May 22, 2012

You are here: Home / 2010 / May / Archives for 13th

Culver “respects” commission’s casino decision

May 13, 2010 By

Governor Culver says he “respects” the decision Racing and Gaming Commissioners made today in awarding one new casino license for Lyon County in far northwest Iowa, while denying licenses to Fort Dodge, Ottumwa and Tama.  

“They’re the independent body that ultimately makes the decision,” Culver says.

In early March, Culver sent a letter to the gaming commissioners, urging them to approve licenses for all four communities.  Culver said at the time that “new jobs are difficult to come by” and the projects would “generate hundreds of construction jobs and hundreds of permanent jobs” in the casinos.  This morning, Culver defended his decision to send that letter.

“I think it’s important for everyone to know where a governor stands. That’s why a public letter made perfect sense,” Culver said.  “Commission members had asked me prior to that letter. The executive director of the Racing and Gaming Commission had asked me prior to that letter.  The four communities had asked me prior to that letter.  I felt I had an obligation to make sure everyone understood I was for job creation in those four communities.” 

Culver has publicly backed the idea of new casinos for Fort Dodge and Ottumwa since the 2006 campaign.

UPDATE:  Just before 3 p.m. today Culver issued a written statement.

DES MOINES – Governor Chet Culver today released the following statement related to the action of the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission on pending applications:

“I congratulate residents of Lyon County on being successful in securing a new casino project that will serve northwest Iowa and will help create jobs and stimulate significant new tourism from other states.
 
“As I have said often, we need to do everything we can to create jobs in Iowa during this time of economic challenge. While the overall economic outlook is improving and Iowa is recovering from the recession faster than other states, our job-creation work is far from over. Citizens living in all parts of Iowa deserve to participate in the economic growth that can be ours.
 
“Although we share the disappointment that is felt by many communities as a result of today’s decision by the Racing and Gaming Commission, the Lt. Governor and I pledge to do everything we can to assist communities in Webster, Wapello and Tama counties with their job preservation and creation efforts, now, and in the future.”

Filed Under: Politics & Government Tagged With: , ,

Culver: conscience “clear” over campaign contributions from casino-connected donors

May 13, 2010 By

Governor Chet Culver says his conscience is “clear” when it comes to the investigation of donations three Fort Dodge casino backers made to his campaign.  A special prosecutor has been hired to investigate. 

“Our office and our campaign is not the center of this review.  There is an allegation that three individuals made a contribution that was not lawful. That’s the investigation,” Culver says.  “…But our (conscience) is clear. I have 7500 contributors across this state and across the country that have willingly stepped up to support my candidacy.  We expect that every one of those donors follows the rules and if they don’t there will be consequences.”

According to Culver, he has “no control” over those who donate to his campaign and it’s up to contributors to make sure they comply with the rules.  Culver says it’s “not uncommon” for both Democrat and Republican candidates in Iowa to accept campaign donations from those who work in the casino industry.

“Casino interests have contributed to campaigns in this state for a long time,” Culver says, “since Terry Branstad introduced gaming to Iowa.”  Branstad, the four-term Republican governor who signed laws which ushered in horse racing, the state-run lottery and casino-style gaming, is seeking a fifth term this year. 

The state’s Executive Council, including Culver, voted this week to hire a former state attorney general as a special prosecutor to conduct an independent investigation of the campaign donations that have raised questions.  Culver says the matter now is “out of (his) control” and he has “no idea” when the investigation may be complete.

“Obviously we want this to come to a quick and speedy resolution and we are going to be completely cooperative, as we have been, in terms of any questions that might arise and that we’ve done nothing wrong,” Culver says.  “So things happen in life and in politics and in governing sometimes that are out of your control and you just do the best you can to deal with the facts and the facts are on our side in this case.” 

Attorney General Tom Miller last week said his office would not investigate the matter, citing the “appearance” of a conflict of interest since a former deputy in Miller’s office has taken a leave of absence to serve as Culver’s campaign manager.  Culver argues that staffing change has no bearing on the overall investigation. 

