Young is at the center of controversy at a critical time for his tough reelection campaign
Congressman David Young is still feeling the heat for his central role in a vote-switching scandal that blew up on the floor of the House of Representatives. The shameful episode received local TV and print coverage when the news first broke and last week the Des Moines Register published an editorial questioning his lack of independence and transparency, saying that:
“…for Iowans, the question is no longer whether Young can get re-elected; it’s whether he deserves to be re-elected.”
Unfortunately for Young – who apparently thought he could get away with having his arm twisted by party leadership and then pretending it never happened – things only got worse from there. Three Des Moines TV stations revealed damning footage of Young being worked over by his party leadership before he became the final and deciding vote on the anti-LGBT amendment.
KCCI (CBS)
“…Young has been called a flopper and Democrats say he was bullied by Republican Party leaders, but today he told me no one twisted his arm to make him switch his vote. It was like a scene out of the British Parliament on the US House floor.”
WOI (ABC)
“Tonight he’s catching some flak for switching his vote from yes to no on a House bill that would protect LGBT individuals from discrimination under federal contracts. Here is the video of that vote. It’s from C-SPAN. Young is seen standing as the vote gets counted, then he is approached by members of House leadership. He eventually off screen where he changes his vote from yes to no.”
WATCH: WHO (NBC)
“The amendment was about to pass by one vote when Republican leaders kept the vote open longer than scheduled, seven lawmakers switched their vote during that time including David Young. The measure ended up failing. Democrats say this video from C-Span proves Young was forced into changing his vote. You can see him down there in the right corner. You can see two House Republican leaders physically pulled Young off the floor moments before Young’s vote changed.”
