Legislature pulls all-nighter to close out 2009 session

 DES MOINES - The Iowa Legislature pulled an all-nighter to close out the 2009 session this morning, approving a $715 million infrastructure plan meant to rev up the state's economy and rebuild after last year's historic flooding.

Lawmakers gave final approval of the infrastructure plan, the centerpiece of Gov. Chet Culver's legislative agenda, on the final day of the session before they headed home for the year.

The House finished its business at 5:03 a.m. Friday with the Senate following at 5:59 a.m.

Culver said his "I-Jobs" plan would create jobs and help communities rebuild roads, bridges, sewers and infrastructure.

"For everyone who has confidence in the future of Iowa and faith in the people of our great state, today is your victory," Culver said. "And for everyone who wants to create good jobs, help flood victims, rebuild our communities and literally work our way out of this recession, today is a big step forward."

The plan was the centerpiece of Culver's legislative agenda, and he traveled the state to drum up support from local leaders whose communities could benefit from it.

Culver said infrastructure the plan, which is funded in large part through bonding, will help speed up recovery from what he called one of the worst national disasters in American history and put thousands of people back to work.

Culver said all Iowa counties and many cities will directly benefit from $115 million that will be spent on road and bridge improvements. Flood victims and communities impacted by floods will see $165 million in additional help from the bonding plan.

Senate Minority Leader Paul McKinley, R-Chariton, said similar claims of job creation have been by Iowa politicians in the past that were never realized.

"We have heard promise after promise: give us some money, and we'll create jobs. It doesn't happen," McKinley said.

Culver rejected criticism from GOP lawmakers that the plan puts the state too far in debt, citing statistics that Iowa's debt load is 48th in the nation compared to other states.

"I think they needed an excuse to vote against a bill, and they're going to have a lot of explaining to do to the voters next fall," Culver said. "I mean, what do you say to a flood victim?"

Lawmakers had the help of roughly $2.5 billion in federal stimulus money to shore up this year's budget and the two years to follow.

Next year's state budget will top $6.25 billion with the help of $500 million in federal dollars from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

Culver said the federal money for roads and bridges would put people to work in Iowa in the next 120 days.

Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal, D-Council Bluffs, predicted the infusion of federal dollars also would help prevent the layoffs of thousands of public employees and teachers.

"That was precisely what the federal government told us to do with the stimulus dollars," said Gronstal, who said layoffs would still occur. He said he could not predict how many public employees would still lose their jobs.

House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, D-Des Moines, said lawmakers worked this year to ensure that core state services were continued in the midst of a recession.

"We've maintained that whole variety of commitments to the most vulnerable Iowans," McCarthy said.

House Minority Leader Kraig Paulsen, R-Hiawatha, called the spending approved by the Legislature the largest in Iowa's history.

"While we're talking about cuts and reductions, it all ended up being illusory. All we did was put a bigger burden on the back of Iowans, and we're going to walk in next year with what potentially could be a close to $1 billion hole in the budget," Paulsen said.