Received from IowaGOP Communications on July 11, 2006
 
 
For Immediate Release
Tuesday, July 11, 2006 
Contact:
 SARAH SAUBER
515-282-8105

CULVER AIMS TO FOLLOW IN 'TAX AND SPEND' WARNER'S FOOTSTEPS

DES MOINES – Is Culver’s decision to bring in tax and spend liberal Mark Warner an early indication of how he will govern? Warner, former Governor of Virginia, is famous for breaking a campaign promise not to raise taxes.

“By bringing in Mark Warner, Chet Culver is showing Iowa voters what type of tax and spend governor he will be,” said Republican Party of Iowa Executive Director Cullen Sheehan. “Warner broke his campaign promise not to raise taxes and allowed out-of-control spending, Iowans can not afford to make the same mistake with Chet Culver who has already proposing his own out-of-control spending that would force tax hikes.”

Sheehan continued, “Mark Warner failed to listen to the people of Virginia during his endless crusade for higher taxes and Chet Culver is guaranteed to do the same if elected governor.”

Chet Culver’s Plan for Iowa’s Future:

So-Called “Plan” for Iowa is Out of Control Spending. Chet Culver’s so-called plan for “Leading Iowa Forward” is back to the future with age-old tax-and-spend initiatives. His irresponsible and reckless spending proposals are modeled after a failed $500 million Values Fund. Chet’s proposals for giveaways to big business and others totals $230.5 million and climbing and would force hard-working Iowans to pay for his government spending spree.

Out of Control Spending

· $100 million big business slush-fund. (Des Moines Register 11/5/05)

· $65.5 million higher education plan. (Des Moines Register, 5/1/06).

· $50 million for scholarship program. (CR Gazette, 5/2/06)

· $15 million to new incentives for recruiting and retaining the best teachers. (Culver Release, 5/31/06)

· No Cost Estimate - Proposed expanding “Hilary Style Government Run Healthcare” for businesses, children, families and children. (Radio Iowa, 3/02/06)

Total To Date: $230.5 million and climbing…

Supports Raising Iowa Taxes. Chet Culver’s unabashed liberalism will raise taxes on hard-working Iowans to fund his irresponsible, budget-busting spending programs. Chet’s admitted, ‘We have a billion dollars of annual revenue lost because of 50-60 tax cuts on the books.” (Iowa Broadcaster’s Debate, 5/6/06). Rolling back tax relief is a flat out tax hike on the backs of Iowans and their families.
 

Former Virginia Governor Mark Warner Supported Tax Hikes:

In 2002, Warner Supported Raising Taxes By $5 Billion. (R.H. Melton, “Nearing The Stretch, Sales Tax Plan Supporters Pulling Ahead,” The Washington Post, 9/26/02)

“[Virginia Governor Mark Warner’s] First Major Initiative Was To Push For A Local Sales Tax Increase To Pay For Transportation Programs In Northern Virginia.” (Stephen Moore and Steven Slivinski, “Fiscal Policy Report Card On America’s Governors: 2004,” Cato Institute, 3/1/05, p. 65)

· “After Working Hard In His Gubernatorial Campaign Against Mark Earley To Deny He Is A Typical Tax-And-Spend Liberal, Warner Then Waged A Tireless Effort On Behalf Of A Northern Virginia Referendum To Raise Taxes For Transportation. That Failed Spectacularly.” (A. Barton Hinkle, Op-Ed, “Donnybrook Over The Estate Tax Leaves Both Sides Bruised,” Richmond Times Dispatch, 4/8/03)

“In November 2003 Warner Proposed A Massive $1 Billion Tax Increase That Raised Income Taxes, Sales Taxes, And Cigarette Taxes And Restoration Of The Estate Tax.” (Stephen Moore and Steven Slivinski, “Fiscal Policy Report Card On America’s Governors: 2004,” Cato Institute, 3/1/05, p. 65)

· “[In 2003] The Governor Put Tax ‘Reform’ On His Agenda, But Refused To Release The Details Prior To The General Assembly’s Elections. Two Weeks After The Vote - Which Saw Democrats Pick Up Two Seats In The House But Lose One In The Senate - He Announced His Tax Program.” (Editorial, “Leadership,” Richmond Times Dispatch, 12/1/03)

· “Warner Ended Up Signing A Compromise $1.3 Billion Tax Hike.” (Stephen Moore and Steven Slivinski, “Fiscal Policy Report Card On America’s Governors: 2004,” Cato Institute, 3/1/05, p. 65)

In 2004, Gov. Warner Supported Higher Taxes: “[VA Gov. Mark] Warner Has Proposed A $1 Billion, Two-Year Tax Increase And Has Ridiculed Republican Proposals To Submit Proposed Tax Increases To The Voters In A Referendum.” (Tyler Whitley, “Negotiators Get To Work,” Richmond Times Dispatch, 3/5/04)

· In The End, Warner “Ushered” A $1.4 Billion Increase Through The Legislature. (“Two Legislators Compete For Attorney General,” The Associated Press, 11/8/05)
 

Warner Attempted To Raise Taxes Despite Public Opposition:

Warner Broke His “No New Taxes” Pledge. (Editorial, “Enough Said,” Richmond Times Dispatch, 3/11/04; Editorial, “Tax Addenda,” Richmond Times Dispatch, 2/25/04)
 

“That Part Of The State Voted Overwhelmingly For Warner In The General Election Just A Year Before, But In The November 2002 Special Election The Sales Tax Hike Was Trounced.” (Stephen Moore and Steven Slivinski, “Fiscal Policy Report Card On America’s Governors: 2004,” Cato Institute, 3/1/05, p. 65)
 

· Voters In Northern Virginia Rejected The Tax Increase By More Than 55 Percent Of The Vote. (Stephen Moore and Steven Slivinski, “Fiscal Policy Report Card On America’s Governors: 2004,” Cato Institute, 3/1/05, p. 11)

###
 

Paid for by Republican Party of Iowa
621 E. 9th | Des Moines, Iowa 50309
W/ 515.282.8105 | F/515.282.9019
 Not authorized by any candidate or candidate committee