Thursday, October 22, 2009

Taxpayers Hold Governor to His Promise

Des Moines, IA – Republican Party of Iowa Chairman Matt Strawn had this to say after Governor Culver’s office told news media that he will repay the state $13,000, or 10 percent of his salary:

“I am happy to see the governor commit to returning 10% of his total salary to the state, even if it took public pressure and media reports to make him fulfill his promise to Iowa taxpayers.”

(Read Governor Culver’s latest statement here.)

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Paid for by the Republican Party of Iowa and not authorized by any candidate or candidate committee.
621 E. 9th St., Des Moines, IA 50309 515.282.8105 www.iowagop.org

FACT CHET

Statement from Governor Culver’s News Release Oct. 14:
Governor Chet Culver announced today that, as state government begins to implement a 10% across-the-board cut in spending, he is going to reduce his state salary by ten percent.
“This national economic recession has meant financial sacrifices for everyone across the State of Iowa, and it should be no different for me” said Governor Culver. “As Iowans face reduced state services and many state employees face the likelihood of layoffs, my office will lead by example in making budget cuts and it will begin with my salary. We must face this challenge together.”
The salary for the Governor of Iowa is $130,000 as determined by state law.
Source: Office of Governor Culver news release. Click here.

Fact Check

A 10 percent reduction of Governor Culver’s $130,000 salary would mean cutting $13,000. However, the draft plan reductions released yesterday show only a $7,000 cut in the Governor’s salary, about a 5% reduction. The Des Moines Register reports that Culver’s staff explained the difference, saying the 10% reduction only applies to the remaining salary for the fiscal year. Even under that theory, Culver’s $7,000 salary reduction still falls short.

Click here to read the entire Des Moines Register article.
Click here to read the preliminary budget cut plans.

FACT CHET: a periodic fact check report published to bring clarity to the frequent misstatements, misunderstandings, and outright deceptions coming from Governor Culver and his office.




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Paid for by the Republican Party of Iowa and not authorized by any candidate or candidate committee.
621 E. 9th St., Des Moines, IA 50309
www.iowagop.org

Gubernatorial Line-up Set for Leadership for Iowa Event

Party officials also announce C-SPAN will nationally televise the event live from the Iowa State Fairgrounds

Des Moines, IA -- National attention is building for the Republican Party of Iowa’s “Leadership for Iowa” reception as Iowa GOP Chairman Matt Strawn today announced that C-SPAN will televise the November 7 event, featuring Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty, live to a nationwide audience.

Strawn also announced that the event’s gubernatorial portion of the program has been finalized as Iowa Republicans and a nationwide audience will hear personally from Senator Jerry Behn, Governor Terry Branstad, businessman Christian Fong, Representative Chris Rants, Representative Rod Roberts, and businessman Bob Vander Plaats.

“Iowa Republicans have a strong field of candidates for governor and I’m proud we have an opportunity to showcase these leaders to both a statewide and national television audience,” said Strawn. “Iowans are hungry for leadership, and our candidates for governor will lay out their vision for the type of principled, competent leadership the Hawkeye state desperately needs and only a Republican governor will provide.”

The “Leadership for Iowa” event will be held at the Elwell Family Center on the Iowa State Fairgrounds. Event details include:

Saturday, November 7, 2009
5:00 p.m. – Doors Open
5:30 p.m. -- General Reception
6:00 p.m. -- Program
Elwell Family Center, Iowa State Fairgrounds
Des Moines, IA

Tickets to the event are $25 per person and can be purchased by calling 515.263.8238, emailing RSVP@iowagop.org, or through the Republican Party of Iowa website: http://www.iowagop.org.

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NOTE: For Leadership for Iowa media credentials, please email Danielle Plogmann at dplogmann@iowagop.org.

Friday, October 16, 2009

No TV Ad Can Cover Up Culver's Failed Leadership

Des Moines, IA – Republican Party of Iowa Chairman Matt Strawn issued the following statement in response to Governor Culver launching a desperate television ad to justify his poor budget decisions:

“No slick and glossy ad can cover up the failed leadership of Governor Culver. All the ads in all the land can’t hide the fact that Culver signed the largest budget in Iowa’s history, heaped generational debt on this state’s children, and failed to own up to his party’s reckless spending practices.”
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Paid for by the Republican Party of Iowa and not authorized by any candidate or candidate committee.
621 E. 9th St., Des Moines, IA 50309 515.282.8105 www.iowagop.org

Wednesday, October 07, 2009

Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty to Headline Iowa GOP Fall Event

Republican Party of Iowa FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE,
Contact: Danielle Plogmann October 7, 2009
319.290.4185

Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty to Headline Iowa GOP Fall Event
“Leadership for Iowa” celebration to include GOP gubernatorial candidates



Des Moines, IA – Matt Strawn, Chairman of the Republican Party of Iowa, today announced that Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty will be the featured guest for the Party’s signature fall event, titled, “Leadership for Iowa,” which will be held Saturday, November 7 at the Iowa State Fairgrounds.

