Snowday Catch Up, and Branstad's Coming to Town

I must apologize for my lack of bloggery recently. Seems like the last couple of weeks have been filled with days packed with meetings, distractions etc. I know this has been a difficult time for my tens of readers to deal with. Yeah, maybe not.

But I'm endeavoring to catch up.

I meant to blog on Gov. Terry Branstad's State of the State speech Tuesday. I watched it. So there's that. And it was chock full of meaty policy nuggets, to be sure. But I was, frankly, uninspired. I love to write about the self-sufficiency of the Iowa Partnership for Economic Progress and supply chains and innovation acceleration funds as much as the next scribe, it just didn't happen Tuesday.

I am thinking about writing about the guv's property tax plan this weekend. Former DMR scribe David Yepsen used to tell readers to "pour another cup of coffee" whenever he delved into scintillating policy stuff like property taxes or IPERS. In my case, I also recommend you Irish it up.

I did smile at one line in Branstad's speech:

"I am convinced that Iowa stands at the precipice of a major economic expansion."

As a word guy, I 'm pretty sure "precipice" was not exactly the right word to conjure up the intended mind-picture of a state looking proudly at a bright future. Merriam-Webster says  a precipice is a "very steep overhanging place" or "a hazardous situation." I always thought a precipice was something you dramatically turned back from, at the last second, avoiding disaster.

"Birth," perhaps. Or good old "edge." Or we stand before a grand "vista" of shimmering prosperity. Or maybe we are indeed at the precipice. These do seem like precipic-y times.

Speaking of our wordy governor, he is scheduled to appear before The Gazette editorial board at 1 p.m. Friday. We will be live-streaming the meeting online. And if you have any burning questions you'd like to see Branstad asked, propose them in the comments below.

Among other things I'm catching up on:

Hey, the Legislature's back. And so are the doves. Sigh.

Maybe the rascals should be term-limited.

The Iowa workers' compensation Commissioner Branstad tried to get rid of last year by slashing his pay has filed a lawsuit. I have yet to read the petition, but Bleeding Heartland has a very good summary.

Luxury garden tractors. Unfortunately, my lawn is not big enough. How about a luxury push mower? Small yard guys need cupholders, too.

More later.