First Distribution of I-JOBS Funds go to 948 Communities and all 99 Counties

The Governor's office issued a press release today giving details about the first distribution of I-JOBS funds that will be going out next week.

Continuing to lead the way in efforts to create jobs and strengthen the economy, Governor Chet Culver visited the Des Moines Public Works this morning to announce nearly $100 million in additional road and bridge funding from I-JOBS for transportation projects across the state.

“I-JOBS is about creating jobs, improving our infrastructure and strengthening our economy,” said Governor Culver. “Today, I’m proud to announce that, within a matter of days, these funds will be flowing to every community in Iowa. I-JOBS will not only fix our roads, but create new jobs and new opportunities for our communities, and build a stronger, safer Iowa.”

Every city and county in Iowa will receive a portion of $45 million in additional funding under I-JOBS for local street and road projects. These funds will begin being distributed to cities and counties starting next Tuesday.

Gov. Culver Now Tweets

Governor Culver has officially joined Twitter. You can follow him at @GovChetCulver on Twitter.

So far Culver's Tweets have been pretty officially, posting links to press releases regarding flood relief, the National Governor's Association meetings, the I-JOBS program, and the Microsoft data center. Culver definitely hasn't been as folksy as Sen. Grassley is on Twitter.

Rants Makes It Official

Yesterday, State Rep. Christopher Rants (R-Sioux City) posted on Twitter that he plans to file exploratory committee papers so he can being raising money and officially campaign for the 2010 race for governor.

Here's more from the Des Moines Register...

Rants, who has been meeting with GOP activists for months about a possible campaign, said he had met his early target for fundraising pledges. He also estimated it would take $2 million to mount a successful primary campaign.

Rants, 41, is among the party's younger prospects. His announcement via Twitter, the popular social networking Web site, signaled his response to Democrats' advantages in reaching voters through new media.

But Rants added during the program that the Iowa GOP, beset by consecutive statewide election losses and a voter registration gap of 110,000 with Democrats, would need a winning message as well as media.

"If we talk to those Republicans who believe the party has lost its way on things like fiscal discipline and accountability, if we become the party that's about transparency and reforming government - and that's who we are as Republicans - if we're successful in doing that, I believe we'll bring those independents back, we'll bring the majority back," he said.

Rants also appeared on Iowa Press which aired Friday and will be shown again on Sunday morning at 11:30. You can watch the appearance here.

From the Democratic viewpoint, I believe this means 3 things...

1. Steve King isn't going to run for Governor. I don't think Rants would have run against King and instead would have run for King's seat in Congress if King ran for governor.
2. Rants is a more viable candidate than Bob Vander Plaats. Mainly because Rants has more fundraising connection through his leadership positions in the Iowa House.
3. Rants, Vander Plaats, or any of the other rumored candidates will not be able to beat Gov. Culver in the general election. Republican Doug Gross, the party's nominee for governor in 2002, said it himself...

“I think they are all fine people and I don’t think any of them will be the nominee,” Gross said. ”I think we want to win and our nominee is going to have to have that statewide reach.”

Culver holding rail event in DSM on Saturday

From Iowa Global Warming...

GOVERNOR’S TRAIN DAY SPECIAL WILL ROLL INTO DES MOINES SATURDAY
 
DES MOINES – Governor Chet Culver will mark National Train Day this Saturday by bringing the Governor’s Train Day Special from Valley Junction in West Des Moines into downtown Des Moines, where he will hold a public event with local leaders and transportation officials promoting the benefits of passenger rail to the state, and read a proclamation declaring National Train Day in Iowa.
 
“Restoring passenger rail service to some of Iowa’s largest cities has been one of my key priorities as governor,” said Governor Culver.  “I look forward to leading this special train into Des Moines on Saturday, and highlighting the economic benefits of passenger rail to our state.  I invite Iowans to come to downtown Des Moines Saturday and celebrate National Train Day in Iowa.”
 
National Train Day is designed to highlight the need for expanded passenger rail service across the country.  Iowa currently is served by two passenger trains – the California Zephyr and Southwest Chief – both of which serve southern Iowa.  Efforts have been taken in recent years to bring passenger rail service back to other portions of the state, with current proposals to bring service to Dubuque, the Quad Cities and Iowa City and longer term plans to bring service to other communities such as Des Moines and West Des Moines.
 
To help spur efforts, Governor Culver’s signature legislative accomplishment – the I-JOBS Initiative -- includes $10 million for multi-modal transportation projects in Iowa, including $3 million for expanded passenger rail service in the state.  In addition, the Iowa Department of Transportation will be competing for federal passenger rail funds under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.  All of these steps position Iowa to work with Illinois and Amtrak to bring new passenger rail lines to the state that connect more Iowa communities with Chicago.
 
