Senate Journal: Page 35: Tuesday, January 9, 1996

         Iowans are better prepared than most to meet that challenge. The
    spirit of neighbor helping neighbor is as Iowan as the tall corn we
    grow.

         State government, too, must be prepared to meet the challenge. We
    must not become a bottleneck in the historic flow of power from
    Washington to the family.

         We must rise to our new responsibilites and reshape state
    goverment. 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 professing 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.

Iowa General Assembly

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

© 1996 Cornell College and League of Women Voters of Iowa

Comments? sjourn@legis.iowa.gov.

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