It appears that being in the executive branch for seven years has changed Governor Reynolds’ tune on budget transparency.

In honor of Kim Reynolds’ latest budgetary disaster, the Iowa Democratic Party is throwing it back to her 2008 Senate campaign when Reynolds specifically called out the need for “accountability and transparency in the budgeting process.”

Ironically, that statement came right after she called for property tax reform, a policy program that she and Branstad “accomplished” by giving away massive amounts of Iowa taxpayer money to out-of-state special interests–a direct cause of the Reynolds Budget Crisis currently devastating Iowa.

Despite her earlier lip service to budget transparency, Reynolds presided over a remarkably opaque budget process this year. A budget gap of $104 million dollars miraculously closed by $90 million to allow her to avoid a politically embarrassing special session. Lawmakers have since called for an audit of the budget, as there are several apparent discrepancies in Reynolds’ budget report.

“Seven years in office sure have changed Kim Reynolds,” said Iowa Democratic Party Spokesperson Tess Seger. “While she once professed the importance of budget transparency, she now dodges questions and refuses to take accountability for the Reynolds Budget Crisis. Unfortunately, Iowa voters won’t let her off the hook so easily. We will hold her accountable for her mismanagement at the polls next year.”

BACKGROUND

In October 2008, Reynolds Said as Senator She “Would Like to See More Accountability and Transparency with the Budgeting Process.”  According to the Osceola Sentinel-Tribune, “WHAT DO YOU HOPE TO CHANGE?: Property tax reform, I know it won’t be easy, it’s been talked about and looked at for years, but something has to be done. It impacts seniors, families, agriculture, business and economic growth. We need to reduce regulations, taxes and the growth of government by utilizing technology, eliminating duplication of services, encouraging collaboration, and developing outcome based programs. If the program doesn’t meet the stated criteria they should be eliminated. I would like to see more accountability and transparency in the budgeting process. I will fight to protect Iowa’s Right to Work Law; no one should be forced to join a union, and I am concerned with the lack of debate on very important issues that are important to voters in this state. Legislation should go through the proper process giving individuals the opportunity to contact their representatives and voice their concerns or support of the issue.” [Osceola Sentinel-Tribune, 10/29/08]