The Governor’s Train Day Special is being provided thanks to the generous efforts of the Iowa Interstate Railroad, Ltd., and logistical support has been provided by the Greater Des Moines Partnership.  The Governor’s event will coincide with the Downtown Farmers Market, a popular summer event that features locally made goods and products.
 
Saturday, May 9, 2009
 
WHAT:               Governor Culver will celebrate National Train Day by leading the Governor’s Train Day Special for a special ceremony in Downtown Des Moines
 
WHERE:            Outside Des Moines Historic Depot
                           4th Street South of Court Avenue
                           Des Moines, IA
 
WHEN:                10:00am

Culver Signs Bill to help Bring Passenger Rail to Iowa

Governor Culver signed a bill into law that would make it easier for passenger rail expansion to occur in the state. The bill would make it easier for the state to into regional agreements that would help passenger rail expand throughout the midwest.

The Governor signed the legislation at a former railroad station in Davenport, a community seeking to attract passenger rail service that would connect with Chicago.

“Passenger rail service is a key component to our state’s economic development efforts,” said Governor Culver. “By making it easier to connect between our state and key cities throughout the Midwest and the nation, we can attract new companies and bring new jobs to Iowa. This legislation, along with our other efforts this legislative session, puts us in the position to bring new lines to Iowa, and I look forward to continuing our work to bring passenger rail to Iowa.”

Senate File 151 includes several provisions related to freight and passenger rail service. The bill eliminates the Iowa Railway Finance Authority and transfers the responsibilities for the administration of the Rail Revolving Loan and Grant Fund and Passenger Rail Service Revolving Fund to the Department of Transportation. In addition, the bill removes the maximum threshold that applies to grants in the Rail Revolving Loan and Grant Program, and expands the Director of Transportation’s authorization to enter into agreements related to passenger rail service.

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Who Will be Culver's Next Chief of Staff?

Last week, Chet Culver named his chief of staff, Charles Krogmeier, to head of the Department of Human Services.

O. Kay Henderson from Radio Iowa has some information on who might replace Krogmeier as Culver's Chief of Staff...

The person who may be in line for that post is John Kirincich. He was hired earlier this year and started a couple of weeks ago as Culver's "chief operating officer." Kirincich has recent experience in D.C., having served as chief of staff forRepresentative Jim Marshall (D-Georgia). As best I can tell from congressional salary records, Kirincich was in that job from 2004 to the end of 2008.

In addition, Kirincich served as executive director of the Georgia Democratic Party from January of 1999 to March of 2002. He worked on the (unsuccessful) 1996 campaign of Kathy Karpan, a Democratic candidate for one of Wyoming's U.S. senate seats and the (unsuccessful) 1998 gubernatorial campaign of David Poythress in Georgia.

I don't know Kirincich, but I do know that Rep. Jim Marshall is probably the most conservative Democrat in the US House.  

A couple weeks ago, I went to a friend's house for dinner.  I don't remember what the topic of conversation was, but my friend jokingly said, "let's take the middle road and piss everyone off."

  

Hopefully, Culver isn't planning on taking the middle road.

Gov. Culver's Releases Statement on Iowa's Supreme Court Decision on Gay Marriage

Gov. Culver released a statement on Friday basically saying that he would take time to review the decision. Culver released a more detailed statement today.

Here is part of the statement...

As I have stated before, I personally believe that marriage is between a man and a woman. This is a tenet of my personal faith. The Iowa Supreme Court’s decision has, in fact, reaffirmed that churches across Iowa will continue to have the right to recognize the sanctity of religious marriage in accordance with their own traditions and church doctrines. The Supreme Court’s decision does not require that churches recognize marriages between persons of the same gender or officiate over such unions. The Court does not have, nor should any court ever have, that kind of power over our religious lives. Our churches and places of worship are free to decide for themselves, as they were before, who may enter the sacred covenant of marriage. As the Supreme Court’s decision states, ‘The sanctity of all religious marriages celebrated in the future will have the same meaning as those celebrated in the past.’

Yet, the Supreme Court of Iowa, in a unanimous decision, has clearly stated that the Constitution of our state, which guarantees equal protection of the law to all Iowans, requires the State of Iowa to recognize the civil marriage contract of two people of the same gender. The Court also concluded that the denial of this right constitutes discrimination. Therefore, after careful consideration and a thorough reading of the Court’s decision, I am reluctant to support amending the Iowa Constitution to add a provision that our Supreme Court has said is unlawful and discriminatory.

Register Poll Shows Culver Might be Vulnerable

A new Des Moines Register poll conducted by Selzer and Co. shows that Chet Culver might be vulnerable against a strong Republican opponent in his reelection campaign.

Iowa Gov. Chet Culver's approval slipped to 55 percent, down from 60 percent in the Register's September and January polls. [...]

The poll also revealed some reservations by Iowans about Culver, as the Democrat looks toward mounting a 2010 campaign for a second term.

