Over the weekend, State Representative Tyler Olson (D-Cedar Rapids) put up a web ad for his gubernatorial campaign launched earlier this month. He is one of two Democrats, State Senator Jack Hatch (D-Des Moines) is the other, who will take on the seemingly impossible task of defeating incumbent Governor Terry Branstad. Two prominent Democrats, Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal (D-Council Bluffs) and Iowa Senate President Pam Jochum (D-Dubuque) decided against it.
In Olson’s web ad he paints himself as a leader who is concerned about small businesses and the entrepreneurial spirit in Iowa. It’s a good ad, a bit long, you get to hear from his parents, his wife, his high school swimming coach, and some of his friends. Take some time and watch below.
Matter of fact if I didn’t know better it seems like he was a Republican. Reality however doesn’t match up with rhetoric. Olson who has served in the Iowa House has taken some key votes that contradict the message that he tries to convey in this video.
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4/17/13 – He votes against reducing commercial property taxes (SF 295)
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4/16/13 – He votes against the economic development budget (SF 430)
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3/13/13 – He votes against the optional flat income tax (HF 478)
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5/7/12 – He votes against business property tax relief (HF 2475)
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2/14/12 – He votes against a commercial and industrial property tax exemption (HF 2274).
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5/10/11 – He votes against establishing a property tax credit (SF 522)
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3/28/11 – He votes against establishing the Iowa Partnership for Economic Progress and the Economic Development Authority as a collaboration between government and the private sector. (HF 590)
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2/2/11 – He voted against giving individuals the ability to choose whether or not they would purchase health insurance. (HF 111)
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4/24/09 – Voted in favor of the I-Jobs program which was a colossal waste of money which did very little to aid job creation (SF 376).
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4/16/08 – He voted to increase vehicle registration fees (SF 2420).
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1/23/07 – He was a cosponsor and voted in favor of Iowa’s last minimum wage increase (HF 1).
These are just some of his fiscal votes. Don’t even get me started on how he voted on social issues. I know his web ad paints a picture of what he says he believes, but if you really want to know what he believes look at his voting record.
