DES MOINES, IA- Senate Republican Leader Paul McKinley (R-Chariton) issued the following statement today regarding the failed confirmation of Gene Gessow, Governor Culver’s appointee to serve as the Director of the Department of Human Services.
“Though the governor is entitled to appoint who he wants to serve in his administration, members of the Iowa Senate have a serious and very distinct ‘advise and consent’ role to ensure Iowa taxpayers that the individuals selected are of the highest character and are capable of carrying out the important duties that are asked of them. Senators have diligently and meticulously researched, questioned and interviewed Mr. Gessow on issues of policy and budgetary matters. Iowans expect government to be open and transparent and they expect their elected and appointed officials to be forthcoming and honest, however, Mr. Gessow has failed to be forthright about the Atalissa bunkhouse situation during important legislative oversight committee hearings. As a result, Senate Republicans have concluded Mr. Gessow’s appointment to head the state’s second largest agency, responsible for providing essential services to hundreds of thousands of Iowans, is not in the best interest of this state’s taxpayers.
No one else spoke publicly before the Senate’s 30-20 vote to reject the governor’s nominee but Senate GOP Leader Paul McKinley of Chariton issued a statement after La Seur’s failed confirmation, criticizing her as “a driving force behind the Iowa Power Fund Board ignoring legislative intent regarding base-load energy.”
“The legislature’s intent through the creation of the Iowa Power Fund Board is to provide assistance and opportunities to grow Iowa’s energy economy and create jobs, yet Ms. La Seur has taken an active role in killing the Alliant Energy Marshalltown coal plant,” McKinley said in the statement.
“As President of Plains Justice, a Cedar Rapids-based environmental law center, Ms. La Seur has raised money and brought forth litigation intended to stop the construction of that plant as well as others like it,” he added.
“She has ignored the guidelines and intent outlined by the governor and the legislature for the Iowa Power Fund and instead pushed the power fund to become a policy making institution instead of its original intent to expand energy production in Iowa,” McKinley said in his statement.
It has been relatively quiet in the State Senate compared to the Iowa House this year. Historically that has always been the case, but it is especially true when the Democrats have a 32 to 18 seat advantage over Republicans. Senate Democrats can pretty much do what they please, but they need two Republicans to able to confirm Culver’s appointees.
Yesterday, Senate Democrats were unable to find two Republicans to confirm Shearon Elderkin, Governor Culver’s appointee to serve as a member on the Environmental Protection Commission (EPC).
Senate Republican Leader McKinley said, “Though the governor is entitled to appoint who he wants to serve in his administration, members of the Iowa Senate have a serious and very distinct ‘advise and consent’ role to ensure that the taxpayers of Iowa are being well served by the appointments made by the governor. Senators were invited to meet with Mrs. Elderkin, who took questions from the lawmakers. She misrepresented the position she has taken on the EPC, and her failure to be forthright while misrepresenting her position in front of the senators raises many serious red flags. When asked about several issues before the commission, including her views on particulate matter, Mrs. Elderkin failed to provide a defensible reason or rationale to senators about her stances. This is an important commission that affects the economy and health of all Iowans, and that is why Mrs. Elderkin’s nomination is not in the best interest of Iowa taxpayers.”
The members of the Iowa Senate Republican Caucus turned lent their support to the thousands that showed up to protest the out-of-control spending taking place in Des Moines and D.C.
DES MOINES, IA- Senate Republican Leader Paul McKinley (R-Chariton) issued the following statement today regarding the failed confirmation vote of Shearon Elderkin, Governor Culver’s appointee to serve as a member on the Environmental Protection Commission (EPC).
“Though the governor is entitled to appoint who he wants to serve in his administration, members of the Iowa Senate have a serious and very distinct ‘advise and consent’ role to ensure that the taxpayers of Iowa are being well served by the appointments made by the governor. Senators were invited to meet with Mrs. Elderkin who took questions from the lawmakers. She misrepresented the position she has taken on the EPC and her failure to be forthright while misrepresenting her position in front of the senators raises many serious red flags. When asked about several issues before the commission, including her views on particulate matter, Mrs. Elderkin failed to provide a defensible reason or rationale to senators about her stances. This is an important commission that affects the economy and health of all Iowans and that is why Mrs. Elderkin’s nomination is not in the best interest of Iowa taxpayers.”