GOP candidates for governor tangle on economic issues during debate

DES MOINES – Three Republican candidates seeking the chance to challenge Democratic Gov. Chet Culver in this fall's election tangled over government spending and job creation policies during a debate Wednesday.

Former governor Terry Branstad, who is launching a comeback bid this year, touted his fiscal record over the 16 years he was governor from 1983 to 1999.

He cited improved unemployment rates during his tenure and tax cuts he said amounted to $124 million. Branstad has set goals of creating 200,000 new jobs and raising family incomes by 25 percent as he looks ahead.

“I have a vision for the future. I want to lead this state back to prosperity and growth,” Branstad said.

The trio met for a mid-day debate at KTIV in Sioux City that was streamed live on the Internet.

State Rep. Rod Roberts of Carroll said the state needs to say no to new spending increases, reduce spending on departments and eliminate some government programs.

“The other thing very important to controlling the out-of-control spending that Chet Culver has overseen the past four years is to say unequivocally we will not raise taxes to solve the budget problem,” Roberts said.

Roberts emphasized his proposal to eliminate the corporate income tax; Branstad has proposed cutting it in half.

Sioux City businessman Bob Vander Plaats said people across the state are telling him Iowa needs a new governor who understands the need to grow opportunities and businesses – not government.

“I'll be a governor who grows the private sector, not the public sector,” Vander Plaats said.

A friendly regulatory structure and competitive tax rates would help encourage new business start-ups, he said.

A proposal by Culver to expand casino gambling in the state by allowing new casinos to open also faced criticism during the debate.

Branstad took aim at Culver's recommendation to the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission that they issue new casino licenses this year to proposals in four Iowa counties.

“It's wrongheaded. It doesn't make sense. We need a governor that will build a solid base for our future,” Branstad said. He said that he believes the state has enough gambling and shouldn't be expanding it, and that Iowans are the ones hurt by too much gambling.

Vander Plaats pointed out that several casinos were constructed in the state and the Iowa Lottery was started while Branstad was governor.

Culver Campaign Manager Abby Curran said the governor is proud his I-JOBS infrastructure program and the Iowa Power Fund have made historic investments in the state's economy to help create the jobs.

“In stark contrast, Terry Branstad seems out of touch and more focused on making empty promises and running away from a broken record that raised taxes on Iowa's hard-working families,” Curran said.

Iowa Public Television will rebroadcast the debate at 8 p.m. Thursday.