Iowa hates Steve King

According to court documents released to the Associated Press Dakota Dunes-based slaughter house BPI was in the business clique that raised concerns about a state official GOP Iowa Governor Terry Brandstad tried to force from office.

Using ammonia to reduce bacteria the company processes a lean, finely textured beef product that critics often call “pink slime.” BPI had a processing plant in Iowa but moved its headquarters to South Dakota to take advantage of its regressive tax structure.

Iowa voters are strongly opposed to Governor Branstad's proposal to privatize Medicaid. Just 22% of voters are in support of it, with a 52% majority against. Both Democrats (7/78) and independents (25/49) are firmly against it and even Republicans (36/26) are only narrowly in favor. Steve King is an unpopular figure on a statewide basis- only 30% of voters have a positive view of him to 41% with a negative one. But he breaks even in his own district at 41/41, which has been good enough to keep getting him reelected. [Public Policy Polling]

King believes the Supreme Court of the United States has no authority to rule on marriage equality.

In a legal deposition, Branstad denied allegations levied in a lawsuit that he targeted former Iowa Workers’ Compensation Commissioner Chris Godfrey because Godfrey is gay. Branstad repeatedly defended the company’s product in the deposition, bristling when attorney Roxanne Conlin called it “pink slime.” [Associated Press]

BPI donates generously to Republican candidates like Branstad and to South Dakota's GOP delegation.

I found myself looking at my own personal ledger. And what I found, was that I owe a debt for many things. I am so far in the red, I need to start paying that tremendous debt back. Because these are debts I owe to my family for their love and support over the years. [Dan Lederman]

Sleaze and crime built Dan's business. He spent $50,000 to buy a seat in the legislature flaunting the same class throwing it away resigning after the 2015 session. No doubt his name has come up in the federal Bendagate investigation linked with his ties to human trafficking and his role in electioneering the 2014 US Senate race.

Steve King and Dan Lederman make pink slime look um um good.