An Iowa Senate panel has recommended just one of Gov. Terry Branstad's three nominees for the Board of Regents.
The Senate Education Committee voted Wednesday to forward two of Branstad's nominations to the full Senate without recommendation. Current Board President Craig Lang did not get the committee's backing. Neither did Grimes businessman Robert Cramer.
The panel did recommend confirming Webster City physician Subhash Sahai to the nine-member board that oversees the state's three public universities. Both Sahai and Cramer are replacing retiring members.
The nominations require a two-thirds approval vote in the Senate, where the Democrats hold a slim majority.
Sen. Herman Quirmbach of Ames said he didn't know whether there's enough support in the full Senate to approve the nominations.
Lang and Cramer underwent tough questioning during previous hearings.
