Public is entitled to know what a shutdown means

By The Des Moines Register

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Gov. Terry Branstad and the 150 members of the Iowa Legislature should each pitch in a few dollars and order matching T-shirts. Across the chest, the shirts could be imprinted with the words, “Trust me, I'm an elected official.” For a few more dollars, they could add across the back, “That's all you need to know, Iowa.”

This is exactly the message being sent to the people of this state right now.

The weeks of secrecy from Branstad and lawmakers as they tried to craft a new state budget was bad enough - from the closed meetings to a lack of information being shared with the public. Now House Republicans have unveiled legislation that surpasses 500 pages and includes not only a budget for state government but dozens of pieces of legislation from abortion funding to health facility inspections.

Branstad is on a 43-city tour touting the Republican plan. Democrats are sending out press releases bashing it. So that indicates passage of the budget is not a certainty.

That brings us to this: Iowa begins a new fiscal year on July 1. What if the governor and lawmakers cannot find agreement on a new budget before then? Is state government simply going to shut down in three weeks? If that's the case, what does that mean for the public?

Branstad has declined to provide specific plans about how state government would continue to operate, and what parts of state government would not operate, if the budget stalemate continues. Branstad said contingency plans exist for all kinds of possible emergencies, presumably meaning natural disasters and manmade disasters.

Branstad is operating under the assumption a budget agreement will be reached. But after watching this group of officials for months now, it's hardly a stretch of the imagination to think that might not happen. And then what?

Contingency plans - if there really are any - should be made public. If a budget is not passed by the Legislature and signed by the governor by July 1:

- Will state parks, including their campgrounds (think Fourth of July) be open? If not, will there be park rangers stopping people from setting up camp anyway?

- Will there be state troopers on the roads to discourage motorists from barreling 90 miles per hour with their campers in tow?

- Is there going to be anyone at Iowa Workforce Development processing unemployment claims?

- If there is a flood, will the governor be able to mobilize soldiers from the Iowa National Guard? And speaking of floods, will Iowans be notified of impending rising water?

- Will state payments be made for food stamps, Medicaid, and foster care services?

- Is anyone going to answer the phone if Iowans call to report child abuse or elder abuse?

- Can Iowans renew a driver's license?

- What are the options for emergency funding and will these rely on Democrats and Republicans coming to agreement to implement them?

These are among the obvious questions Iowans are asking as they watch their elected officials fail to get the work of government done. There will be long-term and negative consequences from budget cuts.

The state cannot chop spending in a range of areas without affecting Iowans. But what are the immediate consequences of having no budget in place?

The governor owes it to the citizens to explain this. “Trust me” isn't working.