Sitting at his desk in Ames, Matt Runge, Project Manager for J and K Contracting, said, "It's tough. I'm not going to lie to you."
Instead of overseeing job sites, Runge is stuck staring at his computer. Runge is bidding on projects. It's something he's doing more often and for less money as the amount of work declines and competition rises. He said, "Last year we probably bid 500 jobs and we picked up 30 and this year's right on track."
One of those picked up is the Franklin Avenue Library renovation in Des Moines. This work helps keep the paychecks coming for about three dozen J and K employees. Governor Chet Culver's office said without the $2.2 million in I-JOBS funding, this renovation wouldn't happen. Culver's office estimates more than 200 Iowans are working because of the project. The office can't offer specifics, though. It's something that is also true for the entire I-JOBS program.
Over the past year-and-a-half, the governor has offered varying projections about how many Iowans are working because of I-JOBS. His estimates ranged from "tens of thousands", to "hundreds, if not thousands" and finally on Tuesday 7,000 to 9,000. But a Channel 13 news investigation found he can't or won't give exact numbers and no one is assigned to track the number of jobs created.
Culver's gubernatorial opponent, Republican Terry Branstad, a former four-term Iowa governor, believes it doesn't matter how many big signs you put up with the word jobs on it or how many times you say you are creating jobs, he thinks the numbers just don't back that up. Branstad said, "I just see a lack of transparency and an unwillingness to share with the public what's going on."
The state's I-JOBS website promised transparency. It shows the newest press releases. But its newest information on the 1,700 projects funded by the program hasn't been updated since New Year's Eve. Branstad maintains that lack of current information plus ever-changing job estimates show Culver's plan to get Iowans working isn't working. He said, "I think when you say you're going to do something, I think people need to be able to see it, examine it and determine for themselves whether or not the commitment that has been made is being fulfilled."
"I think it's always important if you're putting a program that's designed to stimulate the economy and create jobs to make that part of the oversight," said Iowa 1st District Congressman Bruce Braley, a Democrat. He said he was speaking personally and didn't want to speak critically of his fellow Democrat's I-JOBS plan. But he said he has worked for transparency.
His congressional website tracks Iowa projects that receive federal stimulus dollars. His site doesn't list how many jobs the projects would create. The federal government's site, www.recovery.gov, does. Braley said it is essential to go over job numbers to make sure job creation projects are actually creating work. He said, "I think it's totally appropriate thing to go back and look at those programs and try to determine what types of jobs they created and if they didn't create jobs, try to understand why."
Meanwhile, contractors like Matt Runge will keep battling the bidding wars. He won't get in the political battle of what is or isn't working with I-JOBS. He is grateful for the work I-JOBS can give his employees.
Instead of overseeing job sites, Runge is stuck staring at his computer. Runge is bidding on projects. It's something he's doing more often and for less money as the amount of work declines and competition rises. He said, "Last year we probably bid 500 jobs and we picked up 30 and this year's right on track."
One of those picked up is the Franklin Avenue Library renovation in Des Moines. This work helps keep the paychecks coming for about three dozen J and K employees. Governor Chet Culver's office said without the $2.2 million in I-JOBS funding, this renovation wouldn't happen. Culver's office estimates more than 200 Iowans are working because of the project. The office can't offer specifics, though. It's something that is also true for the entire I-JOBS program.
Over the past year-and-a-half, the governor has offered varying projections about how many Iowans are working because of I-JOBS. His estimates ranged from "tens of thousands", to "hundreds, if not thousands" and finally on Tuesday 7,000 to 9,000. But a Channel 13 news investigation found he can't or won't give exact numbers and no one is assigned to track the number of jobs created.
Culver's gubernatorial opponent, Republican Terry Branstad, a former four-term Iowa governor, believes it doesn't matter how many big signs you put up with the word jobs on it or how many times you say you are creating jobs, he thinks the numbers just don't back that up. Branstad said, "I just see a lack of transparency and an unwillingness to share with the public what's going on."
The state's I-JOBS website promised transparency. It shows the newest press releases. But its newest information on the 1,700 projects funded by the program hasn't been updated since New Year's Eve. Branstad maintains that lack of current information plus ever-changing job estimates show Culver's plan to get Iowans working isn't working. He said, "I think when you say you're going to do something, I think people need to be able to see it, examine it and determine for themselves whether or not the commitment that has been made is being fulfilled."
"I think it's always important if you're putting a program that's designed to stimulate the economy and create jobs to make that part of the oversight," said Iowa 1st District Congressman Bruce Braley, a Democrat. He said he was speaking personally and didn't want to speak critically of his fellow Democrat's I-JOBS plan. But he said he has worked for transparency.
His congressional website tracks Iowa projects that receive federal stimulus dollars. His site doesn't list how many jobs the projects would create. The federal government's site, www.recovery.gov, does. Braley said it is essential to go over job numbers to make sure job creation projects are actually creating work. He said, "I think it's totally appropriate thing to go back and look at those programs and try to determine what types of jobs they created and if they didn't create jobs, try to understand why."
Meanwhile, contractors like Matt Runge will keep battling the bidding wars. He won't get in the political battle of what is or isn't working with I-JOBS. He is grateful for the work I-JOBS can give his employees.
