Governor Branstad and the Republican majority in the state House of Representatives love to crow about saving taxpayers money and love to brand the Democrats as big spenders.

An analysis done by the House Democratic Research Staff says otherwise. Over the last two years, every single Democrat in the House voted for less spending than the Republicans enacted into law.

What about our local representatives? Cecilia Burnett voted for $3,075.7 million in spending in 1995.

The total budget enacted by the Republican controlled House was $3,837.7 million of which $266.8 million was enacted without a vote (authorized automatically by Code). This means that Burnett did not support spending totaling $495.2 million.

In 1996, the total budget enacted by the House was $4,152.9 million of which $1,694.6 was enacted without a vote. Burnett did not vote for $93.6 million.

Thus, during her first two years in office she voted for $588.8 less than the Republican controlled House enacted.

Bill Bernau voted for $559.5 million less than the Republicans enacted over the last two years.

Our representatives did vote for increased spending for such things as REAP, child care, education, and human services.

The facts tell us that Burnau and Burnett stand for fiscal responsibility.

Erwin Klaas

Des Moines