Culver not keen on travel policy change

DES MOINES – Gov. Chet Culver said Monday he's not anxious to micro-manage the out-of-state travel plans of high-profile state employees like University of Iowa football coach Kirk Ferentz.

The House last week attached an amendment to a higher education budget bill that appeared to lift an exemption on out-of-state travel restrictions for regent university employees and make their claims subject to Executive Council approval like other state employees.

While Culver said he supports belt-tightening measures to conserve state resources, the provision added to Senate File 470 to require prior Executive Council authorization for any employee of a state department or agency which receives state general fund appropriations is not on his must-do list.

“It's not something that I'm pushing,” the governor told reporters Monday.

“I look forward to talking to legislators a little more about that specific proposal. It's not one that's at the top of our list right now,” he added. “I think we have a lot of work to do on the budget generally so I'm sure a number of these types of questions will arise in the next week or so. I wouldn't read much into it at thise point.”

A lobbyist representing the state Board of Regents institutions said the current exemption covers not only athletic teams, but also activities such as fundraising travel by university presidents.

The House-amended version is awaiting Senate consideration. Sen. Bob Dvorsky, D-Coralville, chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, said he did not expect the Senate to accept the proposed House change in out-of-state travel policy.