WEBVTT YOUNG DENIED THAT.DAYS AFTER THE LAS VEGASSHOOTING MASSACRE, THE DEBATE ONNEW LAWS IS HOTTER THAN EVER.NOW "THE NEW YORK TIMES" ISADDING FUEL TO THE FIRE.OPINION PIECE LISTS THE TOP 10RECIPIENTS OF NATIONAL RIFLEASSOCIATION DONATIONS AND OTHERSPENDING THAT BENEFITS U.S.LAWMAKERS.IOWA SENATOR JONI ERNST ISNUMBER SEVEN ON THE SENATE LIST,WITH MORE THAN $3 MILLION.CONGRESSMAN DAVID YOUNG ISNUMBER THREE ON THE HOUSE OFREPRESENTATIVES LIST WITH MORETHAN $700,000."THE TIMES" SAYS THE DONATIONSPREVENT ANY MEANINGFUL GUNCONTROL AND ONLY RESULT INPRAYERS FROM CANDIDATES AFTER ASHOOTING TRAGEDY. CLASS IT IS ALL TALK AND NOACTION.THAT IS WHAT THE NRA WANTS, ANDTHAT IS WHAT SENATOR ERNST ANDSEVERAL INDIVIDUALS ARE DOING.>> IT'S BUYING NOT SO MUCH AVOTE, BUT IT'S BUYING AT LEASTAN EAR --"HERE, LISTEN TO MY POINT OFVIEW." TODD: AN ANALYST SAYS THE NRAOFTEN TARGETS NEW LAWMAKERS WHOMAY BENEFIT FROM THE DONATIONS.>> IF I CAN CONTRIBUTE MONEY ANDHELP THAT PERSON WITH A FIRST ORSECOND RACE, THAT HAS A BIGGERIMPACT.TODD: IN A STATEMENT TO KCCI,SENATOR ERNST'S OFFICE CALLS"THE TIMES'" ARTICLE MISLEADINGAND SAYS "JONI ERNST HAS BEEN ASECOND AMENDMENT SUPPORTER AND AGUN OWNER LONG BEFORE THE NRAEVER KNEW WHO JONI ERNST WAS ASA CITIZEN IN IOWA." YOUNG'S OFFICE SENT THISSTATEMENT -- "THE ONLY OPINIONSCONGRESSMAN YOUNG CARES ABOUTARE THOSE OF THE PEOPLE OF
Report: Iowa leaders among recipients of NRA contributions
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Updated: 7:47 PM CDT Oct 5, 2017
U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst and U.S. Rep. David Young have received millions of dollars in contributions and other benefits from the National Rifle Association, according to a New York Times report. The opinion piece published in the New York Times on Thursday lists the top 10 recipients of NRA donations and other spending that benefits U.S. lawmakers. Ernst is No. 7 on the Senate list with more than $3 million, while Young ranks No. 3 on the House of Representatives list with more than $700,000. Both Ernst and Young deny that claim. The New York Times said the donations prevent any meaningful gun control and only result in prayers from candidates after a shooting tragedy. “It's all talk and no action, but that's what the NRA wants and that's what Sen. Ernst and these other officials are giving to them,” said Matt Sinovic, with Progress Iowa. KCCI political analyst Dennis Goldford said the NRA often targets new lawmakers who may benefit from the donations more than established candidates. “If (the NRA) can contribute money and help that person win a first race or even a second race, that has a bigger impact,” Goldford said. In a statement to KCCI, Ernst's office called the Times article misleading and said, "Joni Ernst has been a Second Amendment supporter and a gun owner long before the NRA ever knew who Joni Ernst was as a citizen in Iowa."Young's office said in a statement, "The only opinions Congressman Young cares about are those of the people of Iowa's Third Congressional District." The Washington Post reports that Ernst and Young only received about $10,000 each in donations from the NRA. The New York Times estimate takes into account other benefits, such as money spent on behalf of candidates for things like campaign commercials. KCCI reached out to the NRA for comment but did not hear back.
DES MOINES, Iowa — U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst and U.S. Rep. David Young have received millions of dollars in contributions and other benefits from the National Rifle Association, according to a New York Times report.
The opinion piece published in the New York Times on Thursday lists the top 10 recipients of NRA donations and other spending that benefits U.S. lawmakers.
Ernst is No. 7 on the Senate list with more than $3 million, while Young ranks No. 3 on the House of Representatives list with more than $700,000. Both Ernst and Young deny that claim.
The New York Times said the donations prevent any meaningful gun control and only result in prayers from candidates after a shooting tragedy.
“It's all talk and no action, but that's what the NRA wants and that's what Sen. Ernst and these other officials are giving to them,” said Matt Sinovic, with Progress Iowa.
KCCI political analyst Dennis Goldford said the NRA often targets new lawmakers who may benefit from the donations more than established candidates.
“If (the NRA) can contribute money and help that person win a first race or even a second race, that has a bigger impact,” Goldford said.
In a statement to KCCI, Ernst's office called the Times article misleading and said, "Joni Ernst has been a Second Amendment supporter and a gun owner long before the NRA ever knew who Joni Ernst was as a citizen in Iowa."
Young's office said in a statement, "The only opinions Congressman Young cares about are those of the people of Iowa's Third Congressional District."
The Washington Post reports that Ernst and Young only received about $10,000 each in donations from the NRA. The New York Times estimate takes into account other benefits, such as money spent on behalf of candidates for things like campaign commercials.
KCCI reached out to the NRA for comment but did not hear back.
