Culver’s first test of Leadership
Nathan Greene
2 Comments
The Collective Bargaining fiasco at the State Capitol keeps getting more and more interesting. What started at 4 p.m. last Thursday in the Iowa House was passed yesterday morning in the Senate, and now sits on Governor Culver’s desk. The amazing part of the story is that if it wasn’t for Minority Leader Rants and the Senate Republicans this bill would have made it to Culver’s desk mid-day on Friday.
So now Governor Culver faces what is probably the most difficult decision he has had to make as Governor. What he does in regards to HF 2645 will have major ramifications on the State of Iowa, the relationships between the Governor and Democrat Legislative Leaders, and his own political future. It is times like these that tell you the most about an elected executive of a state or nation.
Culver has two options. One, he could sign the bill and back the play of his Democrat legislature while making good with the union bosses. His second option is to Veto the bill and show Iowans who’s in charge and work to find a bipartisan solution. Neither are easy, and I believe Culver is in a no win situation.
The reason that Culver is in a no win solution is because his own Democrat collogues don’t respect him. Now many of us in the blogosphere and those who run in political circles always say that the power in Iowa rests in the hands of Senate Leader Mike Gronstal, but reality reared its head yesterday. Just look at some of these quotes.
Senate President Jack Kibbie, a Democrat from Emmetsburg, said he can’t believe Culver would veto the bill. "Because of his future," Kibbie explained. Asked if vetoing this bill could hurt Culver, he answered: “Absolutely.” Kibbie added: "He’s running on the Democratic ticket, I presume.”
Hmm, I wonder what Kibbie said to the three Senate Democrats that voted with the Republicans yesterday?
Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal ignored the advice from Culver, who had just returned from a spring break vacation in Florida with his family.
“Well, Chet wasn’t here last week,” Gronstal said.
The above comments are something that never would be made available for public consumption if Culver was respected by his Democrat collogues.
Adding more fuel to the fire is the Iowa Future Fund, who has created yet another radio ad urging people to call Culver and ask him to Veto the bill which the ad calls a Rush Job and Power grab. While speaking of the Iowa Future Fund, it’s become known that a number of ex-Romney consultants are involved including David Kochel who was an influential part of Romney’s Iowa team. For those wondering where the money is coming from to run these ads, I think you don’t have to look any further than the $454,000.00 that Romney’s Commonwealth PAC had left in its Iowa PACs coffers after the caucuses. Some way, some how, I think this money is finding its way to the Iowa Future Fund.
Sorry for getting off track, but I don’t think there is any way that Culver can veto this bill. Gronstal was pretty adamant on the news last night that Culver would and should sign the legislation into law. I’m sure Union Thug/House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy is even more adamant.
There is one thing that I know we can always trust Governor Culver to do: look out for his own political future. His press release that was sent out yesterday was nothing more than a desperate cry for help saying, please, please don’t put this all on me.
Reader Comments (2)
Good Post!
Senator Gronstal has a Motion To Reconsider hanging on the bill to prevent it from going to the Governor just yet. Apparently, Gronstal wants to make sure that the union enforcers break a few body parts on the Governor to make sure he signs it before it is sent down the big lug.