Posted 10/30/2008 by David Kochel

Iowa Progess Project launches “Alaska” TV which highlights the pressing need for transparency in government.

Click below to watch video.



Among the other things passed by the legislature this past session were $80,000 to repair an antique organ, $100,000 to build a community center in Des Moines, $100,000 to build a community center in Des Moines, $50,000 to market a free shuttle service for state employees in Des Moines, and $50,000 to market a free shuttle service for state employees.

Posted 10/22/2008 by David Kochel

The Iowa Progress Project has launched a series of statewide radio ads targeting state representatives who tried to gut Iowa’s bipartisan labor laws.

Click below to preview the ad. 
 

State representatives abused their power when they tried to change Iowa’s labor laws and rushed House File 2645 through the legislature – they hoped taxpayers wouldn’t notice. Newspapers called the move a “power grab” and an “end run”.

They went too far. A vote for HF 2645 stripped school boards of authority to set class sizes and schedules, and made it almost impossible to fire bad teachers. The bill would have been so devastating to local schools that Governor Culver was forced to veto the legislation.

The “Devastating” ads are part of a series to educate Iowans on the questionable voting records of liberal state representatives. The radio ads will be aired in twelve state representative's districts that voted to ignore Iowa’s bipartisan labor laws. The ads encourage constituents to call and urge their representatives to stop taking away local school’s powers and instead let parents decide what is best for their kids.

Posted 10/21/2008 by David Kochel

The Iowa Progress Project launched another radio ad in its series of statewide radio ads to educate Iowans on the questionable voting records of liberal state representatives. "Just the Facts" highlights representative's votes to raise taxes, increase the budget, dismantle Iowa's labor laws, and raise salaries of state employees.

Click below to listen.

Posted 10/15/2008 by David Kochel

IOWANS FEEL THE EFFECTS OF ECONOMIC DOWNTURN WHILE WASTEFUL GOVERNMENT SPENDING CREATES $500 MILLION HOLE IN STATE BUDGET

The Iowa Progress Project has launched a series of statewide radio ads highlighting wasteful spending by Governor Culver and the leadership in the Iowa Legislature.

Click below to preview the ad.


Governor Chet Culver, Speaker Pat Murphy and Senator Mike Gronstal have led Iowa on a liberal spending spree. In just the past two years, state spending is up nearly $1 billion. Taxes and fees are up $500 million. And just days ago we learned from the state Revenue Estimating Conference that Iowa has a structural deficit and is on the verge of a massive financial crisis.

And you won’t believe some of the things the that Governor Culver and the Democrat-controlled legislature are spending your tax dollars on.

Just one example -- liberals in the state legislature, led by Speaker Pat Murphy, appropriated $300,000 to the City of Dubuque for an Amtrak depot.

While sounding harmless enough -- the problem is -- Amtrak doesn’t service Dubuque.

Unfortunately, this example of pork was passed on a strictly party line vote in the legislature.

The “Train to Nowhere” ads are part of a series to educate Iowans on the need for reform of wasteful government spending and to promote greater transparency in government spending. The radio ads will be aired in twelve state representative's districts that voted for this wasteful pork barrel spending, and encourages their constituents to call them and urge them to stop wasting taxpayers' money.

Posted 10/14/2008 by David Kochel

What Governor Culver Won’t Tell You: The State of Iowa Is Broke
Culver goes to Washington to ask for a ‘bailout’

Last week, Iowa’s Revenue Estimating Conference announced Iowa will end the FY 2009, with $40 million less in revenue than was originally estimated this past spring. In layman’s terms they told us the State of Iowa is broke.

This week, Governor Culver went to Washington to ask the federal government to bailout Iowa, blaming it on the “flailing economy.” This is the same government that just weeks ago bailed out Wall Street billionaires and left taxpayers holding the check.

IPP President David Kochel, “It appears Culver has taken all he can from Iowa’s taxpayers front pockets, and now has gone to Washington to ask them to take from Iowans’ back pockets.”

Data collected from the Fiscal Bureau shows Governor Culver has increased state spending more in two years in office than Governor Vilsack did in his last four years in office. Since 2006, state spending has increased over 15% leaving the state budget bleeding red ink. The FY 2009 budget increased spending by almost $1 billion dollars over two years.

