End to state budget battle doesn’t appear to be in sight

Republican leaders and the democrat Governor appear no closer to resolving their differences over next year’s state budget plan. Governor Tom Vilsack says he’s willing to talk, but compromise requires both parties to move. Vilsack wants to dip into the state’s “economic emergency fund” for some extra cash. Vilsack says, “Webster’s Dictionary defines emergency as sudden and unexpected. And, we’ve been hit with a number of sudden and unexpected situations in the state, which necessitate the need to restore calm.”Vilsack says the state’s trying to cope with one of its harshest winters and high heating bills, rising gas prices and Mother Nature’s floods and tornadoes.But Republican legislators don’t want to dip into the state’s emergency savings account. House Speaker Brent Siegrist, a republican from Council Bluffs, says it could be a “long summer” of conflict. Siegrist says he hopes the governor will tell them his specific concerns, instead of just rhetoric about cuts.Siegrist says Vilsack’s not helping by running around the state and criticizing the republican budget plans.Republicans want to pare about 200-million dollars more than Governor Vilsack does.