Governor Chet Culver is not saying which bills or parts of bills might get the ax today — which is the deadline to sign legislation into law. Culver has been traveling the state today for a series of public bill signings and was asked at a stop in Des Moines if there were bills he was going to veto. Culver said he would fill reporters in with all the details, "and if I had some additional news for you, I’d share it with you." One of the key bills left before Culver is call the "standings" bill. The bill includes money for standing issues such as state employee salaries, but also had several other items added to it before the legislature adjourned in the early morning hours. Culver was asked if his comments mean he would sign the standings bill as it is. "I didn’t say that, I am still going through the standings bill and will have something to say on particular parts to that bill," Culver says. Culver says the most time consuming part of his job right now is going through the bills line-by-line. The governor signed a portion of the I-JOBS bill during his Des Moines stop that will provide $750,000 dollars for the riverwalk project in the capital city. Culver has been criticized for borrowing the $830-million that includes the I-JOBS program during a down economy. Culver defended the move again today. Culver says the scary thing would have been to not pass the bill and create the state’s own economic stimulus package. He says the money will be a bonus to get the state’s economy turned around. Culver says Iowa will be fighting with other states to get back on top in the economic recovery. Culver has until midnight tonight to sign or veto bills.
Governor not revealing bills he might veto
New benefits, protections for Iowa veterans signed into law
Iowa veterans and their families have a few new benefits as a result of four bills that were signed into law today. Governor Culver signed the four bills during a ceremony at the Sullivan Brothers Iowa Veterans Museum in Waterloo.
"I’m here today to send a clear message to Iowa’s veterans and to men and women in uniform, and the message is simple," Culver said. "We thank you for your service and we will support you when you come home."
One law forbids banks and other financial institutions from foreclosing on the Iowa home of a soldier who is on active duty. Another allows out-of-state veterans and their families to enroll at Iowa, Iowa State or U.N.I. and pay instate tuition. A third bill clarifies the workplace rules for soldiers who are called to active duty and then return to their job in the private sector.
State Senator Jeff Danielson of Cedar Falls served in the Navy from 1988 to ’94 and he was on hand for today’s event. "It’s an incredibly proud day for a lot of Iowans because many of us have close, personal connections to Iowans who have served and their families," Danielson says.
While each bill may not seem important to an individual veteran or military family, Danielson says the four bills, collectively, create a multitude of benefits for active-duty soldiers and their loved ones.
"Decisions that we make and probably don’t think about ‘em much — for a military family, that’s an incredibly difficult time for them when it comes to finances and keeping them together and so we think if we can reduce those burdens, we ought to, and honor the service at the same time," Danielson says.
Iowa has one of the highest rates of men and women in uniform on active duty. "We believe that not just on Memorial Days, but on all the other days of the year we ought to be doing the things that make their lives easier and honor that service," Danielson says. "So the legislation that the governor signed today reduces some of the families burdens that occur when a service member serves overseas."
Waterloo attorney Ed Gallagher, a World War II veteran, spearheaded the effort to create the Iowa Veterans Museum and he was in the facility today for the bill signing ceremony.
"It means a great deal to me to see the support that our legislature, that they’re thinking of veterans, and recognize the sacrifices that veterans made to serve their country," Gallagher says.
After signing the bills, Governor Culver named Gallagher an "Outstanding Iowan" and presented him a certificate for his efforts on behalf of the Sullivan Brothers Iowa Veterans Museum which opened last fall.
Iowa Workforce Development still hiring for flood cleanup
Iowa Workforce Development is still hiring workers for jobs repairing public buildings and cleaning up parks in the wake of last year’s floods and tornadoes. Liz Buck says so far the state has received $17-million in federal money to hire the workers.
"It’s a two-year program so it’s been in effect right now, so we still have emergency public job workers right now all across the state. We think we have enough funds to get us through the end of September," Buck says. Buck says more than one thousand workers have helped with storm recovery at over 500 locations around the state.
