According to an article published in the Des Moines Register online this afternoon Democrat legislators are differing with Governor Chet Culver once again. This is not the first time that friction has arisen between Democratic lawmakers. This time the trouble is in regards to Governor Culver's proposal to borrow $750 million to fund infrastructure projects across the state.

According to the Register Democratic legislators, read Mike Gronstal, do not like Culver's idea. Instead Senator Gronstal would like to borrow the money to fund Iowa's flood recovery efforts. In fact several Democratic legislators have joined together to develop their own bonding proposal. These Democrats are proposing to borrow $700 million to primarily fund recovery efforts. The numbers highlighted in the Register article are $325 million for flood recovery; $200 million for new public buildings or repairs, high speed internet in rural areas of the state; alternative energy projects at state buildings, and commercial rail spurs; and $175 million for other projects that are already works in progress. Conspicuously absent from the Democratic legislators proposal is any mention of critical infrastructure such as road and bridge work. This was the main component of Governor Culver's plan unveiled last week.

This announcement is the latest episode of the power struggle between Democratic legislators and Governor Culver. If you will remember last year Governor Culver vetoed a key piece of labor legislation that Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal pushed through the General Assembly. And then a week or so ago Governor Culver announced that he would veto any increase in the gas tax. Both plans are bad news for the future of Iowa as they both seek to overburden future generations of hard working Iowans. Neither plan addresses the basic problem in Iowa government, overspending. Until this fundamental problem is resolved Iowa's heavily burdened citizens will continue to suffer.