Democratic leaders in the U.S. Senate want to pass two large pieces of legislation by the end of October.

One is a $1 trillion infrastructure bill, which has support of both Democrats and Republicans. The second is the Build Back Better Act, a package that would cost an estimated $3.5 trillion over 10 years and includes free universal preschool, lower prescription drugs costs and electric vehicle tax credits.

Tax March, a Washington, D.C.-based left-wing advocacy group, announced last month a $2 million ad campaign to pressure members of Congress to support Build Back Better. One of those ads, targeting U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks, a Republican representing Iowa’s 2nd District, is running in Iowa.

A 15-second ad that began airing Sept. 29 starts off saying: “During the pandemic, billionaires got $1 trillion richer.” A screen graphic says the net worth of U.S. billionaires went from about $2.8 trillion on March 18, 2020, to more than $4.6 trillion by Aug. 17.

“If they paid their fair share of taxes, that would mean expanding Medicare and lowering prescription drug prices,” the ad states.

Tax March asks Iowans to call Miller-Meeks and ask her to support Build Back Better.

The Fact Checker team checks statements made by an Iowa political candidate/officeholder or a national candidate/officeholder about Iowa, or in ads that appear in our market.

Claims must be independently verifiable. We give statements grades from A to F based on accuracy and context.

If you spot a claim you think needs checking, email us at factchecker@thegazette.com.

This episode of the Fact Checker Podcast is hosted by The Gazette's Erin Jordan and features Michaela Ramm and Marissa Payne. The Fact Checker Podcast is produced by Stephen M. Colbert and music is Lobby Time by Kevin MacLeod.

Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3986-lobby-time/

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/