Winners

Gov. Tom Vilsack recently took home a report card, but we doubt Christie posted it to the refrigerator at Terrace Hill. Vilsack received a C in the subject of “fiscal performance.” But before you assign Vilsack to an extra study hall period, recognize where the grade came from: the Cato Institute, an anti-tax, libertarian think tank. In the introduction to its annual report, “Fiscal Policy Report on America’s Governors: 2006,” Cato researchers admit that “Governors who have cut taxes and spending the most receive the highest grades. Those who have increased spending and taxes the most receive the lowest grades.” Only one gov — Republican Matt Blunt of Missouri — brought home an A. Nine governors — six Democrats and three Republicans — received Fs. Cato researchers say that Vilsack describes himself as a “fiscal moderate,” but that in reality, “if left to his own devices, would have been a pro-tax Democrat.” Vilsack, the report continues, “included some sort of tax increase in almost every budget he proposed as governor.” The only thing that stopped Vilsack’s wanton tax free-for-alls, Cato concludes, was Iowa’s trusty Republican-controlled state legislature. What Cato fails to take into account is the state’s overall economic health and political landscape during the last four years. Iowa still is bouncing back from recession, and for the most part, Vilsack has made wise, difficult, choices to stimulate growth. Besides, Cato is based in Washington, D.C. If you ask most Iowans (who, you might recall, invited Vilsack back for a second term), they’d probably classify Vilsack as a moderate when it comes to taxation. While we don’t know if he’s Oval Office material, he deserves better than a C when it comes to his impact on Iowa’s economy.

And here’s a bit of proof (see previous “Winner”): According to Radio Iowa, rural Iowa’s financial outlook is bright. The Mainstreet Economic Index, which is used to gauge the status of certain rural indicators, like commodities, reports that Iowa’s farm economy is the best it’s been for more than 12 months. Some of the cheery news is likely due to ethanol development, and the positive forecast expected to continue into the coming year.

Driving in Des Moines can be more confusing than a David Lynch plotline. Exits off of Interstate 235 open and close faster than Court Avenue nightclubs, and the street-name changes at the borders of West Des Moines, Clive, Waukee and other westerly suburbs make newcomers want to swear off of Des Moines for good. Therefore, any bones thrown to the lowly driver are welcome. The Waukee City Council is thinking about deeming its portion of Highway 6 as “Hickman Road,” since it is indeed an extension of the Hickman thoroughfare. The Des Moines Register reports that several businesses and residences along the stretch of road would be forced to change their addresses, but that seems like a small price to pay to salvage the nerves of frustrated drivers trying to navigate Des Moines’ confounding suburbs. If only the other ’burbs would follow Waukee’s lead…

Losers

By now everyone has seen “Seinfeld” comedian Michael Richards’ racist tirade in response to being heckled by two African-American men at a West Hollywood comedy club. (If you haven’t, a video of his rant appears on TMZ.com.) Equally painful was his belabored “apology” on “Late Night with David Letterman” — all of which happened during the DVD release of the seventh season of “Seinfeld,” just in time for the Kwanzaa shopping season.

It’s sort of a no-brainer if you’ve survived a winter or two in the Hawkeye State. Now there’s proof. Researchers at Iowa State University found that the first snowstorms of the winter bring exceptionally high car-crash rates, but that the number of accidents drops significantly as winter slogs onward. Crashes, as they relate to snowfall, peak in November, and decline in the following months, researchers discovered. Other findings: It’s mostly professionals (commercial trucks, delivery vans, etc.) who drive during snowy weather; therefore, it’s folks on work-related drives who are more likely to be involved in weather-related accidents. Also, people try to stay home (or at least off the roads) during the worst weather: Traffic dropped 20 percent on days with high wind and low visibility. We’re not sure seasoned Midwesterners need a team of researchers to remind them that driving in Iowa sucks during the winter, but newcomers and 16-year-old boys could certainly use the advice.

Also for file in the “no-brainer” folder: Iowa needs to cut back on massive factory farms. The Register reports on a new University of Iowa study that found that livestock confinements are bad for our health and the environment. The researchers support local control (as opposed to state control) of large-scale animal operations, and said that all new hog facilities should be required to submit environmental impact statements similar to those mandated when the government decides to build a new road or reservoir. While many of these discoveries invoke “duh” reactions from most Iowans, its unlikely the report will instigate much change in the Heartland, where rural Iowa is dominated by agribusiness interests. CV

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