THE IRONY OF BRANSTAD AND VAUDT'S "TRUTH IN BUDGETING" TOUR

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
 

From Culver for Governor, July 12, 2010