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.
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.
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."
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.
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.
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.
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."
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.
Candidate Branstad’s long-range tax plan to shift taxes away from corporations and the rich will hurt cities and local governments across Iowa, driving them into debt and forcing them to either raise taxes or cut services.
“By his own admission, Branstad’s long-range tax plan leaves Iowa with a problematic choice: cut services or force local governments to raise taxes on hard-working Iowans,” said Iowa Democratic Party Chairman Michael Kiernan.
Candidate Terry Branstad wants a “consumptions tax-based economy” that will unfairly tax Iowa’s hard-working families disproportionately more than corporations and the rich.
"Here we go again. Branstad raised taxes on Iowa’s hard-working families before and now he wants to do it again. This should make every Iowan wonder what tax won't Branstad propose or raise" said Iowa Democratic Party Chairman Michael Kiernan.
Governor Branstad told the Sioux City Journal Editorial board(1),
“But, you need to know this. I had a long-range plan, and the long-range (tax) plan was… to have more of a thing on consumption.”
In the first GOP debate today, Terry Branstad at last faced attacks from his opponents under the hot television lights. The verdict? Branstad couldn’t recall important pieces of his own record as Governor.
“Candidate Branstad appears out of touch and rarely remembers his own record as Governor - unless of course it is to take credit for something good. On gambling, on bonding and on taxes the rule for Terry Branstad is that he was for it before he was against it, and now no one knows what - if anything - he stands for anymore," said Iowa Democratic Party Chairman Michael Kiernan.
As Bob Vander Plaats and Rod Roberts took Branstad on repeatedly over passing, and then dramatically expanding, gambling in Iowa and ushering in higher taxes and expanded government, Branstad attacked the current Governor for using public bonding, after himself borrowing more than a billion in today's dollars.
On gambling, Branstad says that an expansion of gambling is bad, but Governor Terry Branstad introduced gambling into Iowa. Bob Vander Plaats decried Branstad for opening 15 casinos, and the reality is that Terry Branstad could care less if gambling expands in Iowa. As Governor, he vetoed a five-year ban on new casinos. (1)
Branstad attacked Governor Culver’s successful I-JOBs program, but the truth is that the Branstad administration also used public bonding, the same kind of debt Branstad now attacks, to fund more than $613 million in projects between 1989 and 1994. Those projects included a state prison at Clarinda ($22.6 million); (2) the Iowa Communications Network ($115 million) (3) and the Underground Storage Tank cleanup program ($141 million). (4)
Branstad even tried to pain himself a tax-cutter, but the truth is that he raised the sales tax on Iowans twice.(5) He raised the gas tax,(6) and even tried to tax social security benefits. (7)
And, it’s still unclear where Branstad stands today on an individual health insurance mandate, but it’s definitely clear that he supported it in 2007.(8)
“He seemed cantankerous in the debate today, and that’s no surprise- his record was truly under attack.”
The Iowa Democratic Party is launching a new web video today entitled, “Terry Branstad: The Chameleon Changes his Colors Again.”
“The truth about Terry Branstad’s record is that he’s made similar campaign promises before, and he failed on every single one. It’s very troubling that he’s making the same broken promises that have already failed Iowa’s hard-working families before,” said Iowa Democratic Party Chairman Michael Kiernan.
“Just like a chameleon, Branstad continues to change his colors based upon what he thinks voters want to hear. Iowans deserve to know the truth – that Terry Branstad failed them once, and there’s no reason to believe he won’t fail them again with the same empty, political promises.”
As candidate Branstad unveils his “plan” for job creation, his record as Governor proves that he won’t be able to keep these promises.
The cornerstone of Branstad’s 2010 job creation “plan” is a promise to create 200,000 new jobs.
“Candidate Branstad has made similar promises two times before. He’s failed each time he’s made the promise. Maybe the jobs he’s promising today are jobs he promised over 15 years ago that he failed to deliver,” said Iowa Democratic Party Chairman Michael Kiernan.
Candidate Terry Branstad launches a new ad entitled “I know Iowa,” highlighting more of his empty, political promises Iowans know he won’t be able to keep.
“Branstad keeps making these promises. Well, he made similar promises during campaigns before and failed to keep them. To Branstad, these are just empty, political promises made on the campaign trail and it’s clear from his record that he has no intention of keeping them.” said Iowa Democratic Party Chairman Michael Kiernan.
Below is the statement from Iowa Democratic Party Chairman Michael Kiernan on KTIV’s announcement that their Republican primary debate will be accessible to the press and the public.
"Voters and members of the media should be pleased with KTIV’s announcement today. Open debates are paramount to our democratic process. By providing a forum for this debate and the necessary access, KTIV is providing a sincere service to Iowans.
“On Wednesday, Iowa's voters and the press will have their first chance to hear the Republican candidates debate their stand on the important issues that matter to hard-working families. As this is the candidates’ first opportunity to answer the tough questions, voters should also look forward to how Terry Branstad will answer the liteny of flip-flops and contradictions from his record that he has made on the campaign trail so far.”
By the Journal Editorial Board | Posted: Thursday, April 1, 2010 1:15 pm
The Journal Editorial Board's position on debates for public office is clear: They should be open to the public and the press.
Sioux City NBC affiliate KTIV's decision to bar the media from the April 7 taping of a debate between the three Republican candidates for Iowa governor - the first of the election season - is a short-sighted one. We do not yet know if the candidates explicitly agreed to these ground rules, but it is clear to us that their next move should be to withdraw from this debate.
When will Branstad and Roberts join the Vander Plaats campaign in calling for the Republican primary debates to be open to the public and to the press?
