Partisan divides forming along philosophical lines

 DES MOINES - Amid the talk of bipartisanship, political battle lines are being drawn along deep philosophical divides as lawmakers prepare to piece together their fiscal 2010 budget plan.

Minority Republicans contend they are being shut out of the process and their ideas for fixing Iowa's sputtering economy are going ignored, while majority Democrats say they see no point in engaging those who portray Gov. Chet Culver's "I-Jobs" bonding idea negatively.

"One thing is clear: there really is a party of hope and a party of nope," said Culver spokesman Phil Roeder.

Senate GOP Leader Paul McKinley of Chariton credited Roeder with a clever line, but said the reference cuts both ways given that Democrats' answer to government overspending is borrowing to spend more.

"There are differences in philosophies that have always been there and people are going back to those basic philosophical differences - do we believe in growing government or do we believe in individual responsibility and self-sufficiency and freedom?" he said. "That's a lot of what's behind the partisan lines being drawn."

The first test of legislative support came when a $175 million bonding piece moved through the Senate on a 32-18 party-line vote. The package earmarked money for job-creating improvements to correctional facilities, the Iowa Veterans Home and a host of other projects that backers said would help Iowa recover from a deepening recession.

Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal, D-Council Bluffs, derided Republicans as obstructionists who were voting against projects previously approved but stalled due to a sour bond market that originally were backed by tobacco settlement funds securitized with GOP support.

"They probably bonded for more than Democrats previously did when we controlled the place," Gronstal said. "They did all these things and now somehow they're saying it's all wrong when the interest rates are actually better."

Culver is on the road this week touting his $750 million infrastructure bonding plan as an immediate infusion of state money coupled with federal stimulus funds to jump-start economic activity, assist disaster recovery and make needed improvements.

Republicans say they would prefer to use existing state revenue streams to incent private-sector jobs rather than commit the state to 20 yearly installments of $56 million in gaming profits to projects that may not outlive the bonds.

As an alternative, legislative Republicans also have proposed tax credit incentive for "job creators," expanded tax deductions for student loan interest and principle, streamlined business regulations, incentives for companies encouraging "telecommuting," state income tax deductions for individuals' shares of Social Security taxes, and property tax limits.

So far, House GOP Leader Kraig Paulsen of Hiawatha said a GOP proposal to lease or sell the Iowa Communications Network stands the best chance of landing legislative consideration this session.

Contact the writer: (515) 243-7220 or rod.boshart@gazcomm.com