Urban envy could stall millenium fund bill

Legislative leaders say there’s a major hurdle in creating a special state “Millennium Fund” for large entertainment projects. House Speaker Brent Siegrist, a republican from Council Bluffs, says unfortunately, rural lawmakers are wary because the projects which appear first on the list are an arena in Des Moines and a rainforest education center in Cedar Rapids.Senate Republican Leader Stewart Iverson of rural Dows says a special board must be established to decide which projects get the sizable state investment.Legislators are considering a 20-year investment fund of between two-hundred and three-hundred million dollars.