The chairman of the committee in the state senate that drafts tax state policy says Governor Terry Branstad is trying to push through a 37-million dollar tax break for businesses that senators reviewed but did NOT approve two years ago. Senator Joe Bolkcom, a Democrat from Iowa City, says the Governor is “Making an end run around 150 legislators who, at this point, have not come to consensus on whether or not in fact we ought to approve this policy.”

Bolkcom is chairman of the Senate Ways and Means Committee. He says the governor is abusing executive power by having the proposal drafted as an administrative rule and implemented by his state agency. “This governor has been around so long he thinks that he gets to make all the decisions and this is just another example,” Bolkcom says. “Earlier this year he closed two Mental Health Institutes. A year and a half ago he closed the Juvenile Home for girls. He shut down 60 Workforce Development centers. All of those things illegal, but he believes that he has absolute power at this point.”

Bolkcom says the move is also suspect because Branstad item vetoed millions of dollars worth of state spending for schools in July. “Three months later we apparently are flush with money and are able to give another major corporate tax cut,” Bolkcom says.

The proposal deals with “consumable supplies” that are used in the manufacturing process, like hydraulic fluids and drill bits. Branstad’s Department of Revenue is proposing an administrative rule that would exclude “consumable supplies” from the state sales tax. It’s an estimated savings of 37 million dollars for Iowa businesses.

Branstad describes it as a way to “modernize” the tax code. A bill that would have achieved the same goal passed the Republican-led Iowa House in 2013, but stalled in the Iowa Senate, where Democrats control the debate agenda. A legislative committee reviews all administrative rules and could block the proposal.

(Radio Iowa)

A man from Council Bluffs who allegedly attempted to run over a person with whom he had a dispute was arrested early this (Tuesday) morning, but not without a fight. According to Bluffs Police, Michael Wurtz was taken into custody in the basement of his residence, after officers forced their way into his home and used a stun gun to bring him under control.

The incident began at around 1:45-a.m. , with officers being dispatched to the 1700 block of 6th Ave for a disturbance between two parties. As officers were in route witnesses stated one of the males attempted to run over the other male. Officers made contact with the victim and he stated he was assaulted by the suspect, Michael Wurtz, and that Wurtz attempted to run him over and did strike the victim’s vehicle.

Officers checked for the Wurtz at his residence and saw the man enter his home. Officers attempted to make contact with Wurtz but he continually refused to open the door. Police then made a forced entry into Wurtz’s home and located him hiding in the basement. Wurtz refused to comply with officers, forcing them to deploy a Taser to gain control of the man. Wurtz was treated on scene by medics for the Tazer deployment and transported to the Pottawattamie County Jail.

The former city clerk in Pacific Junction faces a charge of first-degree Theft following a state investigation that revealed she gave herself unauthorized Christmas bonuses, vacation and sick pay. The Omaha World-Herald says 43-year old Kari Williams was also charged with felonious misconduct in office, tampering with records and failing to publish city expenditures. The latter two charges are misdemeanors, while the Theft and misconduct charges are classified as felonies. The four charges result from an investigation conducted by the Iowa Auditor’s Office.

A Red Oak man repeatedly in trouble with the law was arrested again early this (Tuesday) morning on a Trespass charge. 53-year old David Lawrence Howe was taken into custody around 3:20-a.m. and brought to the Montgomery County Jail, where he was being held on $300 bond.

Howe was previously arrested Sept. 27th for Public Intoxication, and on July 19th for OWI.

Authorities in Montgomery County report a Stanton man was arrested Monday night on an assault charge. 47-year old Michael William Arterburn was taken into custody at around 8:05-p.m. following an incident in the 2500 block of 190th Street, north of Stanton. Arterburn was brought to the Montgomery County Jail and held without bond (pending an appearance before a magistrate), on a charge of Serious Domestic Assault.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press