Yesterday, Vander Plaats’ campaign manager, Eric Woolson told Lee News, “It had always been my assumption that there would be media in the studio…I understand why the host would want their debate to air first, but I believe there ought to be as much coverage as possible.”
So, when will the Roberts and Branstad campaigns join Vander Plaats in calling for debates to be open?
The Republican candidates for governor are scheduled to debate on April 7, but the debate, hosted by KTIV, will be embargoed until it airs on Saturday April 10.
Iowa Democratic Party Chairman Michael Kiernan released the following statement calling for open, public debates in the Republican Primary.
Terry Branstad’s first ad highlights all the same, tired campaign promises Branstad made before, and now that he’s a candidate for a fifth time, he's making them again.
Branstad’s promises from earlier campaigns were aimed more at garnering attention for himself than helping Iowans. He failed to deliver on them as Governor, and he won’t deliver on them now.
Terry Branstad once supported individual mandates for health insurance. Will candidate Branstad continue to support individual mandates during a competitive Republican primary?
“Branstad has a history of flip-flopping and talking out of both sides of his mouth. Iowans have to wonder what is Branstad's real position on individual mandates?” said Iowa Democratic Party Chairman Michael Kiernan.
“Mitt Romney, for instance, is trying to distance himself from the same individual mandate he instituted in Massachusetts because it’s not popular with the Republican Party base. He’s pandering, and it sounds like just the thing Terry Branstad would do.”
Both Branstad and Romney have a history of supporting individual mandates:
Republican gubernatorial candidate Terry Branstad put out a statement yesterday condemning the landmark legislation that will reform health care.
“Given the massive scope and effect of this bill, it is likely that various provisions will be challenged in the courts. Those challenges are both timely and appropriate,” Branstad said.
Candidate Branstad seems to support using the courts to stop what the special interests couldn't: Unfortunately, his own supporters don't agree.
Republican candidates including State Senator Brad Zaun and State Representative Rod Roberts both voted against SF 2357, a bill that would remove firearms from domestic abusers.
Zaun is running in the Republican primary to challenge Congressman Boswell in the 3rd Congressional District. Roberts is seeking the Republican Party’s nomination for governor.
Key Point: But while the state sovereignty arguments may have a political impact, “none is likely to have any effect on the legislation’s constitutionality.”
“Under the 10th Amendment, if Congress enacts a law pursuant to one of the ‘powers . . . delegated to the United States by the Constitution,’ then that law is supreme, and nothing a state can do changes this,” Barnett said. “Any state power to ‘nullify’ unconstitutional federal laws has long been rejected.”
Candidate Terry Branstad filed for governor today, and the Iowa Democratic Party is celebrating by sending him a gift: two ledgers.
We thought two new ledgers would come into use for someone who kept two sets of books to calculate how much he may raise taxes - again - and how he may again hide a massive budget deficit.
Terry Branstad probably overestimated how easy this gubernatorial race would be for him. Perhaps he may not even make it through the primary. If he does, will the Republican base show up for him in the general election?
From the Associated Press:
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — With three months before the June 8 primary, Republican candidates for governor seem to be stressing their differences as they fight for the right to oppose Democratic Gov. Chet Culver in November.
Terry Branstad had an idea back in the early 90's, and it was promptly laughed out of the room. He wanted biennial budgets- or to pass a budget every two years.
The Cedar Rapids Gazette wrote an editorial 1992 calling Branstad's plan "[r]idiculous" and that the arguments for doing this were "very slim."
Candidate Branstad is always unfairly ready to criticize Governor Culver's handling of the state budget, but Candidate Branstad needs to remember what happened under his watch.
Terry Branstad moved to restructure Iowa's state government, but the savings that reorganization created were short lived when he undercut himself by dramatically increasing spending and expanding the size of state government.
“Let me tell you something: Terry Branstad kept two sets of books to hide a massive budget deficit from Iowans. I wouldn’t trust him with my wallet, let alone the State of Iowa again. We saw how that went,” said Iowa Democratic Party Chairman Michael Kiernan.
What would Rick Santorum do? Perhaps, more importantly, who would he endorse?
Rick Santorum will speak to the Iowa Christian Alliance tonight with the Republican gubernatorial candidates. It seems like a perfect opportunity for the 2012 Presidential hopeful to make an endorsement.
Santorum can have his pick from the three left standing:
Last night may have been the Oscars, but the reviews have been in for a while on Terry Branstad’s bad budgeting practices.
Here’s the truth of the matter, candidate Branstad is just running away from former Governor Branstad’s record. Governor Branstad’s record includes raising taxes, running a massive deficit and keeping two sets of books in an attempt to fool Iowans.
It’s been one week since Iowa Democratic Party Chairman Michael Kiernan asked the three Republican candidates for governor to stand with Governor Culver in honoring our commitment to Iowa ’s military families and veterans.
“This is shameful,” said Iowa Democratic Party Chairman Michael Kiernan.
Bob Vander Plaats is now calling Branstad out for his unwillingness to debate his sordid sixteen year record. The call to debate was written about by the Sioux City Journal last week.
Once again, candidate Branstad is making promises to Iowans that he broke when he was Governor. Why should Iowans believe anything will be different this time around?
There are two faces to Terry Branstad: candidate Branstad, who continues making empty campaign promises, and Governor Branstad, who failed to keep similar promises before.
Candidate Branstad promises Iowans that he’ll cut the budget, claiming that spending has “skyrocketed.” But, if he wants to know about out of control spending, he needs to look no further than Governor Branstad.
