Lame duck governor in Iowa

He didn't get re-elected but it's payoff time to his union buddies. From the DesMoins Register:

Culver OKs state pay raises
Gov. Chet Culver's administration agreed Friday to offer pay increases for state employees that will cost taxpayers more than $200 million, despite Republican requests that the decisions be delayed until Terry Branstad becomes governor in January.

A Branstad spokesman called the deal "reckless," and House Republican Leader Kraig Paulsen said it would likely lead to layoffs.

But Culver defended the decision, noting that most state employees took at least five unpaid days in the past year along with suspension of employer deferred compensation contributions.

A bit more:

Union members will formally meet to accept or reject the state's offer later this month, but Danny Homan, president of Council 61 for AFSCME, said: "In my mind, this is done."

The wage hike plan would give members of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, better known as AFSCME, two raises in each of the next two fiscal years.

And it's not just AFSCME:

Negotiations with the state's two other unions - the State Police Officers Council, and the Iowa United Professionals and United Electrical Workers, Science United and Professional Services Unit - are continuing.

And the website didn't report it but Gov. Chet Culver places a 'D' by his name. If it was a Republican to do this, the censure in the media would be nationwide...