Not only is Gov. Chet Culver and his staff committed to working with legislators, but Lt. Gov. Patty Judge spoke with a Democratic leader the night before concerns were made public that the relationship had soured, the governor’s press secretary told the Iowa Independent.

Tuesday morning, House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, D-Des Moines, told reporters that the legislative session was at a stand still because Culver had stopped communicating and negotiating with legislative leaders.

Culver Press Secretary Troy Price said the governor “respectfully disagrees” with McCarthy’s comments.

“Just last night, Lt. Gov. Judge had a lengthy conversation with Rep. McCarthy on the best way we could address the remaining issues Iowans care most about, balance a budget and move toward adjournment,” Price said. “In addition, the governor has had productive conversations about labor reform, mental health parity and giving a majority of Iowans a middle-class tax cut with a number of key legislators in the last 24 hours alone, with more meetings scheduled today.”

The governor has made it clear, Price said, what needs to be done to “put Iowans back to work with our I-JOBS proposal.”

“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,” he said.

Culver proposed a $750 million bonding plan to pay for flood recovery and infrastructure repair, to be paid back over 20 years with gambling revenue. Lawmakers have said they wish to alter the plan, taking out money to pay for road and bridge projects and using money from the general fund to repay the bonds.

In response to Culver’s claims, McCarthy told The Des Moines Register that he initiated the conversation with Judge in order to discuss communication problems between the governor and the legislature.