Republicans say they’ll boost recreation spending

Republican legislators today called a news conference to unveil what they called a “boost” in state spending on recreation projects. Ten minutes into the news conference, however, Republican leaders admitted the G-O-P will actually spend less on some recreation-related programs next year than is being spent this year. For example, over four-million dollars is being spent this year to dredge lakes. Next year, Republicans want to spend about a million dollars less to remove sediment from publicly-owned lakes. In total, Republicans plan to spend about 35-million on environmental and outdoor recreation projects. Republican Senator Mary Lou Freeman of Alta admits Iowans support state spending on recreational projects. She says a small town in her district, Fonda, got help to build a swimming pool. She says it’s the type of project that is important to Iowans.