(DES MOINES) - Gov. Terry E. Branstad will make his tax returns available to members of the media tomorrow, Wednesday, April 16, 2014, at 9:30 a.m. The governor's chief of staff, Matt Hinch, and the governor's accountant, Jamie Ward, will conduct the briefing. Copies of the returns will be presented for review, but not for duplication.

With a continued commitment to openness and transparency, Branstad has made his tax returns available annually.

The following briefing is open to credentialed members of the media:

Wednesday, April 16, 2014

9:30 a.m. Matt Hinch and Jamie Ward hold media briefing on Gov. Branstad's tax returns

Robert D. Ray Conference Room

State Capitol

Des Moines, IA

Will demonstrate to neighbors tax relief provided under Fair Tax using Fair Tax Calculator at www.FairTaxCut.com and urge them to contact state legislators before May 1^st deadline

Chicago, IL - At noon today, April 15^th, just hours before the deadline for residents in Illinois to file their state tax returns, taxpayers will gather at local post offices in communities throughout Illinois to spread the word about the urgent need to enact the Fair Tax in Illinois.  Using the Fair Tax calculator at www.FairTaxCut.com, they will show their neighbors that they could have paid far less in taxes under a Fair Tax, and urge legislators in Springfield to put the Fair Tax on the ballot so voters can decide in November.

Right now, the Fair Tax - with lower rates for lower incomes and higher rates for higher incomes - is not allowed due to an antiquated provision of the Illinois Constitution from 1970. The Fair Tax - implemented with a rate structure proposed by the Fair Tax Act's chief sponsor, Sen. Don Harmon - would cut taxes for 94% of Illinois residents, including everyone making up to $205,000.  If state legislators pass the Fair Tax Act by May 1^st, voters will be allowed to modernize the constitution in November with a Fair Tax.  The Fair Tax is supported by 77% of Illinois voters.

Armed with smartphones and iPads, volunteers standing in front of local post offices will be demonstrating the tax cuts offered under a Fair Tax.  They will be using the Fair Tax Calculator at www.FairTaxCut.com, which allows users to type in their household income and the number of persons in their household to calculate their tax cut (or tax increase if they make over $205,000).  They will also urge citizens to contact their legislators to pass the Fair Tax Act ahead of the May 1^st deadline, which people can also do via the Fair Tax Cut website.

For months, the large and growing statewide coalition known as A Better Illinois has been advocating for a Fair Tax.  It has drawn support from every single legislative district - Republican and Democrat - including nearly 250,000 petition signatures, nearly 500 community and civic organizations, including both business and labor alike.

***Media interested in covering the event can RSVP to  neal@abetterillinois.org***

What: Local citizens demonstrating how large a tax cut people would get under a under a Fair Tax via www.FairTaxCut.com and urging citizens to contact legislators to pass the Fair Tax Act

Time & Date: Noon.  Tuesday, April 15^th

Who: Local taxpayers

Locations

Downtown Chicago - Post Office at Federal Plaza (at Dearborn and Adams) 219 S. Dearborn, Chicago, IL 60604

Joliet - Post Office at 51 E. Cinton St, Joliet, IL 60432

Quad Cities - Post office at 2633 11th St, Rock Island, IL

Decatur - Post Office at 214 N Franklin St, Decatur, IL 62523

Metro East - Post Office at 120 W Washington, Belleville, IL 62220-9998

Visuals: creative signs, people using www.FairTaxCut.com on iPads & smartphones

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The public is invited to join the Muscatine Art Center on Sunday, April 27th at 2:00 p.m. as it hosts Humanities Iowa Speaker, Loren Horton. Horton will give a 45 minute presentation on the changes in Iowa life over the past 150 years. His presentation will include the origins of the people, the technology, and the occupations and social customs of Iowans. Horton will also touch on the history of the state's economy and politics and explore the changes that have shaped Iowa's present and changes that will continue to shape Iowa's future and the future of its residents.

Loren Horton began his employment with the State Historical Society of Iowa in 1972. Since his retirement in 1996, Horton has concentrated on research in 19th century social history and comparative funeral and burial customs in the United States.

This program is funded by Humanities Iowa, a private, non-profit state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities. A cultural resource for Iowans since 1971, Humanities Iowa brings humanities programs into the heart of Iowa communities.

The humanities are fields of study that help us to discover and remember who we are and how we came to be, as individuals and as part of the world. Humanities Iowa offers funding for this Speakers Bureau event and for grants in support of public programs to non-profit organizations in the state of Iowa.

Please contact Melanie Alexander, Director, with any questions or concerns at 563-263-8282 or by email at malexander@muscatineiowa.gov. For more information about Humanities Iowa, visit www.uiowa.edu/~humiowa.

The Muscatine Art Center is open to the public Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from 10 AM to 5 PM, Thursday from 10 AM to 7 PM and Saturday and Sunday from 1 to 5 PM Admission is FREE.