Hatch: Gov. Branstad ‘not been friendly’ to Cedar Rapids

CEDAR RAPIDS - As a property developer in Cedar Rapids' Oak Hill Jackson neighborhood, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jack Hatch has had a front-row seat to flood recovery efforts.

Over the past six years, the Des Moines state senator witnessed the efforts of the City Council, the Board of Supervisors, business owners and others who stood up and led.

He didn't see Gov. Terry Branstad provide that same commitment and leadership, Hatch said Monday.

'This is a governor who has not been friendly to Cedar Rapids,” Hatch told the Cedar Rapids Downtown Rotary Club.

On the Branstad's first acts when he returned to office in 2011 for a fifth term was a threat to withhold state funds form the redevelopment of the downtown convention center - U.S. Cellular Center and DoubleTree Hotel by Hilton - because he opposed the city's project labor agreement with construction unions.

He also blamed the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission's denial of the community's license application for a downtown casino on Branstad appointees.

Hatch has repeatedly argued Branstad has not been supportive of state efforts to assist local communities in post-flood rebuilding. Branstad opposed I-JOBS, former Democratic Gov. Chet Culver's $900 million bonding program that helped finance the public library, human services campus, Paramount Theatre, city public works building, National Czech & Slovak Library & Museum, and other projects.

'It was well worth it to bring back our second largest city from the brink of economic ruin,” Hatch said, pointing out that the bonds are being repaid, not with tax dollars, but with gambling revenue.

'But, if God forbid you would have another flood or similar disaster, this governor has said twice in the past six weeks … he doesn't think it's important enough to finance your recovery, he wants you to pay as you go,” Hatch said. 'His message is: You are on your own.”

Recently, Branstad has gone on the offensive on the issue of flood recovery. Branstad has talked about how he 'went to bat” for Corridor communities that were damaged by the 2008 flood.

'This community came through a really tough flood in 2008 and I'm really proud to say we have worked closely to provide assistance and to work with FEMA to make sure we can do what we can,” Branstad said at a campaign stop in Hiawatha.

Last week, Branstad delivered a similar message in Iowa City, which also suffered extensive flood damage six years ago.

'I want you to know, I really went to bat for the University of Iowa when we had problems with FEMA,” he said at an early voting kickoff rally. 'I'm proud to say that I worked with the university, the Board of Regents, with the congressional delegation and we finally got FEMA to come to their senses.”

Branstad can't have it both ways - claiming to support rebuilding efforts after he opposed I-JOBS and other recovery programs.

The 'ultimate hypocrisy,” Hatch said, is that Branstad will sign a fire prevention proclamation next week in the downtown Cedar Rapids fire station that was built with the I-JOBS funds he opposed.

'This guy has some brass,” he said.