Visit to the Governor

Monday evening John received a call requesting him to hurry in to town to sign the labor agreement that had been so hard fought. He had spent three days the previous week in negotiations which had seemed to be at a stalemate. So it was great news that the Project Labor Agreement (http://www.governor.iowa.gov/index.php/press_releases/single/407/) was to be signed. He came home and asked if I wanted to go with him to Des Moines the next day, March 16th, to see Governor Culver sign the agreement. Of course, I was really excited to be able to go along. I had never been inside the State Capitol, which I think is a beautiful building with its 23k gold leaf dome and its four copper domes with gold lines. The Capitol is on a hill and can be seen for a good distance but it's a windy spot on a cold day!
It was quite crowded yesterday, with a small Tea Party gathering outside being filmed for public TV. Girl Scouts, the Mayor's Youth Commission, and the Christian Homeschoolers were inside, along with members of the Central and Southeast Iowa Building and Construction Trades Council :-). I also saw Ms. Wheelchair Iowa and former Governor Branstead. Gov. Brandstead had come to sign nomination papers as he's running again. So it was an interesting day, although busy and noisy.
The signing ceremony was at 2 in one of the lower level meeting rooms instead of in the Governor's office. Possibly that was in order to be done and out to his car more quickly as he was scheduled to be in Johnston, Iowa for a National Guard send off at 3--I'm sure he was late! We were each given a signing pen (not actually used but a beautiful boxed pen with the Seal of Iowa and the Governor's signature.
So, Saturday we saw the Lt. Governor, Patty Judge, at the Convention, yesterday John was photographer with the Governor, who signed an agreement which will put so many Iowans to work, and tonight we'll be at a fundraising St. Patrick's Day dinner for the County Attorney. ! What's up with us!!??!!
After Spring Break, Elizabeth will travel to Des Moines as her IPro class prepares for next semester when they'll do research for the Legislators.