At last week’s first Governor’s debate, Governor Reynolds made claims she is looking out for Iowa’s middle class and providing relief for working families in Iowa. In reality, this is more empty rhetoric from the governor as she has given out millions in wasteful tax giveaways coming at the expense of funding for public education, health care and mental health services, public safety, higher education, and more. Under the Reynolds-Branstad administration, there have been over $500 million in tax breaks given annually to corporations.
Even programs Governor Reynolds and Republicans tout as accomplishments do not have the adequate funding they need to be successful. Future Ready Iowa’s apprenticeship program is far from fully funded, and educational leaders are raising the alarm saying its placing an unfunded mandate on the backs of communities due to lack of state investment.
And while Governor Reynolds argues Iowans are working in record numbers and incomes are rising, her administration has closed over 36 workforce development centers in rural Iowa and nearly 40 percent of Iowans can’t afford basic needs.
Governor Reynolds also brags about the success of her mental health bill that was passed earlier this year. In reality, the piece of legislation passes on the brunt of the costs to communities due to a lack of investment in state funds. While Governor Reynolds says Iowans have access to mental health services, it’s more empty rhetoric for the thousands of Iowans who have had their mental health services denied or the parents who are forced to drive across state borders to get their children the services they need.
“Over the last several years we have seen Governor Reynolds and state Republicans continue to prioritize wasteful corporate tax giveaways at the expense of services Iowans need,” said State Representative Chris Hall. “Funding for education, health care, mental health services and public safety, have all been reduced because of these short-sighted giveaways. It’s disingenuous for Governor Reynolds and Republicans to continue their claims of being champions for everyday Iowans, when their own budget doesn’t reflect that.”
“We have seen a governor who continues to be all talk,” said Democratic Party Chair Troy Price. “Time and again she brags about the historic investments she is making in Iowans, when the reality couldn’t be further from the truth. Governor Reynolds and Republicans claim they are fighting for Iowa’s middle class, while instead they dole out tax breaks for the wealthy and out of state corporations. We need a governor who will invest in the people of Iowa, and not corporations – that person is Fred Hubbell.”