The news from the Revenue Estimating Conference (REC) last month regarding the state’s finances, while sobering, comes as no shock. Legislative Republicans have been calling for a slow and steady approach to the state’s budget over the past two years. Legislative Democrats, unfortunately, chose not to listen and have run the state’s budget aground.
Legislative Republicans, along with the non-partisan Legislative Service Agency, have been ringing the alarm regarding the Democrats’ budget. The current economic slowdown and downturn was forecast in 2007 yet nobody in the majority party paid attention to the warning siren.
Des Moines Register
“Traditionally, Iowa has always lagged the national economy.”
-Dennis Prouty, director of the Legislative Services Agency 12/13/06
The Gazette
“We’ve got an upward motion. It’s not a real strong motion, and I think from everything I’m reading it could be starting to slow down.”
-Dennis Prouty, director of the Legislative Services Agency 12/13/06
This is the first indication from the non-partisan Legislative Services Agency that the economy would be slowing down. Remember, the individual warning us that the economy, overall, would slowing down is from a non-partisan office.
The Gazette
“Democrats will be fiscally responsible. I think people are going to be very cautious about that. We need to keep that mantra up.”
-Representative Mary Mascher, D-Iowa City 1/7/07
By chanting the desire that Democrats in Des Moines would be fiscally responsible does not mean it will actually happen.
Des Moines Register
“I’ve got some real concerns about how we’re going to accomplish some of the proposals that are around with where the revenue numbers stand.”
-State Auditor David Vaudt 1/21/07
Des Moines Register
“Iowans are right to expect us to be smart with a buck, and to balance our checkbook the same way they do.”
-Governor Chet Culver 1/21/07
If your accountant tells you that he does not know how you are going to balance your checkbook you have got a serious problem.
Telegraph Herald
“We need to be guided in this budget by actual numbers. Numbers don’t lie. Smoke and mirrors games and gimmicks just don’t work.”
-Governor Chet Culver 1/30/07
Telegraph Herald
“Iowa common sense is our best guide for budgeting. Simply put, we cannot spend more than we take in.”
-Governor Chet Culver 1/30/07
Well Governor, if you are the average Iowa family you are right. You cannot spend more than you take in. Unfortunately for the taxpayer you and your tax-and-spend liberal allies operate the State’s checkbook.
Telegraph Herald
“We must always realize we can’t possibly fund all the budget requests made of us. Difficult and painful decisions are required.”
-Governor Chet Culver 1/31/07
Telegraph Herald
“He’s made more promises than he can deliver. It’s a lot of spending.”
-Former House Minority Leader Christopher Rants R-Sioux City 1/31/07
Des Moines Register
“We’ve got to bring this back into balance.”
-State Auditor David Vaudt 2/23/07
Des Moines Register
“I think we’re being responsible, and this is the beginning of the budget process.”
-Governor Chet Culver 2/23/07
Des Moines Register
“They’re hiding the truth from Iowans.”
-Former House Minority Leader Christopher Rants R-Sioux City 2/23/07
While the State Auditor is telling the Governor and Legislature that the budget is out of balance, the Democrats continue their smoke and mirrors games.
The Gazette
“I keep reading articles that a recession is coming. There definitely are indications that things are softening. I don’t see tremendous growth for Iowa.”
-David Underwood, member of the Revenue Estimating Conference 4/7/07
The Gazette
“This certainly is a warning that I think we’re spending too much this session, and that as we see an economic slowdown you’re setting yourself up for a whopper of a tax increase that’s absolutely going to kill job creation in this state.”
-Former Senator Jeff Angelo R-Creston 4/7/07
A full year-and-a-half before the downturn in tax receipts the Democrats were warned by the REC and the Republicans regarding their reckless spending.
The Gazette
“Balancing the budget is my top priority. Keeping our fiscal house in order is a priority and it has not been a part of our budgeting proprieties.”
-Governor Chet Culver 4/24/07
Des Moines Register
“We probably spent a little too much this session.”
-Senate Majority Leader Michael Gronstal D-Council Bluffs 4/29/07
The Governor and the leader of the Iowa Senate better get on the same page of talking points. How can you keep your fiscal house in order if you have spent too much money?
The Gazette
“We’ve been expecting a downturn in the economy. We’re expecting it will occur at some point. The question is when.”
-Charles Krogmeier, director of the Department of Management 10/10/07
The Gazette
“They’re still going to be hundreds of millions of dollars short in making their budget balance.”