Culver made his comments this morning during taping of this weekend’s edition of the Iowa Public Television program “Iowa Press” which airs Friday night at 7:30.

Filed Under: Politics & Government Tagged With: , , , , ,

Senator Harkin loves/hates new clean energy bill

May 13, 2010 By

Iowa Senator Tom Harkin issued a news release last night praising a new “clean energy” bill before the U-S Senate, but found very little positive to say about the legislation during a conference call with Iowa reporters this morning.

“There are some things in there that really bother me, I mean, $54-billion in loan guarantees for more nuclear power plants when we don’t even know what to do with the waste from the ones we have right now? Tax exempt bonds to fund nuclear power projects? It encourages offshore drilling. There’s a lot in this bill that we need to work on.”

Harkin, a Democrat, says America needs to “move away” from nuclear power due to its high costs and the generation of tons of deadly waste. He says Iowa’s a good example of how we can shift into more earth-friendly power alternatives.

“We have an abundance of energy we can tap into now,” Harkin says. “We need to put more effort into energy efficiency, more into solar, more into wind, more into geothermal, more into renewable, clean energy technology without going down the nuclear road.”

When asked what he liked about the legislation, which he glowingly endorsed in the news release, Harkin started by saying the bill would work to reduce our nation’s dependence on foreign oil, but quickly digressed:

“There are investments in there in clean energy technology, I’m not saying there aren’t. There are, I just don’t think there’s enough,” Harkin says. “This bill…moves us towards more energy efficiency and more renewable energy. Those are the good parts. Quite frankly, those seem to take a back seat to trying to put more money into nuclear.”

The bill was introduced by Senators John Kerry, a Democrat from Massachusetts, and Joe Lieberman, an Independent from Connecticut. Harkin wrapped up his statement on the bill saying, “It’s trying to please everybody and in trying to please everybody, it may please nobody.”

——————

Here’s part of the original news release from Harkin: “I applaud Senators Kerry and Lieberman for their tireless and resolute campaign to bring us an approach to addressing our climate change challenge. It is important that we pass legislation to reduce our dangerous dependence on foreign energy sources- an addiction that sends money to unfriendly nations rather than invests it in America. We must, as the most recent oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico reminds us, protect our natural treasures, our sources of food and the air we breathe. The bill proposed today is a great start towards these goals and as we move forward with this legislation, we must ensure that it includes even more provisions to promote the production and use of renewable sources of energy, as well as promote energy efficiency.”

Filed Under: Environment & Conservation, Politics & Government

Iowa troops overseas will get to vote in November

May 13, 2010 By

As hundreds of Iowa National Guard members prepare for deployment to Afghanistan, a state legislator and Guardsman says he’s confident ballots will be delivered to those men and women for the general election this November.

Senator Steve Warnstadt, a Democrat from Sioux City, says every effort will be made to allow Iowa’s service members the opportunity vote as they will be far away from a voting booth.

Warnstadt says, “The Secretary of State’s office has been very involved with the National Guard, especially with the upcoming mobilization, in making sure that the ballots are going to get to those 3,000-plus soldiers who are going to be deploying.”

Warnstadt is an intelligence officer with the Iowa Army National Guard unit in Sioux City. He says soldiers who are overseas defending our right to vote ought to have the ability to vote themselves.

“Every study shows that Iowa’s voting process for active duty and activated service members is in the top three in the country,” Warnstadt says. “Secretary (of State Michael) Mauro has been very strong about trying to make sure that we’re staying up to date…and we maintain our advocacy ahead of time.”

Warnstadt made a stop in Webster City on Wednesday, promoting the passage of veterans issues in the 2010 Iowa Legislature.

Thanks to Pat Powers, KQWC, Webster City

Filed Under: Military

Catholic Charities board decides to continue refugee aid

May 13, 2010 By

The last remaining refugee resettlement agency in Iowa has decided to continue operations after learning the federal government is increasing funding. The Catholic Charities Board of Directors voted Wednesday to maintain the placement services they began providing 70 years ago.

