Highlights from Culver's Speech

The Des Moines Register has a nice summary of Gov. Culver's speech today at the State Capital...

HEALTH CARE: Culver would like to see all Iowans have the same type of health care as elected officials get. That would be expensive, and the growing budget is already a headache. For now, he'd like to expand pooling options for associations, small businesses, and organizations in an effort to reduce the cost of group rates. He would like to allow parents to cover their adult children up to age 25. He would eliminate exclusions and waiting periods for people who are transitioning from group health plans to individual plans.

SMOKING: If lawmakers pass a bill to allowing local authorities to ban indoor smoking in bars, restaurants and other public facilities, Culver promised to sign it.

ENVIRONMENT: Culver would like to double the bottle fee from 5 cents to 10 cents. Those who return the cans would get 8 cents back. Two cents would not be refunded. It would go environmental fund and to pay bottle handling operators.

EDUCATION: Teachers will see a raise of about $5,400 over two years with legislation Culver signed last year. Some Republicans are unhappy because the raises would not be merit-based; mediocre teachers would get raises along with outstanding teachers.

TAXES: The taxes paid by multi-state corporations who do business in Iowa would go up with Culver's proposal for closing a certain tax loophole. Culver's said Iowa would gain revenue by requiring “combined corporate reporting” of profits.

WORKERS: Education is the way to address a potential workforce shortage, Culver said. He proposed creating a $5 million science, technology, engineering, and math center at the University of Northern Iowa. He would also like to expand a needs-based scholarship program.