Doesn’t the Left hate Branstad for refusing to grow government and for keeping the budget balanced?
The Left hates him and calls him "Braindead" because he has an R after his name.
Lately, they also hate him for closing a couple of the state's antiquated mental health facilities, vetoing the allocation of one-time (as opposed to sustainable) funds for K-12 education, and putting the wheels in motion to privatize Medicaid.
Iowa law requires the balanced budget. Republicans are somewhat less likely to cook the books to make that happen.