'New sheriff's' veto pen smoking

By The Gazette Editorial Board

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Gov. Terry Branstad's veto pen is getting a good workout. His line-item signature on several parts of the 2011 Legislature's work also caused considerable uproar around the state last week.

One veto even sparked a move by Democrats to push for a special legislative session.

We don't see cause for legislators to convene but the governor's continued run of hard-line actions do warrant critical review.

First, we still don't understand Branstad's opposition to increasing the state Earned Income Tax Credit from 7 percent to 10 percent. The credit reduces the amount of state income taxes owed by families with incomes under $45,000. The legislation would have saved an average of just over $100 per family over two years.

We don't buy the governor's argument that a minor adjustment to help lower-income working people must be part of comprehensive tax policy reform, including his priorities of much bigger impact: commercial property tax and corporate income tax rates.

We also don't understand why lawmakers, after bipartisan support of the earned-income credit, didn't override this earlier veto before the session ended June 30.

The current consternation, though, is more about the governor's recent veto of legislation to derail closure of 36 Iowa Workforce Development Offices across the state. Branstad said it would have prevented developing a more efficient system for helping unemployed Iowans, via hundreds more Internet access stations. Critics said the expanded online option isn't good enough, at a time when unemployment remains high.

We believe there's a good chance the outrage will prove unfounded. Using technology to increase efficiency in delivering services while also expanding convenience is today's reality. As long as Iowans are well served, do we need all of those offices?

Otherwise:

l Branstad protected bonus pay for state employees. We're not against bonuses if well administered and effective at attracting and keeping exceptional employees. But, in a year when the governor and House Majority Republicans pushed for a more accountable, leaner state budget, why not shelve the plan for a year or two?

l The governor nixed legislation that signaled intent to provide $5 million in fiscal 2013 and 2014 toward reconstruction of the devastated Lake Delhi dam and restoration of the lake, pending a preconstruction study. Branstad said it was premature to obligate funds before the study is done and reviewed. But as long as the bill's outcome revolves around the study anyway, why force Lake Delhi folks to make their case again next year?

l We applauded last year when legislators passed a bill making the scandal-ridden Iowa Association of School Boards subject to Iowa's open meetings/open records laws. A follow-up bill this year intended to extend the same requirements to other private groups that are publicly funded and exist only to serve public schools. We agree with the intent but also support Branstad's veto because the bill needs clarification to be sure private vendors that simply sell products to schools aren't included.

So, Branstad, the avowed “new sheriff in town,” continues riding hard on state spending, as he promised. Do most Iowans support the majority of decisions he's made in his first year back as governor? The 2012 legislative elections likely will provide the first concrete answer.

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