Governor Disagrees That He's Hurting Tax Plan

Today, Iowa Governor Chet Culver told me he disagrees with House Speaker Pat Murphy that Culver is the reason Democrats are struggling to pass their major overhaul of the state's tax system. Last Tuesday, Representative Paul Shomshor, of Council Bluffs, said twice during a news conference that Democrats would pass the tax plan. But Democratic leadership never took a vote on the plan. Wednesday, Murphy conceded his party had only 50 votes on the idea, leaving it one vote short. And he blamed Culver. He said Culver pushed for more Iowans to get tax cuts under the plan, and that eroded Democratic support. Murphy said, "I think it slowed down the process or we would have had that bill two weeks ago."

Today, Culver told me he doesn't think his changes hurt his party's chances to pass the bill. He said, "I don't. In fact, the original bill only had 49% of Iowans getting a tax cut. We've now moved that to 60%. I think we've probably picked up some votes and maybe even a few Republican votes."

I haven't been able to find any of those "few Republican votes" to say publicly they will support the idea. Still no word on when, or if, house Democrats will bring up the tax plan for a final vote. But the governor didn't want us saying the idea is dead. "No. I don't", he said.

Sex Offender Punishment to Change

Iowa legislative leaders and Governor Culver's office are working this afternoon to schedule a public hearing next week that could lead to changes in the 2000 foot rule for sex offenders. Right now sex offenders can't live within 2000 feet of schools, etc. New restrictions would stop them from even stepping foot in places where there are a lot of kids like schools, day cares, swimming pools, etc. Another provision would allow the least serious offenders to be taken off the sex offender registry if all parties agree, including the victim.

The final product (or at least the hope here) is that this would be a bipartisan effort that won't be bogged down with party fighting that could destroy the efforts.

It's also sounding more and more like that movement to overhaul the state's tax system and eliminate federal deductibility is falling apart. House Speaker Pat Murphy said he has only 50 Democratic votes right now. He said the missing 6 Democratic votes are not the so-called "six-pack" of Democrats who helped bring down a labor bill earlier this session that lead to that infamous weekend "sit-in" at the statehouse. Murphy said he isn't giving up. He blamed Governor Culver for losing Democratic support on this. Culver, he said, insisted on cutting taxes for more Iowans as part of the plan. Murphy said that's what hurt the efforts.

Interestingly enough, the apparent demise of the tax bill comes on the day between 2 and 3,000 Iowans held a tea party protest rally on the front lawn of the Iowa Statehouse to oppose all the money the government has been spending. And who said this legislative session wasn't going to be interesting?:)

No Tax Vote Today

Every day this week, we've expected to watch a tough vote in the Iowa house about whether Democrats can find the support to overhaul the state's tax system by eliminating federal deductibility. And each day so far this week, we've learned we will have to wait until the next day. That's the case again. An email from house Democrats this morning confirms the tax bill has been taken off the daily debate calendar. It's now put on Thursday's calendar. Will it actually happen then?

Outside the Iowa Statehouse on this tax day, protesters will hold Des Moines' second tea party in less than a week. This one is one of a handful in Iowa today and one of hundreds across the country.

ETC...
Ousted Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich hopes a judge will let him take part in a reality show in Costa Rica for a new show on NBC. The former gov reportedly needs the cash, which could be as much as $80,000 per episode, to pay for his legal bills. Could that famous hairdo of his really survive a Survivor-like reality show in the wild?