Archive: The Branstad Blog
August 12, 2010
Earlier this week, our campaign sent a release – using the SAME Moody’s report that Gov. Culver did – that showed our debt level to be far higher than the $219 million that Culver touted just last week.
About $3 BILLION higher.
So why the discrepancy?
State Auditor David Vaudt correctly notes that Iowa’s debt level is in fact 14 times the amount Gov. Culver asserted last week. The report, found HERE, reveals Iowa’s true debt levels, including:
- Iowa’s debt is $3.2 billion
- Iowa’s debt is $1,050 per capita
- A family of four has more than $4,000 in debt
- The real debt is 14 times larger than Gov. Culver’s misleading release
The problem with Culver’s assertion is that the Moody’s table he cited didn’t even include I-JOBS and other “off the books” bonding being done across the state. So, it’s misleading to cherry pick the numbers and attempt to tout them as some sort of achievement. The Moody’s table we cited – right next to it on their web site – showed the full debt. In fact, for every… read more →
August 10, 2010
(URBANDALE) – State Auditor David Vaudt today released a report showing Iowa’s debt level at 14 times the amount Gov. Culver asserted last week. The report, found HERE, reveals Iowa’s true debt levels, including:
- Iowa’s debt is $3.2 billion
- Iowa’s debt is $1,050 per capita
- A family of four has more than $4,000 in debt
- The real debt is 14 times larger than Gov. Culver’s misleading release
“Gov. Culver deliberately released a deceptive and misleading report in an attempt to hide Iowa’s true debt,” said Branstad 2010 campaign manager Jeff Boeyink. “Iowans are shackled with a debt load that is in reality 14 times greater than what Gov. Culver asserted it was just last week.
“Chet Culver should look in the mirror and decide if he will continue to mislead Iowans with just 12 weeks left in his campaign, or if he will come clean with Iowans and attempt to honestly deal with the state’s finances and this crushing generational debt. The choice is his.”
For more information on the Branstad/Reynolds campaign please visit www.GovernorBranstad2010.com.
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August 6, 2010
(URBANDALE) – Former Gov. Terry Branstad issued the following statement upon learning of Bob Vander Plaats’ intentions this morning:
“This is an issue on which Bob has often spoke with great passion and I understand his desire to pursue this path. I respect his decision.”
For more information on the Branstad/Reynolds campaign please visit www.GovernorBranstad2010.com.
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August 5, 2010
Really.
House Minority Leader Kraig Paulsen today crunched the numbers and discovered that Gov. Chet Culver is again promising property tax increases, yet again, on the property owners of Iowa. Here is what he said:
“Gov. Culver has already committed over $1 billion in new spending and now he’s adding another $120 million. Once again, this governor proves he’s committed to bloated budgets and out of control spending at the expense of the property taxpayer,” said House Republican Leader Kraig Paulsen (R-Hiawatha). “Balancing the budget is not good enough if it’s on the backs of the taxpayers.”
Ouch.
Read the full story on Paulsen’s web site by clicking here: http://kraigpaulsen.com/blog/?p=190
August 4, 2010
(URBANDALE) – Governor Branstad 2010 campaign manager Jeff Boeyink offered the following response to Gov. Culver’s election-year address today to school administrators in Des Moines:
“Gov. Branstad’s goal is to again make Iowa’s education system the best in the country. In the coming weeks, we will be unveiling Terry Branstad’s education agenda and how his administration will achieve this ambitious goal.
“Governor Culver has failed to keep his many educational promises to teachers, students, and parents, and today again offered more of the same. He has failed teachers with his slashing of school budgets and the significant teacher layoffs that has caused across the state. He has failed school boards with a Race to the Top effort that didn’t bring a single dollar of additional resources for our schools but still shackles local districts with more regulations. And, Governor Culver has failed parents by signing legislation that means parents will be receiving less information about the performance of their children and their children’s school[1].
“Gov. Culver has broken too many of his educational promises to be trusted to get… read more →
August 4, 2010
Yesterday, Gov. Culver’s campaign touted a new report that purportedly showed Iowa as having the 2nd-lowest debt per capita in the country. There’s just one problem…We don’t.
This report failed to take into account the $1.7 billion we’re paying back in I-JOBS debt!
To set the record straight on the deception in touting this particular report, Branstad campaign manager Jeff Boeyink issued the following statement:
This report gives a significantly distorted view of the state debt situation in Iowa in that, among other things, it does not include any of the $1.7 billion I-Jobs debt in its rankings. The $1.7 billion debt burden created by Governor Culver’s I-Jobs borrowing equates to more than $500 for every man, woman, and child in the state of Iowa.
Just like he tries to mask his big spending increases in the state budget by not counting the use of one time revenue sources and the use of reserve funds, Governor Culver is happy to use this slight-of-hand in reporting Iowa’s debt burden to further deceive Iowans about the true cost of his massive borrow… read more →
August 3, 2010
(URBANDALE) – The Governor Branstad 2010 campaign today released the following statement from Branstad 2010 campaign manager Jeff Boeyink regarding the latest Moody’s report allegedly showing Iowa as the second-lowest per capita debt state in the country. The problem? They didn’t bother to factor in I-Jobs.
In response, Boeyink stated:
This report gives a significantly distorted view of the state debt situation in Iowa in that, among other things, it does not include any of the $1.7 billion I-Jobs debt in its rankings. The $1.7 billion debt burden created by Governor Culver’s I-Jobs borrowing equates to more than $500 for every man, woman, and child in the state of Iowa.
Just like he tries to mask his big spending increases in the state budget by not counting the use of one time revenue sources and the use of reserve funds, Governor Culver is happy to use this slight-of-hand in reporting Iowa’s debt burden to further deceive Iowans about the true cost of his massive borrow and spend programs.
Governor Branstad believes in a pay as you go system for funding… read more →
July 30, 2010
(GRINNELL) – Former Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad today released the following statement upon learning of the passing of former speaker of the Iowa House, Bill Harbor:
“My thoughts and prayers are with Bill’s friends and family. Bill was a dedicated public servant who served as a state representative, speaker of the Iowa House of Representatives and later as chief clerk of the Iowa House of Representatives. He was a great mentor to young legislators like me. He was a conscientious and capable leader who will be missed. Iowa is a better place today because of his service.”
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July 29, 2010
Group represents more than 1,400 businesses employing over 300,000 Iowans
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Thursday, July 29, 2010
Contact: Tim Albrecht (515) 276-2266
(URBANDALE) – The Iowa Association of Business and Industry’s (ABI) Political Action Committee, representing 1,400 businesses that employ over 300,000 Iowans, will endorse Terry Branstad’s bid for governor this Monday, August 2, 2010, at a 9 a.m. news conference.
July 29, 2010
On Monday, August 2, at 9 a.m., former Gov. Terry Branstad will receive the endorsement from the Iowa Association of Business and Industry’s PAC.
This PAC represents more than 1,400 Iowa employers. Additionally, these businesses employ more than 300,000 workers across the great state of Iowa!
We are excited and honored to receive their endorsement!
