Don't Look for Branstad in Tough Budget Meetings
October 19, 2009
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:
Republican Gov. Terry Branstad of Iowa said he won't miss long, painfully long, meetings deciding what to include, and leave out, of your new proposed state budget. "What I hate the most is when you're cooped up in the Capitol for that month, or month and a half, putting programs and budget together,' said Branstad." [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 8/9/98]
Branstad's distaste for challenging budget issues is a sharp contrast to the attitude of Governor Culver. When revenue estimates came in lower than expected, Governor Culver acted swiftly and decisively by instituting a 10 percent across the board cut and reducing his own salary.