Iott rips Kaptur for boxing club funding

He highlights Miss Kaptur's vote in 2005 for $100,000 for a boxing club for youths in the state of Nevada, which now appears to be out of business.

"I can't find anywhere in the Constitution where it says the federal government should be providing money for boxing clubs," said Mr. Iott, who's favored by local Tea Party supporters in his bid for the 9th Congressional House seat.

Mr. Iott of Monclova Township said the earmark process is unconstitutional, leads to corruption, and is partly to blame for the nation's nearly $14 trillion debt.

Earmarks are spending orders attached by members of Congress to the annual budget bills.

Miss Kaptur and her campaign committee Thursday defended her vote, pointing out that the Nevada boxing club earmark was passed under a Republican-controlled House of Representatives with Republican votes from Ohio.

"That was a bipartisan bill that passed by a huge margin. Why doesn't he put the question to Boehner, who voted for it?" Miss Kaptur said, referring to Cincinnati-area Rep. John Boehner, now the Republican leader in the House. "His party was in charge of the chamber when that bill was put together."

The Nevada fight club earmark passed the House on a vote of 397-19 and was part of a bill authorizing budgets for science and the State, Justice, and Commerce departments. Mr. Iott said the bill contained $1.9 billion in earmarked spending.

Those voting yes included nine Ohio Republicans, among them the late Rep. Paul Gillmor (R., Old Fort).

Requested by Sen. Harry Reid (D., Nev.), the Richard Steele Boxing Club project was intended to provide opportunities for 300 to 600 youths per year in Henderson, Nev., according to the Iott campaign.

But now the club's Web site is out of date and its phone number is disconnected.

The Iott campaign doesn't mention it but a boxing club a lot closer to home benefited from an earmark sponsored by Miss Kaptur.

The Ohio Police Athletic League, 1111 East Manhattan Blvd., Toledo was approved this year for a $300,000 earmark in the 2010 appropriations bill for Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies.

The Iott campaign Web site, www.thekapturfiles.com, is labeled "The Kaptur Files" and features a photo of Miss Kaptur frowning.

Because of her seniority and her high rank in the House Appropriations Committee, Miss Kaptur this year became the top earner in the Ohio delegation of earmarks in the annual spending bills.

She said earmarks are appropriate because members of Congress know the needs of their district best, and are essential for Ohio to get its fair share of federal funding.

Earmarks from Miss Kaptur have been used to pay for improvements at the Port of Toledo and a solar energy array at a National Guard base in Lucas County.

Mr. Iott said some of Miss Kaptur's earmarks have been tied to campaign contributions, citing some $181,000 in contributions that were allegedly connected with $48.6 million in earmarks. He said that leads to a "pay-to-play" culture.

Mr. Iott said he would vow not to support earmarks that are sponsored by only one member of Congress or that are not competitively bid and requested by the President.

In July, the nonprofit group Citizens Against Government Waste labeled Miss Kaptur its "Porker of the Month" for her "gaming" of the House's rules on earmarks to designate $10.4 million worth of defense-related earmarks to two Toledo corporations.

Miss Kaptur was the subject of a New York Times report that two businesses set up related nonprofit entities, at Miss Kaptur's recommendation, in order to get around a new ban on earmarks to for-profit businesses.

In February, the bipartisan House ethics committees investigating connections between earmarks and contributions cleared Miss Kaptur of suspicion.

Kaptur campaign manager Josh Thurston said Mr. Iott's attack had splattered mud on fellow Republicans who had voted for the legislation.

"By swinging wildly in his desperate attempt to attack Marcy Kaptur, Richie Iott accidentally plunked a bunch of people in his own party," Mr. Thurston said.

Contact Tom Troy at:

tomtroy@theblade.com

or 419-724-6058.