A bipartisan Iowa House Ethics Committee quickly voted unanimously Friday to dismiss two ethics complaints against state Rep. Abby Finkenauer, and lawmakers from both parties called the allegations partisan and without merit.

Finkenauer, a Dubuque lawmaker, is the Democratic nominee in a heated battle for Congress against U.S. Rep. Rod Blum, a Dubuque Republican, in northeast Iowa's 1st District. The complaints alleged that Finkenauer had misused taxpayer funds to benefit her campaign, but both Republicans and Democrats found no basis that either allegation was true.

The complaints were filed by Carol Sullivan of Cedar Rapids, a homemaker who has donated a total of $9,572 to Blum's campaign since Sept. 3, 2014, according to Federal Election Commission records.

The committee rejected both complaints "with prejudice," which means they cannot be considered again by the House ethics panel. Taylor, who is not seeking re-election in November, said he was pleased that the House Ethics Committee has acted in a non-partisan manner to consider ethics complaints.