Governor Culver: A Complete and Utter Failure

Wednesday, April 22, 2009, 4:30
Iowa, Top Story
1,158 views
18 comments

culverpoll3 In his 2008 Condition of the State speech, Governor Culver told the legislators who were gathered in the House chamber and the people watching at home that one of his legislative priorities was to expand Iowa’s bottle bill. Iowa’s original bottle bill was signed in to law by Republican Governor Bob Ray in 1978.

Culver’s signature piece of legislation in 2008 didn’t go anywhere.

This past January, Governor Culver once again gave his Condition of the State speech. This time, Governor Culver’s signature piece of legislation was a $750 million dollar bonding proposal, which he calls I-Jobs. At the time, Culver claimed that his proposal would create almost 40,000 jobs. A short time later, an Iowa State University economist said that Culver’s bonding proposal would only create 4,000 jobs. Iowa Republicans believe that those lower numbers are probably inflated.

With House and Senate Democrats now saying the votes don’t exist to pass his proposal, it seem that Culver’s signature piece of legislation this year isn’t going anywhere either.

Culver is firm in his support of his $750 million bonding proposal, but Democrat legislators quickly backed away from the proposal after the Des Moines Register released a poll showing that 71% of Iowans oppose the idea. Culver not only unveiled his bonding proposal in his widely publicized Condition of the State speech, he also spent weeks traveling across the state promoting it. If Culver is unable to pass some form of his bonding proposal, it will be a huge embarrassment to him as he begins his reelection campaign.

Even more troubling for Culver is that he is not even respected by the Democrat leaders in the Iowa House or Senate. Just yesterday, House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy told the Des Moines Register, “We’re waiting for the governor to engage in negotiations; he’s not negotiating with us on anything at this point.” Needles to say, it is fairly unusual for a legislative leader to publically disparage a Governor from his own political party.

Culver’s Press Secretary, Troy Price, quickly said that Rep. McCarthy’s claim that the Governor is not negotiating with House and Senate leaders is untrue. However, Price did indicate that Culver still wants to see his bonding proposal passed.

“While there is room to negotiate, we cannot settle for a bill that won’t put people to work, allow us to assist flood victims, and help us rebuild flood-damaged homes, businesses, roads and bridges,” Price said.

The bad blood between legislative leaders and Governor Culver began last year when Culver vetoed one of the key legislative priorities of the labor unions which dealt with open-scope bargaining. The unions, legislators, and the Governor all have gone out of their way to say that they have put any hard feelings behind them. Yet, Democrats who control the Iowa House and Senate with sizable majorities have failed to pass both of Culver’s legislative priorities and have now resorted to publically criticizing the Governor.

Though House Democrats have had their own problems with getting members in their caucus to support their legislative agenda, it seems as if they are beginning to distance themselves from Governor Culver. Legislators are already on the hook for out-of-control spending and various tax and fee increases. They also now have to deal with the same-sex marriage issue. Adding Culver’s unpopular bonding proposal would be dangerous given that House Democrats only won their majority by a total of approximately 600 votes in a very Democratic year.

At a time when Iowa is recovering from the largest natural disaster in its history, suffering from huge budget deficits, and dealing with an unemployment rate at a 20-year high, Iowans are looking to their Governor for leadership.

But, if Governor Culver can’t lead members of his own party, how can we expect his to lead the entire state?

Tags: Bonding, Chet Culver

About the Author

Craig Robinson has written 503 stories on this site.

Craig Robinson serves as the founder and Editor-in-Chief of TheIowaRepublican.com. Prior to founding Iowa's largest conservative news site, Robinson served as the Political Director of the Republican Party of Iowa during the 2008 Iowa Caucuses. In that capacity, Robinson planned and organized the largest political event in 2007, the Iowa Straw Poll, in Ames, Iowa. Robinson also organized the 2008 Republican caucuses in Iowa, and was later dispatched to Nevada to help with the caucuses there. Robinson cut his teeth in Iowa politics during the 2000 caucus campaign of businessman Steve Forbes and has been involved with most major campaigns in the state since then. His extensive political background and rolodex give him a unique perspective from which to monitor the political pulse of Iowa.

18 Comments on “Governor Culver: A Complete and Utter Failure”

Timmy wrote on 22 April, 2009, 6:18
Yep, no truer words have been spoken!!!
anonymous wrote on 22 April, 2009, 7:23
very well written!!!
Mike C wrote on 22 April, 2009, 7:59
This is just spin. Try it this way: Culver is a true leader because he stands up to and denies the excesses of the Democratic legislature.
anon wrote on 22 April, 2009, 8:08
Culver would only be a true leader for standing up and denying the excesses of the democratic legislature if he weren’t pushing for excesses of his own, i.e. the $750 bonding proposal.

Culver’s stand isn’t about fiscal responsibility. It’s about the fact that he’s in a pissing match with legislative leadership.
steve right wrote on 22 April, 2009, 8:19
When is this blog going to stop being a mouthpiece for that failure of a party, the GOP? I really thought you were going to try to do some reporting or journalism but instead it’s all just opinion blogs that spout whatever the state party wants you to write about. It’s kind of sad, really. You’re a tool and nothing more.

