to published reports, Strawn said, Conlin collected $75 million as the lead trial attorney in the class-action lawsuit against Microsoft. Iowa public schools will get $60 million of the $179.95 million settlement. That compares to only $58 million going to Iowa schools – part of Microsoft's proposal in the settlement.  Just $10 million total went directly to individual Iowans.

 “Roxanne Conlin got filthy rich from this case,” Strawn said. “The lawyers got $75 million, and regular Iowans got, at best, 30 bucks.”