Culver will Veto Collective Bargaining, Pay Raise Bills

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Culver will Veto Collective Bargaining, Pay Raise Bills

By Becky Ogann

DES MOINES (AP) - Iowa Gov. Chet Culver said he will veto measures broadening public union bargaining rights and raising salaries of elected officials.

Culver said Wednesday he made his decisions after hearing from thousands of Iowans and coming to the conclusion that the measures "would not be in the best interest of taxpayers."

Culver's decision about the bargaining bill came after weeks of speculation about whether the Democratic governor would sign the bill. Unions pushed hard for the measure, which was narrowly approved by Democratic majorities in both chambers.

The pay increase bill would have given Culver a raise of about 10 percent to $142,500 annually.
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Wednesday, May 14 at 4:53 PM Michael wrote ...

YESSSS! I am so happy we have a fiscally responible Governor. Teacher's and other public officials need to be paid on PERFORMANCE not just because someone in Des Moines says so. Small school districts like mine can't afford to pay state mandated raises and keep property taxes low. HURRAH For Chet Culver!

Wednesday, May 14 at 6:14 PM Bout Time wrote ...

Guess maybe Chet figured out that he wouldn't be long in the governor's mansion if he took a pay raise while many in Iowa can barely scrape by.

Wednesday, May 14 at 8:44 PM American Patriot wrote ...

In a time that our beloved, elected officials are telling the American people to tighten up our belts with the out of control food and energy cost. How can they even entertain an idea for a 10% pay increase. As a working class American, I have never had a 10% pay raise. It is our elected officials with their pork belly projects, earmarks and special interests that are taxing the American people into poverty or little to no hope of a decent, modest retirement.

Wednesday, May 14 at 10:23 PM John wrote ...

Michael...this bargaining bill is NOT a "state mandated raise". It simply requires the government entities negotiating with the unions to negotiate more than wages and insurance (something every other bargaining unit in Iowa can do). As far as the OTHER bill, pay raises beyond cost of living for ANY government official are not a good idea.

Wednesday, May 14 at 10:54 PM fred wrote ...

governor culver should consider to take on a new career because he is not the governor iowa needs and wants

Wednesday, May 14 at 11:23 PM Anonymous wrote ...

Maybe an honest politician for once, or one that finally understands that the rich need not get richer, and for once a politician that doesn't accept a raise when they haven't done anything to deserve it, maybe they should try and get by on what we the working class have to

Wednesday, May 14 at 11:58 PM steve wrote ...

do you think chet would really pass that bill he is on the way out now for the over the board tax spending. you remember the pumpkin tax

Thursday, May 15 at 8:52 AM RS wrote ...

Althought I am not a Culver fan I do appluad him on that veto. I hope he goes on and really looks over the other bills coming through and eliminates the bad parts of them too.

Thursday, May 15 at 9:48 AM Responsible? Honest? wrote ...

Come on folks, how can you say Chet is responsible and honest here. Chet got over a thousand letters complaining about him allowing the pay raise for himself, not for others....thus the ONLY reason he didn't take it. So many people are upset with him right now, if he did this he would be doing nothing short of shooting himself in the foot....he has messed up TOO many times now in taxing us to death. I will give him this though, he did VETO the pay raise bill...the ONLY smart thing he has done.

Thursday, May 15 at 10:44 AM Whisky_NW wrote ...

Wow, Chet finally got something right! I can't believe that a Democrat made a fiscally responsible decision. I guess it's a step in the right direction, but let's not forget the last few bills that he has signed into law. People generally have a short memory/attention span. I will certainly not be voting for the Governor in the next election unless he starts a pattern of this type of behavior. Of course if he starts making responsible decisions and stops raising taxes, he'd be a Republican.

Thursday, May 15 at 3:53 PM A Teacher! wrote ...

How can someone say teachers should be based on performance! So you're telling me I should be paid on five and six year olds know! Be real! Thats like telling a dentist you will ONLY get paid if your patients don't get a cavity... beyond your control! How about a doctor, you will Only get paid IF your patient doesn't come down with a disease! Paying teachers what they are worth is how we should be paid. We are professionals we should be paid as such!

Thursday, May 15 at 4:33 PM Anonymous wrote ...

I would tend to agree with A Teacher that you can not base teachers pay on performance alone. You have to factor other things into it. Mr. Culver and the rest of our elected officials in Des Moines need to take a pay cut and move that money to teachers, of course Representitive Mary Masher who was a teacher, I know this personally cause I was a student of hers why our teachers are not paid more, and we also need to pay our Nurses more, they are just as important as the doctors

Thursday, May 15 at 10:16 PM Anonymous wrote ...

I am a preschool teacher to 4's and 5's and I would say I do not get paid enough and it's say because it's through the government. What all of us teachers go through with children from adhd to disoriented families and such it's ridicolous. Why did I go to school to be a teacher only to get paid $10 an hr?

Friday, May 16 at 4:51 PM annon wrote ...

The Gazette reported about a week or 2 ago that Chet got his raise? Any feed back on that?

Monday, May 19 at 3:44 PM KC wrote ...

I love how republicans brag about how fiscally responsible they are. Give me a break! Just look at the White House!

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