Key legislators talk taxes behind closed doors

Fifteen key legislators will meet behind closed doors this morning with the Governor for a discussion about tax policy that’ll be led by an Iowa State University professor. Senator Larry McKibben, a Republican from Marshalltown, is the chairman of the Senate Ways and Means tax-writing committee and he’ll be there. McKibben says the I-S-U professors asked to have the sit down session, and the Governor agreed. Advocates for open government believe the meeting should be public, but it’ll be held behind closed doors. McKibben says the idea is to find consensus more quickly on key issues. McKibben says it may turn out to be like what happens in the private sector when companies have retreats, put a notepad on a tripod and start brainstorming about common issues.