DES MOINES – Iowa liberals are hopping mad hat the Governor neglected house one of their favorite catch-phrases during his condition of the state speech Tuesday.
The liberal Iowa political group Progress Iowa pointed out immediately after the speech that Governor Terry Branstad refused to say the words ‘middle class’ during his condition of the state address. The group also claimed that the Governor “used dishonest math on job growth.”
“Governor Branstad failed to mention Iowa’s middle class during his Condition of the State address today, where he outlined his priorities for the upcoming year and legislative session,” Progress Iowa said. “The Governor also claimed credit for creating 169,000 jobs, when only 82,500 have been created since the beginning of his term.”
Top Iowa Democrats have repeatedly used the term “middle class” in their speeches, appearances and press releases leading up to the 2015 legislative session.
Progress Iowa Executive Director Matt Sinovic issued the following statement In response to the Governor’s remarks, which also failed to mention poverty or minimum wage:
Matt Sinovic of Progress Iowa“Governor Branstad failed middle class Iowans today. He refused to even say the words ‘middle class’ while at the same time heaping praise on a number of out of state corporations. The Governor’s priorities are completely out of step with everyday Iowans, who know that the foundation of our economy and our state’s success is a strong and growing middle class.”
“Governor Branstad’s distorted jobs math proves that he has no respect for working Iowans. The Governor inflates the number of jobs created by not counting jobs that have been lost, insulting every Iowan who has lost work during his term in office. An accurate accounting of Iowa’s job growth is less than half as many as the Governor claims.”
“The Governor also refused to bring up a minimum wage increase, or acknowledge the 300,000 workers who would benefit from an increase. Unfortunately, minimum wage workers in Iowa have waited longer than those in any other state for a raise.”
“Governor Branstad’s refusal to mention the middle class, poverty, or minimum wage during his Condition of the State address today was disappointing but not surprising. His failure to prioritize the needs of middle class working families has never been more clear.”
Progress Iowa is a statewide liberal political organization which claims to be focused on research, education and advocacy regarding Iowa public policy.
