$129 Billion Budget Impact Separates Ernst, Braley Platforms in Iowa Senate ShowdownYesterday, the National Taxpayers Union Foundation (NTUF) released a new candidate agenda analysis, revealing the hard numbers behind the campaign rhetoric in Iowa's hotly contested Senate race between State Senator Joni Ernst and Congressman Bruce Braley. The findings show that over $128.9 billion in annual spending separates their agendas. According to our research, Joni Ernst has outlined policies that would, on net, cut $87.1 billion from the federal budget each year; whereas her opponent Bruce Braley has voiced support for measures that would increase annual spending by $41.9 billion. All proposals made on the campaign trail – whether on candidates’ websites or in public debates – that could have fiscal policy implications are considered in the analysis, though only those that can be accurately quantified are included in NTUF's bottom-line agenda estimates. There were 17 statements or proposals whose costs could not be tallied out of 30 total that were examined. |