Radio show spoofs Capitol idea

DES MOINES – Maybe it's something only a (April) fool would believe, but for a few minutes Thursday, it sounded like there was a move afoot to return the state Capitol to Iowa City.

Listeners who tuned into Iowa Public Radio's noon-hour show, The Exchange, heard a brief, wide-ranging discussion between host Ben Kieffer and state Sen. Joe Bolkcom, D-Iowa City, about an alleged one-year study that was tucked into a piece of legislation in the 2010 session's waning hours designed to weigh the pros and cons of having the General Assembly convene at the Old Capitol in Iowa City – once the territorial and first state capital of Iowa.

“Des Moines has had its chance,” said Bolkcom, who agreed to tape the spoof segment after the Legislature adjourned for real on Tuesday. “It's time to move to see if the benefits are really there.”

While noting that the idea “didn't get much attention during the last hours of the session,” Bolkcom said the idea was privately pitched to and liked by President Barack Obama and Gov. Chet Culver during last week's presidential visit, and it was likely that federal stimulus money could be in the mix to help move it to fruition.

“Of course, the Polk County delegation is not much in favor of this move, but, in a bipartisan way, leaders are really excited about what is really a common-sense idea,” Bolkcom said.

As a possible compromise, both host and senator agreed that a good alternative might be to rotate the capital between Des Moines and Iowa City every 20 years or so.

Kieffer noted that the move could both “stick it to the French” and end the embarrassment of Iowans and others mispronouncing Des Moines. He also noted that a similar capital move from Berlin-to-Bonn-and-back-to-Berlin in Germany seemed to work out pretty well. He also pointed to Oklahoma City as an example that it would only be natural for the Capitol city to bear the same name as its state.

“I would think you would get a lot of support from Tea Party advocates and here's why -- OK, we're not taking it back to colonial times, but this move  would turn back the clock over 130 years,” noted Kieffer, with Bolkcom punctuating it as an “excellent” point.

After about six minutes worth of kicking the notion around, they ended the conversation by twice reminding listeners that it was the first day of April.

Kieffer declined to be interviewed after the show aired, but Jonathan Ahl, news director for Iowa Public Radio, said National Public Radio has a long history of doing April Fools' stories and it was decided to do something similar locally. The idea about the Capitol switch was hatched, Ahl said, and Bolkcom proved a willing participant.

“I think in this day and age, you've got to have a good sense of humor,” said Bolkcom, who noted he had gotten feedback from a few people who felt the spoof was “funny and kind of believable.”

“I think we did a nice job. We had a serious, believable conversation going for awhile,” Bolkcom added. “I think it makes total sense.”

Comments: (515) 243-7220;

rod.boshart@gazcomm.com