All is Well, No Shutdowns Here

Gov. Terry Branstad's office was expected to release some plans today for what our state's government would do if TB and lawmakers fail to approve a state budget for the 2012 fiscal year that starts July 1. Theoretically, you'd think no money would mean no government, except for vital things like prison guards and Tilt-a-Whirl inspections.

But Branstad's spokesman says there is no plan because there ain't-a-gonna be no dang shutdown. Yeah, but...Shup. Not gonna happen.

From our man Rod Boshart at the Steakhouse:

The governor's office today responded to requests under the Freedom of Information Act from Iowa's largest public employees' union, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Council 61, the Cedar Rapids Gazette and the Des Moines Register to release documents, emails and other government materials related to plans for halting all but essential government services should not fiscal 2012 spending plan be authorized when the new year starts on July 1. At first blush, much of the information released appeared to be copies of news articles and editorials addressing the subject.“The governor has broad executive powers in situations such as this and if the Legislature fails to hold up to their responsibility and fails to pass a budget by June 30, then the governor will have the responsibility of keeping government open on July 1 and he intends to do so using those broad emergency powers,” Albrecht told reporters. “He's still working with the Department of Management to ensure that the health, safety and well-being of Iowans is not compromised if the Legislature fails to uphold its obligation.”

“The governor has broad executive powers in situations such as this and if the Legislature fails to hold up to their responsibility and fails to pass a budget by June 30, then the governor will have the responsibility of keeping government open on July 1 and he intends to do so using those broad emergency powers,” Albrecht told reporters. “He's still working with the Department of Management to ensure that the health, safety and well-being of Iowans is not compromised if the Legislature fails to uphold its obligation.”

Speaking of blushing, do you think any of my columns made the cut? Can't recall mentioning a shutdown much. But maybe this blog post will make the next FOI "response." Just to make sure, shutdown, shutdown, shutdown and shutdown.

Radio Iowa's story is here. The Des Moines Register's account is here.

This is apparently the adult-style, straight-talking leadership we voted for back in November. Nothing to see here, folks. Stop asking us and it will go away. Move along. We've got special emergency powers and broad executive powers. Don't ask for explanations. Don't try to understand. Go about your bidness, and remember, if the super secret powers thing should somehow fall short of expectations, this is not our fault at all. Not our fault. No fault here.

Now, let us go back into closed-door, backroom budget talks, already in progress. But first, a word from our new transparency office...

Look, I don't think there will be a shutdown or partial...whatever. I think a budget deal gets done before July 1. Call me optimistic or stupid, again.

But we are now passing the point where this is only about zany politics and partisan posturing and breathless press releases accusing this leader or that of walking away from various tables. As of now, "no dice, no deal" has become a real possibility, and I think Iowans who pay the bills for this pony show ought to get a clear explanation as to what exactly that would mean for the average Joe/Jane come July 1. Referencing sketchy emergency powers, holding inner circle consultations and handing reporters their shutdown stories back to them is not clear nor explanatory.

What's happening instead is an attempt to frame blame if a shutdown happens. Fine, politics. What's new? Everybody's doing it. But there's no reason Branstad can't both point fingers at Democrats and hand out information to Iowans on what to expect.

I mean, this is a guy who can tell us exactly what will happen if lawmakers don't adopt his property tax cuts or don't approve his economic development layer cake or don't send him a two-year budget. So now explain what happens two weeks from now without a budget. You can do it.