From the Findley for Iowa Attorney General Campaign:
Dexter, IA -Today AG Tom Miller finally issued a legal answer well after it was needed in February. In February, eighteen state Senators asked Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller to review a report by State Auditor David Vaudt and issue an official legal opinion as to whether Governor Culver should produce a new proposed budget given that findings of the report shows his current proposal surpasses Iowa’s statutory 99 percent spending limitation as addressed in Sections 8.21 and 8.54 of the Iowa Code.
On February 10, 2010, State Auditor David Vaudt released a thorough analysis of Governor Culver’s proposed budget. Because he found that it exceeded Iowa’s 99 percent spending limitation by approximately $25 million, Auditor Vaudt forwarded his report to Attorney General Tom Miller.
The legislature adjourned on March 30, 2010, after spending taxpayer funds for the upcoming fiscal year, with still no word from the Attorney General. Attorney General Miller did nothing to respond to the eighteen Senators who asked for a legal opinion, or the concerns of the Auditor.
"Iowans need an Attorney General who is hardworking and responsive. If the current Attorney General were a lawyer in private practice his clients would not put up with a four month delay for him to issue a ‘non-opinion’. In fact, 18 state Senators are still waiting for a response. The taxpayers have suffered because our Attorney General won’t take a stand for us and enforce our law," said Findley.
"The law is clear. Governor Culver has a legal duty to submit a balanced budget to the legislature. The Auditor found that the Governor broke the 99% spending limit by $25 million dollars. The Attorney General issued a murky legal letter when it was too late for corrective action. He has decided to cover for Governor Culver’s spending problem. It is time for an Attorney General who will stand up for taxpayers for a change. As your Attorney General I will fight for your rights as taxpayers against big spenders," said Findley.
"Governor Culver and Attorney General Miller may think that $25 million dollars is not worth their attention, but this kind of charge card spending has left us with more government than we can afford. As your Attorney General I would enforce the law and remind the Governor of his legal obligation to submit a balanced budget in accordance with Iowa’s laws."