Misfiring on the Message

Gov. Chet Culver thought he was riding to the rescue of Iowa's economy when he led the charge for his big I-JOBS bonding program in 2009.

But it turned out he was stumbling into a political box canyon of his own design.

So now the governor is firing jobs numbers at anything that moves. His administration issued a 107-page report Wednesday filled with all sorts of job-creation projections, hoping to scrub the goldarn boondoggle label off his $875 million infrastructure bonding effort. The report says more than 7,000 people are working now thanks to the program, which was approved with no clear way to measure the jobs it was supposed to create.

And over the next couple of years, it will create 15,000 jobs. Or maybe 36,000. Wait and see.

But skepticism is one tough hombre. Iowa State University Economist David Swenson says he's sticking with his estimate that I-JOBS is worth about 4,000 to 6,000 jobs. Culver's estimates, he says, are overstated.

Culver's opponent in November was less kind. “In reality, the I-JOBS program has done next to nothing to create the long-term, sustainable jobs that Iowans so desperately need,” said Jeff Boeyink, campaign manager for Republican Terry Branstad, who has trashed I-JOBS.

Culver is in a numbers shootout he can't win, and he has himself to blame. He once bragged that I-JOBS would create 21,000 to 31,000 jobs, thus making an overinflated claim the main measuring stick for the program's success.

Culver's backers insist this debate should be about $328 million for flood recovery efforts. Sure. But maybe they shouldn't have named it I-JOBS. How about I-RECOVER or I-BUILD?

“It wasn't very good naming,” said Culver spokesman Jim Flansburg, who was sent out with Dick Oshlo, director of the Department of Management, to tout the report to our editorial board. They blamed lawmakers for the name. (See note below)

Still, Culver is not the only one in a credibility gulch.

Republicans love to smack I-JOBS, but have offered no ideas of their own on how to pay for Iowa's infrastructure needs. Believe it or not, Culver's $875 million doesn't come close to making all the repairs and replacement needs that piled up over years of underfunding and benign neglect.

If I-JOBS wasn't the right way to pay for flood recovery needs, what should the strategy be next time? It seems like the next 500-year flood is due any minute now. We'd love to see the plan.

Culver misfired on the message, but at least he set out to hit a worthy target. Republicans need to cool their political pistols and explain how they'd do better.

Comments: (319) 398-8452; todd.dorman@gazcomm.com

Note -- Actually, it looks like it was the Culver administration, not the Legislature, that came up with the name.

Here's the announcement press release from March 12, 2009:

OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR“There are currently hundreds of millions of dollars in unmet infrastructure needs in every part of the state. Addressing this issue is critical to rebuilding Iowa and our economy,” Governor Culver said. “I am asking Legislative leaders, and the Members of the House and Senate, to join with me in meeting the five key areas I-JOBS will address. There is no time to waste in rebuilding Iowa and, most importantly, creating jobs.”

Governor Chet Culver  Lt. Governor Patty Judge

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 12, 2009

Contact:

Troy Price, Governor's Office

(515) 281.0173

troy.price@iowa.gov

GOVERNOR CULVER UNVEILS I-JOBS: IOWA'S INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT INITIATIVE

I-JOBS plan creates jobs, invest in Iowa's infrastructure

DES MOINES – Governor Chet Culver today unveiled details of a $750 million plan to create jobs and invest in infrastructure throughout Iowa. Called I-JOBS: the Culver/Judge Iowa Infrastructure Investment Initiative, the plan is a 3-year investment to create jobs, strengthen the state's economy, and rebuild several critical areas of the state's infrastructure.

 “Iowans are concerned about the economic future, and as Governor I am not going to sit by and let their concerns grow," said Governor Culver. "This $750 million investment in all of Iowa will create jobs, improve our infrastructure, strengthen our economy, and build a safer, stronger, greener, and smarter state. And we can do this without raising taxes."

The I-JOBS Initiative will address five key areas of unmet infrastructure needs across the state:

• $250 million for transportation projects, especially road and bridge safety, including $200 million for roads and bridges and $50 million to other modes of transportation

• $175 million to complete important projects already scheduled, such as improvements to the Iowa Veterans Home and our Community Colleges

• $150 million for public buildings, disaster relief, mitigation projects, housing and other flood-related infrastructure not covered by FEMA, CDBG or other sources

• $100 million for water quality and waste water improvement projects

• $75 million for local infrastructure, broadband technology, and alternative energy infrastructure

Funds for transportation projects will be distributed by the Iowa Transportation Commission.

For other I-JOBS projects, an 11-member Iowa Jobs Board will be appointed to develop rules, review applications and make grant decisions. Five members of the public will serve on the Board to provide state-wide representation. In addition, the Board will include the Directors of the Iowa Finance Authority, the Department of Economic Development, the Department of Transportation, Iowa Workforce Development, the Rebuild Iowa Office and the Office of Energy Independence. The Iowa Finance Authority will provide staff and administrative support for I-JOBS.

Projects will be selected using the following criteria:

1. How quickly a project be started and completed

2. Number and quality of jobs created by the project

3. Contribution to the lasting imprint on the State

4. Amount of federal, state and private dollars to be leveraged

5. Ability to fund depreciation costs

6. Contribution to sustainability and energy efficiency

7. Benefit to areas distressed by high unemployment

8. Geographic distribution throughout the state

If I-JOBS funds are not used within 1 year, the Iowa Jobs Board will re-allocate them. All funds must be expended within 3 years.

During today's announcement, the Governor called on the legislature to pass this bill quickly.