In a recent interview with KTIV, Judge claimed that she is known among Iowans for telling them the truth:
"People across the state know me. They know that when I say something that’s what I mean. I’m telling them the truth."
Unlike the Washington, D.C. insiders fueling her campaign and perhaps crafting her talking points, Iowans remember those very words far too well. Judge has, in fact, given people across the state every reason to question her ability to tell them the truth.
The last time Judge claimed, almost verbatim, that she was telling them the truth about balancing the state budget, her borrowing plan racked up massive deficits.
FLASHBACK:
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Patty Judge: “‘I’m Going To Tell You The Truth: There Has Never Been One Day Since Chet Culver Has Been Your Governor That The Budget Has Not Been Balanced… There Is No Deficit.” “Lt. Gov. Patty Judge took issue with Republican attacks that the Culver/Judge administration has wrecked the state’s economy. ‘I’m going to tell you the truth: There has never been one day since Chet Culver has been your governor that the budget has not been balanced. There is money in the bank. There is no deficit. That is a Republican lie. … We have a healthy reserve account.’” (Jason Clayworth, “Democrats Says Election Poses Stark Choices,” The Des Moines Register, 9/13/10)
- In November 2011, The State Treasurer Announced Iowa’s Debt Increased 33 Percent In Part Due To State Borrowing To Pay For Judge’s I-Jobs Program. “State and local government debt has jumped by more than 6 percent to $13.8 billion but remains among the lowest in the nation, according to a new state treasurer’s report obtained by The Associated Press. Treasurer Michael Fitzgerald’s report set to be released later this week says cities carried the most debt, about $4.8 billion, while the state’s debt showed the largest increase, rising about 33 percent over the last fiscal year to $1.09 billion. The largest additions to the debt were $160 million to pay for former Democratic Gov. Chet Culver’s I-Jobs program and $130 million for a new maximum-security prison at Fort Madison.” (“Iowa Debt Load Grows To $13.8 Billion,” The Associated Press, 11/2/11)
Thanks to the failed record that got her and Big Debt Chet fired in 2010, Patty Judge herself is the one Judge she – and Iowa voters, cannot ignore this November.
BACKGROUND:
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Patty Judge On Her Administration’s Budgets: “There Has Not Been One Day Where We Haven’t Used Black Ink.” “Calling out the Republican for their misleading attacks on the budget, Lt. Governor Judge said, ‘There has not been one day where there hasn’t been money in the bank. There has not been one day where we haven’t used black ink’”. (Iowa Democratic Party, “Lt. Governor Judge In Southern Iowa,” Press Release, 10/8/10)
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Chet Culver And Patty Judge Passed The I-Jobs Program That Would Have Borrowed More Than $800 Million To Pay For Building Projects. “Culver got his main wish, passage of his I-JOBS plan, in which the state will borrow more than $800 million for building projects. He said the plan will get Iowans back to work and boost the economy.” (Jennifer Jacobs, “Governor, Lawmakers Negotiate On Money,” The Des Moines Register, 4/26/09)
- Iowa Issued Bonds For $778 Million Before Gov. Branstad Halted The Program. “The program, which began in 2009, called for borrowing $875 million to pay for infrastructure projects, including repairing damage caused by catastrophic flooding in 2008. Culver argued his bonding plan would help the state’s infrastructure and put people to work during a recession. The state issued bonds for $778 million before Branstad halted the program.” (“Iowa Debt Load Grows To $13.8 Billion,” The Associated Press, 11/2/11)