Yepsen: Use Iowa pragmatism to guide the recovery

David Yepsen • dyepsen@dmreg.com • July 6, 2008 Whenever politicians form commissions to study things, the odds are they've got a controversial problem to solve and are looking for a fig leaf to cover their actions. That seems to be the real purpose of the task force Gov. Chet Culver has formed to make recommendations for Iowa's response to the floods and storms of 2008. Iowa's policymakers have some difficult and unpopular choices to make in the wake of these disasters, and it might help to have some experts taking some of the political heat. Culver's group will study the impacts of the disasters and offer suggestions for him and for legislators within a few weeks. Both Democratic and Republican legislative leaders have pledged their support. It doesn't take a commission to understand that Iowans face some unpleasant... [read full story]