There are two faces of Terry Branstad on every issue: candidate Branstad who makes these empty campaign promises to help him survive the Republican primary and Governor Branstad whose record shows that his campaign promises can’t be taken seriously.
Once again, candidate Branstad promises Iowans that he’ll improve Iowa’s education system. However, Governor Branstad already broke that ‘promise’ to Iowans.
There are two faces to Terry Branstad: candidate Branstad who makes empty campaign promises to help him survive the primary and former Governor Branstad who failed to fulfill the campaign promises he made the first time around.
Once again, candidate Branstad promises Iowans that he’ll create hundreds of thousands of new jobs for Iowans. Only problem is candidate Branstad knows he already broke that "promise."
The truth is there are two faces to Terry Branstad: candidate Branstad who is making empty campaign promises to help him survive the primary and former Governor Branstad who failed to meet all of the promises that he’s made before.
Iowans are quickly discovering the two faces of Terry Branstad. And as Candidate Branstad continues making promises that Governor Branstad couldn’t keep, one has to ask – if he failed in four terms as governor, why would he succeed now?
“There are two faces of Terry Branstad: the Governor, who mismanaged the state government, kept two sets of books, and raised taxes, and the candidate, who’s now changing his positions in an attempt to survive the Republican primary,” said Iowa Democratic Party Chairman Michael Kiernan.
It's bad enough that Two-Face Terry Branstad changes his positions on issues by the hour, now Bob Vander Plaats attacks the working Iowans who helped give him and his family a better quality of life and increased income.
Terry Branstad doesn’t respect Iowa’s working families.
Last night Branstad’s campaign sent out a fundraising email attacking Governor Culver for signing an executive order that will help create good, high-paying jobs for Iowans. Candidate Branstad also attacked the Iowans that build our roads, building, and projects throughout the state in efforts to raise the campaign funds he’ll need to win the Republican primary.
Iowa Democratic Party Chairman Michael Kiernan accused Taxin’ Terry Branstad of playing politics with job creation numbers in an effort to mislead Iowans as he campaigns around the state.
The centerpiece of candidate Branstad’s campaign is a promise to create 200,000 “new” jobs over a five-year time period. In his announcement speech, Branstad called the number a “goal.”
”It’s disappointing Taxin’ Terry Branstad has tried to score some cheap political points with Iowa voters anxious about the state’s economic future,” Kiernan said.
Last week we described the GOP primary for governor as a bumper car match.
Thanks to two right wing pundits, it's turning into a public boxing match.
The Iowa Independent reported an e-mail exchange between blogger Craig Robinson and radio host Steve Deace. The exchange was posted on Robinson's website "The Iowa Republican."
Terry Branstad, going through the bumper cars match that is the Republican primary for governor, took a different kind of hit today.
This morning on the Iowa Independent, a veteran Iowa journalist and long-time Branstad supporter, Chuck Offenburger, slams Branstad and his campaign for stunting the growth of the Iowa GOP, calling it "a terrible affront" to other candidates and that it "send[s] an awful message" to younger Iowans.
“Today is a very important day,” Iowa Democratic Party Chairman Michael Kiernan said Wednesday. “Iowans can finally be certain we have left behind the skyrocketing spending increases of the Terry Branstad years.”
The balanced state budget Gov. Chet Culver proposed Wednesday is, in today’s dollars, smaller than Branstad’s last budget. Culver’s budget also improves on Branstad’s practices by protecting Iowa’s priorities and the state’s AAA bond rating, and leaving a surplus.
When Governor Branstad managed the budget, Iowa faced hundreds of millions in deficits. Then, he raised taxes to cover his overspending, borrowed to pay the bills and even kept two sets of books to hide his deficits from Iowans.
“We have moved past Branstad style budgeting. After 12 years of Democratic leadership, Iowa's fiscal discipline is light years ahead of where our state stood back in the 1980s and 90s when Terry Branstad wrote the budget,” said Iowa Democratic Party Chairman Michael Kiernan.
Chris Rants took aim at Terry Branstad’s record in an interview with The Iowa Republican. Rants highlighted Branstad’s deplorable record on taxes and spending.
Here's just a bit of what Chris Rants said:
Challenging Branstad is something Rants seems comfortable doing. He pointed out that the former governor has raised the gas tax, numerous fees, and the sales tax twice. In all, Rants contends that Branstad has raised taxes thirty times. He also said that general fund spending increased by 150% under Branstad’s watch. Rants . . .warns that he’s not the only one who knows Branstad’s record.
Hes right, everyone is starting to learn about Governor Branstad’s record. And the more Iowans are reminded of his record, the more they start to compare it to what candidate Branstad says on the campaign trail. Iowans know better than to believe Branstad when he says things will be different this time.
Terry Branstad is promising Iowans more of the same disastrous fiscal mismanagement that characterized his time as Governor, Iowa Democratic Party Chairman Mike Kiernan said Wednesday.
“There’s just no fiscal common sense coming from him,” Kiernan said. “But that shouldn’t be a surprise to Iowans, because we’re familiar with Branstad’s deficit spending and two sets of books.” In 1992 Branstad ran up a $430 million state budget deficit, as compared with Gov. Culver’s three balanced budgets in a row.
Candidate Terry Branstad says he wants Iowa’s tax climate to be more family friendly and business friendly. Wait until he meets his main opponent on the issue – Taxin’ Terry Branstad.
“Branstad’s record of raising the sales tax, gas tax and business taxes is not a record that Iowa fiscal conservatives including those who are active in the Republican Party are prepared to endorse,” Iowa Democratic Party Chairman Michael Kiernan said Tuesday.