Buck says they covered the workers comp and their benefits, too. She says it’s been growing by about 150 people a month, and with the warmer weather it’s easier to get out there and do the work. Buck says they can re-apply for more jobs money when the current funds run out in September.
Iowa City man charged with extortion over cell phone
Police in Iowa City arrested a homeless man who is accused of demanding cash for a cell phone from the phone’s owner. Sergeant Troy Kelsay says it happened after the victim told officers he either lost his phone or had it stolen Saturday night.
"The cell phone owner received a phone call from an individual stating that he was in possession of the cell phone and he would return the cell phone, but only if the cell phone owner paid 30 dollars," Kelsay said.
The owner of the phone made arrangements to meet the caller, but also flagged down two police officers to arrive at the location. The officers questioned the man, identified as 38-year-old Kevin Penro, and charged him with extortion.
Kelsay says Penro claimed he bought the phone from another person at a gas station. The officers noted in their report that his story seemed "unlikely." Penro remains in the Johnson County Jail.
Audit finds former Russell City Clerk pocketed over $29,000
A state audit has found the former city clerk in a small south central Iowa town improperly paid herself over $29,000 in the roughly 19 months she held the post.
In February of 2007, Amy Rodgers started work as the city clerk in Russell, a town of fewer than 600 residents. She quit showing up for work just over a year and a half later, at the end of September of 2008. The audit found Rodgers had improperly paid herself just over $16,000.
The audit also found she failed to deposit over $10,000 in water, sewage and garbage fees paid by Russell residents and another $2600 in rental fees for the Russell Community Center.
State Auditor Dave Vaudt says it’s possible Rodgers may have pocketed more, but city records were inadequate. The state audit has been turned over to the Division of Criminal Investigation and the Lucas County Attorney.
Tickets on sale for ISU game in Arrowhead
Tickets are on sale to the general public for Iowa State’s football game against Kansas State in Arrowhead Stadium. The teams will meet for the next two years in the home of the Kansas City Chiefs and ISU ticket manager Matt Johnson says seats may be secured through the Chiefs.
Johnson says they have the home side and the order form went out to season ticker holders with the football renewal and the deadline was May 1st. Johnson says the game is not part of the season ticket package
Johnson says they were pleased with the response from season ticket holders. He says there’s good interest.This year’s game will be October third.
Grassley says senate shouldn’t "rubber stamp" Obama’s pick for court
Senator Chuck Grassley says the senate shouldn’t "rubber stamp" President Obama’s pick for the U.S. Supreme Court. But Grassley, a Republican, says Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor will receive "very fair and deliberate consideration" from senators.
The Senate Judiciary Committee will hold confirmation hearings on Sotomayor’s nomination. "A lot of hard work for members of the Senate Judiciary Committee begins and I’m one of those members and I’m kind of sorry that it’s coming on top of all the work I have to do on health care reform," Grassley says.
Grassley is a member of the Senate Finance Committee, too, and that panel is drafting the key portion of health care reform legislation. Grassley has been on the Judiciary Committee since he became a senator in 1981 and is currently the longest-serving Republican on the panel.
"The committee has to take time to make sure the nominee will be true to the constitution and apply the law rather than personal politics, feelings or preferences. It’s our job to ask very thorough questions," Grassley says. "The senate, obviously, can’t be a rubber stamp — in the last 20 years on Supreme Court nominees (it) has not been a rubber stamp."
In early May, President Obama said he wanted to choose a justice who had "empathy" for the "hopes and struggles" of those who bring cases before the court. That statement’s on Grassley’s mind today.
"I think one of the things that I want to explore is if the president emphasizes this word ‘empathy’ that I want to know how the judge, justice nominee takes that into consideration," Grassley says.
Earlier this month Senator Tom Harkin, a Democrat, said he hoped Obama would pick someone who was educated in a non-Ivy League school. Sotomayor, who is 54 years old, has an Ivy-League law degree, from Yale. She’d be the first Hispanic justice and one of two women on the court if she’s confirmed by the senate.
