Campaign spending raises concern among watchdog

This was the most expensive campaign the major parties have waged to gain majority control of the Iowa Legislature. Joan Lucas of Pella leads “Money and Politics” or MAP-Iowa, a group pressing for campaign finance reform.MAP-Iowa tracks candidate fundraising and found a double-digit increase in the amount of money raised for the 2000 statehouse races compared to what was raised for House and Senate candidates just two years ago. Lucas is discouraged by the lack of attention to campaign finance reform. She says there’s usually something said about the issue during the campaign.Lucas says the final reports from legislative candidates on what they raised and spent won’t be public until January.