Iowa Governor Outlines His Plans For 2008
Updated: Jan 16, 2008 10:26 AM CST
Iowa Governor Chet Culver outlined has his wish list for 2008. Yesterday he gave the annual condition of the state address. He proposed a spending plan of about 6 billion dollars.
To address the forecasted worker shortage in the state, he suggests creating a five million dollar education facility to lure skilled workers to the state. Culver would increase the bottle tax; consumers would get 8 cents out of 10 back. The rest would go to recycling and environmental programs. A multi-million dollar plan to replace the outdated prison in Fort Madison is also on the list. And Culver says healthcare will be a big issue in 2008.
Governor Chet Culver, ''We should expand pooling options for associations, small businesses, and organizations in an effort to reduce the cost of group rates. Let's allow parents to cover their adult children up to age 25, on a family plan. Let's eliminate exclusions and waiting periods for people who are transitioning from group health plans to individual plans.''
The governor also called for a new statewide program to combat odors from livestock feeding operations and for stepped-up studies and research at Iowa State University.
My gripes-
1. Gov. wants to spend 5 million for an ''education facility'' to lure skilled workers to Iowa. Shouldn't companies have to do their own luring and hiring?
2. Increase bottle tax. Give consumers back 8 out of ten cents. Why not just a one cent sales tax on all food items? Everybody eats. Everybody pays. It's a negligible amount that would add up to a considerable sum.
3. Culver wants to reduce group insurance rates, yet allow parents to cover their children to age 25 on a family plan. Hell, why not? Kids are moving back in with mom and pop more and more anyway. Lets include the grandkids too.
Updated: Jan 16, 2008 10:26 AM CST
Iowa Governor Chet Culver outlined has his wish list for 2008. Yesterday he gave the annual condition of the state address. He proposed a spending plan of about 6 billion dollars.
To address the forecasted worker shortage in the state, he suggests creating a five million dollar education facility to lure skilled workers to the state. Culver would increase the bottle tax; consumers would get 8 cents out of 10 back. The rest would go to recycling and environmental programs. A multi-million dollar plan to replace the outdated prison in Fort Madison is also on the list. And Culver says healthcare will be a big issue in 2008.
Governor Chet Culver, ''We should expand pooling options for associations, small businesses, and organizations in an effort to reduce the cost of group rates. Let's allow parents to cover their adult children up to age 25, on a family plan. Let's eliminate exclusions and waiting periods for people who are transitioning from group health plans to individual plans.''
The governor also called for a new statewide program to combat odors from livestock feeding operations and for stepped-up studies and research at Iowa State University.
My gripes-
1. Gov. wants to spend 5 million for an ''education facility'' to lure skilled workers to Iowa. Shouldn't companies have to do their own luring and hiring?
2. Increase bottle tax. Give consumers back 8 out of ten cents. Why not just a one cent sales tax on all food items? Everybody eats. Everybody pays. It's a negligible amount that would add up to a considerable sum.
3. Culver wants to reduce group insurance rates, yet allow parents to cover their children to age 25 on a family plan. Hell, why not? Kids are moving back in with mom and pop more and more anyway. Lets include the grandkids too.