A couple weeks ago we teased you with a trailer about the coming showdown, between candidate Branstad and Governor Branstad.
Now that candidate Branstad has officially announced his is run and off on his political "comeback" tour. We wanted to sharethe full video with everyone:
For the recently ended campaign reporting period, Vander Plaats' total contributions were more than $650,000 when contributed goods and services are included. Vander Plaats also enjoys the support of an impressive 1,200 contributors, Kiernan said.
Iowa Democratic Party Chairman Michael Kiernan talked about the impact of this news today:
It looks like Bob Vander Plaats' message is paying some dividends – literally - with Iowa Republicans troubled by Terry Branstad's record of tax increases, fiscal mismanagement, state debt and other 'mistakes,'
Kiernan noted Vander Plaats last week earned the support of Iowa Family PAC, the political arm of the Iowa Family Policy Center, a long-influential statewide conservative group. Keirnan makes another very interesting observation:
Vander Plaats message drives his money, while Branstad is counting on the opposite effect.
Terry Branstad is joining perhaps the toughest race of his political career Tuesday – the race against his own record as Governor.
Iowa Democratic Party Chairman Michael Kiernan shared his thoughts today:
I agree with Terry Branstad on one thing: he made mistakes as governor. Iowans cannot afford for him to make more, and we’ve learned some things over the last 12 years: we are better off without him and his mistakes.
Branstad’s failed policies resulted in a deficit of nearly $430 million, and Iowans still pay the sales tax he increased to get out of the mess he created. It's very tough to see how Iowans are going to embrace a Governor who ran up a deficit over one who has balanced budgets and not raised taxes.
So far, candidate Branstad has already contradicted some of the greatest hits of Governor Brantad’s record:
Candidate Branstad claimed that he only raised the sales tax after cutting spending as well in 1992. Governor Branstad actually raised the sales tax twice – it was the first bill he ever signed as Governor in 1983.
Candidate Branstad takes credit for instituting normal accounting practices… in 1992. Governor Branstad mismanaged the state budget for a decade and kept two sets of books before he was forced to institute reforms to stop his practice of hiding the hundreds of millions in deficit spending he created.
Candidate Branstad attacks the concept of eliminating federal deductibility. Governor Branstad was the first Governor to try to eliminate federal deductibility and then supported it under Tom Vilsack.
* Candidate Branstad attacks the concept of using bonding to pay for IJOBS. Governor Branstad used public bonding multiple times to pay for over a billion dollars worth of projects.
Keirnan explained why this is so important:
Iowans want to know where Terry actually stands on the issues. Whether running to the right for Republican primary voters or glossing over his record as governor, it's clear that Branstad will say anything to make his political comeback happen.
Since entering the race last October, conservative Republicans have criticized candidate Branstad for Governor Branstad's record, his earlier endorsement of Senator Ben Nelson and support from Joy Corning, his former Lieutenant Governor.
Last week, the Iowa Family PAC passed over Branstad and endorsed Bob Vander Plaats, saying they would, under no circumstances, endorse Branstad in the primary or general election.
Michael Keirnan added as a final note:
The Iowans I talk to are concerned about the state's future and how we move Iowa forward. They aren't interested in a campaign about the past. The fact is, the Republican Party has changed a great deal since Branstad last served, and it will be difficult for him to make the case for going back to the past.
Today, the House Republicans swung at Governor Culver trying to spread misinformation about his record to Iowans. But, their attack missed Culver and hit Taxin' Terry.
House Republicans say that Chet Culver raised taxes in order to balance the budget. Governor Culver never did that, but we know someone they might be familiar with who did: Taxin’ Terry.
Just days before he begins his attempt at a political comeback tour, Terry Branstad must be happy that it is Friday, an end to the worst week of his campaign so far.
On Tuesday, the Iowa Family PAC not only endorses Vander Plaats in the primary but says that they will not, under any circumstances, support Branstad in the general election. And, after months of not-so-quiet chest beating about his fundraising prowess, candidate Branstad reveals he has half the cash on hand as the Chet Culver Committee.
Just days after he first took the pledge not to attack other Republicans, Terry flip-flopped and attacked Bob Vander Plaats. He thought he could get away with it before by not mentioning Vander Plaats' name, and now he thinks he can get away with it by sending members of his campaign committee to attack Vander Plaats and his supporters. But after today, there's no question - Branstad has broken his promise before he's even officially announced his candidacy.
For the simple fact Branstad broke a campaign promise, he should apologize. But considering the egregious language Olested used - comparing Iowans who voice their political views to terrorists - he must apologize immediately and profusely. It's one thing to have a healthy debate of the issues, but this attack crosses the line.
Why did they do it? It seems like the Branstad campaign is spinning out of control after yesterday's bombshell. In the same interview, Oleson also said he was "stunned" and "mortified" over the endorsements that come just days before Terry Branstad attempts to launch his political 'comeback tour.'
Even though Terry Branstad is not "officially" running for Governor yet, his new website is up and running. Like everything from the candidate Branstad so far, it is light on his record as Governor (only 74 words on the site promote his time as Governor).
We had 10 questions for Terry Branstad as he launched his website last night, and now it’s live for everyone to see. So, lets go through our questions and see what answers can be found on candidate Terry Branstad’s website:
1. Does Branstad ever say 'yo tweeps' in person?
Not sure, but we are hoping to get that on camera one of these days.
3. Will candidate Branstad have a different website than Governor Branstad? Since candidate Branstad takes a different side from Governor Branstad on issues like federal deductibility and bonding...
