VOUCHER GROUP SPENDS BIG IN IOWA
Des Moines Register - By Jonathan Roos [10/22/2006]

"A national advocacy group for vouchers and other forms of "school choice" has made a big splash in Iowa races this fall by spending at least $127,000 in support of Statehouse candidates from both major parties.

The Iowa political arm of All Children Matter, a group based in Michigan, has contributed $10,000 to the campaign of Republican gubernatorial candidate Jim Nussle and made smaller donations to 62 legislative candidates.

Issues surrounding school choice are playing a role in the governor's race. Nussle has proposed expanding a tax credit for private school tuition while Democrat Chet Culver opposes the idea on grounds it would divert money from public education.

"We understand that education in Iowa is a pretty high priority, both private and public," said Terry Duggan, chairman of All Children Matters' political action committee in Iowa.

"The mission of this group is to try to lobby so that not just the upper class or better-to-do people have the opportunity to have a public or a private education," said Duggan, former mayor of Dubuque.

All Children Matter is also active this fall in Florida, Wisconsin, Ohio, Indiana and Missouri - engaging in "issue advocacy" or contributing money to candidates, said Jonathan Nikkila, the national organization's political director.

The three-year-old group, in making its first appearance in Iowa campaigns, has drawn a frosty reception from opponents of vouchers, tuition tax credits and similar initiatives.

"It looks to me as if this is a group of billionaires coming in to Iowa to push their agenda to direct money into private schools," said Lana Oppenheim Schlapkohl, spokeswoman for the Iowa State Education Association. The teachers' union is another major contributor to Statehouse candidates - mostly Democrats - through its political action committee.

One of the founders of All Children Matter is Dick DeVos, the retired president of Amway Corp. who is running for Michigan governor on the Republican ticket. His wife, Betsy, is national chairman of All Children Matter. Another founder is Richard Sharp, chairman of CarMax Inc. and former chairman of Circuit City Stores.

Relatives of Wal-Mart founder Sam Walton have been major benefactors, contributing millions of dollars to All Children Matter, according to the Michigan Campaign Finance network.

The group is independent of any campaign or lobbying efforts by groups affiliated with church-operated schools, said political director Nikkila. "We just want to make sure parents can choose the best school for their child."

He said the group applauds enactment of an Iowa tax credit this year for people who contribute to private school foundations that give scholarships to low- and middle-income students. Both candidates for governor support the initiative, and Nussle has proposed expanding it.

Campaign donations from All Children Matter to Iowa politicians were based on their responses to a candidate survey, said Duggan, the Iowa PAC chairman.

Democratic and Republican legislative leaders received donations of $2,500 each. A $1,200 contribution was also made to the Iowa Democratic Party, according to the group's campaign finance report for mid-July through mid-October.

In addition to cash donations, All Children Matter-Iowa has spent $58,000 on campaign-related advertising. Duggan said the group plans to launch radio ads that provide "a positive spin" for candidates in tight races who are sympathetic to its education positions.

The Iowa State Education Association's PAC spent $158,000 between mid-July and mid-October. The lion's share of the money - $140,000 -was given to the Iowa Democratic Party, according to reports filed with the Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board.

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