Governor says Iowa’s in the middle when it comes to budget troubles

Governor Tom Vilsack says he’s found out Iowa is in the middle-of-the-pack when it comes to budget problems. Iowa lawmakers had to pare the state’s budget when tax collections dipped due to the slowing economy. Vilsack’s talked about the situation at the National Governors’ Association meeting in Rhode Island. He says there are other states that are doing much better than Iowa, and many that face more difficult situations. He says one of the reasons discussed for economic problems is that many states rely on a sales tax that is geared toward a “product manufacturing economy as opposed to a service/information oriented economy.”Tonight, Massachusetts Senator and potential presidential candidate John Kerry will host a reception for Vilsack that’ll help the Iowa Governor raise up to 25-thousand dollars for his re-election campaign.Tonight’s reception will be held in Boston, in Kerry’s home.