DES MOINES – Iowa Governor Terry Branstad revealed millions more in state funding cuts to the highway patrol, prisons, community colleges and more late Friday, and lib’s are fuming.
Democrat Chris Hall may have said it best, reporting that “just days after 3,000 college students had their scholarships rescinded, Branstad-Reynolds issue more cuts to community colleges, state universities, and public safety. To drop this at 4pm on Friday is shameless.”
Mason City’s Sharon Steckman, a House Democrat and fervent fighter for public education, backed up Hall’s claim, saying “the governor is making more cuts to education…. At about four o’clock this afternoon, Governor Terry Branstad’s staff revealed details about more cuts in the present year’s state budget. The spending reduction plan legislators approved a few weeks ago directed the governor’s budget director to make another $11.5 million in cuts on his own. That plan from Department of Management director Dave Roederer calls for community colleges to pare another $1.7 million in spending between now and June 30, 2017. The University of Iowa must cut $1.2 million deeper. Iowa State University must cut nearly a million and the University of Northern Iowa about half a million. Also in the note it said the state corrections would cut a quarter of a million in the highway patrol another half a million all this by June.”
The state is trying to trim over $110 million from the budget this year.
His Parkinson’s has went to his head.
Agreed. And to follow up……. The Govs secret (illness) is well known and yet he denies any conversation about this devastating disease. He could be a champion for neurological research or at least public education but he is in deep denial. And by the way a major characteristic of advanced stages of the disease if impaired reasoning and judgement as witnessed by some recent decisions he has actually boasted about. Bad enough for Iowa but this guy will be our Ambassador to China. And Trump didn’t know either??
He is following Iowa Law that says he must balance the budget. So, he is doing his job. He might be the cause of the shortage or it might be the overspending by the Democrats that caused it.
He is like a little Hitler
What is wrong with guy…..there needs to be an investigation..sounds corrupt as hell !!! How about all those millions in tax credits for out of state businesses. 9 million went to an out of state company for the highway helper program. The state went to Google mail…no one likes it….it wasn’t designed for business!!! This guy is out of touch with reality.
This needs to stop! Now!
County governments have tax rewards for large corporations – The supervisor call it TIF – minus their cut.
Looks like the public servants fat cats are self destructing by demanding wages and benefits that the private sector can no longer afford. You better police your own before the reality of it finally soaks into your liberal skull which is supposed to contain a brain which gives you the ability to survive like the private sector.
He also gave small business owners a tax break – they were paying double as to residential property owners and 3 times more than farmers. How about the 5 BILLION dollars you lucky farmers received in farm subsidies last year from your farmer pals in public service. But really what’s draining Iowa’s economy is the public sector work force (teachers included) and their retirement fund — WERE 5 BILLLION dollars underfunded in that area. CUT CUT -f the unions – freeze the hiring and wage increases for at least 3 years and cut cut cut the FAT.
Board of Regents members make $500,000.00 per year – cut a few and lower tutions. Lower all public sector pay above 45,000. and have the pay more on their free health insurance like the private sector – problem solved.
Great points.
Although I am not a fan of the Iowa Board of Regents, I do not believe they make $500,000 per year. Where did that info come from?
Oh, now I get it. Just like our President, lie and act like it is the truth and hundreds if not thousands of people will believe you.
Some of them do and some make more.
I am not taking your word for it. From my researching it, the director made a lot of money last year – $350,000 or so. Looking at the Iowa state salaries, I can’t find anything on any of the members.
L hw to do research and then you can talk. Try looking at bonuses.
Damn computer can’t keep up. “Learn how to”
The $350,000 figure is with bonuses.
The cuts do not bother me personally. But, I am a little concerned as you have to stop cutting somewhere. I really wish they had left the community college’s alone. If they want to hit the majors that would be OK as they have billions of dollars in rainy day savings they can use. The majors have lost their way and have become to liberal at the expense of real education.
Their goals are clear: Elite classes to rule, and worker classes to work and serve. Education imbalances their equation.
Hello?, the state of Iowa by law has to balance it’s budget. This can and has to be done by Iowa law. It doesn’t do any good to complain about it, the budget has to balance. If the legislature doesn’t like the proposal, they can cut other areas and move the balances where they want them.
He wouldn’t have to trim so much if he quit giving free tax breaks to the corporations and people that give him kickbacks. This is ridiculous. Every cut is made from all the areas we are suffering. It’s time people got off their ass and took initiative in voting these asshat’s out.
This is exactly right. The reason we’re having to cut the state budget is because Brandstad gave corporations a huge break on property taxes. Sad thing is, there is more and larger property tax relief coming for corporations – we’re only in year 3 of a 10-year graduated plan.
The lack of investment in this state that has occurred since 2011 will come back to haunt us for a very long time. Penny wise, pound foolish.
Well, at least the people that keep voting for these fools are also being screwed.
State employees, their wages and retirement funds are not the problem. The State would not function without the employeess and I for one want the best and brightest so our government operates as seemlessly, efficiently and effortlessly as possible. For those that complain about the length of time they wait for answers the ask of State agencies — the loss of employees that Branstad is so proud of has cut the work force so there is less efficiency. Branstad, he who has fed at the public trough almost longer than anyone else in State government.
Hang on to your ass libs.. This is just the beginning, we are sick and tired of paying for your phantasy world and we don’t have to do it no more…. So state employees get ready, we are all sick of your free ride with benefits through the roof, get ready for reality as the swamp drains….. Ha fkn ha!!!!!!