Culver says Branstad 'back-pedaling' on state spending promise

Gov. Chet Culver said Friday his GOP opponent, Terry Branstad, is “back-pedaling” on a pledge cut state government by 15 percent over five years by employing a new definition of what a cut is and using the “fuzzy math” that was a hallmark of past Branstad budgeting when he was accused of keeping two sets of books and “cooking” the numbers as governor.

“It's a stunning development in this race,” Culver said. “This is a major turning point in this campaign.”

Culver was reacting to statements made by Branstad, who served four terms as Iowa's governor from 1983 to 1999, that his promise to reduce the size of government by 15 percent over five years would not necessarily mean that the state would have a smaller budget. He told the Des Moines Register editorial board Thursday that his intent is to gradually eliminate a “structural deficit” of 15 percent without raising taxes.

Branstad said he expected the state's budget would continue to grow because he anticipates tax collections will increase and the state will spend more for costs other than government programs, such as fully funding property tax relief through credits to local governments and his plan to ease commercial property tax rates.

Branstad campaign officials said his statements did not represent a change of position for the GOP nominee, but Culver told a Des Moines Rotary Club AM breakfast meeting that the former four-term governor was attempting to “have it both ways” with a new explanation that indicates even Branstad is confused about what his position is.

“It's remarkable that a candidate for governor has been promising the people of Iowa one thing and then two weeks before the election he's trying to back peddle and get out of a commitment,” Culver said in an interview after his Rotary speech. “He has a lot of explaining to do, not only to the voters on Nov. 2, but to all the Republican primary voters who voted for him when he got the nomination in June in part because he promised to cut the budget 15 percent.”

Branstad spokesman Tim Albrecht said it is Culver who is trying to have it both ways, by going on the attack and hoping voters won't notice that 55,000 jobs have been lost on his watch.

“It is unsurprising that Gov. Culver is confused by this budget, given he doesn't attend budget hearings and is unaware of how the budget process actually works,” Albrecht said. “Gov. Branstad remains committed to eliminating the structural deficit that Culver caused, amounting to 15 percent, or $900 million over the next five years. This has been one of Terry Branstad's goals since announcing his candidacy in January, and this remains unchanged.”

Culver countered that Branstad is trying to fool voters by concocting a new definition of what a cut is.

“Go look in Webster's dictionary what the definition of cut is. Cut is not spending more. Cut has nothing to do with revenues. A cut means a reduction in the size of the state budget, which is what Terry Branstad has promised to do for 12 months,” said Culver, a West Des Moines Democrat seeking re-election to a second term.

“I think this explains why he had his fuzzy math for the first 10 years when he was governor. It's smoke and mirrors and this new definition of cut. That's how he's operated in the past, that's how he'll operate in the future,” Culver added. “This is no surprise that he's still trying to play these games with the budget. That's what he did before and that's what he'll do in the future and that's just irresponsible.”

Culver used much of his nearly 30-minute Rotary speech to tout the progress that has been made in rebuilding the state from $8 billion in damage caused by Iowa's worst natural disaster in 2008, in positioning Iowa as a leader in energy production and economic recovery, and in establishing Iowa as one of the nation's best-connected states which is attracting business, jobs and upper-level showings in many national rankings.

“People have been through a lot. It's been a tough time for all of us. I think people are feeling better now that we're seeing more and more positive signals,” he said.

Culver said he was upbeat about how the campaign is unfolding, attributing his previous lag in the polls to the fact that “good news doesn't sell.”

However, with a little more than two weeks remaining until Election Day, he said he believes things are turning his way.

“We're getting our message out. People are starting to focus and pay attention,” Culver said. “We're just starting to hit our stride and we're moving fast. We've moved 11 points in two and a half weeks in the polls.”