Chet Culver

Culver, Register continue to wrangle over open records law

Gov. Chet Culver has once again refused a request by The Des Moines Register to turn over documents, this time e-mails surrounding the governor’s response to the unexpected death of a resident at a state-run home for the disabled.
Culver’s office is calling the e-mails “draft documents,” which it says aren’t required to be disclosed under [...]

Culver questioned about trip to Outback Bowl

It can’t be a good sign when the governor announces he will travel across the country to support the state’s most popular football team and the first question asked is whether he will be paying his own way.
But such is the case for Gov. Chet Culver, as he had to make a point of [...]

Culver considers expanding state payroll to combat worker misclassification

In a Tuesday press conference, Culver announced a special task force that recommended nine new state employees.

Culver makes budget cuts official

Gov. Chet Culver Monday officially issued the executive order cutting 1.5 percent from the state budget.
Culver announced last week that in response to an estimated $99.5 million dip in state revenues for FY2009 he would order an across-the-board budget cut that would total $91.4 million. This was in addition to $77 million in cuts [...]

Teachers union criticizes governor’s budget moves

The across-the-board budget cuts proposed by Gov. Chet Culver has “short-changed Iowa’s school children and relegated us to more years of fighting for what we are worth,” the union representing Iowa’s teachers said today.
Chris Bern, president of the Iowa State Education Association, said the cuts impact all programs equally without taking into consideration priorities that [...]

Culver explains cuts to state workers

In announcing an across-the-board budget cut of 1.5 percent on Thursday, Gov. Chet Culver sent a letter to every state employee laying out his plan and explaining that there was no other recourse under the current economic situation.
Staff reductions and employee furloughs are likely under the new proposal, Culver said, although that will ultimately be [...]

Culver orders 1.5 percent across-the-board budget cut

Gov. Chet Culver will sign an executive order making an across-the-board reduction in state’s General Fund, a move expected to save Iowa $91.4 million, he announced this afternoon.
Only corrections officers and state troopers will remain unscathed, with layoffs likely and cuts affecting education and Medicaid.
“We are in the midst of an economic challenge that is [...]

Culver: Nothing is off the table in next round of budget cuts

Layoffs, as well as cuts to Democratic priorities like education, health care and renewable energy, are all on the table as Gov. Chet Culver looks to cut $60 million from the state budget.
“We’re going to go through this process this week and take the important steps we need to take to reduce spending,” Culver said. [...]

Culver to cut $60 million more from state budget next week

Friday’s figures provide a snapshot of the projected revenue the state can expect for the rest of the 2008 fiscal year and the upcoming 2009 fiscal year. The falling revenue, combined with built-in spending increases set by lawmakers more than a year in advance, could create a budget shortfall that some predict could be as high as $500 million.

Iowa Governor’s Office receives suspicious letter

Iowa Gov. Chet Culver became the latest in a string of state governors to receive a suspicious letter today. Few details are available, but Culver did issue the following statement:
“Today, the Office of Governor Chet Culver and Lt. Governor Patty Judge received a suspicious letter that appeared to be similar to those received recently by [...]