Posts Tagged ‘IDED’

Less than one year ago, John Frew was hired as Governor Chet Culver’s Chief of Staff. In the July 9th press release that announced his hiring, Culver said, “John not only brings a great combination of experience in both the public and private sector to this position, but a career that has ... Full story

The initial audit of the Iowa Film offices wasn’t the only audit released yesterday dealing with Governor Chet Culver’s ability to administer millions of taxpayer dollars. Clifton Gunderson LLP, the same firm that audited the Iowa Film Office, was also selected by the U.S. Election Assistance Commission to audit the Iowa Secretary of ... Full story

For those of us who still enjoy reading the newspaper, there has been more than enough column inches recently about the Iowa Film Office, the state tax incentive that has lured the film industry to Iowa, and the serious lapses in that program. The Governor is incensed, the State is on the hook for hundreds of ... Full story

Over the past week Iowans have discovered how some self-interested film producers exploited a state program that was intended to boost the state’s economy. Film producers claimed tax credits for purchasing expensive luxury vehicles, such as Mercedes and Range Rovers. Some film producers inflated their production costs to receive larger-than-deserved tax credits, while others ... Full story

Governor Chet Culver can’t turn around without being confronted with new poll results that show him losing badly in a head-to-head match-up with former Governor Terry Branstad. In early July, TheIowaRepublican.com poll show Culver losing to Branstad by 16 points. Later that month, a poll commissioned by the Iowa First Foundation showed him losing ... Full story

Yesterday we learned the names of the two movie producers who used the Iowa Department of Economic Development’s film tax credits to purchase luxury automobiles. Bruce Isacson, who filmed the movie “South Dakota,” apparently owns a 2008 Range Rover that cost $61,000. Donald Borchers, who remade “Children of the Corn,” owns a $68,000 Mercedes. ... Full story

Rants Press Release from this morning: While much of the attention surrounding the scandal at the Iowa Film Office is surrounding how did a Mercedes and Range Rover get purchased – there are bigger questions that demand answers. This morning I submitted ten questions and requests for information to the Department of Economic Development and the ... Full story

Mike Tramontina was removed from his post as the Director of the Iowa department of Economic Development because some movie producers used state money to purchase a Land Rover and Mercedes. His replacement, Fred Hubbell, lives in a million dollar house and probably drives has a Land Rover and has Mercedes in the ... Full story

Governor Chet Culver is in the midst of a scandal, the likes of which the state of Iowa has never seen in its history. The scandal involving the Iowa Department of Economic Development (IDED) will likely dwarf the CIETC scandal from 2006. The CIETC scandal centered on state employees who lined their own pockets ... Full story