Nope, no sign of it yet, but who knows what Governor Branstad might do to argue for his record of raising taxes, keeping two sets of books, and flip-flopping on federal deductibility. But, he claimed to be a fiscal conservative again today, and said once again: "I'm not afraid to defend my record."
Oleson: A 'jihadist sleeper cell of so-called GOP leaders' is damaging the party
The public refusal of an influential social conservative group to support the eventual GOP nominee for governor is causing long-term damage to the party and could result in a second term for Gov. Chet Culver, Republican leaders said Tuesday.
We have these questions in mind as Terry Branstad launches his new website tonight.
1. Does Branstad ever say 'yo tweeps' in person?
2. Who are your 'tweeps,' Governor?
3. Will candidate Branstad have a different website than Governor Branstad? Since candidate Branstad takes a different side from Governor Branstad on issues like federal deductibility and bonding...
4. Will he list 'running a $400 million deficit' in his accomplishments section?
5. Will he publish his plan to balance the budget on his website tonight, or does he still not have one?
It was a surprise when Danny Carroll turned the rally for supporters of a constitutional ban on gay marriage into a campaign endorsement for gubernatorial candidate Bob Vander Plaats.
But the real surprise was when Carroll said the Iowa Family PAC wouldn’t support the Republican Party nominee if it’s former Gov. Terry Branstad. He said Branstad “… has failed to boldly address the values that we embrace. And even if he were to win the nomination, the Iowa Family PAC would not support him.”
On January 19, Terry Branstad will announce he is running for Governor for the 5th time. The countdown has begun for a showdown 30 years in the making -- Candidate Branstad vs. Governor Branstad. Who will lose?
Watch the video and keep reading to see the facts and decide.
State Rep. Kent Sorenson, R-Indianola endorsed Republican Bob Vander Plaats for governor today, a move consistent with Sorenson’s efforts to position himself as an uber-conservative in the party.
Notably, Sorenson didn’t merely endorse Vander Plaats but also attacked GOP front-runner Terry Branstad:
Terry Branstad isn't inspiring confidence among prominent GOP elected officials in Iowa. Rep. Steve King declined an opportunity to endorse him on Iowa Press Tuesday, saying that he wil:
Let them fight it out
King's neutrality declaration comes after Sen. Chuck Grassley mused that he did not know whether Branstad would win the Republican nomination for governor. Grassley said:
He's going to have a primary. I don't know if he wins or not.
Iowa Democratic Party Executive Director Norm Sterzenbach had a sharp anlaysis:
Republicans haven’t forgotten that Branstad raised the sales tax, increased the gas tax and kept two sets of budget books to hide his accounting failures. He's been on a 2 month tour rejecting key policies of his gubernatorial tenure, but Grassley and King remember the true Terry Branstad and don’t like his record.
Terry Branstad expected a coronation when he resigned from Des Moines University to run for governor, but he clearly miscalculated.
It looks like the sparring in the GOP primary for Governor won’t stop for a holiday break. Bob Vander Plaats hammered Terry Branstad’s support of Nebraska Sen. Ben Nelson Wednesday. Nelson, a Democrat, has been among the key Senate votes on the health care reform bill, agreeing to support it a week ago after exacting concessions from his leadership.
Republican legislative leaders Paul McKinley and Kraig Paulsen appeared on this past weekend’s Iowa Press where they grossly distorted the Culver record. Iowans know better than to listen to McKinley and Paulsen until they can get their facts straight.
Chris Rants posted another couple of articles from the "days before
google" this time it focuses on his last year as Governor and fight he
had with Rants and others. Here's what the Rants campaign has to say
about the articles:
This installment reflects back on Terry Branstad's last act as Governor
- his very public fight with legislative Republicans who controlled the
legislature at the time. Republicans were unwilling to go along with
Branstad's desire to spend more money - a fact he forgets when he talks
about how much money was left in the reserves when he left office as it
was only there because the legislature wouldn't agree to his spending
plans. In the end, Branstad gambled that by item vetoing education
reforms, like charter schools, he could force his fellow Republicans to
agree to his other spending plans. In the end his gamble failed ...
THE ISSUE: Terry Branstad is taking up both lanes of the road now with his latest stance on the road use tax fund. He says he's running on his record but he seems not know where he stands.
Branstad's record shows he was the first governor to divert road use tax fund dollars to pay for operations expenses at the Iowa State Patrol for more than a decade before being forced to end the practice. Last week, candidate Branstad attacked a similar proposal for the 2010 budget year as a "road raid" and "bad budgeting" and issued a press release trumpeting his successful defeat of the practice while failing to reveal that he was the one who started it in the first place.
Terry Branstad says he's running on his record but he can't seem to remember exactly where he stands on eliminating federal deductibility. He spent years arguing for its elimination but, once he announced his candidacy in September, he suddenly decided to change his mind.
Despite the fact that Governor Branstad was the first Governor to propose repealing federal deductibility, and even supported it during the Vilsack administration, Candidate Branstad now claims that he was the one who stopped it. Unfortunately for Branstad, the facts don't lie and his record on the issue is clear even though his memory night not be.
He claims we can't trust politicans. But, Terry Branstad, the consumate politician, is showing Iowans he's simply the one we can't trust.
When Taxin’ Terry comes to Iowa City and Cedar Rapids, he'll have a great chance to explain why he's against I-JOBS, the state's effort to provide Iowa communities $46.5 million to rebuild after the devastating floods of 2008.
The truth candidate Branstad doesn’t want the conservative Republicans who will decide his fate in the primary to know is that, as governor, Branstad used bonding to fund state projects, totaling nearly $1 billion in today’s dollars.1 One project Branstad used bonding for -- and put the state in debt over -- was the Iowa Communications Network, which is a drain on the state treasury to this day.
