MASON CITY, Iowa — A state legislator claimed Thursday that former Gov. Terry Branstad shares responsibility for Iowa’s 2008 flood damage because of his inaction on flood prevention plans when he was governor.
Sen. Rob Hogg, D-Cedar Rapids, was in Mason City on Thursday touting Culver’s help for flood victims.
“Branstad shares responsibility for flood damage in 2008 for not following through on recommendations after the floods of 1993,” he said.
Tim Albrecht, Branstad’s communications director, said of Hogg’s statements that “politicizing the flood is especially sad and pathetic.”
He called it a desperate attempt “to try to change the subject from his failed jobs programs and high unemployment.”
Branstad, who was governor from 1983 to 1999, is seeking to defeat Culver in this year’s election.
“Branstad abdicated flood recovery in 1993 to President Bill Clinton and he has no plan for flood prevention now. That is simply unacceptable and Iowans need to know it,” Hogg said.
He cited a 1994 Iowa Flood Disaster Report prepared by Brig. Gen. Harold Thompson of the Iowa National Guard.
Hogg said the report called for:
• Developing plans to make the state less vulnerable to future floods.
• Allowing communities to get state assistance for future flood damage.
• Creating better flood technology and river monitoring.
• Developing watershed and flood plain management plans.
Hogg said none of the recommendations were acted upon.
In contrast, he said Culver created the I-JOBs program, which included $30 million for disaster mitigation; created a flood prevention research center at the University of Iowa; invested more than $25 million through I-JOBs for watershed repairs and improvements; and fully funded a DNR flood plain management program.
Albrecht said Branstad believes in a pay-as-you-go system for funding the state’s infrastructure needs.
“Borrowing huge amounts to fund these projects means the state will actually get about half the work it would have if the same dollars were used on a pay-as-you-go basis. Interest payments will consume the rest,” he said.
