ChetChase 2010 - The Week, The Poll

Iowa's governor's race. You can't win if you're not all in.

1. Nussle was Right! --  Three years after Republican candidate for governor Jim Nussle accused rival Democrat Chet Culver of having a "secret plan" to revive TouchPlay video lottery games, the scheme has been ripped wide open. And Culver said Nussle was "crazy." Ha!

The Des Moines Register reports that some "key" lawmakers say a TouchPlay rebirth may be on the 2010 agenda, now that the budget is busted:

This time around, video gambling could be resurrected under a tighter, more restricted framework limiting the games to adult-oriented establishments serving alcoholic beverages, several lawmakers said this week. The potential for video gambling to quickly generate additional revenue to help close massive budget shortfalls can't be ignored, officials said.

"I think it is a live round to be discussed," said House Speaker Pat Murphy, a Dubuque Democrat. "The big question is whether or not you can get enough votes to pass it. But I think you have legislators who may have said no a year ago who all of a sudden may say yes now."

So here's what we know about Culver's secret plan at this point:

Step 1 - Fall 2008 -- Spark a global economic meltdown.

Step 2 - Spring-Fall 2009 -- Bring the state budget to its knees, push it into a fiscal chasm, then drop in a boulder. Slash state spending across the board. Make the guarding of inmates in state prisons optional.

Step 3 - Revive TouchPlay, preferably in the chaotic final hours of a shortened 80-day election-year legislative session when you can't figure out any other stinkin' way to make the budget balance.

It's so diabolical, it just might work.

So now that the cat's out of the bag. Let the debate begin.

On the pro side, reviving video lottery games could bring in a whole load of dough to  pay for all sorts of things, like state troopers or other government stuff that comes in handy.

And frankly, if we could go back in time, to the fateful moment just before former Iowa Lottery chief Ed Stanek decided to put slottery games in every nook and cranny of Iowa, this is what a sane video lottery program would have looked like. Terminals in bars, where adults do adult things.

On the con side, a curious coalition that helped beat TouchPlay in 2006 - big casinos and anti-gambling Christian conservatives - will have something to say about a 2010 revival. Casinos still don't want competition in every tavern. Conservatives are worried about the negative social impacts of gambling, and that you might have fun.

(One possible compromise that could gain the support of religious conservatives would involve the passage of  a constitutional ban on same-sex gambling. After all, marriage is a crap shoot.)

But seriously, I doubt Republicans are all that interested in helping Culver and his Democratic pals out of the budget mess they made. So expect them to point and scoff at any attempt by Ds to line up votes.

If I were in Fort Dodge, Ottumwa or any of the five communities hoping for a casino license, I'd be worried. If lawmakers approve video lottery games regulated by the Racing and Gaming Commission and not the lottery, chances that the commission will also approve new casinos shrink even more. Commissioners are already skeptical that new gambling is needed.

2. T-Paw party in DMI with the Notorious TEB -- It will be two election cycles for the price of one at the Iowa State Fairgrounds on Nov. 7.

Minnesota Gov. Tom Pawlenty is headlining the Republican Party of Iowa's fall fundraiser. Pawlenty is considered a possible presidential contender for the GOP in 2012.

But wait, there's more.

You also get speeches from six 2010 Republican candidates for governor, including cagey candidacy explorer Terry E. Branstad. You may remember him from his four terms as governor during the 80s and 90s.

Branstad has been invited to several smaller joint appearances. But he's saving it up for the big stage. C-Span will be there.

3. Branstad Entry Sparks Interest in Iowa History -- Branstad's rivals are becoming real history buffs. Good for them.

Republican hopeful Bob Vander Plaats told The Register that Branstad's 16-year record will be fair game.

Like, do you remember that one time Branstad hosted a fundraiser for Nebraska Democrat Ben Nelson's U.S. Senate campaign in 2000. Yeah, Vander Plaats is totally going to talk about that.

Another GOP contender, state Rep. Christopher Rants, is collecting ancient printed tablets called "newspapers" with wondrous stories about Branstad's terms 1983-1999 PG (Pre Google).

Rants is putting the tablets on the Internet for study. The samples tell of how Branstad raised taxes, was liberal and governed a whole state without a BlackBerry. Amazing.

4. Sacrificial Math - Gov. Culver promised to take a 10 percent pay cut in solidarity with all the folks in state government being sheared by budget reductions. His $130,000 annual paycheck would be sliced by $13,000.

But then, when the numbers hit the fan Wednesday, it showed a $7,000 cut. Even reporters know that's not 10 percent of $130,000.

Hilarity and outrage ensued. Culver's staff said his pay cut would not be retroactive to the start of the budget year on July 1, so the pay cut is actually 5.4 percent. Even Republicans know that 5.4 percent is not 10 percent, so they eagerly whacked the guv.  

On Thursday, the governor announced that he will take a $13,000 cut, so quit your grousing.

Radio Iowa's O. Kay Henderson has a recap of the pay cut three-step.

5. The Poll

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