Governor Chet Culver used his time on stage at the 2010 Iowa NASCO Conference in Des Moines to promote the signature piece of his time in office, the I-JOBS plan.
In his audience were dozens of transportation experts from the United States, Canada and Mexico. The governor tells them his plan is building jobs. Afterwards, Channel 13 wanted to know how many. The governor responded, "We've now invested in 1500 projects. If you're talking about one job per project, you're talking about 1500 jobs. 10 jobs per project, you can do the math."
Channel 13 had hoped Culver or his staff had done the math. At one time, Culver said his plan would create nearly 30,000 jobs. But in recent months, he has cut that estimate to a few thousand. Iowans will pay $875 million plus interest to fund his program.
Channel 13 asked again to find out who is now working because of that money. Culver said, "We are working to compile as much possible information as we can on each of these 1500 projects."
The governor's staff told Channel 13 to check the I-JOBS website for information. It lists the state's projects. A random check of more than dozen projects found none that details how many jobs the project created.
After being unable to provide specific numbers, Culver said Channel 13 should be talking with his opponent about his numbers. He said, "I think it's interesting former Governor Branstad is talking about creating 200,000 jobs and no one has ask him how is going to do that, no one question."
Channel 13 has asked Branstad during the primary election campaign. Branstad said he will create jobs in areas like advanced manufacturing by cutting corporate income taxes and reforming the state's property tax system. Channel 13 will continue to push him for specifics on how he will accomplish that.
In his audience were dozens of transportation experts from the United States, Canada and Mexico. The governor tells them his plan is building jobs. Afterwards, Channel 13 wanted to know how many. The governor responded, "We've now invested in 1500 projects. If you're talking about one job per project, you're talking about 1500 jobs. 10 jobs per project, you can do the math."
Channel 13 had hoped Culver or his staff had done the math. At one time, Culver said his plan would create nearly 30,000 jobs. But in recent months, he has cut that estimate to a few thousand. Iowans will pay $875 million plus interest to fund his program.
Channel 13 asked again to find out who is now working because of that money. Culver said, "We are working to compile as much possible information as we can on each of these 1500 projects."
The governor's staff told Channel 13 to check the I-JOBS website for information. It lists the state's projects. A random check of more than dozen projects found none that details how many jobs the project created.
After being unable to provide specific numbers, Culver said Channel 13 should be talking with his opponent about his numbers. He said, "I think it's interesting former Governor Branstad is talking about creating 200,000 jobs and no one has ask him how is going to do that, no one question."
Channel 13 has asked Branstad during the primary election campaign. Branstad said he will create jobs in areas like advanced manufacturing by cutting corporate income taxes and reforming the state's property tax system. Channel 13 will continue to push him for specifics on how he will accomplish that.
