The following events are open to the public:

Sunday, May 20, 2012

2 p.m.            Lt. Gov. Reynolds speaks at I-35 High School commencement ceremony

                        I-35 High School – Gymnasium

                        405 E North St.

                        Truro, IA

3:30 p.m.      Lt. Gov. Reynolds speaks at Murray High School commencement ceremony

                        Murray High School

                        216 Sherman Ave.

                        Murray, IA

Monday, May 21, 2012

9 a.m.            Gov. Branstad and Lt. Gov. Reynolds hold administration’s weekly press conference

                        Governor’s Office – Large Conference Room

                        State Capitol

                        Des Moines, IA

3 p.m.            Gov. Branstad and Lt. Gov. Reynolds attend natural gas fueling station grand opening

Krueger’s BP Amoco

                        1905 SE 37^th St.

                        Grimes, IA

Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Note: Gov. Branstad departs for an economic development trip to New York and returns Thursday.

10 a.m.          Lt. Gov. Reynolds speaks at EMS Service event

                        Brooklyn Fire and Ambulance Station

                        400 E. Pershing Dr.

                        Brooklyn, IA

Wednesday, May 23, 2012

7 p.m.            Lt. Gov. Reynolds attends World Finals of Odyssey of the Mind event

                        Iowa State University – Hilton Coliseum

                        Lincoln Way

                        Ames, IA

Thursday, May 24, 2012

9:45 a.m.      Lt. Gov. Reynolds speaks at Hawkeye Valley Area Agency on Aging awareness walk

                        Hawkeye Valley Area Agency on Aging

                        2101 Kimball Ave.

                        Waterloo, IA

3 p.m.            Lt. Gov. Reynolds speaks at Missing Children’s Day Poster Contest reception

                        Iowa Department of Public Safety

                        215 E 7^th St.

                        Des Moines, IA

Friday, May 25, 2012

10 a.m.          Gov. Branstad addresses BPI employees

                        Hawkeye Community College

                        1501 E Orange Rd.

                        Waterloo, IA

Branstad’s trip results from an invitation the governor accepted from Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping.

A group of Iowans, fondly referred to as “Old Friends” by Chinese VP Xi Jinping, will join the governor in visiting China as they participate in a whirlwind tour from May 29-June 5.  The group is also traveling to China at the invitation of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries on behalf of VP Xi Jinping. They will visit various sites, including the Great Wall of China.  During their stay, they will participate in a reunion banquet with VP Xi Jinping.

At various stops apart from the “Old Friends” tour, Branstad will join Iowa Economic Development Authority Director Debi Durham in meetings to promote Iowa’s global partnership and pursue further economic opportunities in Iowa.

The visit is a continuation of the long-standing relationship Iowa has with China, a vital trading partner with the state.

In 1985, Iowa Sister States hosted VP Xi Jinping and four other agricultural experts from Iowa’s sister state of Hebei Province as part of an agricultural exchange.  He returned to Iowa in February of this year to revisit several of his “old friends,” expressed his appreciation of the experience he had in Iowa, and to facilitate new joint efforts.

Iowa and Hebei Province, PRC have had a sister state agreement since 1983.  During those years, and even before, Chinese from Hebei Province have been visiting Iowa and participating in exchanges and programs. Included in the visit will be an overnight stay in Shijiazhuang, Hebei Province.

The governor’s directive applies to all U.S. and state flags on the State Capitol Building and on flag displays on the capitol Complex. Individuals, businesses, schools, municipalities, counties and other government subdivisions are encouraged to fly the flag at half-staff for the same length of time as a sign of respect.

The following events are open to the public:

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

8 a.m.- 3:30 p.m.   Lt. Gov. Reynolds attends the Governor’s STEM Advisory Council Summit, will open and close the event as co-chair

                        Community Choice Credit Union Convention Center, Veterans Memorial Auditorium

                        730 Third St.

                        Des Moines, IA

10 a.m.          Gov. Branstad addresses the Governor’s STEM Advisory Council Summit

                        Community Choice Credit Union Convention Center, Veterans Memorial Auditorium

                        730 Third St.

                        Des Moines, IA

1:15 p.m.      Gov. Branstad tours Marshalltown Company

                        Marshalltown Company

                        104 S 8^th Ave.

                        Marshalltown, IA

2 p.m.            Gov. Branstad holds media availability

                        Marshalltown Company

                        104 S 8^th Ave.

                        Marshalltown, IA

2 p.m.            Lt. Gov. Reynolds speaks at Romney for President Event

                        Hotel Fort Des Moines

                        1000 Walnut St.

                        Des Moines, IA

The following events are open to the public:

Saturday, May 12, 2012

9 a.m.            Gov. Branstad attends the March of Dimes Walk

                        Principal Park

                        1 Line Dr.

                        Des Moines, IA

9 a.m.            Lt. Gov. Reynolds attends the Susan G. Komen SE Iowa Race for the Cure

                        Ottumwa Park, Jimmy Jones Shelter House

                        Ottumwa, IA

10 a.m.          Gov. Branstad attends the CelebrAsian Festival

                        Iowa State Capitol Grounds

                        East Grand Ave.      