At least you use your name, though, which is something. And you admit you’re a man, unlike some bloggers on this site.
Iowa Cynic wrote on 22 April, 2009, 8:48
Culver’s one of our nation’s worst governors. Maybe McCain should have put him on the ticket last November…
Timmy wrote on 22 April, 2009, 8:58
Steve Troll, this is the IOWAREPUBLICAN.com, news for REPUBLICANS by REPUBLICANS!!! What part of this do you not understand? If you don’t like it, go play elsewhere!
Jack Donneghy wrote on 22 April, 2009, 10:50
don’t be mean to steve. he has an iq below 100. we shouldn’t pick on him.
Jim50 wrote on 22 April, 2009, 12:25
REBUILD flood-damaged homes/businesses? HAVE WE LEARNED NOTHING? Don’t build (or rebuild) in a FLOOD PLAIN! Geeze. If you do don’t come to me, the tax payer, and ask for help! And levees and dikes? Golly gee, Batman … they don’t always work. Gravity, sooner or later, ALWAYS WINS! So STOP with the insanity!
anon gop wrote on 22 April, 2009, 15:48
emily? emily?
Sarah wrote on 22 April, 2009, 16:30
Hmmm, is it just me, or has Culver’s girth grown right along with his butget…
Silence Dogood wrote on 22 April, 2009, 16:40
timmy is almost right, he almost got the name of the website right, it is the http://www.theiowarepublican.com. However, this isn’t news, it is spin, opinions, talking points, blogs by republicans for republicans, which is fine, democrats have theirs, what I don’t understand is why people on this website don’t seem to like to have a nice lively debate??? I think it would get boring if everyone was just agreeing blinding with each other, wouldn’t it???

Silence
Silence Dogood wrote on 22 April, 2009, 16:48
Here is a legitimate question for the many republicans on this board. If there is so much bad blood and lack of respect between culver and democratic house leaders, this would seem to be an opportunity for the minority republicans to be putting their proposals and agendas out to public to let the public see some alternatives and gain support. I haven’t really seen any of that. Just complaining about what the democrats want to do or not do? How about reaching out to a beleagured governor to try and make some deals??? This would seem to be a prime time to do this. Craig what was the name of the Iowa State economist and where is research published on this topic, I am interested in reviewing it.

Silence
Todd Versteegh wrote on 22 April, 2009, 18:09
Um Silence..

Both the Iowa House and Senate Republicans have put out detailed budget ideas and proposals out there…the Democrats have rejected EVERY nearly every one of them out of hand.

Through April 14th, the House Republicans have offered up over 200 MILLION in line-by-line saving in the state budget. If the Democrats had even accepted HALF of these proposals…the state budget for the year would be balanced..instead of being nearly 105 MILLION over whats allowed by state law.

The Republicans have asked repeatedly to be involved in budget discussions, Silence..guess what? Culver and the Democrats have been putting the budget together behind closed doors..with no input from Republicans. There’s been virtually no transparency at all from the Democrats..

All we hear from Culver is “pass my 750 million in spending–no questions asked”
Silence Dogood wrote on 23 April, 2009, 11:07
Yes, todd, I have seen the talking points, but not the actual proposals, the dems say they have invited but no one has shown up to the party from the republicans. I think it is just a lot of grandstanding on both sides. You don’t pull this stuff off in public, clinton and trent lott got together on lots of deals, so did reagan and tip oneill, but it was behind the scenes. I don’t believe the talking points.

silence
Todd Versteegh wrote on 24 April, 2009, 0:39
These arent “talking points” Silence…

All the budget work is being done BEHIND CLOSED DOORS..with NO Republican input.
If you’re too lazy to find the information for yourself..I’ll happily provide it for you..

Here’s the breakdown of the amendments that Republicans have offered and the savings created per budget subcommittee..
* Administration and Regulation — $100.1 million
* Economic Development — $14.7 million
* Agriculture and Natural Resources — $17.5 million
* Health and Human Services — $20.3 million
* Education (Department of & Higher Ed) – $52.9 million
* Justice System (Corrections and DPS) — $27.1 million

There’s been NO transparency from the Democrats…..here’s what they believe being up front with the people of Iowa is about how Iowans tax dollars are being spent..

The Democrats came out with 4 one paragraph “shell” bills out of the House and Senate Appropriations Committee: Standings, Rebuild Iowa Infrastructure Fund, Federal Stimulus and Bonding.

These bills were set to spend 4.2 BILLION dollars..and here’s what they think of Iowans, Silence.. The Democrats then decided to skip over the budget subcommittee and full Appropriations Committee process. So, here they are..wanting to shove 4.2 BILLION in spending down the throats of legislators without even giving these bills the proper review and study that is deserved.

There’s no grandstanding at all here.. just an attempt to foist over a whole ton of spending on Iowans without accountability.
Silence Dogood wrote on 24 April, 2009, 9:26
good grief, todd, that is real specific, again just talking point memos, no programs nothing, How are they getting these saving, where are the cuts, what programs do they want gone? I have some nice property in florida to sell you too.

Silence
HereInIowa wrote on 1 May, 2009, 20:45
title says it all…