• Home
  • News
    • Politics & Government
    • Business & Economy
    • Crime / Courts
    • Health / Medicine
  • Sports
    • High School Sports
    • Radio Iowa Poll
  • Affiliates
    • Affiliate Support Page
  • Contact Us
    • Reporters

Radio Iowa

Iowa's Radio News Network

You are here: Home / News / Progress Iowa charges Branstad guilty of ‘cronyism’ with his campaign donors

Progress Iowa charges Branstad guilty of ‘cronyism’ with his campaign donors

May 21, 2014 By O. Kay Henderson

An analysis by the liberal advocacy group “Progress Iowa” found Republican Governor Terry Branstad has collected over $791,000 in campaign donations from Iowans the governor has appointed to serve on state boards and commissions.

“We researched every political appointment that Governor Branstad has made since he returned to office in January of 2011,” says Progress Iowa’s Matt Sinovic “…We discovered nearly 1300 appointees and of those nearly one out of six have made donations to the governor’s campaign.”

The Rastetter brothers together have donated over a quarter of a million dollars to Branstad’s reelection effort. Branstad appointed Bruce Rastetter to the board that governs the three state universities and Branstad named Brent Rastetter to the Iowa Environmental Protection Commission.

“They’re giving these donations and, it would appear, in turn receiving these top appointments,” Sinovic says.

According to the Progress Iowa analysis, Mary Andringa, the president and CEO of Vermeer Corporation in Pella, has donated $90,000 to Branstad’s reelection effort and Pete Brownell, president of the firearms supply company Brownell’s that’s based in Grinnell, has donated nearly $40,000. Sinovic points out Branstad put Brownell on the Iowa Economic Development Authority Board and named Andringa to the state’s Science Technology Engineering and Math Advisory Council.

“This is really just another example of the culture of cronyism where Branstad’s donors are given preferential treatment above others,” Sinovic says.

A spokesman for Branstad’s reelection campaign says Branstad “is proud to have the support of more than 15,000 individuals who have contributed to his campaign financially and thousands more” who support his record as governor.

There are no dollar limits on campaign donations to statewide candidates in Iowa and it is not illegal for those who serve on state boards and commissions to make donations to Branstad’s campaign. Sinovic says his group is not seeking changes in state policies regarding campaign contributions.

(This story was updated at 5:45 p.m. after Progress Iowa reported its initial tally of donations was incorrect.)

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Filed Under: News, Politics / Govt Tagged With: Department of Natural Resources, Iowa State University, Republican Party, Terry Branstad, University of Iowa, University of Northern Iowa

Featured Stories

Bill would limit placement of solar arrays on farm ground

Marquette casino moving to land, leaving only 2 casino boats in Iowa

Reynolds signs her ‘school choice’ bill into law

Governor Reynolds touts 2024 Iowa Caucuses in Inaugural Address

University of Iowa grad presiding over U.S. House Speaker vote

TwitterFacebook
Tweets by RadioIowa

No coaching changes coming for Iowa football

Iowa State names new receivers coach

No. 2 Iowa visits No. 1 Penn State in wrestling dual Friday night

Iowa’s Clark brings increased exposure to women’s basketball

No. 18 Iowa State women visit TCU

More Sports

Archives

Copyright © 2023 · Learfield News & Ag, LLC