                        Des Moines, IA

1:30 p.m.      Gov. Branstad attends Sakura Centennial Ceremony

                        WWII Memorial

                        Iowa State Capitol Grounds

                        Des Moines, IA

4 p.m.            Gov. Branstad and Marcus Branstad appear on “Outdoor Grill”

                        1040 AM – WHO Radio

Monday, May 14, 2012

9 a.m.            Gov. Branstad and Lt. Gov. Reynolds hold administration’s weekly news conference

                        Large Conference Room, G-09

                        Iowa State Capitol

                        Des Moines, IA

Noon              Gov. Branstad and Lt. Gov. Reynolds address Fort Dodge Rotary

                        Best Western Starlight Village

                        1518 3rd Avenue NW

                        Fort Dodge, IA

1:30 p.m.      Gov. Branstad and Lt. Gov. Reynolds attend CJ Biosciences groundbreaking ceremony

                        Best Western Starlight Village

                         1518 3rd Avenue NW

                         Fort Dodge, IA

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

8 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.  Lt. Gov. Reynolds attends the Governor’s STEM Advisory Council Summit, will open and close the event as co-chair

                        Community Choice Credit Union Convention Center, Veterans Memorial Auditorium

                         730 Third Street

                        Des Moines, IA

10 a.m.          Gov. Branstad addresses the Governor’s STEM Advisory Council Summit

                        Community Choice Credit Union Convention Center, Veterans Memorial Auditorium

                         730 Third Street

                         Des Moines, IA

1:15 p.m.      Gov. Branstad tours Marshalltown Company

                        104 S 8th Ave.

                        Marshalltown, IA 

2 p.m.            Gov. Branstad holds media availability

                        Marshalltown Company

                        104 S 8th Ave.

                       Marshalltown, IA 

2 p.m.        Lt. Gov. Reynolds speaks at Romney for President event

                       Hotel Fort Des Moines

                       1000 Walnut St.

                       Des Moines, IA

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

(NOTE: Gov. Branstad departs for meetings in Washington, D.C. and will return Thursday evening)

Friday, May 18, 2012

10 a.m.          Gov. Branstad and Lt. Gov. Reynolds attend Peace Officer Memorial Ceremony

                        Lucas Building lot

                        State Capitol Complex      

                        Des Moines, IA

11:30 a.m.    Gov. Branstad tapes “Iowa Press”

                        Iowa Public Television Studios

                        IPTV 6450 Corporate Drive

Johnston, IA

11:45 a.m.    Lt. Gov. Reynolds addresses A Salute to Military Moms and Wives

                        Forte Banquet Center

615 3rd Street

Des Moines, IA

# # #

The following event is open to the media:

Friday, May 11, 2012

8:15 a.m.                  Gov. Branstad takes action to correct a Senate failure

                                    Iowa State Capitol Building

                                    Governor’s Formal Office

                                    Des Moines, IA

Currently McDonald, of Des Moines, is senior counsel to Aviva USA.  Prior to his current post he was in private practice. McDonald received his bachelor’s degree from Grand View University in 1997 and his law degree from the University of Iowa in 2001.

In January, the lieutenant governor and I brought forward a bold agenda focused on the dual goals of job creation and transformational education reform. I want to thank the General Assembly for considering our priorities and for adopting a significant number of them to help move our state forward. [See list below.]

Legislation passed by this General Assembly will provide our Iowa Economic Development Authority with additional tools to help meet our administration’s ambitious goal to create 200,000 new jobs. We have made significant progress on that goal during this first year and a half and the High Quality Jobs Incentive Fund and Employee Stock Option Plan legislation will help accelerate those efforts.

I am also pleased that this General Assembly took a first important step toward our goal of transformational education reform. While these initial steps may be considered by some as small, our new early childhood literacy initiative, in particular, will have lasting effects on the lives of thousands of Iowa children and significantly improve their chances of future academic and career success. We also enhance teacher accountability by requiring annual reviews.

