Branstad sticks with hands-off negotiating style

Gov. Terry Branstad's demands are at the heart of budget negotiations that have kept lawmakers at the Statehouse weeks after the scheduled end of the legislative session, but where is the governor?

In places like Newton, Pella and Oskaloosa - seemingly everywhere but in Des Moines.

And the governor and his supporters said that's by design. Now in his fifth term as governor after a 12-year break, Branstad said he's learned that he's most effective rallying public support for his policies and leaving implementation to others.

"I learned a long time ago in a representative government, to be effective you need to go to the people with your message and encourage constituents to contact their legislators," Branstad said. "A governor provides the leadership and vision, then brings the public along with them."

Speaking in a telephone interview last week while on a 43-city tour to promote the Republican budget plan, Branstad said he's always believed in hiring strong managers, then letting them carry out his policies while he builds support.

"I do not believe in arm-twisting or berating people in order to get things accomplished," he said. "Instead I go to the people to get initiatives passed on their merits. I surround myself with people I trust to work with legislators at the Capitol in order to reach the compromises that need to be worked out."

Not everyone supports the governor's approach.

Some, such as Sen. Bob Dvorsky, chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, said Branstad's hard-line stand for a budget of less than $6 billion combined with a hands-off approach to negotiating is in part to blame for talks that have dragged on for weeks.

"He hasn't appeared in any of the negotiations personally," said Dvorsky, D-Coralville. "I wish the governor would get involved by this point."

Senate President Michael Gronstal has made similar comments, occasionally chiding the governor for criticizing Democratic negotiators even as he avoided budget talks.

Branstad responds that his chief of staff, Jeff Boeyink, and Department of Management director, David Roederer, understand his priorities and convey them to Democrats during bargaining.

Both have close ties to Branstad.

Boeyink was his campaign manager in the last campaign. Roederer ran campaigns during Branstad's first tenure as governor, and he served as his chief of staff during that stretch.

"I'm one who believes in setting clear direction," said Branstad. "It's like with Dave Roederer and Jeff Boeyink, I'm confident that with them I can delegate to them to do some of the negotiating."

Richard Schwarm, who had a Lake Mills law practice with Branstad in the 1970s, said Branstad has long believed in hiring strong managers, then letting them do their work.

"He's always believed that state government is big business and you've got to get good people in there," Schwarm said.

Schwarm said that style is effective not only in governing but in enticing top-flight administrators to jobs in government positions.

"If you are a department head and you've got the governor's office telling you what to do, you are not likely to get a strong manager," said Schwarm.

House Speaker Kraig Paulsen, R-Hiawatha, said given the size of state government, it's the only effective way to be a governor.

Branstad agreed.

"If you try to micromanage it, it's just too big for one person," Branstad said.