Governor Chet Culver received a standing ovation at the Iowa State Building & Construction Trades Council convention and shook the hand of almost everyone in the room after signing an executive order that presumes state agencies will use project labor agreements (PLAs) whenever possible.

"It adds stability and structure to a job site that could be chaotic," said Bill Gerhard, president of the Iowa State Building & Construction Trades Council.

"There's a thousand people working big jobs, 17 different unions, all have different work rules, all have contracts that expire at different times," Gerhard said. "It sort of ensures that there's going to be some stability that people, if they go on strike on their contract, they'll keep working on the project. ... The state should have this tool in their toolbox to use."

Governor Chet Culver has proposed a $5.3-billion state spending plan for Fiscal Year 2011 that uses more than $200 million from the state's cash reserves and $48 million in federal stimulus money, while reducing tax credits by $52.5 million and saving $341 million from state-government reorganization.

Culver said the budget would leave an ending balance of $117.3 million and would leave $265.2 million in the state's cash reserves.

"We have achieved this lower budget by continuing the 10-percent across-the-board budget cut made last fall in Executive Order 19 for most of the General Fund budget," Culver said. "Only 31 percent of programs or agencies would receive any increases over the revised FY 2010 budget ... reflecting the need to reduce state-government spending while preserving critical services for protecting vulnerable adults and children."

Culver's budget recommendations include a $6.9-million increase for the Department of Public Safety to prevent potential layoffs of up to 122 people, and a $25-million increase for the Department of Corrections to avoid layoffs at state prisons.

Former Republican Governor Terry Branstad raised $1.55 million in the two and a half months after the start of his campaign and had $1.36 million left at the end of the year, while Democratic Governor Chet Culver raised $2.15 million in the past 12 months and ended the year with $2.59 million in his campaign chest.

"These fundraising numbers posted by the two governors forebode a very vigorous and spirited statewide campaign ahead," observed Pete Jeffries, senior counsel for Republican Jim Nussle's 2006 gubernatorial campaign.

January

January 10: Matt Strawn becomes chair of the Republican Party of Iowa, defeating former State Representative Danny Carroll of Grinnell by a vote of 10-7 to replace Stewart Iverson. Strawn, the Iowa Barnstormers co-owner and former state director for John McCain, takes his dark-horse candidacy on the road in the months after the November election. Members of the Republican State Central Committee attributed Strawn's win to his ability to use fresh approaches to bring in new members and said his state listening tour helped him gain credibility in his quest for the position.