Governor Chet Culver, a Democrat, says he isn’t concerned about a recent poll commissioned by Republicans that shows a majority of Iowans wouldn’t vote to re-elect him to a second term. Culver says he will continue to work had and it’s an honor and privilege to serve as governor.
He says he feels very good about the legislative session and election is a long "far way off" and he looks forward to a "spirited" discussion down the road on the race for governor. Culver dismissed the poll that shows a majority of those surveyed felt the state was on the wrong track .
"I don’t believe there’s any weakness…we’re working extremely hard, we had a very successful legislative session, and I don’t much attention to polls, I just work as hard as I can every day," Culver says. On another issue, Culver joined other elected officials who have asked China to withdraw the ban the country put on pork imports after cases of the H-one-N-one virus were confirmed in the state. Culver says the state will look at what it can do if the Chinese don’t drop the ban.
Culver says the state will respond in any trade arrangement is the state feels it’s being treated unfairly and "there will be consequences." He says they hope to be able to solve the issue through diplomatic means. Culver says state officials have actions they could take.
Culver says the secretary of agriculture, and various commodity groups work on trade issue every day and this is not a good trade issue to ban the state’s products with no rationale or reason. Culver made his comments at a bill signing ceremony Friday at the capitol.