U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley’s campaign on Tuesday announced the release of a new television advertisement, entitled “Cut”, which details the failed leadership of Lt. Governor Patty Judge.
During the budget crisis of 2009, the Culver/Judge Administration chose not to call the Legislature back into session to make targeted cuts in order to close a budget deficit. Instead, they slashed the budget 10% and instituted devastating cuts across state government and to state employees.
Governor Culver, Auditor of State David Vaudt and Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey all voluntarily took 10% cuts to their salaries as a show of leadership.
Lt. Governor Patty Judge was privileged at the top. She did not take the same cut to her salary that she forced onto vital state services and employees.
“When times are tough, leaders show their true colors,” Robert Haus, Grassley’s campaign manager, said. “When the chips were down, and she was forcing others to bear the brunt of her colossal budget mismanagement, Patty Judge sat idly by. That’s not leadership, that’s a perfect example of weakness.”