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Iowa candidates can’t use campaign funds for child care

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July 18th, 2018 by admin

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa board that oversees campaign ethics has issued a ruling that keeps Iowa candidates from using campaign money to pay for child care.
The Des Moines Register reports that the Iowa Ethics & Campaign Disclosure Board ruled Friday on a request by Reyma McCoy McDeid, a single mother who ran as a Democrat for a seat in the Iowa House that includes parts of northern Polk County. She lost the June 5 primary to Heather Matson.

McCoy McDeid had requested permission in May to use money she had raised for her race to pay for child care expenses while she campaigned.

State law says candidates can’t use campaign money for personal expenses. In Friday’s ruling, the ethics board said child care costs could be considered either personal or campaign expenses and that Iowa Legislature should clarify the law.