“These ‘spend happy’ ways have to stop. The federal government doesn’t have any money and now neither does Iowa. Chet Culver and his liberal allies in Des Moines need to realize that in times of economic crisis the solution isn’t to increase spending, but to spend within your means,” said Kochel.

According to the Des Moines Register “Iowa’s revenue is essentially flat which could cause budget challenges because of hundreds of millions of dollars in additional expenses…” Multiple porkbarrel projects enacted by the liberals in Des Moines have helped contribute to the out of control state budget. Some of this spending includes: $300,000 for an Amtrak depot on a train line that doesn’t exist, $80,000 to restore an antique organ, $120,000 on decorative flower pots in Des Moines, and $100,000 on a community center in Des Moines. These are only a few of the examples of the liberal ‘spend happy’ ways.

Iowa has a structural deficit and unfortunately, the only solution Chet Culver and his allies will propose is to the Congress and ask for a bailout. With state unemployment at its highest since 2005, and Iowans seeing their life savings dwindle away with the unease of the stock market, now is not the time to increase taxes, increase spending, or ask for another irresponsible federal bailout.

Posted 10/9/2008 by David Kochel

Today, the Iowa Progress Project added a state spending budget ticker to its website. The new ticker demonstrates how recklessly the current Iowa administration spends your money. The $6.2 billion dollar budget for 2009 translates to an astonishing $194 spent every second.

Iowa’s budget increased 11% in Governor Vilsack’s last term, and subsequently increased 16% under Culver’s administration. Governor Culver has managed to increase state spending more during two years in office than what Governor Vilsack did in four years.

The numbers are even scarier broken down into spending per day, hour, minute, and second. When Governor Vilsack took office, spending was at $141 per second. The past legislative session has brought Iowa spending to $194 per second just short of an unprecedented $200 per second.

How Democrats in the state legislature spent $5.8 billion last year:

• $300,000 for construction of a train depot and platform in Dubuque. (Unfortunately, there is no Amtrak service to Dubuque.)

• $80,000 to repair an antique organ in Clermont.

• $100,000 to build a community center in Des Moines, Democratic House Majority Leader McCarthy's own district.

• $750,000 line-item to help finance Principal River walk in Des Moines.

• $50,000 to market a free shuttle service for state employees in Des Moines.

• $131 Million on sub-prime bonding plan for a new prison in Ft. Madison.

• $120,000 in state funding for decorative planters in the city of Des Moines.

• $6.3 million to refurbish and redecorate offices within the state capitol building.

View the new budget ticker on our home page along with a complete breakdown of state spending over the past six years.

Posted 10/8/2008 by David Kochel

Calls on Speaker Pat Murphy to stop wasteful spending of taxpayer dollars

Listen to the ad here.

This past legislative session, the Democrats in the state legislature, led by Speaker Pat Murphy, appropriated $300,000 to the City of Dubuque for an Amtrak depot.

While sounding harmless enough -- the problem is Amtrak doesn’t service Dubuque.

IPP President David Kochel said, "This new radio ad highlights the need for government transparency at all levels of state government. Taxpayer’s hard earned dollars shouldn’t be spent on wasteful government pork projects – especially when Iowans are facing difficult financial times.”

Kochel continued, “How is it possible that leaders in the legislature found the funds to appropriate $300,000 for an Amtrak depot in Dubuque, but cannot call a special session of the legislature to send money to help flood victims in Cedar Rapids?  This kind of waste is outrageous. And it’s a slap in the face to the citizens in Cedar Rapids who are looking to state government for leadership.”

The Iowa Progress Project released model transparency legislation for consideration by the next session of the legislature you can read about here. The transparency legislation is designed to require the state government to be held accountable by fully disclosing all line item appropriations.  It is aimed at making the budgeting process more accessible via an online database to the taxpayers.

Posted 9/24/2008 by Staff

Click below to find out the real truth about Iowa’s economic forecast.

Posted 9/23/2008 by David Kochel

Thought you might find this interesting...

