Gov. Branstad sacrificed to help Iowa

I was surprised to read The Gazette's Feb. 16 front page headline “Branstad earning salary plus pension.” It was like the William Randolph Hearst style with a demonizing headline and the truth somewhere in the middle of the paper. The Gazette used to be a paper you could enjoy reading and know it was good, honest reporting without tricks.

The story tells us “critics are calling it hypocritical when he's asking Iowans to make sacrifices.” Check the article as it continued on page 9A and it tells of the sacrifices Branstad made:

1. No salary in 2010 as he campaigned for governor.

2. Resigned from his job as college president that paid $357,000 plus his $50,000 state pension (total $407,000 plus).

3. Thus willing to cut his salary 56 percent or $227,000 to serve Iowa for a small salary of $130,000 plus $50,000 pension.

Check Iowa university coaches salaries of more than $1 million or close to that. Check even many of our children in good jobs bringing salaries above $150,000. I am very proud of Gov. Branstad, who has made such a big sacrifice for all of us. He has the most important job in Iowa and receives such a small salary (plus all the ugliness that goes with it).

How many of you would be willing to take a 56 percent decrease in your salary to help Iowa?

Elaine Drahn

Belle Plaine