Senate Journal: Page 3: Monday, January 12, 1998

  REMARKS BY THE MAJORITY LEADER

  Senator Iverson addressed the Senate as follows:

  I want to take this opportunity to welcome all of you back for the 1998
  Regular
  Session of the 77th General Assembly.  We last gathered here on a Tuesday in
  late
  April. At that time, we concluded one of the most productive legislative
  sessions in
  Iowa's history.  Yet for everything that was accomplished, challenges and
  opportunities
  still present themselves.  We have an opportunity to make the changes
  necessary in
  Iowa's education system to ensure our children have access to the best
  schools in
  the
  world. We have the opportunity to ensure Iowa's environmental quality
  remains at
  a
  high level.  And we have a historic opportunity to ensure that taxes-which
  have
  been
  the fast growing part of the family budget-are never increased on Iowa
  families
  again.

  These goals that I have outlined are not just my goals, they are not just
  the
  goals of
  everyone in this room; they are the goals of the Iowans we represent.   I
  look
  forward to
  working on these issues with each and every one of you.

  I also want to take this opportunity to thank all of the administrative
  staff
  and the
  staff of the central staff agencies for all the hard work they have provided
  in the
  past,
  and their efforts in the upcoming session, and also welcome all the new
  staff to the
  Iowa Senate.

  REMARKS BY THE MINORITY LEADER

  Senator Gronstal addressed the Senate as follows:

  Madam President, Senators, Staff, Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen:

  Let me add my voice of welcome to all of you today.  Despite our policy
  differences,
  which sometimes can be wide, we are all united in our desire to serve, and I
  appreciate
  the opportunity the Senate gives us to do that.

  Generally, these opening day remarks from caucus leaders are a lengthy
  'laundry
  list' of things to be accomplished in many areas.  I'm not going to do that
  today.  I'm
  going to focus on the one issue that Iowans believe we should be graded on
  this
  year,
  and the top priority of our Democratic caucus-improving education in Iowa.

  This session of the legislature should and will be judged by whether or not
  we
  do
  everything we can to improve education in Iowa.  Make no mistake about it-
  Iowans
  expect us to pass meaningful legislation this year to improve educational
  opportunities
  for our children, something this legislature failed to do last year.  Iowans
  understand
  that while our schools are generally good . . . they can, and must, be
  better.  The
  news
  reports of lower test scores in reading and math for our elementary
  students, losing
  our
  leadership position in college entrance examination scores, and many schools
  not
  meeting fire safety codes lead Iowans, and our Democratic Senators, to
  clearly
  understand that we must do better.

  We Democrats will provide support to positive and workable improvements
  for
  education in Iowa this session.  I sincerely hope the majority party will do
  likewise,
  and

Iowa General Assembly

Index: Senate Journal (77th General Assembly: Session 2)

© 1998 Cornell College and League of Women Voters of Iowa

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