Time well spent?

The Iowa Department of Administrative Services released guidelines regarding the issue of state employees attending the Governor's inauguration on taxpayer time.

* State employees may attend the swearing-in of Governor Chet Culver at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines on official time, with the consent from their supervisor.

* Workers from outside Des Moines can attend on work time, provided the event coincides with their normal work hours.

This comes across as a poor use of taxpayer money, at least 2 1/2 hours of non-work for employees in the area and 8 hours for those in the hinterlands, and an attempt to fill seats...especially when the event was televised.

Take Two....

The Ragister is reporting that, a legislative committee is scheduled to look into the impasse between Mediacom and Sinclair Broadcasting on Thursday.

Sen. Tom Courtney, D-Burlington, the Senate chairman of the Joint Government Oversight Committee, said lawmakers are hearing complaints from constituents after losing KDSM-TV in Des Moines and KGAN-TV in Cedar Rapids from the Mediacom cable system.

"We can't force Sinclair to do anything," Courtney said. "But maybe we'll find out there is something we can do." The hearing is tentatively set for 9:30 a.m. in the Legislative dining room at the Capitol.

Meeting in the dining room? Is this just an attempt to get free donuts?

There is nothing the State can do!

Quit wasting our time, and taxpayer money, with this and meaningless war resolutions!

Fast Car Slow Traffic

Needing to shore up his $40,000 spending spree, State Senator Jack ASS...err, Hatch wants Governor Branstad to tell Iowans how many times the state-owned vehicle he travels in has been pulled over or had its license plates run through police databases.

Why stop there?

Let's review vehicle usage under the previous two Governors (Big Lug Nut & The Pickle) and their families to see if there is an ongoing institutional problem.

And the scientific community is united in that fact.

I recall the traffic incident involving Culver's SUV in 2010 (Here In My Car), but don't remember Hatch having anything to say then.

Hatch called the alleged violation by the trooper “another chapter of Terry Branstad acting as though the rules that we live by do not apply to him.”

Hatch couldn't be heard when Mari Culver was caught violating the state's smoking ban, he signed, by smoking in a state owned vehicle that was driven by an Iowa State Trooper.

At the time, RekHA Basu wrote -- OK, she broke a law that others are required to follow. I suspect she won't make that mistake again. Culver admitted to the infraction and requested a ticket.

I think what Courtney Maxwell Greene said three years ago applies just as well today --

"The governor wasn't driving. He was a passenger driven by the state trooper. So I don't think the governor owes anyone an apology"

Here In My Car

From the school of any publicity is good publicity comes this story featuring the Big Lug Nut.

Traffic stop involving governor’s SUV subject of personnel complaint

A Central Iowa family was either cut off by the BLN's Sooie-weet Ride, or they cut off the Governor.

Without video, the family can flip off this complaint and the scientific community is united in that fact.

I bet the digit they shared with the Big Lug Nut just meant you're number one Chet.

The other driver also wants a personal apology from the BLN.

Courtney Maxwell Greene (Department of Public Safety spokesperson) doesn't "think the governor owes anyone an apology".

Said the person Kerry Burt called to be bailed out of jail for his OWI.

Here's your sign

Per the Ragister...

The members of the House and Senate Oversight Committee are expected to question top executives of...Mediacom Cable & Sinclair Broadcasting at a meeting...Tuesday.

Leaders of the Oversight Committee....acknowledge that the Legislature does not have the authority to intervene in the dispute. But by hearing from both sides, they hope to bring some clarity to the controversy.

Clarity?

Sinclair wants more money than Mediacom is willing to pay to broadcast Sinclair stations...DONE!

"I'm not naive enough to think we can resolve this, because we have no authority here," said Sen. Thomas Courtney, a Burlington Democrat. "But if we can get people to testify honestly, we'll know where we're at."

Where we're AT?

Good grammar Senator!

Thanks too for wasting tax dollars on an issue you have no clue or authority!

Is there any way we can get these flunkies to work for minimum wage?