A decision about whether Iowa Public Safety Commissioner Gene Meyer gets to keep his job will be made next week.
Governor Chet Culver swore Meyer in a few weeks ago, but Republicans in the Iowa Senate have balked at voting to confirm Meyer for the job.
Republicans are also refusing to confirm former Iowa Ag Secretary Dale Cochran, a Democrat, to a seat on the Iowa Environmental Protection Commission. Senate Republican Leader Mary Lundby of Marion says Cochran, a Democrat, cannot serve in the position for which he’s been nominated. "Mr. Cochran has problems because the (law) specifically says ‘You shall be actively engaged in grain or livestock farming,’" she says. "He sold his farm last summer. He lives half the year in Florida and half the year in Iowa. He lists his address as Urbandale, and that does not meet the criteria."
The governor’s picks to serve on state boards and commissions must get a "yes" vote from 34 of Iowa’s 50 state senators. There are 30 Democrats in the state senate and 20 Republicans.