Branstad says he wants to restore unemployment funding

Gov. Terry Branstad says he'll work with lawmakers to restore funding for the state's unemployment assistance and worker compensation programs after an Iowa Supreme Court ruling on Friday nullified the agency's budget.

The court ruled that Branstad had overstepped his authority last year with a veto, which closed 36 unemployment offices. Branstad kept the $3 million lawmakers approved to run them to spend elsewhere. The high court said that was unconstitutional. The ruling nullified funding for Iowa Workforce Development and lawmakers must pass emergency funding so the agency can continue to operate and prevent up to 200 layoffs.

Branstad says he will not consider reopening some of the shuttered offices, insisting that computer kiosks he authorized as an alternative are working better.