Posted 9/23/2008 by David Kochel

http://www.whotv.com/global/story.asp?s=9060570

Posted 9/18/2008 by David Kochel

Governor Culver NOT phased by the crash of Wall Street… which hasn’t been this gloomy since 9/11. 

Thought you might find this article from the Tuesday Cedar Rapids Gazette interesting.  

http://www.gazetteonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080917/NEWS/709179942

Posted 9/16/2008 by David Kochel

This article from Sunday’s Des Moines Register highlights the challenges still facing Cedar Rapids months after the flooding.

Ask Chet Culver to call a special session of legislature to help bring money and a warm place to sleep for Cedar Rapids families.  He can be reached at (515) 281-5211.

Posted 9/9/2008 by Dan Gee

Posted 9/8/2008 by David

Thought you might find this article from the Friday Cedar Rapids Gazette interesting.  I couldn't agree more with Representative Kraig Paulsen when he says, "The truth of the matter is Eastern Iowans need help". 

What I find most disconcerting after three months is that Eastern Iowans are still looking for help. Why hasn’t Iowa's Governor, and leadership in the state legislature called a special session when fellow Iowans are still living in tents outside their flood ravaged homes?

http://www.gazetteonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080905/NEWS/709059914/1006/news

Posted 9/3/2008 by David Kochel

Iowa Progress Project Launches New Statewide Radio: “Floods”

Des Moines, IA –Iowa Progress Project launched a new radio ad entitled “Floods” today. The advertisement is running statewide.

Just over a week ago, Governor Culver’s office stated that the State of Iowa is committed to spending $3 million on consultants related to flood relief.  In fact, one of the contracts was not even competitively let out for bid.

The contract that was not let out for competitive bid was awarded to a former Iowa Democrat state legislator, Tom Slater.  That contract will pay his company, the State Public Policy Group $6,500 per day.  At the same time, there are families in Cedar Rapids that lack temporary housing.   As well, parts of downtown Cedar Rapids lack electricity in the evening, leaving it unsafe, which is why a curfew remains in effect for downtown Cedar Rapids.

IPP President David Kochel said, "The Iowa Progress Project is launching this new radio ad to highlight the absolute absurdity of the Culver administration by committing to pay consultants $3 million while a city remains unsafe and caught in the bureaucratic inaction of Des Moines and Washington, D.C.”

“Cedar Rapids – and the state generally – don’t need consultants in Washington, D.C. or Des Moines to bill the state and write a memo. There are people that need help. The floods occurred in June – it is now September.  Enough is enough. No more excuses. Cedar Rapids families deserve flood relief now,” Kochel continued.

The radio ads encourage Iowans to call Governor Culver and ask him to enact flood relief for Cedar Rapids families.

Listen to the ad at www.YouTube.com/IowaProgressProject

Contact the Iowa Progress Project at info@iowaprogressproject.com

Posted 8/12/2008 by IPP

“Let There Be Light:”
Tax Group Releases Report on Legislature/Governor Budgets

A new article in the Des Moines Register by David Yepsen draws attention to a recent release from the Iowa Tax Association. In the article, Yepsen writes:

   “When Culver took office, he promised to make responsible budgeting a hallmark of his administration. The association's report makes it clear that he and his fellow Democrats are falling short of that goal.

    That has real-world consequences, too. Without sound finances, the state can't consistently address the needs of Iowans for things such as schools, health care or emergencies.

    Politically, the state budget makes it awfully hard for Iowa Democrats to complain about how George W. Bush has run the federal budget into the ditch. The accounting games in Des Moines look more like Washington's all the time.”

                                                                                                                -David Yepsen

The report sheds some much needed light on how the Democrats are planning to waste Iowa’s already stressed tax dollars. The full reports can be found here:

2009 Legislature Budget: http://www.iowataxpayers.org/core/contentmanager/uploads/PDFs/Publications/Legislature_Budget_Review09.pdf

2009 Governor’s Budget:
http://www.iowataxpayers.org/core/contentmanager/uploads/PDFs/Publications/Governor_Budget_Review09.pdf

For the Full article in the Des Moines Register, visit the site below:
http://www.desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080805/OPINION01/808050367/1036/Opinion

Be sure to pass on this information with anyone you can. The more we shed light onto the Democrat’s dark secrets, the brighter Iowa’s future will be.