However, the 2012 session may be remembered as much for what failed to be accomplished as for what actually was accomplished. Despite the best efforts of my office and a bipartisan majority in the Iowa House, the inability of Senate Democrats to adopt serious property tax reform has put Iowa taxpayers in jeopardy of seeing significant property tax increases in the coming year.

The Senate failed to support legislation based on the framework I believe was agreed to as a roadmap to finding a compromise between my office, the House, and the Senate. They failed to pass a meaningful step forward in our goal to make Iowa’s tax system more competitive or assist with our critically needed job creation goals.

As a result, Iowa taxpayers face yet another year with property taxes that are scheduled to grow nearly $2 billion over the next eight years. This is absolutely unacceptable and Iowa voters will have an opportunity to resolve this impasse in November.

Lt. Governor Reynolds and I are proud to work with all members of the Iowa General Assembly and proud to serve our citizens each and every day. We will continue over the next seven and a half months of 2012 to travel the state, promote our ambitious agenda, and work aggressively toward the achievement of our four goals:

1. 200,000 new jobs for Iowans;
2. 25% increase in personal incomes;
3. Reduce the cost of government by 15%; and
4. Provide our children with the nation’s finest education.

# # #

Governor Branstad / Lt. Governor Reynolds: Legislative Accomplishments

2012:

Economic Development and Jobs: two of the governor’s jobs priorities received legislative approval this year and will provide our Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) with additional tools to help meet the governor’s ambitious job creation goals:

• High Quality Jobs Incentive Fund: $15 million fund IEDA will use to package job growth deals that will encourage new large employers to locate or expand in Iowa.
• Employee Stock Option Plans (ESOPs): this legislation requested by the governor will encourage those Iowa businesses looking for new owners with incentives to sell the business to their own employees. This will keep great jobs and careers in Iowa and give Iowa communities an additional tool to promote local economic development.
Education Reform: this year the Legislature took a small, but important, step toward answering the call of the Branstad/Reynolds administration to provide transformational education reform. This year’s effort includes enhanced annual teacher evaluations, competency tests for applicants to teacher preparation programs, and a major new early childhood literacy initiative that includes possible retention for those not reading at grade level by the end of 3rd grade.

Transparency: after languishing in the Legislature for years, Governor Branstad spearheaded the passage of landmark transparency legislation to create a Public Information Board (with true enforcement powers) that will significantly improve the transparency of state and local government and ensure the enforcement of our open records / open meetings laws.

Mental Health Redesign: no longer will the quality of Iowans access to mental health care services be dependent on where they live. This governor-led initiative will transform the delivery of mental health services across Iowa and ensure all Iowans have access to a standard and consistent core of essential services.

Modernize Services for the Aging: the Legislature adopted the Branstad/Reynolds administration’s plan for a new regional service delivery model for our Area Agencies on Aging. This new model will significantly modernize and simplify the provision of services for Iowa’s aging population.

Higher Education Funding: the governor requested, and the Legislature provided, additional funding for our Regents institutions (at a level that should alleviate the need for tuition increases beyond those already set), additional resources for our community colleges (much of which will be used to support the critical role community colleges play in developing a skilled workforce), and an additional $2 million for the state’s tuition grant program (to help make private college opportunities affordable for more Iowa students).

Budget Predictability and Stability: the general fund budget adopted by the Legislature is at the level requested by the governor in his initial budget. This adopted budget keeps ongoing spending lower than ongoing revenue and spends only 97% of available revenue–well below the 99% limit as set in state law. In addition, this budget is estimated to result in full funding of our cash reserve fund, economic emergency fund, the taxpayer trust fund, and with a healthy carryover balance to meet all of the state’s cash flow needs.

From 2011:

Iowa Economic Development Authority: totally redesigned the state economic development service delivery model with the creation of the new Iowa Economic Development Authority, the Iowa Innovation Council, and the Iowa Partnership for Economic Progress. With unemployment declining in Iowa in every month since this new model was deployed, Iowans are already seeing the benefits of the Branstad/Reynolds administration’s job creation efforts.

Complete Overhaul of the State Budget: the $900 million inherited budget gap wherein one-time revenue was used to fund 89 different ongoing state programs was eliminated, a first step toward biennial budgeting was adopted and 86% of FY 13 expenses were approved a year early to provide enhanced predictability and stability for all those receiving and providing state services, the state fully funded its commitment to local school districts and eliminated a $216 million shortfall that had fallen onto the backs of property taxpayers, and the state’s reserve accounts are fully funded.