Branstad invites comparison of his record, Culver's

By Charlotte Eby and James Q. Lynch

CEDAR RAPIDS -- Gov. Chet Culver is “toast” if Iowa voters compare his record with that of former Gov. Terry Branstad, the four-term Republican predicted after accepting the endorsement of the state's largest taxpayers' rights group.

After accepting an unprecedented endorsement from Iowans for Tax Relief, Branstad told about 40 people at an airport stop in Cedar Rapids May 19 that Culver will be a one-term governor if voters compare his “dismal record – highest unemployment in 24 years, worst budget mess in state's history and all kinds of investigations going on of all the shenanigans going on in his administration” with Branstad's record of $124 million in net tax reductions and “clean, honest, open government.”

Branstad called the ITR endorsement a “very big deal” that will help voters in the Republican primary June 8 and in November see the difference between him and Culver.

Branstad, who served as governor from 1983-99, is the first candidate the taxpayers' rights group has endorsed in a primary election, ITR President Ed Failor Jr. said. Its reasoning is simple: Branstad is the only one of three Republicans running who can beat Culver, a first-term Democrat.

Branstad is in a three-way primary race with Sioux City businessman Bob Vander Plaats and state Rep. Rod Roberts of Carroll.

Culver campaign spokeswoman Ali Glisson said to call the endorsement of Branstad a farce is an understatement.

“The truth about his record is that he did raise taxes time and time again on hard-working Iowans,” Glisson said in a statement. “Perhaps Iowans for Tax Relief's main concern isn't how much do everyday Iowans pay in their taxes but how much do the wealthy and out-of-state corporations pay.”

Failor, however, pointed to Branstad's tax policies, including a 10 percent across-the-board income tax cut and eliminating the state inheritance tax for children and grandchildren.

Failor acknowledged Branstad has not sided with the organization every time.

“We haven't always agreed with Terry Branstad, but he's a learner, he's a listener,” Failor said.

In announcing the endorsement in Ankeny, Failor said one of the biggest differences was Branstad's prior support for eliminating what is known as “federal deductibility,” the ability to deduct what is paid in federal taxes from state taxes.

Branstad supported doing away with federal deductibility in exchange for cuts in state income tax rates. He now supports keeping federal deductibility.

“Iowans care deeply about this issue. I learned that lesson a long time ago,” Branstad said. If President Obama lets the Bush tax cuts expire, Iowans will be paying higher taxes, Branstad said.

“At least it will be deductible on their Iowa taxes,” he added.

OPTIONAL TRIM

Branstad highlighted his work as governor to implement a requirement that limits state spending to 99 percent of revenues.

He said that spending limitation has been disregarded since he left office, and vowed to veto any appropriations bill that circumvents it.

“When I get to be governor again, I will enforce the spending limit,” Branstad said.

The candidate said he supports ITR's initiative to add the 99 percent spending limitation to Iowa's Constitution, so the Legislature cannot circumvent it.