I plan on making this a weekly feature of interesting news of events around Iowa and insightful commentary that I thought was worth a link. This certainly isn’t exhaustive, nor does a link or mention here necessarily mean an endorsement or agreement with the article or blog post.
- Danny Homan, the President of AFSCME Iowa Council 61 wants to recall Governor Branstad. The only problem for him is that there is no constitutional recall process. Sorry Danny, you’re stuck with him for at least three more years, just like we had to put up with Governor Chet Culver for four.
- Hazing, assault incidents worry prep wrestling coaches – I remember getting and giving “pink bellies” when I wrestled in high school; so it is hard to say if things within the sport has changed or is it just that the school environment has changed. There are obviously some wrestlers who have crossed the line from good-natured teasing that happens on a team to abuse and that must stop.
- Five of the top six highest paid state employees are college coaches – So? None as far as I know actually are paid with taxpayer money, and unlike government they actually make money. When a college athletic program operates in the red then complain.
- The newly drawn Iowa 4th Congressional District race between Congressman Steve King and former first lady Christie Vilsack will garner national attention. I agree it will. But even Democrats are saying this was an ill-advised race for Mrs. Vilsack. Sources on the ground say she will have to win 70% of the independent vote to win. It. Won’t. Happen. So Democrats are more than welcome to waste money in that district. Please do. The fact is that they have an endangered incumbent in Leonard Boswell in Iowa’s 3rd Congressional District as he faces a formidable candidate in Congressman Tom Latham. If Democrats want to ignore that race that is fine with me.
- Not good news: Creighton University economist, Ernie Goss, says the agriculture economy bubble may be coming down soon.
- I have to agree with The Des Moines Register there should have been seating available for the general public during Governor Branstad’s Condition of the State address. I’m pretty confident they did this to keep Occupy protestors out, but it’s the People’s House.
- Former Worker’s Compensation Commissioner Christopher Godfrey’s sexual discrimination lawsuit against Governor Branstad is just ridiculous. He was a holdover from the Culver administration who refused to resign and was terminated for cause. Branstad wasn’t aware of his sexual orientation. The simple fact is he should have resigned when it was requested. That is the tradition. When you are a political appointee for a previous administration you should never expect to keep your job. If you get to consider it a blessing.
- Governor Branstad would support banning red light cameras, then good on you Governor!
- Biofuel companies have been awarded the bulk of state aid. I would suspect that will taper down over the next couple of years.
- Good to see people come out to help Forey Jacobsen. He’s an incredibly nice guy and I can’t believe anyone would try to harm him.
- Polk County Supervisors to push an $83 Million Courthouse renovation. I think this scaled back plan makes a lot more sense than what they proposed in 2008. The question really is – will it really only cost that much? I have my doubts.