Vilsack sets mid-September deadline for Iowa Values deal

Governor Tom Vilsack says lawmakers should return in “special session” by mid-September to re-establish the state’s main economic development program. Vilsack says businesses are starting to get antsy about the uncertainty created when the Iowa Supreme Court tossed out the law that created the “Iowa Values Fund.” Vilsack says “we have a couple of weeks of opportunity here, and then I think we have got to make some decisions.” Earlier this week, Vilsack told Radio Iowa lawmakers must either revive the “iowa Values Fund” or at least appropriate 70 MILLION dollars to make-good on the “Iowa Values” grants that’ve already been awarded to businesses. Vilsack’s hoping the “log-jam” that’s preventing a deal will be broken this week as a group of experts hash out workers comp changes that republican legislators insist must be part of the package to restart the “Iowa Values” Fund. Vilsack says 11,000 jobs are at stake — the 11,000 jobs businesses that’ve gotten “Iowa Values” Fund say they’ll either create or retain. Vilsack says there’s growing unease from Iowa businesses about the stalemate Vilsack says “we need some action.”