DES MOINES - Senate Minority Leader Ron Wieck, R-Sioux City, called on majority Democrats to send a controversial public union bill to Gov. Chet Culver's desk or ship it back to lawmakers so they can change it.

The controversial labor bill, passed by Democrats in less than a week, has been in limbo for weeks. That's because Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal, D-Council Bluffs, used a procedural move to freeze the bill's movement after Culver threatened to veto the legislation, citing the limited opportunity for the public to comment on the proposal.

Wieck, who opposes the bill, called on Gronstal to send the bill to Culver's desk for a final decision or back to lawmakers to "have some light shed on the process that obviously was not shed before."

Gronstal responded to Wieck's request curtly, questioning if the Republican had reviewed the bill, and concluding: "I appreciate the fact you're curious and as far as I'm concerned you can stay curious."

In turn, Wieck chastised Gronstal's response, saying he had never heard a lawmaker be so discourteous to a member of another political party.

"I don't think I've ever seen that before," Wieck said. "But I think the people of Iowa really have a right to have something move on this bill, and I believe that this is nothing but a stall tactic."

MODEL CURRICULUM - Iowa Gov. Chet Culver urged lawmakers to move forward with final approval of a model core curriculum for schools.

"To prepare Iowa's young people to enter the work force, the courses must be rigorous and relevant," Culver said.

Judy Jeffrey, director of the Iowa Department of Education, said a core curriculum is about raising expectations for students and improving teaching and learning.

"It is not driven by a course title, but by the concepts and skills we believe are necessary for all students, regardless of whether or not they are planning to go directly to employment, to a community college, or to a four-year university," Jeffrey said.

Culver, a former high school teacher, said Iowa's core curriculum would include financial literacy. He pointed to a negative savings rate and rising bankruptcies and home foreclosures as a reason financial concepts should be taught in schools.

"These are national concerns, but here in Iowa, we can be part of the solution to this crisis. I believe it starts with giving students the tools they need to make the right decisions in the future," Culver said.

HEARING IMPAIRMENTS - Flanked by a sign language interpreter, Gov. Chet Culver proclaimed Monday Deaf and Hard of Hearing Day in Iowa.

All Iowa residents deserve access to governmental services, Culver told members of advocacy groups gathered at the Capitol.

His proclamation urges governmental bodies to increase their awareness of the special needs of people with disabilities.

"It is in the best interests of the state of Iowa and our society for all government facilities to be able to accommodate the deaf and hard of hearing," he said.