Governor Pawlenty, who also serves as vice-chairman of the Republican Governors Association, will be joined by Iowa Republican candidates for governor as the Party starts a 12-month countdown to new leadership that will culminate in the election of a Republican governor and legislative majority in November 2010.

Strawn said, “During his two terms as Governor of Minnesota, Tim Pawlenty effectively worked to balance the state’s budget, reduce spending, and enact important health care and education reform initiatives.

“Governor Pawlenty is an innovative, conservative leader and, as Iowa Republicans prepare for a robust gubernatorial primary election and nationally-watched general election for governor, his message of balanced budgets, lower taxes, and market-based reforms for health care and education will resonate with all Iowans,” said Strawn.

The “Leadership for Iowa” event will be held at the Elwell Family Center on the Iowa State Fairgrounds. Event details include:

Saturday, November 7, 2009
5:00 p.m. – Doors Open
5:30 p.m. -- General Reception
6:00 p.m. -- Program
Elwell Family Center, Iowa State Fairgrounds
Des Moines, IA

Strawn concluded, “On November 7, 2009 the countdown to new leadership in Iowa begins in earnest. Tim Pawlenty and our exciting field of Iowa GOP gubernatorial candidates will set the stage for a 12-month conversation with Iowans about the competing visions for our state’s future. This is a conversation in which we are anxious to engage and it is one that will ultimately result in the election of a Republican governor in November 2010.”

Tickets to the event are $25 per person and can be purchased by calling 515.263.8238, emailing RSVP@iowagop.org or through the Republican Party of Iowa website: www.iowagop.org.

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Paid for by the Republican Party of Iowa and not authorized by any candidate or candidate committee.
621 E. 9th St., Des Moines, IA 50309 515.282.8105 www.iowagop.org

Tuesday, October 06, 2009

New Fact Chet on Questionable Spending


FACT CHET


Statement from Governor Culver

Culver, when questioned about the legitimacy of $61,000 in expenditures related to implementation of the Help America Vote Act while he served as Secretary of State, said all of the money was spent appropriately.

Source: Des Moines Register, 10-6-09. Click here.

Fact Check

The U.S. Election Assistance Commission agreed with State Auditor David Vaudt, who questioned these expenditures, and ordered the state to repay the $61,000 back to the federal government.

Now, a just-released federal audit of Culver’s expenditures related to implementation of the Help America Vote Act while he served as Secretary of State found $2.5 million in questionable spending.

Current Secretary of State and fellow Democrat Michael Mauro declined to comment on the findings saying, “The audit speaks for itself.”

Click here to read the entire news article and find the PDF of the newest audit report.

FACT CHET: a periodic fact check report published to bring clarity to the frequent misstatements, misunderstandings, and outright deceptions coming from Governor Culver and his office.




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Paid for by the Republican Party of Iowa and not authorized by any candidate or candidate committee.
621 E. 9th St., Des Moines, IA 50309
www.iowagop.org

Monday, October 05, 2009

Film Office report shows complete failure by Executive Branch to perform its duty:

Governor Culver’s habitual lack of oversight costs taxpayers millions

Des Moines, IA – Republican Party of Iowa State Chairman Matt Strawn today commented on the contents of a preliminary review of the Iowa Film Office tax credit program that details significant lapses in the provision of Executive Branch oversight of this costly program. Strawn said, “This initial report clearly shows Governor Culver and his appointed administrators allowed this multi-million dollar program to operate with virtually no accountability or substantial oversight.

“Even the Iowa Attorney General is forced to conclude that the Culver Administration failed to implement this program properly. What we are left with is a trail of incomplete or inadequate expense records, sham pass through corporations, and unqualified out-of-state expenditures that will ultimately cost Iowa taxpayers millions,” said Strawn.

In a statement released earlier today, the Iowa Attorney General said, “The Attorney General’s Office has found the statute regarding tax credits was not implemented properly in at least several ways: investment tax credits were not calculated according to the statute; expenses were not adequately vetted and verified; projects were not justified in terms of their economic benefit to the State compared to their cost; and the definition of ‘investment’ sometimes was improperly applied.”

Strawn said, “Responsibility for implementing this program and ensuring its resources were used wisely and for the intended purposes rests with Governor Culver and his administration.

“The Iowa Film Office debacle is just one more example of the Governor’s habitual lack of administrative oversight and unwillingness to confront the problems facing this state. His actions in this matter came far too late and far too little to save the tens of millions of taxpayer dollars that may have already floated out of Iowa,” concluded Strawn.

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Paid for by the Republican Party of Iowa and not authorized by any candidate or candidate committee.
621 E. 9th St., Des Moines, IA 50309
www.iowagop.org