IOWA INSIDER

DES MOINES – A Fairfield Democrat and former state lawmaker is looking at the possibility of challenging Republican U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley next year.

Bob Krause will formally announce the formation of his exploratory committee Saturday in Des Moines.

“I don’t think it’s an impossible task,” Krause said in an interview. “If it was impossible, I don’t know if I would do it.”

Krause, 59, calls himself everyman’s candidate and said Grassley is out of touch with Iowa voters after spending 50 years in elected public office.

“Even in the biggest forest, the greatest oak trees eventually fall to the ground,” Krause said.

He said he thinks voters will understand the difference between liking someone and believing they’ve done a good job.

Krause pointed to Grassley’s recent statement that AIG executives should commit suicide when it was discovered the company handed out large bonuses after the federal government pumped billions of dollars into the company.

Krause compared his chances to that of the late Sen. Paul Wellstone of Minnesota, who was little-known when he launched his bid.

“He started small; he started early. He went around, built momentum and he knocked off a very popular Republican incumbent U.S. senator,” Krause said. “I think the same is possible with Mr. Grassley.”

Krause said his goal is to raise $1 million for his campaign by next spring, and said his early start will be an advantage.

“If I can get that kind of money I do believe that other monies will be forthcoming,” Krause said.

DES MOINES – Gov. Chet Culver sent an unequivocal message to state lawmakers Friday that he’ll veto any gas tax increase that lands on his desk this year.

Some key Democratic lawmakers are in favor of raising the tax to fill a shortfall in money for road and bridge projects and have expressed an interest in moving forward with a tax increase this year.

Culver squelched the idea that a tax increase would be approved during an appearance Friday.
“I have tried to be extremely clear about my opposition to increasing the gas tax at this time,” Culver said. “So I want to take this opportunity to let everyone know that I will veto an increase an in the gas tax.”

Culver said he wanted members of the House and Senate transportation committees to know of his opposition after he learned they would be meeting early next week to vote on a proposed gas tax increase.

He said it is the wrong time to raise taxes on Iowans when the unemployment rate has reached a 25-year high nationally and many are struggling to pay their bills.

“During an economic recession, which is unmatched in its scope, this is not the time to raise taxes on hard-working Iowans that are already struggling to pay their utility bill, their food bill, their mortgage payment,” Culver said.

The state already has received $360 million in federal stimulus dollars for road and bridge construction.

“There’s no need right now. We have an alternative with the federal stimulus, the federal recovery money, thanks to President Obama, to address immediate bridge and road needs,” Culver said.

He also pointed to his $750 million bonding proposal, which would have at least $250 million more for road and bridge projects. Culver’s proposal has not yet gained approval from the Legislature.

Republicans in the Iowa Legislature are calling a proposed tax increase on propane a “backyard barbecue” tax.

“This General Assembly just keeps finding more ways to take money out of people’s pockets,” said Rep. Christopher Rants, R-Sioux City. He opposed the measure, which was approved by the House Commerce Committee Thursday.

The proposal – which would double the levy on a gallon of propane to two-tenths of a cent — would pay for energy efficiency efforts.

Democrats took the ribbing in stride.

“A fire burns in my heart to tax barbecues,” joked Rep. McKinley Bailey, a Webster City Democrat who supported the measure.