Reynolds: Iowans' lack of confidence in Culver fueling early interest in governor's race

MARION -- “People have just had it,” Kim Reynolds said Tuesday to explain the crowds showing up to meet her and Republican gubernatorial candidate Terry Branstad.

Reynolds, the GOP lieutenant governor candidate, called high voter interest so early in the gubernatorial race “a positive thing for Iowa.”

The highest unemployment in decades, high spending and borrowing, a deficit gap of nearly $1 billion and higher local property taxes are worrying voters, she said.

“I think they want to weigh in, they want to be heard,” Reynolds said during at a stop at the Linn County GOP headquarters in Marion July 20. She sees that as a positive thing for the Republican team seeking to replace first-term Democrats Gov. Chet Culver and Lt. Gov. Patty Judge.

She said Culver's “bonding scheme” – the $873 million I-JOBS initiative – isn't working. Unemployment is as high as it was a year ago, and in some counties where there is I-JOBS spending, unemployment has increased, the first-term state senator from Osceola said.

“I have heard at nearly every stop that Iowans have absolutely no confidence in that environment,” Reynolds said. Some business owners have indicated they have considered re-investing in their businesses and adding employees. “But they tell me they are hunkering down.”

Instead of higher spending and more borrowing, Reynolds said it will take budget discipline and a commercial property tax reduction to encourage business development and create an environment in which Iowans feel confident in the state economy to re-invest in their businesses and communities.

Despite increases in the state sales and gas taxes during his four terms as governor, Reynolds said Branstad has a proven track record of cutting taxes.

“We need to look at the net gain,” she said. That was a $124 million decrease in state taxes and a $900 million surplus when he left office 12 years ago. “You need to look at the whole picture.”