House Journal: Page 1931: Wednesday, April 26, 2000
To the rest of my caucus - I want to thank you for all of your support, cooperation
and most of all, trust. I’m sure some of you have wondered where I was going at times,
but we all got to the end together. You took a chance on me this time last year, I hope
I’ve earned it after this year.
You know, I’ve heard Brent stand on this spot on seven other occasions and thank
his staff and say how it was really Susan who ran this place. I used to think it was a
joke. Now I understand. Boy, do I understand. Jackie - thank you for keeping me, and
all of us moving along. Jeff, thank you for sticking with me another year, your advice
and counsel was needed. Katie, my page who kept me fed and hooked up to the
caffeine drip - thank you as well. Without you three, this year would not have run as
smoothly as it did.
To the Republican caucus staff. Thank you for the countless hours you have spent.
In this new role I’ve gotten to work with each of you on issue I’d never have worried
about before - and because of that I have a new appreciation for each of you. You are
probably the most unrecognized and undervalued cogs in the wheels of state
government. We take your work for granted and we shouldn’t. Again, thanks.
We get so caught up with what we legislators are doing on the floor that we forget
about what really makes this place work. Liz, you and your staff are the only ones who
know what is really going on. You’re here before most of us arrive, and leave after
we’ve left. Thank you.
Wilbur, the same can be said of you and your crew and the pages. I don’t know
what we’d do without you. Actually, I do know, and it wouldn’t be a pretty picture.
Mr. Speaker. A year ago you referred to me as your "young jedi knight". Now I
know that some of you are thinking I’m like Anikin Skywalker who will grow up to be
Darth Vader. To others I’m more like Luke who battled the Death Star. However I am
seen, Mr. Speaker, there is no doubt who you are - and that would have to be Yoda
perched up there in the Speaker’s chair. I’ve come to appreciate your laid back lifestyle
this year. I don’t share it, but at times I wish I did. When the maelstrom is swirling
about you, you are always the calm in the middle. You’ve been a good teacher - I hope I
was an apt pupil.
A week ago Saturday I got up early in the morning to go to my office and catch up
on some "real world" work. As I was slipping out the door my five year old daughter
stopped me to ask where I was going. I said "to work" and she promptly burst into
tears. She thought I was headed back to Des Moines after being home for only a few
hours. Representative Gipp has said many times that no one but our families
understand the sacrifices we make to honor our commitment to the people of Iowa. To
each of you, I thank you, and I thank your families for your services. It is a job well
done. You’ve each earned a rest, and your families deserve your attention.
Mr. Speaker, I look forward to speaking to you next January from this desk as we
gavel in the next legislature. It’s been fun.
REMARKS BY SPEAKER SIEGRIST
Speaker Siegrist offered the following remarks:
© 2000 Cornell College and
League of Women Voters of Iowa
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