Posted on Tuesday, July 13 at 4:31pm
DES MOINES - Terry Branstad told reporters yesterday that if elected again, he would consider doing what he did time and time again as governor and raise taxes.
At an event Monday, Terry Branstad admitted to reporters he is thinking about raising the gas tax, even trying to dismiss it as a "user fee." [1] During Branstad's 16 years as governor, he raised the gas tax more than 50% [2].
"Terry Branstad admitted yesterday that he would raise the taxes again. The gas tax is a tax on drivers- Iowans driving to and from work and a tax on businesses that are moving their products throughout the state," said Culver/Judge Communications Director Ali Glisson.
During the same event Terry Branstad promised to shrink government without raising taxes. It's the same thing he campaigned on in 1982 but, despite the Farm Crisis devastating the state at the time, the first bill he signed as governor was a bill raising the state sales tax [3].
"During tough times, Terry Branstad has a history of raising taxes on hard-working Iowans, taking pay raises, and cooking the books. This stunning admission that he would raise the gas tax shows a 5th Branstad term would just be more of the same past we can't afford to repeat," said Glisson.
[1] Lee News, 7/12/10.
[2] http://www.iowa.gov/tax/taxlaw/TaxHistory.html
[3] Des Moines Register, 2/8/83.
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Posted on Monday, July 12 at 4:29pm
DES MOINES - Terry Branstad and David Vaudt launched an ironic "Truth in Budgeting" tour in an attempt to paper over Terry Branstad's dismal record on budgeting.
"Terry Branstad was not honest with Iowans as governor. Now, his 'truth tour' dishonestly ignores bi-partisan criticism and cherry-picks just 3 years of his record, without addressing 13 years of failure," said Culver/Judge Communications Director Ali Glisson.
Branstad failed - by his own admission - to balance the budget for 13 of the 16 years he was governor. [1] He cooked the books and hid a multi-million dollar budget deficit. [2]
Today, he and David Vaudt want to paint a 'doom and gloom' scenario for Iowans.
The truth is Governor Chet Culver has balanced the budget every single year he has been in office. He faced the worst national economic disaster since the Great Depression and made tough decisions that allowed Iowa to build $500 million in reserves and earn a triple-A bond rating. Due to Iowa's sound budget, the state earned this rating for the first time in history.
"Who should Iowans trust? Chet Culver who has balanced the budget and is leading Iowa on the road to recovery today or Terry Branstad who cooked the books and failed to balance the budget year after year? The choice is clear."
[1] Iowa Press, 6/11/2010
[2] Cedar Rapids Gazette, 6/1/1994
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Posted on Friday, July 9 at 4:28pm
DES MOINES - Terry Branstad began airing a new ad today entitled "Exactly Right" but what continues to be exactly right about Terry Branstad is that he wants to cherry-pick certain parts of his record.
"Terry Branstad wants everyone to think about the Clinton economic boom of the 1990s, when he was just in the right place at the right time. Today, Governor Culver is governing during the worst national recession since the Great Depression. Comparing the boom of 1998 to the recession of 2010 is not comparing apples to apples and it is not 'exactly right'," Culver/Judge Campaign Manager Donn Stanley.
The current unemployment percentage in Iowa is only 6.8%. The national average is 9.5%. At the same point during Terry Branstad's first term, just before the 1986 election, the unemployment rate had not yet dipped below the current rate of 6.8%.
"Terry Branstad cannot keep cherry-picking his record. When faced with the Farm Crisis in the 1980s, the major economic crisis of his Administration, Branstad failed to control the unemployment numbers - numbers that don't even include the devastation that was felt by Iowa farmers. Chet Culver, in comparision, has kept our unemployment below the national average and has fought to get Iowa workers back on the job," Stanley continued.
[1] Iowa Workforce Development, http://www.iowaworkforce.org/lmi/laborforce/etables/2005_1976seaavgr.pdf
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Posted on Thursday, July 8 at 4:27pm
DES MOINES - The Culver/Judge Campaign announced today that Peggy Huppert is joining the campaign as Finance Director.
