Stories

As expected, political columnists and Republican leaders are taking shots at Gov. Chet Culver today for the 10 percent, across-the-board budget cut he ordered yesterday.
But for all the bellyaching, it’s important to remember that the political implications of slashing state spending aren’t really so bad.

The looming fight over increasing the state’s tax on gasoline sales is showing no signs of quieting down, AP reports today.
State Sen. Tom Rielly told AP’s Mike Glover that, despite Gov. Chet Culver’s objections, he plans to continue the process of passing a bill to raise the gas tax this year.  “We’re going to let [...]

Republican legislative leaders Thursday suggested Iowa sell its lottery to the state public employee pension system instead of private investors.

A public works program that mirrors that presented by President-elect Barack Obama will be unveiled in Gov. Chet Culver’s Condition of the State address, the governor told Radio Iowa.
Culver said he expects millions of dollars to come into Iowa from the federal government, money that can be used to repair damage from this summers natural [...]

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 [...]

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.

Gov. Chet Culver announced $77 million in budget cuts today, a move he said is needed to keep the state’s “fiscal house in order.”
Further cuts or adjustments may be necessary after a meeting of the state’s Revenue Estimating Conference on Friday, he said.
“The combination of revenue declines, due to the economic downturn, and the financial [...]

Gov. Chet Culver will outline his plan to cut an estimated $40 million from the state budget next week, after he and Lt. Gov. Patty Judge review proposals from various state agencies, according to the Associated Press.
“We’ll take some time to really look at the options we have on the table, and I’ll make some [...]