(Spencer)– The man who held the top job in Iowa previously says he wants to do it again.
Accompanied by his wife, former Governor Terry Branstad brought his “Come Back Iowa Tour” and his campaign for Governor to Spencer Wednesday.
Branstad told the crowd his platform is built on these goals: to bring 200,000 jobs to Iowa; raise family incomes by 25 percent over the next five years; and reduce the size and cost of government by atleast 15 percent; and restore Iowa to number one in the country in education.
Branstad also said that if elected, he would call for a statewide vote on a constitutional amendment that would define marriage as strictly between a man and woman. Asked about his stance on the issue, Branstad replied by saying he feels it’s “wrong to have a couple of leaders in the legislature deny the people of Iowa the opportunity to vote on an issue of this magnitude and importance.” He added “if those leaders refuse to let there be a vote on it, then the legislators ought to replace the leaders.”
Branstad also blasted current Governor Chet Culver over his handling of the state’s budget crisis. Branstad said he would call together a bipartisan committee to evaluate areas and programs that could either be reduced or reorganized.
Branstad also vowed to reform commercial property taxes if elected, adding it wouldn’t be done on the backs of agriculture or residential classes of property.