Catholic Charities Program Director Sol Varisco says the boost in funding will allow them to place up to 130 new refugees a year, which she says is good news for Iowa’s current refugees.

“A lot of the people we have already placed here now can not bring their mom, son, brother or sister,” Varisco said. “So we are going to concentrate within those 130 to only (place persons with) relatives already here so they don’t have to go to another state and then move here.”

Catholic Charities has long partnered with Lutheran Services to help place refugees fleeing war or political and religious persecution. But when Lutheran Services announced it would discontinue its program, Catholic Charities debated doing the same.

“We help refugees, pick them up at the airport, set up housing with furniture and provide an orientation about the different kinds of laws we have,” Varisco said. “We help refugees register their kids in a school and provide work readiness to help with job placement.”

Last year, more than 900 refugees resettled in Iowa. With the state ending its own program earlier this year Catholic Charities now becomes the only agency in Iowa still placing refugees.

Filed Under: Human Interest

North Iowa Fair manager on leave due to alleged misuse of money

May 13, 2010 By

The manager of the North Iowa Fair is now on paid administrative leave pending an investigation into financial irregularities and misuse of fair money. At last night’s fair board meeting in Mason City, president Dennis Higgins says he decided to place Wanda Kruse on leave on Tuesday afternoon.

Higgins says the action came about after a discussion with the board’s attorney, as it was not something covered in the board’s by-laws. He says he acted on his own. Higgins says he requested Kruse turn over her keys and any computer passwords and leave the fairgrounds office. He also told Kruse she and her family members are not to be on fairgrounds property until further notice or be subject to criminal trespassing charges.

Higgins says the Mason City police have started an investigation into financial transactions within the fair office. In putting her on administrative leave, he says he told Kruse about his concerns over those financial activities as well as her “unprofessional dealings with the general public as well as our clients.”

Higgins says a forensic audit will take place and access to fair bank accounts have been restricted, with holds placed on any checks that are presented until they can be reviewed. The fair board met in a closed session last night to learn more about the investigation, but no further actions against Kruse were taken. It’s not been said how much money may be involved.

Thanks to Bob Fisher, KRIB, Mason City

Filed Under: Crime & Courts

Former ISU economist says financial reform “overdue”

May 13, 2010 By

A retired Iowa State University economist says the bill being debated in the U.S. Senate that establishes new regulations for the financial industry is “long overdue.” Economist Neil Harl has served on six federal advisory committees, including a panel which was abolished in 1995 amid a wave of deregulation.

Harl says if he were writing the senate bill, he would have “gone a little bit farther” in regulating financial instruments called derivatives. “This has been a mischievous concept. It has some benefits but it almost wrecked the economy and so we have to get that under control,” Harl ways. “…I have been very supportive of enhanced regulation. I was terribly disappointed what I saw unfolding over the last 20 years — the move toward deregulation — because I felt confident we were going to have serious problems down the road.”

The senate bill calls for creation of a consumer protection agency. Republicans charge the new agency would have too much regulatory power, but Harl says he doesn’t share that fear. “I think in general this is going to be a positive move. Almost always when we have a crisis in this country, we overreact. We go a little too far, but then we pull back and we eventually get something just about right,” Harl says. “When the SEC was created, for example, there was the same kind of argument.”

Harl says his greatest worry is that complaints about the bill will prevent its passage. According to Harl, financial reform is the “most critical issue” facing congress today. Harl says it may be time to consider breaking up some of the huge companies that have come to dominate the financial sector.

“Breaking up Goldman Sacs, maybe a couple of others as well,” Harl says. “I think to where they have gotten to be a threat to the long-term healthy of the economy.” Harl argues there’s a lack of competition for those big companies. The government stepped in to break up companies like Standard Oil and AT&T which critics argued had gained a monopoly hold that prevented competitors from entering those industries.

Harl made his comments during a recent appearance on the Iowa Public Television program, “Iowa Press.”

Filed Under: Uncategorized
« Older Posts
Newer Posts »