State Sen. Jeff Angelo, R-Creston, tells Iowa Independent he would exchange Iowa Gov. Chet Culver’s “entire rousing speech for just one good idea.”

Angelo, a southwest Iowan who represents the largest senate district in the Hawkeye State, says Culver’s Condition of The State speech seems in desperate need of a reality check — which Angelo expects the legislature to provide.

“The Governor continues to prioritize government spending over protecting the budgets of working class families,” Angelo said. “At a time when families say their biggest concern is the cost of living–the cost of gas, heating their houses, their health care, etc, the Governor’s budget contains $90 million in tax increases.  And he failed to even talk about the projected $500 million increase in property taxes that will occur in Iowa over the next five years.”

According to Angelo, Culver is proposing a 6 percent increase in spending when revenues are coming in at a historical average of 3.3 percent.

“That’s a bill our kids and grandkids will eventually need to pay,” Angelo said. “So, it looks like its up to legislators to lead on the issues that matter most to Iowans.”