"Peggy is an asset to our campaign and will make sure we have the resouces needed to win in November. She brings a great deal of knowledge and experience about fundraising but also about Iowa politics," said Culver/Judge Campaign Manager Donn Stanley.
Huppert has taken a leave of absence from her role as Iowa Director of Government Relations at the American Cancer Society to join the Culver/Judge Campaign. From 1998 to 2000, she served as co-chair of the Polk County Democrats and has continued to play a key role in Des Moines politics. Prior to her work with the American Cancer Society, Huppert worked with Iowans for Sensible Priorities/Caucus4Priorities and was Chair of the Freedom Fund.
"I have been a huge supporter of Governor Culver since he first ran for Secretary of State. When I was asked to join the campaign, it was an opportunity I could not pass up and I look forward to helping pave the way for a win in November," Huppert said.
Huppert joined the campaign effective today and she will return to the American Cancer Society after Election Day.
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Posted on Wednesday, July 7 at 4:26pm
DES MOINES - It's been one week and Terry Branstad has yet to explain to Iowans why he abused the power of the Governor's Office, putting himself and his political ambitions above the law.
"There's no question that Terry Branstad and his closest associates abused the power of the Governor's Office, but does Terry Branstad think what he did back then was OK and would he do it again if given the opportunity?" asked Culver/Judge Communications Director Ali Glisson.
The Culver/Judge Campaign released more than 400 pages of documents showing how Terry Branstad and his closest associates, including Doug Gross and Jerry Mathiasen, used state employees and state resources to do the following:
· Mathiasen raised campaign cash and helped run the Lockard for Congress campaign from the Governor's Office.
· Doug Gross organized strategy meetings to discuss Branstad's re-election campaigns and raised cash for the Republican Party of Iowa.
· Terry Branstad raised money for his re-election campaigns and for the Republican Party of Iowa from the Governor's Office, using official state stationary, making fundraising calls, and directing staff to help in these efforts instead of working for the people of Iowa.
"This is part of a larger pattern of abuse. From using the state plane for travel to campaign events to awarding millions in state contracts to clients of Doug Gross' firm, Branstad has always put Branstad and his political interests first. It's a past we can't repeat," Glisson continued.
To find out more about the documents produced by the Culver/Judge Campaign, visit
BranstadFacts.com.
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Posted on Tuesday, July 6 at 11:51am
DES MOINES - After almost a week, Terry Branstad is still failing to fess up to Iowans about his unethical use of the Governor's office during his tenure.
"It has been nearly a week and Terry Branstad has yet to tell Iowans why he believes he is above the law and can use the Governor's office for his own political gain with no consequences," said Culver/Judge Communications Director Ali Glisson.
Last Wednesday, the Culver/Judge Campaign produced 400 pages of documents showing that Branstad and his cronies, including Doug Gross and Jerry Mathiasen, used the Governor's office in unethical ways. Branstad and his cronies raised money for his re-election campaigns and the Republican Party of Iowa, using official state stationary, state telephones and other resources, including staff. They did all this while on the taxpayers' dime and did this instead of working for the people of Iowa.
"His silence speaks volumes. It's becoming more and more apparent that Terry Branstad doesn't think he has to explain himself to the people of Iowa, even though it was their tax dollars he was wasting and their trust he was betraying," continued Glisson.
To see all 400 documents released last week by the Culver/Judge campaign, visit BranstadFacts.com.
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Posted on Friday, October 16 at 11:47am
Des Moines – The Culver/Judge Campaign announced Friday that it would be airing a television commercial titled “Balanced Budget” starting immediately. The ad highlights the tough decisions Governor Culver has made in response to shrinking revenue estimates for the state’s budget. Unlike many other states, the Governor’s decisive action has allowed Iowa to maintain a rainy day fund and avoid raising taxes.
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