Senate Journal: Page 3: Monday, January 10, 2000

  In Iowa, we are blessed with the freedom, the values, and the people to
  shape our
  future.

  Traditional thinking says this will be a tough, political year.  It is an
  election year,
  and the bitterness and cynicism of old battles, along with our desire to
  win, will
  interfere with creating good public policy-a bright future-for Iowa.  We
  will disagree.
  We have strong philosophical opinions about the role and the size of our
  government.
  However, we must move a positive agenda.  We can't afford to wait until the
  "right"
  year, or the "right" time.  The time is now today.  I am eager to begin and
  hope you are
  too.

  Thank you for your attention.

  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 2000
  Regular
  Session of the 78th General Assembly.  I look forward to working with each
  and every
  one of you during the next few months.

  Each legislative session brings with it numerous challenges, and this
  session will
  be no different.  Our budget is not as healthy as it has been during the
  past several
  years, and we will need to act responsibly to address this issue.

  However, I strongly believe that the opportunities far outnumber the
  challenges.  I
  believe we have an excellent opportunity to make Iowa schools the best in
  the country
  by improving reading programs and making schools more accountable to
  parents.

  We can make Iowa's economy more competitive by opening up our utility system
  to
  competition through a process that ensures strong protections for Iowa
  consumers, and
  we can promote the development of Iowa's work force by preparing young
  Iowans for
  tomorrow's high-tech workplace.

  We also have an excellent opportunity to build on the substantial
  investments we
  have made in additional recreational activities for Iowa families.  I've
  joked this
  summer a couple of times that my idea of the good time is a cowboy movie and
  a cheap
  cigar-I'm sure I'm not the only person who feels that way.  But that hasn't
  stopped
  this legislature from making an impressive commitment to improving the
  quality of life
  for Iowans.  But there is more that we can do to make Iowa a better place to
  work, live,
  and raise a family.  We must also continue to promote value added
  agriculture to help
  Iowa farmers succeed in our global economy.

  These goals that I have outlined aren't just my goals.  They aren't just the
  goals of
  everyone in this room.  They are the goals of the Iowans we represent.
  We've had a
  history of working together to solve Iowa's problems.  Last year, this
  chamber was
  nearly unanimous in voting to expand the size of Iowa's skilled work force
  by passing
  the ACE legislation.  We also voted overwhelmingly to reduce taxes on
  hardworking
  Iowa families.  Not all of the ideas became law, but that doesn't mean we
  don't start
  this session with any less commitment to develop creative solutions to the
  problems

© 2000 Cornell College and League of Women Voters of Iowa

Comments about this site or page? sjourn@legis.iowa.gov.
Please remember that the person listed above does not vote on bills. Direct all comments concerning legislation to State Legislators.

Last update: Thu Jan 13 08:01:00 CST 2000
URL: /DOCS/GA/78GA/Session.2/SJournal/00000/00003.html
jhf