(DES MOINES) - Iowa Gov. Terry E. Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds today released the following statements praising former Iowa Speaker of the House Rep. Kraig Paulsen (R-Hiawatha) upon learning of his decision to step down from his leadership post in the Iowa House of Representatives. Paulsen is one of the longest-serving Republican leaders in Iowa House of Representative history.
"Representative Kraig Paulsen has been one of the most effective legislative leaders I have had the privilege of working with at the state capitol. Even before he was Speaker, Representative Paulsen worked across party lines in the minority to prevent the passage of ill-advised, job-killing legislation. With the partnership of Iowa House Republicans under his tenure as Speaker, we balanced the state's budget, restored financial stability in state government, passed the largest tax cut in the state's history and passed student-focused education policies to raise pupil achievement, among many other things," said Branstad. "As one of the longest-serving House Republican leaders in state history, I can understand Representative Paulsen's decision. I've appreciated his friendship, leadership, and his partnership as we've work to build Iowa for the future."
"As a former legislator who served during the period of reckless budgeting and across-the-board budget cuts, I've valued the commitment of Representative Paulsen to ensure government lives within its means just as the hard-working taxpayers of Iowa do each day," said Reynolds. "Together with Iowa House Republicans, we've worked to make state government more effective, efficient and innovative. We'll miss Representative Paulsen's leadership during the legislative session, but we're confident he'll continue to honorably represent his constituents and work to protect the interest of the hard-working taxpayers of Iowa."
A photo of Branstad, Reynolds and Paulsen from 2011 after Gov. Branstad had signed the last of the budget bills, which restored stability and predictability in state budgeting, can be found here.
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