Remember this?
Culver orders 10 percent cut, “hundreds” of layoffs
Oct 8, 2009 (33 months into his term)
Iowa Democrat Gov. Chet Culver today ordered state government to trim about $600 million between now and June 30.
That’s a 10 percent across-the-board cut, effective immediately, he said.
A firestorm of layoffs, program closures and government service shut-downs are likely to follow. The cuts start “today,” Culver said.
No area will be spared. Any government agency or department that gets money from the state general fund will see the 10 percent cut, Culver said.
It will be particularly painful because the state is already a quarter of the way through the budget year, so agencies will have to deepen their cuts by 25 percent, state officials said.
This midyear cut is off the charts compared with what any governor in recent history has faced, and it will mean unprecedented turmoil for state employees and state agencies.
This disaster was at 33 months into Culver's term!
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Now fast-forward to today to Iowa Republican Governor Branstad's announcment:
Iowa surplus hits record $688 million and growing.
DES MOINES, Iowa --- Iowa’s state government has never been in a stronger financial position.
According to figures from the nonpartisan Legislative Services Agency to be discussed by legislators Thursday, the state officially closed the fiscal 2012 ledger with a $688.1 million budget surplus after its cash reserve and economic emergency funds were filled to the statutory maximum of nearly $596 million.
And, the projected surplus is slated to go even higher this fiscal year with a projected positive ending balance of $768 million expected by next June 30 and could possibly top $800 million in fiscal 2014 depending on decisions made by Gov. Terry Branstad and lawmakers during the 2013 session.
“That’s the largest surplus that I’ve seen,” LSA fiscal analyst David Reynolds said of the state surplus. “I know it’s never been that high.”
This is just 21 months into Brandstad's term!
And THAT, you liberal schmucks, is why Republican leadership in these record-toughest of economic times, is needed now more than ever! Proven American exceptionalism!
