Iowa lawmakers will return to Des Moines this morning for the “special session” democrat Governor Tom Vilsack’s called, but nothing is likely to be accomplished. Vilsack’s pressing for more state spending in education, public safety and children’s health programs, but republicans say the budget plan they drafted earlier this month is their final answer, period. House Republican Leader Christopher Rants of Sioux City has called the “special session” a 38-thousand dollar press event for the Governor, as that’s how much it costs to bring all the staff and lawmakers back for a day. Rants says with no business, he plans to go to caucus, chat with his members, and then adjourn. He says the whole special session is waste of the taxpayers’ money.Senate Republican Leader Stewart Iverson of Dows also says today’s “special session” will be a waste of taxpayers’ dollars. He says they know what the outcome will be, and there’s no reason to come back.Governor Tom Vilsack wants to divert 60-million dollars from the state’s road construction account and spend that money in other areas. He says that amounts for delaying construction of about 20 miles of four-lane highway. Senate President Mary Kramer, a republican from West Des Moines, says the G-O-P isn’t interested. Kramer can says it’s only 20-some miles, but she says if it was even two miles after the work began, noone would say “it’s only two miles.”Lieutenant Governor Sally Pederson says budget cuts to the Veteran’s Home in Marshalltown are unacceptable. She says the veterans home is equivalent to 12 nursing homes. Person says there are 75 beds which wouldn’t be funded under the republican budget and she says the governor shouldn’t sign the budget in good conscience without further discussions.
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