-Iowa Progress Project

Posted 7/22/2008 by IPP

Chet Culver, America’s self proclaimed “hardest working governor,” recently floated a new idea – keep the government just as big, spend just as much, but have state employees work one less day per week.  Culver stated that he is willing to consider cutting a full day of work for state employees in order to “conserve energy.” His hope is to cut air conditioning costs by keeping the workers at home one day and having government be open 4 days per week.  

If Chet Culver wants to get serious about conserving, he should look to the Iowa taxpayers and give them a break from the heat of higher taxes and bigger, bloated spending.

The Iowa Progress Project is asking Iowans to vote whether they think Chet Culver deserves a 4 day work week. Stop by and cast your vote here. 

You can read the full article here: http://www.desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2008807190324

© Iowa Progress Project, 2008

Posted 7/11/2008 by IPP

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Friday July 11, 2008

Contact: (515) 664-7990 or info@IowaProgressProject.com

Iowa Progress Project Releases “Money” Radio Ad

Ad Urges Iowans to Contact Governor Culver About Corporate Welfare Package to Benefit Out-of-State Business

Des Moines, Iowa – Today, Iowa Progress Project released “Money” a new radio ad.

Recently, Microsoft announced they were bringing 50 new jobs to Iowa at the expense of the Iowa taxpayer. Thanks to Governor Chet Culver, Microsoft will be the recipient of $50 million in tax breaks from the state of Iowa – that’s $1 million dollars per job. 

IPP President David Kochel said, “At a time when Iowans are facing $4 gallon gas, small businesses are fighting to recover from this spring’s devastation and families are risking losing their homes to foreclosure, Chet Culver shouldn’t be handing out $50 million dollars in tax breaks to Microsoft and Bill Gates.” Kochel continued, “As if this isn’t bad enough Culver raised taxes on the Iowans by nearly one billion dollars and increased the states spending by the same”.

Kochel said, “It’s time Chet Culver started putting the economic interests of Iowa families first.  It’s no wonder Bill Gates is America’s richest man when he cuts deals like he did with Chet Culver.”

The radio ad encourages Iowans to call Chet Culver and tell him “hard working Iowans deserve tax breaks – not Bill Gates”.

You can listen to the radio ad at www.YouTube.com/IowaProgressProject

© Iowa Progress Project, 2008   

Posted 7/8/2008 by IPP

Des Moines, Iowa – Today, Iowa Progress Project released the responses to the inaugural Iowa State Legislative Candidate survey.  On June 6^th, Iowa Progress Project sent out candidate surveys to all Republican and Democrat incumbents and announced candidates running for the Iowa State Senate and State House. The survey responses were due July 1^st. 

IPP President David Kochel remarks, “Iowans need to fully understand how their candidates and representatives stand on the issues affecting our state. In order to effectively communicate those positions we have posted the candidate responses directly on our website.” Kochel continued, “We appreciate all those who have filled out and returned to the survey. It is great to see average Iowans standing up every day to work for the better good of all of Iowa. For that they should be commended”.

The completed surveys can be found on our website at: http://iowaprogressproject.com/candidatesurvey.aspx

IPP will update the website as more responses are received.  If you do not see a response from your Senate or House district, please contact your local representative for more information.

Contact the Iowa Progress Project at info@iowaprogressproject.com

Posted 6/25/2008 by IPP

 
I thought you might find this recent article titled “Iowa Labor Hopes to Refocus, Expand Majorities in the Legislature” in the Iowa Independent interesting. It gives credit to all your phone calls, emails and letters encouraging Governor Culver to veto the ‘collective bargaining’ bill this past session – he heard you loud and clear. However, your work is not done and in fact it has just begun. The article clearly laid out big labor’s plan to pick up “five to seven” seats in the State House as well as their agenda for doing so, which means you need to continue to fight for lower taxes, local control of government and good public policy for all of Iowa.

