The American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees Iowa Council 61 has issued a response to Gov. Chet Culver’s proposed budget for fiscal year 2010, promising to work with the governor to find cost savings and staying on message when it comes to whom to blame for the current economic crisis.

The cordial statement, sent to reporters just minutes ago, seems to demonstrate a willingness to forgive and forget Culver’s controversial veto of a bill to expand public employee collective bargaining rights just last year.

Here’s the text:

America is in the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression, caused by the wrongheaded policies of the last eight years under the Bush administration. While Iowa is in better shape than most states, the national recession has reduced state revenues. On Feb. 28, Governor Culver released his proposed FY 2010 budget, and he has proposed cuts of $400 million dollars.

AFSCME Iowa Council 61 is now analyzing Governor Culver’s budget and plans to work with the administration and legislative leadership to try to soften the blow to state services. Now more than ever, in this crisis, Iowa working families depend on state’s social safety net, including education, health care, and workforce development programs. Our Local Union Presidents are asking our members to bring their ideas forward on how the state should save money. We believe that the experienced frontline workers know best how to do things better at a lower cost.

AFSCME Iowa Council 61 is working hard to support the economic recovery package in Congress that can potentially bring nearly $2 billion in federal aid to Iowa for health care, education, transportation and other services. Passage of this bill is critical.

“Our members are the ones who deliver the services that Iowa families depend on. Without AFSCME workers, there are no food stamps, unemployment checks, health care for the disabled, or plowed roadways. We want to work with the State of Iowa to keep as many frontline workers on the job for the people of Iowa as possible, and look for ways to save money,” said Danny Homan, the president of AFSCME Iowa Council 61.