Capitol Digest 3-24-09

Here are some legislative items of interest for Tuesday, March 24:

GENERAL CONFIRMED: The Iowa Senate voted 49-0 to confirm Brig. Gen. Tim Orr as adjutant general of the Iowa National Guard. Orr will assume command of the Iowa National Guard, following a change of command ceremony at 3 p.m. on Thursday at Camp Dodge in Johnston. Orr will become the Iowa guard's 28th adjutant general, replacing Lt. Gen. Ron Dardis -- who is retiring from the Iowa National Guard and serving as executive director of the Rebuild Iowa Office.

MORE CONFIRMATIONS: The Iowa Senate confirmed 62 of Gov. Chet Culver's appointees to various state posts on Tuesday. Senators voted 49-0 to approve former Des Moines mayor Preston Daniels to direct the state's Department of Human Rights. The Senate also voted 44-6, with six GOP senators dissenting, to approve another 61 Culver nominees via “en bloc” confirmation. The list included Ruth Harkin and Robert Downer to the state Board of Regents and Ernest Greiner, Cathy Reese and Charese Yanney to the Vision Iowa Board. A two-thirds affirmative majority, or 34 votes, are needed for a gubernatorial appointee to win confirmation.