Gubernatorial candidate Terry Branstad is campaigning in Chris Rants hometown of Sioux City today. But, Rants, a Republican and the former Iowa House Speaker who has represented Sioux City in the Legislature for 15 years, doesn't believe that candidate Terry Branstad has the right record to lead Iowa.
In fact, Rants has been the leader lately in making the case that Taxin' Terry isn't a good match for the Republican Party base in Iowa. And that's not good news for party unity.
As the legislature prepares to gather for what may be one of the toughest sessions in Iowa history, most the remaining candidates for governor, Terry Branstad, Bob Vander Plaats, or Rod Roberts, haven’t introduced a plan for the budget. Each one has criticized Governor Culver for the decisions he has made to ensure that the budget is balanced, but none have offered a detailed, valid alternative.
Terry Branstad is trying hard to run away from his record as a budget-expanding, tax-increasing Governor. He says he reduced the number of departments in state government through reorganization, but one look at the facts brings a completely different picture of Branstad into focus. The number of state employees in Iowa more than doubled between 1985 and 2001. See this release from the Iowa Democratic Party about Branstad’s bogus efficiency claims.
When former Gov. Terry Branstad began an exploratory campaign for Iowa governor, he was immediately hailed as the big-name answer to a crowded field of Republican hopefuls vying for the nomination.
And when the latest Iowa Poll showed Branstad leading Gov. Chet Culver, a Democrat, by 24 points, he seemed golden.
But Branstad is already getting resistance from some in the Republican Party who question his credentials as a social conservative on such issues as gay marriage, gambling and abortion.
The Republican civil war is in full swing. Just one day after Terry Branstad claimed to be a conservative and complained about people questioning his record in an interview with the Dubuque Telegraph herald, Chris Rants responded by attacking Branstad’s record:
It was Terry Branstad wielding the veto pen when he gutted our education reform legislation because Republicans wouldn’t go along with all the spending he wanted. It is Terry Branstad’s signature on the largest tax increase in Iowa history.
Branstad doesn’t like people questioning his record though, just look at this excerpt of the Telegraph Herald article:
"Now I have people saying I'm not conservative enough. Now I have people calling me a moderate, or a liberal," he said. "These people don't know me." Branstad said the "confrontational left" of his youth has been joined by a "confrontational right."
Opposing the Branstad tax and spend record doesn't make someone a member of the 'confrontational right,' it just makes them a fiscal conservative.
While Chis Rants marches in lockstep with Vander Plaats and Branstad on the Republican negative agenda, he is right on this point: not every Iowan who dislikes Brantad's tax and spend record are "confrontational."
Iowans know better than to buy Branstad's complaint that they are being "confrontational," whether they are left, right or center. If Terry Branstad is going to complain every single time someone questions his record, what is he going to do when voters start asking questions?
When Christian Fong dropped out of the Governor’s race yesterday, he explained that he couldn’t raise money. It looks like the GOP donors aren’t interested in Fong’s campaign when they have the fight between Terry Branstad and Bob Vander Plaats, but it solidified one fact in the GOP field of candidates: they are from the Past.
Whether it is an ousted former legislative leader, a candidate who has been running for Governor (and losing) for a decade, or a former governor from the 1980s -- the Republican field is firmly rooted in old ideas and the politics of the past that Iowans have already rejected time and time again.
Christian Fong tried to stay positive toward other Republicans in his campaign, but his campaign didn’t draw the kind of right-wing support that front-runners got with their negative agendas. We may never know how he could have affected the field, but we can just look at the numbers:
1978 – The year Christian Fong turned one, and the year that Terry Branstad ran statewide for the first time.
36 – The number of campaigns the rest of Republican candidates have run in their careers. They know how to use a negative agenda to get the attention of Republican donors.
20 – Is the average number of years between the rest of the Republican field and Christian Fong.
18 – The average number of years that the rest of the Republican candidates have been running for office.
9 – The number years Branstad was running for office before Fong was even born.
5.6 – The average number of times the Republican candidates have run for office, and completed their campaigns.
0 – The number of times Fong could have voted for Branstad before he dropped out of the race. Branstad has been out of office longer than Fong could vote.
While everyone in Iowa was celebrating Thanksgiving with their families this weekend, some Republicans running for governor sent out Thanksgiving messages from their campaign. But, Terry Branstad's Thanksgiving message showed a surprising lack of tact. He included an odd bit of his agenda in his statement:
You and I both know that with recent hardships in the economy and state government, we are faced with a unique opportunity to ... change the size, scope, structure and delivery system of our state and local governments.
Does this mean that Branstad is thankful for the hardship that Iowans face, so he can take advantage of it for a political agenda he couldn't complete 12 years ago? While its doubtful he is that crass, Iowa knows better than to swallow a Thanksgiving message that touts taking advantage of a recession to forward a political agenda.
Even Bob Vander Plaats, who has been running for governor for over a decade, was more tactful in his message. Instead of looking how to take advantage of the economy, most of us would no doubt agree we should be looking to help those affected by it. Terry Branstad might want to learn a few lessons in leadership and tact before he uses the holidays to forward a political agenda again.
Just days after Branstad broke his promise about the not attacking Republicans
Just two days after Branstad broke his promise, Bob Vander Plaats hits him back by claiming Branstad is to "blame" for helping Democrats in Congress get closer than ever before to comprehensive health reform. Vander Plaats, who has made it clear moderates are not allowed in his Republican Party, cited donations that Terry Branstad made to Senator Ben Nelson (D-NE) as evidence of Branstad's assistance in passing health reform.
