Branstad pursuing personal agenda with appointments

A new report by Progress Iowa found that 1 out of 6 of Gov. Terry Branstad's appointees were campaign donors. This demonstrates a level of backroom-style deal-making that I think most Iowans thought was not a part of our state's politics.

This is another example of Branstad favoring the interests of cronies over those of Iowa families. These boards and commissions play an important roll in determining the rules and regulations that impact every Iowan. That Branstad would be willing to hand these important posts off to political cronies demonstrates he is looking out for his interests, not those of Iowans.

Whether it's puffing up job numbers to make his administration look good, making illegal, secret payments to fired employees, Branstad and his administration have demonstrated they'll put their own interests ahead of Iowa families. This new report is just one more example.

This is not a Democrat or Republican issue. When our elected officials are doling out favors as Branstad has, they aren't pursuing a liberal agenda or a conservative agenda, they're pursuing their personal agendas. Stamping out cronyism is something all of us can agree on.

Ken Sagar

President, Iowa Federation of Labor AFL-CIO, Des Moines