Today, the Humane Society Legislative Fund launched a new TV ad campaign in Iowa’s 4th Congressional District, opposing Steve King’s reelection to Congress. King has one of the most extreme records on animal cruelty in Congress, and has worked harder than any other lawmaker to block legislation cracking down on illegal dogfighting. Our new TV ad highlights his opposition to a ban on taking children to dogfights.

During consideration of the 2012 Farm Bill, King led an unsuccessful effort to defeat an amendment to strengthen the federal animal fighting law and make it a crime for an adult to attend or to bring a child to a dogfight or cockfight. Despite King’s efforts, the amendment was approved. The underlying anti-fighting bill, H.R. 2492, has a bipartisan group of 225 House cosponsors, and a Senate amendment on the topic passed with 88 votes. 

Shockingly, as reported today by the Des Moines Register, some of the TV stations in Iowa are refusing to run the ad. One station manager called it graphic and sensational, despite the fact that the ad uses still images rather than any graphic video footage, and is meticulously sourced with information documenting King’s voting record and statements. Animal cruelty is graphic and sensational, and that’s why we need lawmakers who will put an end to it.

Voters need information about political candidates in order to make decisions about who best represents their interests and values. Since the viewers of some of these stations won’t be allowed to see the truth about Steve King’s extreme record on animal cruelty, that means we need your help to spread the word far and wide.

Steve King is way out of the mainstream on animal welfare issues. Watch the TV ad that Steve King doesn’t want you to see, and share it with your friends and family by visiting our new website, StopKingofCruelty.com. Help us spread the word to voters in Iowa’s 4th Congressional District that Steve King is wrong for Iowa families.