did I hear right? Large state surplus? Does this sink Branstad-bin-lying?

[rurallib]

since he has been running around like Chicken Little ready to cut any program that helps real people, this should make him look like a complete boob.
Well he is a complete boob, as are all with an (R) behind their name.

[petersjo02]

1. More info please.

n/t

[rurallib]

2. I heard on IPR this morning - here is KCRG story

Funny how little play this gets:
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Culver: Iowa Budget Surplus $335.6 Million

By Aaron Hepker

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa Gov. Chet Culver says the state budget has a $335.6 million surplus.

Culver said Thursday that it's the second-highest surplus in the last 10 years and the state goes into fiscal year 2011 with a $754 million budget surplus. That larger figure includes the $419 million emergency fund.

Culver says the announcement shows the state's "fiscal house is truly in order."

The governor's office says the state general fund was originally estimated to come in just more than $100 million, but the state saw nearly $235 million more in revenues. Culver's office says those extra revenues came from hiring controls, travel restrictions and efficiencies.

House Republican leader Kraig Paulsen of Hiawatha says Culver is irresponsible with budgeting and forced a $500 million property tax increase.
======================================================================================

I believe this puts Iowa as the #3 fiscally secure state behind oil-rich states of Alaska and North Dakota. No doubt Repugs looking for some way to spin it to give Bush and Branstad credit. Obviously Paulsen is grasping at straws.

[petersjo02]

3. This is great news.

IIRC Braindead left the state with quite a deficit. Let's hope there are campaign commercials being made as we speak to spread the word.

[rurallib]

4. at least one set of books anyway. -- This coupled with the stock market rebound

continues to point to recovery.
Can you imagine what a mess we would be in if Nussle was guv and McCain was wandering around the whitehouse?

[PatrynXX]

6. Thats Chet

Although I do miss Tom Vilsack. Chet attempted to put the video slot machines in grocery stores a bit too close to where children to be seeing them. I bitched at HyVee about it and they buried it in boxes of pop but it was still accessible. This was half a decade ago or so. Just got my absentee ballot, and one is an anti gaming law of sorts (boats, similar to the ones like Isle of Capri ) Way back when this was an area only for the Native Americans. I'm unfamiliar how they lost control of this.

[progressoid]

5. We're not hearing that out here in the west, Chet.

Need to get that message out. And LOUDLY.

The budget seems to be Braindead's main campaign point. Time to knock him down with some hard truth.

[emulatorloo]

7. WHY WONT CULVER PUT IT IN AN AD?????? Getting frustrated here with the Dem ads

Best Conlin can come up with is "Grassley is old" Meanwhile Grassley takes credit for bills he voted against and demonized.
Miller Meeks attacks Dave Loebsack over stimulus vote -- Why doesn't Loebsack respond with all the JOBS that were saved in Iowa with stimulus money.

Holy crap/