Just 35 percent said they would definitely vote to re-elect Culver, while 28 percent said they would consider an alternative and 18 percent said they would definitely vote for someone else.

On the bright side Culver's approval is above the 50% mark. However, it has dropped 5% in the past few months and only 35% would definitely vote for him for reelection in 2010.

The question, however, is if Republicans have a strong opponent out there. Would Steve King or Tom Latham give up their seats in the US House? Does Bill Northey have what it takes to win in Eastern Iowa? Will anyone take Bob Vander Plaats serious? Do people actually know who Dave Vaudt and Rod Roberts are? I would have liked to see some head-to-head numbers of these people against Culver.

The next month is important for Culver, as the legislative session ends. Culver has bumped heads with leaders in his own party over key labor issues and an increase in the gas tax among others. Now there is a potential of disagreement over the Supreme Court's decision on gay marriage.

Of the 35% that say they would definitely support Culver for reelection, I would assume most all are Democrats and very few are Republicans. Culver needs to shore up his Democratic support. The Republicans will do what they can to ostracize independent voters as the party continues to move to the far right.

Culver Signs Bill to Crack Down on Meth Dealers

Yesterday, Governor Culver signed a bill that would crack down on Meth dealers. The bill would make it easier for law enforcement to track multiple purchases of pseudoephedrine by creating an electronic log.

From the Waterloo/Cedar Falls Courier...

Gov. Chet Culver has signed a measure that tightens the sale of the drug pseudoephedrine, which can be used to make meth.

The bill tracks multiple purchases of the nonprescription cold medicine.

Under the measure, customers buying pseudoephedrine must sign an electronic log that records the purchase, a move aimed at building a registry where authorities can keep track who is buying the drug.

Currently, customers sign a paper log.

I wrote about this bill last month as it moved through the State Senate. Here's more info...

An electronic system with real-time tracking would cost about $750,000 over two years, said Sen. Steve Sodders, D-State Center. The state is seeking a $750,000 federal grant, and if that falls through, the law would not take effect, he said.

"If someone's buying pills in Marshalltown, Ames, Newton, there's no way for law enforcement to know that under the current system with the handwritten log," Sodders said.

Ah, I Want One!

From Radio Iowa...

Mari Culver said her two young children are responsible for Buck joining the family. "The kids and I were shopping out and stopped at that pet food and acquatic center out on 22nd Street in West Des Moines and we came home with an Animal Rescue League puppy," the first lady said.

The governor said their children, John and Claire, are excited have a puppy. "Our cat, also from the Animal Rescue League, what, 15 years ago -- Fran is adjusting, let's just say," the governor told the crowd.

The young pup doesn't have a pedigree, but Mari Culver guesses the dog is a mix of many breeds. "He's got a little bit of everything we think. We're not quite sure -- yellow lab, shepherd, setter, maybe some collie," she said. "He likes to roll in the snow, so I think some huskie."

Northey for Governor?

Iowa Secretary of Agricutlure Bill Northey appeared on Iowa Press over the weekend and was asked about the possibility of running for Governor against Chet Culver in 2010.

''I think you certainly wait until after this session to see where things go,'' said Northey, a Republican. ''I think it's six months or so out for me to be able to make a decision by the end of summer.''

Northey conceded that winning election against an incumbent governor would be difficult, but he said a sour economy and the state's budget snarls could create an opening.

Now, Northey might be consulting his family about a run, talking with big fundraisers, etc.

However, I think Northey is waiting to see what Sen. Grassley decides to do. If Grassley retires, running for an open senate seat would be much more appealing than challenging an incumbant Governor considering that Iowans haven't voted to cut out an incumbant governor in decades.

Both history and political reality would make a challenge to Culver an uphill struggle, Northey conceded, with Iowans typically showing a willingness to return governors to office.

Former Gov. Robert Ray served for 14 years, former Gov. Terry Branstad topped that with a 16-year tenure and former Gov. Tom Vilsack was in office for eight years and probably could have stayed there if he hadn't chosen to launch a brief bid for the presidency. None of the three faced serious challenges, despite serving during troubled economic times.

Join Gov. Culver Tonight for $5,000

If you have $5,000 you can socialize with Gov. Culver tonight...

Thursday, December 18, 2008
Governor Chet Culver

and

Lt. Governor Patty Judge

Chet Culver Committee

Please come and enjoy an evening of fine foods and friends.

5:30 p.m. -- 7:00 p.m.

Noah's Ark Ristorante (second floor)

2400 Ingersoll Avenue

Des Moines, Iowa

Patrons - $25,000

Hosts - $15,000

Guests - $5000

Please RSVP to Chris Khoury

Ph 515 288-2287 or email Chris@chetculver.com

Another example for the need for campaign finance reform. Iowa badly needs limits on campaign contributions and needs to pass the VOICE legislation that would bring voluntary public financing to campaigns.