Terry Branstad
Terry Branstad is, indeed, a candidate for Governor. He announced his candidacy from a musuem on January 19. As in the past, Branstad needs this campaign to be about what he says and not what he's done.
While Branstad and his allies will ignore facts and try to rewrite history, the record is clear. The 1980s were very tough on this state. That makes it even more important that the facts are available to every Iowan.
Here are just a few parts of the Branstad record:
- Branstad raised the sales tax – twice! In his first year in office, Branstad raised the sales tax by 25%.[1] It would not be the last time. He went back to the tax well over and over, increasing the sales tax 67%[2] as Governor.
- Branstad raised the gas tax on Iowa drivers. Branstad wasn't afraid to add to the pain at the pump for Iowans. During his tenure, he raised the gasoline tax by a total of five cents per gallon.[3]
- Terry Branstad even proposed a state income tax on Social Security recipients.[4]
- Branstad kept two sets of books. Branstad was hammered in the press and public for keeping two sets of books for the state[5] and running up a deficit of more than $400 million.[6] These days, voters will not tolerate this type of "creative accounting."
- Branstad's employees had to sue him to get what they had earned. When, during his tenure, Iowa’s budget was in deficit, Branstad decided to balance the budget on the backs of hardworking state employees. They were denied pay they had earned, sued Governor Branstad - and won.[7] Getting Branstad to do right by employees was never an easy task.
- Branstad used to think bonding was fine. Branstad now criticizes the Culver/Judge Administration for stimulating Iowa's economy through the I-JOBS bonding package. Branstad fails to tell Iowans he used the bonding practice for state projects.[8] Throughout his tenure, Branstad embraced bonding, a practice he now conveniently condemns.
Terry Branstad can try to hide is record in favor of revisionism, but Iowans know better.
[1] -- http://www.iowa.gov/tax/taxlaw/TaxHistory.html#Sales
[2] -- http://www.iowa.gov/tax/taxlaw/TaxHistory.html#Sales
[3] -- http://www.iowa.gov/tax/taxlaw/TaxHistory.html#Motor
[4] -- Des Moines Register, 1/11/84
[5] -- Washington Post, 6/5/94; Cedar Rapids Gazette, 4/20/94; Cedar Rapids Gazette, 1/4/92
[6] -- Bond Buyer, 5/7/93
[7] -- Associated Press, 3/26/92
[8] -- Des Moines Register, 6/13/04; Cedar Rapids Gazette, 7/22/94; Bond Buyer, 5/4/89; Cedar Rapids Gazette, 3/20/92