GOP ChetChasers Debate in Cedar Rapids

Republican candidates for governor Rod Roberts, Bob Vander Plaats and Terry Branstad debated in Cedar Rapids this afternoon. I was on the panel. The goofy looking one on the end, with a tie no less.

It was hardly an epic clash, but it was interesting and even fascinating at times. Here are a few highlights, pulled straight from largely illegible notes scribbled mere feet from the candidates.

Temper, Temper -- The already thin veneer of civility between Branstad and Vander Plaats is wearing out, especially for the former guv.

During a section of the debate dealing with same-sex marriage, the candidates were asked if they would back the eventual Republican nominee if they don't win. Branstad said sure thing, referring to himself as a" team player" who always backs the GOP team.

Not so fast. Vander Plaats pointed out that Branstad once "went to Nebraska" and endorsed Ben Nelson, a U.S. senator who is on the other team -- a Democrat, who cast a key vote for socialist health care reform, no less.

A feisty Branstad fired back, loudly interrupting to say that he didn't go to Nebraska, and endorsed Nelson because he's a longtime friend. Branstad added that he was "out of office" at the time.

Round 2 came minutes later, after Branstad panned Vander Plaats' continued (wrong) insistence that governors can make supreme court rulings disappear with an executive order. Branstad says it won't work, citing Gov. Tom Vilsack's failed attempt to extend civil rights protection to gay state employees in 1999 using an executive order. A court ruled the order overstepped state law at the time. Then-state Sen. Steve King led the winning charge.

Vander Plaats was dismissive, and said the the Vilsack case was about felons voting, which drew another loud rebuke from Branstad. "Look it up," Branstad said multiple times.

Even when the debate ended, Branstad was still making his case to BVP that he had the wrong case.

Scoring wise, I give the first round to Vander Plaats. I disagree with the whole guilt by association stuff, but it's a party primary and it's a means of painting Branstad as squishy. And Branstad's whole "I was out of office," thing seemed lame. And I'm not sure something so trivial rates a flash of temper.

Round two goes to Branstad. For one thing, Vander Plaats was wrong about the case. It was about gay rights, not felons voting. So now we know which candidate really knows his 10-year-old obscure balance of power court battles between lawmakers and former governors.

Flood Stuff --I asked the candidates whether they would pledge to put substantial state resources into a comprehensive levee/flood wall system in Cedar Rapids and into watershed management efforts statewide.

They did not answer the question. Shock.

Instead, they showed how much they care.

Branstad and his wife, who is half-Czech (did not know that!) gave money to the flooded National Czech and Slovack Museum and Library.

Vander Plaats knew that the flood was the worst disaster in Iowa's history and fifth worst nationally. Bonus.  He also came after the flood in jeans and a cap and "handed out things."

Roberts has made multiple visits and was in the "northwest neighborhoods" a couple of weeks ago listening to the problems still faced by flood victims. Winner.

Roberts said that Gov. Chet Culver should have called a special legislative session in the fall of 2008 and that all $150 million in the state's Economic Emergency Fund at that time should have been used to help victims.

Among the three candidates, Roberts seemed to have the best grasp of the current situation.

Unanswered Question II -- I also asked the candidates if they could give me one "tangible" way the state has been harmed by same-sex marriages. Other than saying people are mad because they didn't get to vote to ban it, they couldn't name one. Not surprising.

Sorry kids -- All three candidates would get rid of the state's effort to fund preschool programs in public schools. They contend it's too expensive and unnecessary, because private centers, schools, grandma etc. can do the job. We can't afford what we do now, they said. Let's not add extra burdens.

This may be great in a primary, but I think this is a loser position in the general. The school programs are high-quality, inexpensive and very popular. Cutting the budget to get rid of something people like and value, and that's doing what it's supposed to (getting kids ready for school), is a mistake.

It's even more curious when you hear the candidates talk about how the state should be taking over the cost of mental health services from counties because, as Vander Plaats argues, the state would do a better job. In this case, adding an extra burden is OK.

The difference is when the state takes over mental health, you can cut property taxes. It's really too bad for those preschool kids and their families that they don't fit neatly into a property tax reform plan.

Illegal Immigration -- I'm sure this is what everyone is writing about, so I'm not going to spend a lot of time on it. They're all against it. Vander Plaats wants Iowa to be Arizona. Branstad says we should pass an Iowa law that fits Iowa. Roberts likes Arizona's law also, but seemed to indicate an Iowa law might be different. They threw in concerns about meth and terrorism and shots at the federal government.

They all also expressed a desire to stop providing state services to illegal immigrants. And once again they cited numbers from a deeply flawed Legislative Services Agency study that claims illegals soak up $90 million in state services each year.

The study took the state general fund, divided it by Iowa's population to get an inaccurate per-person spending number and then multiplied it by an estimate (guess) of the number of illegal immigrants in Iowa. There are all sorts of reasons that simplistic third-grade formula doesn't get you an accurate picture of the true costs.

But, again, we find out that if a bad study is repeated enough, it becomes gospel. Get rid of illegal immigration, save $90 million. Repeat.

They didn't explain why we don't want the children of illegal immigrants to get schooling, food or medical care. Can we be for tough immigration enforcement without penalizing kids?

Clothing metaphors -- Bob Vander Plaats likes them.

How has the state budget unraveled? like "the proverbial knit sweater," Vander Plaats said.

How would medical liability reform lower costs? Because we'd "stop suing the pants off of the medical community."

Drinking Game -- Every time Branstad calls Culver "reckless and irresponsible," bottoms up. And every time any candidate says government should not be "picking winners and losers." Gulp.

All I had was a bottle of water, unfortunately.

Heights -- Vander Plaats called the smoking ban loophole for casinos "the height of arrogance." But Roberts said it's the "height of hypocrisy."

Branstad, the shortest candidate, said he'd get rid of it, but avoided any reference to heights.