Hatch, Branstad trade barbs over tax plans for Iowans

DES MOINES - The campaigns of Gov. Terry Branstad and his Democratic challenger, Sen. Jack Hatch, also used April 15, the deadline for filing federal income taxes, to trade barbs over their respective tax plans - or lack thereof.

'Pucker up, Iowans - if Jack Hatch gets his way you can kiss your hard-earned money away” said Branstad campaign manager Jake Ketzner.

Electing Hatch governor could lead to a 'massive” state tax increase because Hatch opposes federal deductibility, Ketzner said. Federal deductibility allows Iowans to write off federal taxes they pay, which lowers their taxable income for state purposes, said.

'The idea of scrapping federal deductibility is a tired idea that is wildly unpopular with Iowans,” Ketzner said.

The Hatch campaign fired back, charging Branstad has no tax plan. On the other hand, spokesman John Hedgecoth said

'Hatch is very proud to have been the first candidate for Governor in 2014 to say how he would change Iowa's tax code,” Hedgecoth said. His 'Middle-Class Income Protection Act” includes the largest middle-class income tax cut in 25 years. Hatch would increase the per-child tax credit and create a new dual-earner income tax credit for families where both parents work.

Overall, Hedgecoth said, under the Hatch plan the average Iowa family's annual state tax bill would be reduced by nearly $1,000.

'That's a far cry from the 25 percent increase in average Iowa family income Terry Branstad promised four short years ago, but failed to deliver,” he said.

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