Complaint questions donations to Iowa church; Iowa Christian Alliance president says complainant a 'troublemaker'

MIKE GLOVER

AP Political Writer

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) - A West Des Moines woman has filed a complaint with the Federal Election Commission accusing the Iowa Christian Alliance of steering campaign money through a Burlington church, a move that gave tax-deductible status to political contributions.

Stacey Cargill, who left the Iowa Christian Alliance after her mother lost her position on the group's board of directors, argued in the complaint that contributions were made to West Hill United Methodist Church, then forwarded to the West Des Moines-based alliance.

"It is my belief that these financial contributions violate campaign finance laws, the tax exempt status of the ICA and the tax exempt status of the church," Cargill stated in the complaint, dated Oct. 19.

The Iowa Christian Alliance is a key player in the state's Republican politics. The group states it isn't connected with any political party, but it's issues typically align with Republicans and its president, Steve Scheffler, sits on the Republican National Committee.

The complaint focused on Scheffler and Morris Hurd, a minister who serves as the group's treasurer and board chairman.

Hurd is a pastor at West Hill United Methodist Church in Burlington.

The complaint charges that Iowa Christian Alliance officials solicited money from potential donors, instructing them to send the money to Hurd's church, making it tax-deductible. Donations were made with the understanding they would be forwarded to the alliance, the complaint said.

Donations to political parties or candidates are not tax deductible but donations to churches can be deducted.

Scheffler dismissed the complaint as nonsense and said Hurd had filed earlier complaints that were dismissed as baseless.

"The woman is not dealing with a full deck of cards," said Scheffler. "The woman is a troublemaker. She attacks everybody and anybody."

Cargill responded that she only wanted the FEC to examine her allegations.

"Mr. Scheffler will have to explain that to the FEC. Everything I have submitted to the FEC is 100 percent factual," she said. "I am a woman of honor. This is not a personal vendetta. This is trying to hold the leadership accountable."

The complaint Cargill filed sketches a procedure in which Iowa Christian Alliance officials solicit a contribution.

"Once the donor writes a check for the ICA and sends it to the church, Pastor Hurd sends a document from the church thanking the donor for their 'charitable' contribution to the West Hill United Methodist Church," the complaint alleges. "To complete the transaction, Pastor Hurd forwards the contribution to the ICA."

In a phone interview, Des Moines lawyer and GOP activist Ted Sporer described a similar process to The Associated Press. He said he wrote two checks to the church.

"The facts are, I was told that if I were to write a check to this church, I would get credit for being a sponsor at Christian Alliance events," said Sporer. "I was advised that if I wrote the check to the church I would be credited."

Hurd did not dispute that churches offered financial support to Iowa Christian Alliance.

"There are churches and ministries in Iowa that have supported the ICA and have occasionally contributed to our nonpartisan voter education effort, including voter registration and nonpartisan voter guides," said Hurd. "They are fully within their right to do so under both the Internal Revenue code and the First Amendment."

FEC spokeswoman Carmen Gray said the agency was reviewing the complaint.

Copyright 2009 The Associated Press.

Stacey Cargill