Republican senators are raising questions about Governor Vilsack’s pick torun the Iowa Department of Human Services. Jessie Rasmussen ran Nebraska’swelfare agency for democrat Governor Ben Nelson. During Rasmussen’s tenurethere, five welfare departments were reorganized and merged into three.Rasmussen doesn’t expect to make massive changes in Iowa’s welfare agency.Rasmussen, who’s Nebraska Senator Bob Kerrey’s sister, was a state Senatorin Nebraska. Rasmussen was asked if she’ll be a full-time Iowa resident if she winsSenate confirmation for the Iowa job — or commute back to Omaha on theweekends. She says she’ll be living and working here.Rasmussen must win the endorsement of 33 state Senators in order to takeover as director of the Department of Human Services.
