The Culver/Judge campaign has done research in the state's archives,
sorting through some of the documents from the Government offices of
then-Governor Branstad and many of his closest associates, including
Doug Gross and Jerry Mathiasen.
And we've made them public for everyone to see.
Click here to read our press-release about the files.
Click here to read the campaign memo about the files.
The documents presented are just a sample of the information uncovered
by our campaign. In total, the documents we have released consist of
over 400 pages of material that clearly shows a systemic pattern of
abuse of power by Terry Branstad and his closest associates. The files
have been separated by person so far, take a look.
- Read the Terry Branstad Files
- Read the Doug Gross files
- Read the Mathiasen Files
Thank you for taking the time and learn more about Terry Branstad's record, because we know better than believe his claims.
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Governor Branstad's own campaign has put the issue of his honesty
and trustworthiness on the table. A search of the records kept by
Branstad and his staff in the Governor's Office shows an abuse of power,
putting personal political ambitions before the people of Iowa.
Governor Branstad's own campaign has put the issue of his honesty and
trustworthiness on the table. A search of the records kept by Branstad
and his staff in the Governor's Office shows an abuse of power, putting
personal political ambitions before the people of Iowa.
In his most recent TV ad, entitled 'Rally,' Branstad's voice declares,
"For those Iowans who want honest, open and scandal-free government -
change is coming!"
"It's a clear abuse of power. It's systemic, with employees throughout
the Governor's Office, including then-Governor Branstad, personally
participating in these activities with complete disregard for the simple
fact that they were playing politics on Iowa taxpayers' dime," said
Culver/Judge Campaign Manager Donn Stanley.
The documents illustrate how Branstad and members of his Administration
participated in campaign fundraising, opposition research and candidate
recruitment from the Governor's office.
Doug Gross, Branstad's Chief of Staff, was playing a key role in running
the Republican Party of Iowa as well as Branstad's re-election campaign
from his office at the Iowa State Capitol. Another member of Branstad's
staff, Jerry Mathiasen, was helping run a Congressional campaign from
the Capitol and coordinating the Republican Party's legislative
campaigns. In addition, Branstad's State-Federal Relations Director, was
spending his day working on selling fundraising dinner tables for the
Republican Governors Association.
"This is part of clear pattern of dishonesty and scandal," said Stanley.
"Already during this campaign, Branstad has admitted that, for the
majority of his tenure as Governor, the books were never balanced but
what's worse is that by keeping two sets of books, he hid the truth
about the state budget from Iowans. While today's information is new to
Iowans, we already knew that, as Governor, he used the state plane for
political purposes and held campaign fundraisers shortly after awarding
donors multi-million dollar state contracts."
The Culver/Judge Campaign has compiled more than 400 pages of evidence
chronicling the abuses of power by Branstad and his staff. All documents
are available at BranstadFacts.com for print or download to the press
and the public.
"This campaign is about which candidate is being honest with Iowans and
whose side each candidate is on. We are happy to provide the facts and
let Iowans make a judgment for themselves."
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TO: Interested Parties
FROM: Culver/Judge Campaign Manager Donn Stanley
RE: Terry Branstad’s Record of Abusing Power
Governor Branstad’s own campaign has put the issue of his honesty and
trustworthiness on the table in this campaign. In his most recent TV
ad, entitled ‘Rally,’ Branstad's voice declares, “For those Iowans who
want honest, open and scandal-free government – change is coming!”
This is obviously another attempt to besmirch Governor Culver, whose
leadership has seen Iowa through the worst recession since the Great
Depression to the path of recovery. For the first time, Iowa has earned a
triple-A bond rating from all three major agencies. The budget has been
balanced every single day since Chet Culver became Governor. And, each
time an issue has arisen in the Governor’s Office, he has taken decisive
action.
Branstad's focus on “honesty” and “scandal-free” government begs the
question, was Iowa under Terry Branstad scandal-free, open and honest?
Would Terry Branstad put the people of Iowa before his own ambitions?
His own record indicates Terry Branstad would not.
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Branstad attacked Governor Culver and called on him to fire the
director of the Iowa Department on Aging (IDA) even when in 1995,
then-Governor Branstad dealt with a similar situation regarding the
samefederal regulation and chose not to fire his department director.
"Branstad's
statement on the IDA ombudsman is inaccurate and his suggestion that
the Governor's Office fire the IDA Director is hypocritical. Branstad
hopes people have forgotten his record and that reporters won't bother
to fact check his statements. Be assured our campaign will
continue to help keep him honest," said Culver/ Judge Campaign Manager
Donn Stanley.
In 1995, the Register reported on the muzzling of
the State's Long-Term Care Ombudsman after he wrote reports critical of
the Branstad Administration's oversight of nursing homes. This
after Branstad had received a number of campaign contributions from
nursing home operators.
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Iowa Democratic Party Chairman Michael Kiernan released the
statement below following Terry Branstad's comments regarding open
records and transparency in state government to the Des Moines Register
editorial board this morning.
"Branstad should be familiar with
self-dealing cronies after his own Chief of Staff Doug Gross made
millions lobbying the state government. Or maybe Branstad’s memory isn’t
serving him well anymore; he 'forgot' about ever discussing the
Clarinda prison project with Gross.
"Branstad’s administration
was one of the most cozy, back-scratching operations in the history of
state government. His appointees mirrored his donor list.
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There's a tax-week masquerade ball going on in Des Moines this
afternoon as Ed Failor Jr.'s Iowans for Tax Relief puts on a big to-do
for Terry Branstad, and each pretends to be something he is not.
Iowans
for Tax Relief used to be one of Terry Branstad's biggest critics,
though they have become strangely silent in this year’s Republican
primary. Meanwhile, Terry Branstad - who raised taxes on hard-working
Iowans as Governor – pretends to be a fiscal conservative.
"Iowans
who want real tax relief should not vote for Terry Branstad," said Iowa
Democratic Party Chairman Michael Kiernan. "And, don’t expect Iowans
for Tax Relief to stand up for hard-working Iowans either."
In
fact, in 1993 when Branstad raised the sales tax, Ed Failor Sr., then-
lobbyist for Iowans for Tax Relief and current board member, criticized
then-Governor Branstad for breaking his promise not to raise taxes.
Failor
Sr. said, "The governor has gone back on his word."[1] He even
speculated, "I think anybody who's a part of this agreement will be hurt
politically."
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Terry Branstad was the only Republican gubernatorial candidate who
did not attend a tea party today. Perhaps it’s because his record of
raising taxes on hard-working Iowans won’t play well with such a crowd.
Where
in the world was Taxin' Terry today? Why didn't he go to a Tea Party?
Did he not go because he is ashamed of his tax record? Perhaps it’s
because he can’t take criticism about his record.
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