House Journal: Page 44: Tuesday, January 9, 1996

We must rise to our new responsibilities and reshape state
government. In Iowa, the transformation of our welfare system
serves as a model for empowering individuals and families. Our
Family Investment Program has helped thousands of families gain
self-sufficiency and has broken the culture of dependency.
From workforce development to Medicaid to our child welfare
system, new flexibility from the federal government will allow
us to design a state government that is results-oriented,
customer-focused, competitively-based, and most important,
relies on a partnership with communities, churches, and families.
One size does not fit all when it comes to helping families in
need; government must be changed to better meet the true needs
of those we are trying to help.
All Iowans want to live in safe communities, having streets,
schools, and homes that are free from the cancer of violent
crime. We have among the lowest crime rates in the nation, but
we are all troubled by the level of violence and drug-related
crime in our state. Every Iowan has the right to feel safe and
secure and that should be our guiding principle.
To protect Iowans, I believe we should reinstate the death
penalty for those who commit two class "A" felonies, one of
which is murder. Rape and kidnap victims, prison guards, and the
innocent people of Iowa deserve this protection. The clear
majority of Iowans support capital punishment. It is time for us
to answer the call of the people and restore the death penalty.
We must not waver in our war on crime. We should eliminate
parole for forcible felons and sexual predators. The most
dangerous criminals should not be given a second chance to rob
or rape again. In addition, juveniles involved in crime must be
held accountable for their actions. Public disclosure of
juvenile arrests and greater access to records will send a
strong message and help stop young people from progressing to a
life of adult crime.
In less than a year, we have seen the use of methamphetamines in
Iowa double. Already, we have launched an ambitious prevention
campaign, and I am recommending increased penalties for making
and dealing in "crank". This scourge cannot be allowed to infect
our communities and destroy the lives of more Iowans.
Until we show criminals that their actions do not pay, there is
no hope of stopping the few that disrupt the safe and peaceful
lives of Iowans. We have made good progress in the last couple
of years in addressing our need for more prison space. This
year, we should authorize construction of another 750 bed prison
and use prison labor to remodel and reopen cellhouse 17 at Fort
Madison.
When I grew up in rural Iowa, we didn't need locks on our doors.
Let us work together to restore that sense of security once
again to the neighborhoods, schools, and homes of Iowa.
As a state, we are better prepared than ever to act on the
priorities I have outlined for you today. We made the tough
decisions that Washington is only now beginning to grapple with.
Our actions have paid off.
No state in the nation stands in the solid financial position we
are in today. Our cash reserves are full and we have a GAAP
balance of $435 million. This year, Financial World magazine
ranked Iowa as the sixth best managed state in the nation. Our
goal should be no less than to be the best managed state in the
nation.
This year, we must continue to live by the spending reforms that
took our state government from a $400 million deficit to a
surplus that is even greater. This

Iowa General Assembly

Index: House Journal (76th General Assembly: Session 2)

© 1996 Cornell College and League of Women Voters of Iowa

Comments? hjourn@legis.iowa.gov.

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