Lowa State University wants to establish a new public policy center funded entirely by private donations that would be devoted to the study, teaching and discussion of local, state, national and international issues. It would be called the the Harkin Institute, in honor of ISU graduate and veteran U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin.
The proposal has been questioned by the governor and by 59 Iowa House Republicans, who in a letter to the regents Tuesday said the proposal raises questions about "the general propriety of a state institution naming an institute after a current elected official serving the people of Iowa."
The proposal does raise a question of propriety by in effect having a state-owned institution lending its credibility and its endorsement to an elected official. Harkin has four years left in his term, and if he decides to run again, his opponent might reasonably object to a public university giving Harkin such an advantage.
The same would apply to a Chuck Grassley Institute at the University of Northern Iowa, his alma mater, and we trust Iowa Republicans would feel the same way about that.
One good example of how this should work is the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute at Southern Illinois University, which was founded by Simon after he retired from the Senate, however.
Harkin won't be in office forever, and when he retires it would be fine if his friends and ISU fundraisers want to create a policy institute in his honor.
The proposal has been questioned by the governor and by 59 Iowa House Republicans, who in a letter to the regents Tuesday said the proposal raises questions about "the general propriety of a state institution naming an institute after a current elected official serving the people of Iowa."
The proposal does raise a question of propriety by in effect having a state-owned institution lending its credibility and its endorsement to an elected official. Harkin has four years left in his term, and if he decides to run again, his opponent might reasonably object to a public university giving Harkin such an advantage.
The same would apply to a Chuck Grassley Institute at the University of Northern Iowa, his alma mater, and we trust Iowa Republicans would feel the same way about that.
Harkin won't be in office forever, and when he retires it would be fine if his friends and ISU fundraisers want to create a policy institute in his honor.
