Gov. Vilsack will veto tax cuts

Democrat Governor Vilsack vows to veto “excessive” tax cuts. Republican legislators, in turn, vow to pass 150-million dollars worth ofproperty, income, pension and sales tax cuts. It sets up a statehouse showdown. Vilsack called reporters into his statehouse office to complain about G.O.P. tax and budget priorities. Vilsack says the state budget will go into the red if 150-million dollars worth of tax cuts are forwarded to Iowans. Vilsack says the state can afford about 40-million dollars in tax cuts, and he prefers property tax reductions. Vilsack says Republicans have failed to set aside enough money in their budget plan to deal with violent sexual predators and open the new state prison in Fort Dodge on time. House Appropriations Committee Chairman David Millage, a republican fromBettendorf, says the Governor’s wrong to say the G.O.P. budget plan will delay opening of the new state prison. Senate Republican Leader Stewart Iverson of Dows says the G.O.P. budget planis sound. House Speaker Ron Corbett, a republican from Cedar Rapids, says Vilsack’s already won his three primary campaign goals: reducing class sizes, stepping up the war against “meth” and enacting a patients’ bill of rights.