Too many chiefs and not enough Indians

By law, state has too many supervisors

Work force reductions from budget cuts and an early retirement package have edged Iowa state government only slightly closer to meeting a new law that by next year requires a ratio of one supervisor for every 15 nonsupervisory employees.

To comply with the law, at least 544 supervisors would have to be eliminated from the executive branch, which had about 18,400 employees as of July 1, according to data obtained by The Des Moines Register.

Eliminating that many supervisors could violate some national standards and endanger public safety, according to some state and national management experts.

The president of a public employee union that long pushed for the law strongly disagrees.

"If a schoolteacher can supervise 25 6-year-olds, then I would think a state supervisor could supervise an equivalent number of employees," said Danny Homan, president of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 61.

I can't improve on that comment.

Bawb reports what's going on 3/18/10

Bawb gives us his state of the union for today.

Regarding the Constitution and the feds fulfilling their duties under it:

It does say they're supposed to deliver the mail, and we all know how that's turning out.

And regarding the 10th Amendment (one I think is dear to his heart):

Unfortunately, nobody on Capital Hill seems to give a fat rat's ass about "...the States respectively, or...the people." We need to remind everyone of this at election time.

Mild? Yes, but read more at: BIG BROTHER IS ALIVE AND WELL

Iowa news roundup, 1/19/10

A few articles displaying some of the best and outstanding leaders in our state:

Citing a "study" that windfarms are taking up valuable real estate:

Iowans not buying into ‘energy sprawl’ argument
“If only they’d posted this report in the 1860s,” said Nathaniel Baer, energy program director for the Iowa Environmental Council.

Really, Nate?

From the Department of Duh, with a side order of You're kind of Late:

Lawmakers worry heavy snow could cause spring flooding
“We’ve got 20 inches of snow across the watershed already,” Senate Rebuild Committee Chairman Rob Hogg, D-Cedar Rapids, said Thursday. With predictions of more extreme weather, greater precipitation and higher stream flow as a result of climate changes, “I want to know what my community can do in 2010 to prevent this.”

A little late now, Boss Hogg

If one-tenth of one percent is deep, I don't want to know how wide it is:

Branstad campaign raises $1.5 million
“We’re certainly encouraged to have more than 3,000 donors,” campaign spokesman Tim Albrecht said about the GOP hopeful’s fundraising numbers. For the campaign it means “the broad base of support is here and it is deep.”

3000 out of 3 million citizens, that's deep, man

When you run out of ideas:

Middle school faces motivation challenge
"We developed a PowerPoint presentation, and we will go to one class at a time and talk with the students about test-taking tips and doing things to become a better test taker,"

Nothing motivates me better than a cheesy PowerPoint presentation

I'm trying to figure out how these people have jobs.

Sorry for the Snark, it's that kind of day.