GOP leader Paulsen seeking 5th term

By James Q. Lynch 

The Gazette

HIAWATHA – House Republican Leader Kraig Paulsen of Hiawatha is seeking a fifth term, saying he will continue to pursue policies that improve the job climate in Iowa and reduce the pressures on taxpayers.

Paulsen, 45, represents most of western and northern Linn County, including Alburnett, Center Point, Central City, Coggon, Fairfax, Hiawatha and Palo.

“It's a difficult time for state government,” Paulsen said, but he sees opportunities to make government more efficient and transparent.

The current budget challenges “intensify the need to dig deeper and make lasting decisions to make government more effective and more efficient,” he said.

As the Legislature has struggled with balancing the state budget while revenues are declining, Paulsen said Republicans have offered numerous proposals to reduce government spending and increase transparency so taxpayers know what they are paying for.

“Last year state government spent at historic levels, placing an increased burden on Iowa taxpayers,” he said. “Government should balance its budget like taxpayers, by not spending more than it takes in.”

He cited examples, such as a plan to reduce the budget by $290 million by eliminating or consolidating state agencies, including the administrative functions of the regents universities, and eliminating state-paid health-care for adults in the country illegally.

Just this week, House Republicans offered plans to limit tuition increases at state universities as part of the state government reorganization plan as a way to limit the financial impacts on students and families.

Paulsen, a former Air Force officer, is concerned about the property tax implications of that state government reorganization as well as other steps Gov, Chet Culver and the Democratic legislative majority have taken to balance the budget.

 “Decisions in Des Moines are driving up property taxes across the state and this must be reversed,” he said.

State government, he said, “has become too big and unwieldy. We have to reduce spending and protect taxpayers.”

“I think House Republicans have gotten after that in a substantive way,” Paulsen said.

He also cited work on disaster recovery, especially the bipartisan legislation approved at the beginning of the 2009 session. House 35, especially Palo, sustained significant flood damage in 2008. Paulsen called House File 64, a $56 million disaster recovery package, as an example of a good bill made better with Republican help.

Paulsen is an attorney for CRST International, Inc. in Cedar Rapids. A Cedar Rapids Kennedy graduate, he attended Iowa State University for his undergraduate studies, received an MBA from the Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and his law degree from the University of Iowa. 

Paulsen and his wife, Cathy, have four children. They are members of the New Covenant Bible Church in Cedar Rapids. A former Air Force officer, Paulsen has received numerous awards and recognitions including the Meritorious Service Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster and the Missile Wing Instructor of the Year.

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