-Former House Minority Leader Christopher Rants R-Sioux City 10/10/07
So a year before the downturn in tax receipts the Democrats were warned again by the REC and the Republicans regarding their spending spree.
Des Moines Register
"I truly believe we can do what we need to do if we curtail spending."
-Former Senate Minority Leader Ron Wieck, R-Sioux City 1/13/08
Des Moines Register
"You can't increase spending by $1 billion in a year where you just don't have that kind of revenue coming in."
-Former House Minority Leader Christopher Rants, R-Sioux City 1/13/08
Des Moines Register
“We're sitting on a ticking time bomb on this budget."
-Former House Minority Leader Christopher Rants, R-Sioux City 1/13/08
Des Moines Register
“There will be no shortfall.”
-House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, D-Des Moines 1/15/08
Des Moines Register
“There is no reason Iowans should fear this economic situation.”
-Governor Chet Culver 1/29/08
A full 10 months before the downturn of receipts Republican Legislators are telling their colleagues that they need to stop their spending spree. The response from Democratic leadership and the Governor: a pat on the head and a “do not worry about it.”
The Hawk Eye
“We will continue keeping our commitment to put together another fiscally responsible budget and fully fund the state’s savings accounts.”
-Senate Majority Leader Michael Gronstal, D-Council Bluffs 4/5/08
The Gazette
“We’re going to try to keep our belt tight.”
-Senate Majority Leader Michael Gronstal, D-Council Bluffs 4/5/08
The Hawk Eye
"My concern is that (these revenues) won't hold up long term. That's why it shouldn't go into ongoing spending. I don't see us being able to maintain long-term growth."
-Former House Minority Leader Christopher Rants, R-Sioux City 4/5/08
We are now six months before this downturn yet the Democrats continue to increase their spending with total disregard for the law. To feed their spending frenzy they “not withstand” the law so they can spend additional money. This is all done while we are told they are tightening their belts.
The Gazette
"Spending is just out of hand, and there are a lot of us in our caucus that think that has to stop.”
-Former Senate Minority Leader Ron Wieck, R-Sioux City 4/12/08
The Gazette
“It looks to me like spending more money and growing government is the most important thing around here, and I think we need a new attitude about it."
-Former Senate Minority Leader Ron Wieck, R-Sioux City 4/26/08
At the end of session, Republican Leadership continued to sound the alarm with no response as the Democrats voted along a party line to pass an unsustainable budget.
State Auditor’s Report
The Governor’s proposed 2009 budget “represents a significant step backward in terms of transparency and fiscal responsibility.”
-Auditor David Vaudt 5/28/08
So much for the Governor’s promise of a “no smoke and mirror budget.”
Des Moines Register
"The general caution is that the economy of the country has slowed considerably over the last six months, and Iowa won't avoid that."
-Jeff Robinson, a senior legislative analyst for the Iowa Legislative Services Agency. 8/27/08
Des Moines Register
"We cautioned them that we should be more careful and not overextend the taxpayers. I guess a price will be paid now for the Democrats overspending; if that is inability to deal with flood relief or to have to go back and make adjustments to the budget."
-Former House Minority Leader Christopher Rants, R-Sioux City 8/27/08
Still several months prior to the downturn and the Democrats refused to call a special session to deal with this coming crisis.
Des Moines Register
"It will be very difficult for the governor to develop a budget and departments to develop budgets. And the Legislature will have to make some difficult decisions."
-Holly Lyons, fiscal services division director, Legislative Services Agency 10/10/08
Des Moines Register
“It is absolutely delusional to say that everything is fine. It is not fine. Somebody has got to stand up and start telling the truth. I don't care how many times Pat Murphy and Chet Culver say it's fine. These guys are more concerned about their election than they are about the fiscal health of the state."
-Former House Minority Leader Christopher Rants, R-Sioux City 10/10/08
The Gazette
"The governor needs to take action now. He has an actual deficit and every day that goes by reduces his options.”
-Former House Minority Leader Christopher Rants, R-Sioux City 10/15/08
The Gazette
“Obviously we’re going to have to tighten our belts.”
-Governor Chet Culver 10/15/08
The Governor now tells us that state government will have to tighten it’s belt. Unfortunately for the taxpayer it is a day late and a dollar short. In addition, it seems as though the previous “belt tightening” did not work; the question becomes how tight was that belt before?
Des Moines Register
"As people across the state and around the world face tough economic times, it is critical that government is fiscally responsible and living within its means, just like Iowa families must do each and every day."
-Governor Chet Culver 10/10/08
Governor, families in this state have been living within their means. Iowa’s government has not.
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