Legislature pulled the plug on driving simulator funding

Republican legislators are taking the training wheels off the National Driving Simulator project in Iowa City. For the past few years, the state has provided about 300-thousand dollars to support general operations, but that state support dries up June 30th. Democrats tried but failed to get legislators to provide state support into the next budgeting year. Senator Joel Bolkcom is a democrat from Iowa City. He says the simulator is a project of national significance that will help develop safer driving habits and systems.Senator Bob Dvorsky of Coralville, another democrat, said the federal government is spending about 60 million dollars on the project, so the state should be able to chip in a measly 300-thousand.But Republicans, led by Senator Kitty Rehberg of Rowley insisted that no state tax dollars be spent on the simulator, as the nation’s car companies should start bearing the cost.