Senate Committee Doesn't Recommend Confirming Lang, Cramer to Board of Regents; Zaun Speaks Out

Two Board of Regents nominees-- one of whom is currently the regents president -- face an uphill battle to be approved by the Iowa Senate.

The Senate Education Committee sent the nominations of Craig Lang and Robert Cramer to the full Senate today "without recommendation" after committee-level hearings, the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reported.

Lang, the current Board of Regents president, came under fire for controversy over the Harkin Institute at Iowa State University.

Read more: Report: Regents Told Leath to Restrict ISU's Harkin Institute

He was also questioned on controversy surrounding comments on University of Iowa President Sally Mason's job performance and on his commitment to academic freedom.

Read more: University of Iowa President Sally Mason 'Not Concerned' About Lack of Contract

Nominee Cramer, from Grimes, is the owner of construction company Cramer and Associates. He was grilled on his socially conservative past, which included the time of his tenure on the Johnston School Board.

In 2004 he sent a letter to 1,600 voters before a school board election, criticizing what he called age-inappropriate material in two books at Johnston schools, Maya Angelou’s “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings” and Robert Cormier’s “The Chocolate War.” He later apologized for the letter, the Des Moines Register reported.

Cramer's appointment was also opposed by student leaders at the University of Iowa, Iowa State University and the University of Northern Iowa, the Des Moines Register reported. The students sent a letter to lawmakers expressing their concern:

“Mr. Cramer has adamantly opposed the advancement of rights for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community,” the letter said. “His prior positions call into question his ability to be fair minded when matters related to academic freedom, free expression, and protections for diverse communities on campus come before the Board.”

However, Cramer told the committee the issues were "blown out of proportion," and said he would bring tolerance and commitment to academic freedom to the board, the Courier reported.

He also said he was a consensus builder and that his ability to work constructively with the Johnston School Board after the controversy demonstrated that, the Des Moines Register reported.

A third nominee, Webster City physician Subhash Sahai, was moved forward to the full Senate without controversy.

Sen. Brad Zaun, R-Urbandale, was the only committee member to vote against moving the three candidates forward to the full Senate, the Des Moines Register reported:

He called it a symbolic gesture to show his displeasure with the fact that wealthy political contributors typically serve on the Board of Regents, which results in too little accountability to the people of Iowa.

Zaun said he plans to vote against all three of the governor’s nominees.

“I do not think there’s enough average, ordinary Iowa parents on the Board of Regents,” Zaun said.

To be confirmed, each nominee needs 34 votes, and must receive them by April 15. Senate Republicans hold 24 seats and Democrats hold 26 votes.