Gov. Branstad, Other State Leaders, Say Potential Sequester Effects on Iowa Unclear: Iowa City Daily News Links, Feb. 26

I said it yesterday and I'll say it again: for this winter storm being called Rocky, it's looking pretty weak.

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On to the Links!

The Iowa City Press-Citizen editorial board has a nice piece on how Iowa legislators need to show more courage when it comes to marijuana laws.

Tara Bannow of the Press-Citizen previews tonight's townhall meeting between city officials and University of Iowa student government representatives.

State leaders say they are unsure of how sequestration will affect the state. That's comforting. (Des Moines Register)

A new Casey's store could be coming to Broadway Street, writes Mitchell Schmidt of the Iowa City Press-Citizen.

Iowa Senate Republicans have introduced a probably mostly symbolic resolution calling for a statewide referendum on gay marriage. (Des Moines Register)

Meanwhile an Iowa Republican was among 80 Republlcans who signed a document saying gay people should have the right to marry. (Des Moines Register)

Gov. Branstad promised to improve healthcare delivery under the Iowa Cares program. (Des Moines Register)

A Conservative Christian group wants to push for more God in politics. (Des Moines RegisteR)

Branstad is also ready to again push his oft repeated attempt at lowering commercial property taxes in the state. (Des Moines Register)

Lee Hermiston of the Iowa City Press-Citizen writes that the Johnson County Supervisors discussed pitching their jail diversion program to the public before the vote on the Johnson County Justice Center.

Two thirds of Iowans support a limited form of the Death Penalty being reinstated in Iowa (Press-Citizen)

Sequester to lead to cuts to meat inspections. Grassley says he doesn't think so. (Des Moines Register)

Daily Links Excerpt of the Day:

Gov. Terry Branstad said on Tuesday morning that his administration had “no clue” how the cuts – known in Washington as the sequestration – would filter down to the various state programs funded at least in part with federal dollars. But he did express confidence that the state would manage it.

“We’re going to deal with it as we always have in Iowa,” he said. “We’re problems solvers and we’ll deal with whatever comes our way.”

Over the course of his weekly press conference, Brastad, a Republican, also backed off that initial assertion that the state was clueless on the effects of sequestration. The White House and third-party groups have provided estimates on how much federal aid will be lost in each state, and Branstad said he had no reason to doubt those figures.

The uncertainty lies in how exactly those cuts will be distributed among various programs, and whether Congress and President Barack Obama might be able to strike a deal to avert some of the cuts.

Daily Links Featured Directory Listing of the Day: Short's Burgers Eastside