"(Branstad) went out of his way to say, ‘I’m going to endorse the Democrats’ agenda and I want to put Ben Nelson out there in front,’ versus a Republican with conservative principles who would have been voting along the lines of Senator Chuck Grassley,"
There is no question -- Vander Plaats and other right-wing conservatives are trying "Scozzafava" Branstad. For reference, Scozzafava, was the Republican nominee who was forced out of special election in New York State for being too moderate. One of the reasons Republican leaders pushed her out: her ties to Democrats, including donations.
DES MOINES- On November 7, former Governor Terry Branstad announced that he would refrain from attacking fellow Republicans, saying “In fact, I am going to take the pledge to abide by President Reagan’s 11th Commandment, which is, and I quote, ‘speak no ill of another Republican.’ I will not attack any of the other candidates. They all have my respect.”
Candidate Branstad kept his word for precisely 12 days.
Chris Rants posted another article from the "days before google" about
Terry Branstad. It was in sreponse to his speech at the Republican Party
of Iowa's fall Dinner. Here is his campaigns description of the
article:
At the RPI fall dinner former Governor Branstad said that when he left
office in 1999, the budget was balanced according to generally accepted
accounting principals "the way (State Auditor) Dave Vaudt says it ought
to be done." Apparently the former Governor has forgotten that for
most of his tenure, he was in fact keeping two sets of books, and did
not abide by GAAP as then Auditor Dick Johnson demanded.
DES MOINES – Terry Branstad’s rhetoric attacking the I-JOBS program stands in sharp contrast to his actions as Governor, when he put the state in an even deeper debt hole, Iowa Democratic Party Chairman Michael Kiernan said Monday.
Chris Rants has a few more articles to share about Terry Brastad's
record as Governor. This time they are about Terry Branstad's lack of
fiscal discipline as Governor. Here's what Rants' campaign has to say
about the articles:
The article on the left (PDF)
is about the former Governor's reversal of course after the 1986
election - much to the chagrin of his fellow Republicans.
The article on the right (PDF) describes how
the state auditor takes issue with the Branstad administrations practice
of keeping two sets of books and violates generally accepted accounting
principals.
Iowa voters looking for a “compassionate conservative” in Taxin’ Terry Branstad are going to be sorely disappointed. In one of his first campaign meetings, Branstad made a strange and deeply insensitive attack on Iowans who are blind and visually impaired.
On Wednesday, October 28, Branstad met with some evangelical pastors in Des Moines. He told the pastors how he tried to eliminate the Iowa Department for the Blind, but was thwarted by legislators:
"We went from like 64 agencies to 25 agencies. The one we weren’t able to get done was the Commission for the Blind, because the Legislature just couldn’t take the heat from the tap tap tap of the white canes."
Last week, Terry Branstad met with a small group of prominent conservative activists and one of the attendees posted an audio recording of the discussion on a blog.
At one point, Branstad was asked a very direct question about how he would govern the state if elected:
MODERATOR: I guess the first thing that I would ask is, do you have a specific plan that you have prepared on how to fix or repair state government? And if so, where can we find that?
Earlier today, Chris Ranst posted a few articles for the "days before
google" about Terry Branstad's record as Governor. Here is his campaigns
description of the articles:
This editorial on the left (PDF) by David
Yepsen of the Des Moines Register was written at the start of former
Governor Branstad's last year in office. Mr. Yepsen provides a
historical perspective on how a "conservative" governor racked up such a
liberal record over sixteen years.
The articles in the middle (PDF) come from
the first year of former Governor Branstad's first term in office.
Despite campaigning in opposition to raising taxes, his first order of
business was to raises the sales tax.
The article on the right (PDF) is from the
former Governor's second term when he proposed the elimination of
federal deductibility and a massive 11% increase in spending.
For weeks it’s been clear Terry Branstad is running for governor. His cronies may have violated campaign finance law with the Draft Branstad 527. He quit his job at Des Moines University. He created a new campaign committee and hired two long-time Republican activists to work for him. This past weekend, Branstad even said "It's been a while since I've been on the campaign trail, but this is a great place to start" [WCF Courier, 11/1/09].
Republican candidate Bob Vander Plaats called the Governor's bold, decisive budget decisions an "utter failure of leadership" Thursday. [Cedar Rapids Gazette, 10/29/09]
"Vander Plaats is the one with the clear record of failure," Iowa Democratic Party Chairman Michael Kiernan said Friday. "It's tough to find a bigger failure in Iowa business or political circles."
In Northeast Iowa on Saturday, the Allamakee County Republican Party held a straw poll to gauge local support for the various candidates for Governor. Several of the candidates made good showings, including State Representative Rod Roberts who won the poll (he’s from Western Iowa and must be thrilled folks know him in Waukon) and Bob Vander Plaats, who finished second and once again proved he has a consistent base of support statewide.
The big loser? Terry Branstad. He finished all the way back at 5th, pulling in just 10 percent and beating only State Senator Jerry Behn. That is a total meltdown.
DES MOINES – Terry Branstad may have a tough time winning the Republican primary for Governor in 2010. That’s not coming from Democrats who want to see Branstad fail – its coming from the Dean of the Iowa Republican Party himself!
Faced with the ramifications of the Bush/Cheney recession, Governor Chet Culver acted swiftly and decisively to balance the budget through a 10% across the board spending cut.
That decision stands in stark contrast to Terry Branstad’s tenure as governor. Back in 1991-1992 when Branstad was Governor, the nation faced a recession (though not nearly as bad as the current one).As the state began to run out of revenue, Branstad’s mismanagement made the situation that much worse.