You can read the complete article here:

http://www.iowaindependent.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=2503

Contact the Iowa Progress Project at info@iowaprogressproject.com

© Iowa Progress Project, 2008

Posted 5/28/2008 by David Kochel

According to the Des Moines Register, the Governor and Lt. Governor wanted the bottle bill bad enough they were willing to horse-trade the gambling referendum bill for it, which would have reversed the law that required citizens to reapprove casinos every eight years.  The Des Moines Register article suggests that the Lt. Governor asked casino lobbyists to lobby for the bottle bill the Governor wanted, if they expected their gambling referendum bill to be successful.

They pushed so hard even Democratic Senator Mike Gronstal thought they may have crossed the line. "Hypothetically," he said, "I would say it's unethical for a lobbyist to lobby on things they're not paid to lobby on." Interestingly, the gambling lobbyists were uncomfortable with the Culver administration's approach. 

Posted 5/27/2008 by IPP

A new opinion piece in the Des Moines Register is very interesting. It is titled "'Standings' Bill Leaves No Accountability." Here is an excerpt from the article:

"The standings bill approved by this session at the very least violated the intent of the authors of the Iowa Constitution, which is that bills introduced in the Legislature not contain hidden surprises. The latest standings bill was packed with them, and their impact likely won't be deciphered for months. By that measure, it fails the test of the Iowa Constitution and any reasonable standard of public accountability of the legislative process." -May 24, 2008

Read the full article at the link below:

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080524/OPINION03/805240310/-1/NEWS04

Contact the Iowa Progress Project at info@iowaprogressproject.com

Posted 5/23/2008 by IPP

Letter to IPP Supporters:

 
Dear Friend,

Posted 5/14/2008 by IPP

"News" Radio

Iowa Progress Project Launches “Good News, Bad News” Radio Ad

Des Moines, IA –Iowa Progress Project launched a new radio ad entitled “Good News, Bad News” today. (script attached)

Yesterday, Governor Culver stated he would sign or veto all outstanding legislation before heading on a trade mission to China. Big labors’ collective bargaining bill is part of this package and will meet its destiny on Friday.

IPP President David Kochel said, "The Iowa Progress Project is launching “Good News, Bad News” to remind Iowans of the ‘good’ and “bad” news out of the State Capitol this past legislative session. And unfortunately, there is more bad news, than good. Spending is spiraling out of control, taxes are increasing at record amounts, and elected officials are getting double digit pay increases as regular Iowans struggle.”

The radio ads encouraging Iowans to call Governor Culver and ask him to veto bills like HF 2645 will be running through the end of the week on radio stations.

Kochel continued, “Governor Culver needs to start putting Iowa families ahead of Iowa politicians. He can start by vetoing the collective bargaining bill.”

Listen to the ad at www.YouTube.com/IowaProgressProject

Contact the Iowa Progress Project at info@iowaprogressproject.com

© Iowa Progress Project, 2008

“Good News, Bad News” Radio Script:

The legislative session in Des Moines is finally over.

Let’s look at the record – there’s good news and bad news. The bad news:

The state budget has increased nearly 20% in two years. And the new budget raises taxes and fees by over $500 million.

Democrats dismantled Iowa’s bipartisan labor laws – robbing local school boards of their authority – without holding a single public hearing.

But they did find time to pass big pay raises for Chet Culver and other state officials – the Lt. Governor even got a 24% raise!

Massive spending; new taxes; loss of local control of schools– and pay raises for politicians.

That’s the bad news. And the good news?

At least the session is over.

Ask Chet Culver to veto these bills: (515) 281-5211. Tell him to start putting Iowa families ahead of Iowa politicians.

Paid for by Iowa Progress Project.

Posted 5/14/2008 by IPP

Wednesday, May 14, 2008

Statement from IPP President David Kochel

Des Moines, IA – “Today marked a milestone in what has been a rough year for the average Iowan and I commend Governor Culver for vetoing HF 2645.  Governor Culver listened to the thousands of Iowans who called his office to encourage him to veto this bad piece of legislation. 

“IPP thanks Gov. Culver for standing up to big labor and protecting the rights of the hundreds of thousands of Iowans to choose what is best for their schools.  Iowans deserve better and by vetoing HF 2645, Gov Culver has demonstrated he’s listening and looking out for taxpayers’ best interests.”

Learn more about the Iowa Progress Project at www.IowaProgressProject.com