Branstad endorsed by Iowans for Tax Relief PAC

ANKENY – A Muscatine-based tax group that once fought former Gov. Terry Branstad's failed attempt to repeal federal deductibility on state income taxes today endorsed his candidacy in a three-way Republican primary June 8.

“While we have not always agreed with Terry Branstad, we judge a leader's actions by the end result and there is no denying he has been a true friend of Iowa taxpayers,” said Ed Failor, Jr., president of the 54,900-member Iowans for Tax Relief organization. Today's announcement marked the first time the ITR political action committee has endorsed a candidate for governor in a primary election race.

Branstad, 63, is vying for the GOP gubernatorial nomination in next month's balloting against five-term state Rep. Rod Roberts of Carroll, 52, and Sioux City business consultant Bob Vander Platts, 47.

“We proudly endorse Terry Branstad because this is a critical time, and so much is at stake for Iowa's future,” Failor said at the kickoff of today's five-city swing that includes stops in Sioux City, Mason City, Cedar Rapids and Davenport. “Terry Branstad is the candidate who is ready on day one to lead Iowa forward.”

Branstad previously served for four, four-year terms as Iowa's 39

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governor. During that time, he launched an effort to repeal Iowa taxpayers ability to deduct their federal tax liabilities on their state income tax returns and use the proceeds to buy down state rates to make Iowa more competitive with states that do not offer federal deductibility. Critics have said the tax rates for the four states that provide federal deductibility are skewed in state-by-state comparisons used by business prospects when they evaluate where to expand or locate businesses.

Iowans for Tax Relief has opposed eliminating federal deductibility unless the Legislature and governor agree to offer voters constitutional protections for government spending and taxation, saying a repeal would amount to a tax on a tax without constitutional protections.

“Terry Branstad understands the taxpayers are the heart and soul of this state.  He has, and will continue to defend them first,” said Failor, who touted a 10 percent across-the-board income tax reduction and other tax relief that was provided during Branstad's previous 16 years as governor from 1983 to 1999. Others have criticized Branstad for twice raising the state sales tax and increasing the state gas tax as governor.

“Iowa is in desperate need of strong, proven leadership and Terry Branstad is the one candidate in this Republican field who can both defeat Chet Culver and then successfully lead a pro-taxpayer agenda through the Iowa Legislature,” Failor added.

Branstad said he was “excited and honored” to receive the ITR PAC endorsement, noting the group's name “is synonymous with clean, honest government and a commitment to balanced budgets and eliminating government waste.”

However, Vander Plaats dismissed the significance of today's announcement, noting that Branstad's campaign manager, Jeff Boeyink, is a past ITR president. He said the announcement by one of the largest Republican special-interest groups is further evidence that Branstad is the establishment candidate in an election cycle where voters don't want business as usual.

The Sioux City Republican said the choice for June 8 primary voters is “very clear” between going with “establishment politics as usual, which I believe positions us as Republicans for defeat in November” or choosing a candidate who does not have a political record that Democrats can attack while being able to unify social and fiscal conservatives, independents and disaffected Democrats around a campaign geared toward job growth, lower taxes and less government.

“The line has been drawn,” Vander Plaats said. “The grassroots are ready. I think they're going to turn out and they're going to turn out in a big way. We've got people who want to pop the clutch and take the vote. Our people are inspired and I think they're going to prove that on June 8.”

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