Terry Branstad would like Iowans to think he'll be riding in on a white horse to fix all our state budget problems. The reality is Branstad likes working on the budget about as much as a root canal. Branstad has been open with his disdain of budget issues, and it's clear he'll be relying on others to do the dirty work for him.
As Branstad was leaving office in 1998, he gave a series of interviews outlining likes and dislikes about the job. His number one dislike? Budget meetings:
Today, Terry Branstad is finally announcing what everyone has known for months; he is again running for governor. Here at IowaKnowsBetter.com, we feel like Iowans know that some things are better left in the past. In case you missed it, check out our video about Terry’s new run for Governor:
Now, pass the video on to your friends and family.
Terry Branstad’s Campaign for Governor may have its best moments before the candidate even admits he’s in the race! As Branstad quit his post at Des Moines University today, he continued to be coy about the fact he’s running for Governor, saying only that he was “exploring” the option. At a counter press conference organized by the Iowa Democratic Party, Senator Mike Gronstal declared “he [Branstad] may have equivocated today, but he’s running for Governor.”
There’s been a lot of talk in conservative circles about the funding for Governor Culver’s I-JOBS plan, the $830 million stimulus package that’s rebuilding roads, bridges and public buildings while preserving and creating jobs in the depths of a worldwide recession. The funding process was to take some money the state took in from gambling, and each year apply that to pay off government bonds the state sold to fund I-JOBS. (We also got an excellent interest rate on the bonds because of our AAA bond rating.)
The Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board will take up the issue of the ‘Draft Branstad’ group’s violation of Iowa campaign laws next week unless corrective action is taken by the group, according to published reports Tuesday [see Radio Iowa news excerpt by clicking keep reading or read the whole story on their site]
Over the past week, Chris Rants has been trying to have it both ways on Iowa’s budget, and it’s time someone called him on it. In a story posted last Wednesday afternoon, Rants had the following to say about across-the-board budget cuts:
The political action group called Draft Branstad, formed to promote Terry Branstad’s candidacy for Governor before he became a declared candidate, is ignoring Iowa ethics law and engaging in express advocacy for Branstad, who became a candidate on Wednesday, Iowa Democratic Party Chairman Michael Kiernan said Friday.
If you want to know why Doug Gross has been using a 527 group to promote Terry Branstad’s campaign, look no further than the bottom line. As we shared with you in a post yesterday, Gross billed taxpayers for more than $188,000 to lobby Branstad on behalf of just one client in 1993-94!
In 1994, Terry Branstad said he couldn’t “recall conversations" with his former Chief of Staff Doug Gross, regarding the building of a $21 million dollar privately-run prison facility in Clarinda. The controversy arose when Gross' law firm, Brown, Winick, Graves, Donnelly, Baskerville & Schoenebaum, filed $188,455 in legal bills for its work on the prison, to be paid by Iowa taxpayers. Gross said he had eight conversations with Branstad between June 1993 and April 1994.
Terry Branstad is clearly not the right Governor to have during a recession. In times like these, Iowans go back to basics and start pinching pennies. But Branstad will make sure the basics take an even bigger bite out of our monthly budgets.
Iowa law requires potential candidates to a file a ”statement of organization” after raising or spending more than $750 in pursuit of elective office. This process puts state ethics officials on notice of campaign activities and makes the candidate accountable. But Terry Branstad can’t do that and keep his day job too, so he asked his friends for help.
Chris Rants voted against SF 2425, a bill providing $1.2 billion in state general funds for health and welfare programs including Medicaid. This budget includes a 1% Medicaid provider rate increase, more money for prevention of elder abuse, the creation of an emergency mental health crisis services system and a mental health services system for children, and creates an Iowa Autism Council.
One of Terry Branstad’s biggest challenges in his 2010 campaign will be making members of his own party, and all Iowans, forget what happened to the state budget on his watch. The short answer? It exploded.
Iowans who are counting on IPERS to provide a stable retirement got a major shock from GOP candidate for Governor Christian Fong. It didn’t get much attention, but it’s important for Iowans to know Fong’s position. He wants the public pension system to resemble the private sector! [Source: Fong Campaign News Release, Wednesday, September 16, 2009.]
... it was interesting this week when Bob Vander Plaats, a Republican candidate for governor, made a point of telling reporters what kind of running mate he won’t be choosing at some point.
Bob Vander Plaats claim of being the "turnaround CEO" Iowa needs to lead the state out of its financial problem is being challenged by Rep. Chris Rants, a rival for the GOP gubernatorial nomination. "In every speech he gives, Bob says he was a 'turnaround' CEO at Opportunities Unlimited,” Rep. Chris Rants of Sioux City said Tuesday, but “the facts show Opportunities Unlimited tanked financially during his tenure as CEO and Chairman."
Somebody needs to tell Branstad that coming back could be the biggest mistake of his life. And that's saying a lot. With his four terms in office, Branstad was part of the Terrace Hill decor almost as long as the signed portrait of Queen Victoria
... Vander Plaats said instead of doing it in 20 years as the bonds specify, he'd pay them off by the end of his first four-year term as governor. Representative Christopher Rants says it's not possible, "Those are things that sound good on a stump speech but the reason why we haven't seen any other Republican candidates echo those same sort of proposals is because they don't work." ...
... But Branstad, still undeclared, showed himself while in office to be only a hair less ideologically driven than the others. During his 16 years as governor he staked out a territory squarely on the side of social conservatives. ...
This guy will say anything to win. We need your help to make sure Iowans know the facts. Fill out the form below to send us your thoughts on what you're hearing from Terry Branstad.
