Senate Journal: Tuesday, January 11, 2000

  SECOND CALENDAR DAY
  SECOND SESSION DAY

  Senate Chamber
  Des Moines, Iowa, Tuesday, January 11, 2000

  The Senate met in regular session at 9:22 a.m., President Kramer
  presiding.

  Prayer was offered by Pastor Paul Thompson of the First Lutheran
  Church, Dows, Iowa, guest of Senator Iverson.

  The Journal of Monday, January 10, 2000, was approved.

  The Senate stood at ease at 9:25 a.m. until the fall of the gavel.

  The Senate resumed session at 9:40 a.m., President Kramer
  presiding.

  COMMITTEE FROM THE HOUSE

  A committee from the House appeared and announced that the
  House was ready to receive the Senate in joint convention.

  In accordance with House Concurrent Resolution 101, duly
  adopted, the Senate proceeded to the House Chamber under the
  direction of the Secretary of the Senate and the Sergeant-at-Arms.

  JOINT CONVENTION

  The joint convention convened at 9:50 a.m., President Kramer
  presiding.

  Senator Iverson moved that the roll call be dispensed with and
  that the President of the joint convention be authorized to declare a
  quorum present, which motion prevailed by a voice vote.
  President Kramer declared a quorum present and the joint
  convention duly organized.

  Senator Iverson moved that a committee of six, three members
  from the Senate and three members from the House, be appointed to
  notify Governor Vilsack that the joint convention was ready to receive
  him.

  The motion prevailed by a voice vote and the Chair announced the
  appointment of Senators Drake, Rehberg, and Bolkcom on the part of
  the Senate, and Representatives Gipp, Metcalf, and Stevens on the
  part of the House.

  The following guests were escorted into the House Chamber:

  Secretary of State Chester J. Culver, Treasurer of State Michael
  Fitzgerald, Secretary of Agriculture and Land Stewardship Patty
  Judge, State Auditor Dick Johnson, and Eric Tabor, representing the
  Attorney General.

  Chief Justice McGiverin and Justices of the Supreme Court and
  Chief Judge Sackett and Judges of the Court of Appeals.

  Lieutenant Governor Sally Pederson.

  Mrs. Christie Vilsack, wife of the Governor.

  The committee waited upon Governor Vilsack and escorted him to
  the Speaker's station.

  President Kramer presented Governor Vilsack, who delivered the
  following Condition of the State and Budget Address:

  Thank you, Madam President, Mr. Speaker, thank you members of the General
  Assembly, thank you distinguished guests and ladies and gentlemen.

  After a welcome like that from both sides of the aisle, I am tempted to sit
  down
  right now and keep my bipartisan support intact.  But I will take a chance
  and speak
  about the state of our great state and its future, taking the risk that you
  will be as
  supportive, generous, and enthusiastic with your applause when I finish.

  During the last year, the Lt. Governor, the First Lady, and I experienced
  the heart
  and soul of this state.  We looked at the faces of Iowans struck by
  devastating
  tornadoes, floods, and droughts-and we saw determination.  We looked into
  the faces
  of Iowans who farm the land, concerned about whether their way of life would
  continue-and we saw character.  We looked into the faces of Iowans who are
  coping
  with the unexplainable tragedy of children and firefighters who died
  recently in
  Keokuk-and we saw strength.  In all those experiences, and many others, we
  felt the
  strong bonds of community.  Even in our most challenging times, Iowans'
  determination, character, strength, and dedication to community triumph.

  In our travels across our great state, we have been struck by the renewed
  sense of
  purpose in the air.  It is our collective desire to move ahead.  It is a
  longing for
  greatness, so real you can reach out and touch it.  All over the state we
  see a new era
  unfolding.  As it unfolds, people here, across our nation and around the
  world,
  recognize that Iowa is a great place to live, to work, and most importantly,
  to raise a
  family.  Iowa's promise is its quality of life.

  After meeting remarkable Iowans everywhere, the Lt. Governor, First Lady,
  and I
  are convinced that Iowa's moment to lead is now.

  The building we gather in today is an emblem of Iowa's long-standing belief
  in
  greatness.  Those that came before us made a conscious choice not to
  construct a
  pedestrian, ordinary capitol.  They built a shining edifice on a hill, solid
  and timeless.
  A special building for a special people; a special place to write special
  laws.  In the past
  decades, this building fell victim to complacency.  The plaster cracked, the
  ornament
  crumbled.  But our generation of Iowans rejected complacency and erected
  scaffolding
  to repair and replace.  Building on a solid foundation, we restore this
  building to
  greatness.

  For our state to reach its fullest potential, we too must build on our
  strengths with
  clear goals in mind.  Establishing clear goals begins by an honest
  assessment of where
  we are.

  In the past year, the Iowa 2010 Strategic Planning Group has done an
  admirable
  job of outlining where this state is and where it is headed.  The group's
  work indicates
  that without bold action, Iowa risks limited, not limitless, opportunities.

  Our challenge is demographic.  We know the statistics all too well.  More
  than half
  of our counties had their population peak in the year 1900-one hundred years
  ago.
  Our present population grows at a rate one-fourth that of the nation's.  At
  current
  growth rates, we will not return to our 1980 population until the year
  2010-thirty
  years to get back to where we were.  Skilled worker shortages reflect the
  impact of this
  stagnant growth.

  To make the situation more daunting, our growth sectors involve Iowans no
  longer
  in the work force.  The fastest growing segment of our population today, is
  people over
  the age of 100.  For the first time in our state's history, since we began
  keeping track,
  we have more people over the age of 74, than we have five or under.

  As we have struggled with these demographic trends, we also have struggled
  to
  increase per capita and family incomes.  Iowa ranks at the bottom third of
  states in per
  capita income-a ranking that consistently corresponds with the percentage of
  our
  work force that holds a college degree.  Simply put, these statistics and
  others point to
  three key goals that must be reached to realize Iowa's promise.
  We need more Iowans.  We need younger Iowans.  We need better-paid Iowans.

  For the past six months, the Lt. Governor and I have challenged our staff
  and the
  departments of state government to focus on these goals and to develop
  programs and
  budget priorities aimed at achieving these goals.  We've also encouraged the
  participation of all Iowans, through the 2010 Strategic Planning Council
  efforts and
  two weeks of public hearings on the budget, held at locations around the
  state.
  Through this inclusive process, we developed the agenda we outline for you
  today-an
  agenda that seizes our moment to lead-an Iowa quality of life agenda that
  builds and
  improves upon our already good quality of life.  We will be better educated
  and
  healthier.  We will enjoy cleaner air and water and the benefits of richer
  soil.  We will
  experience value-added economic opportunity and feel more secure in our
  homes,
  schools and communities, and we will be served by a responsible, accountable
  government.

  The budget presented to the general assembly funds these priorities while
  recognizing the need to limit general fund spending this year.  We take
  seriously our
  collective duty to be fiscally responsible.  When revenues in the current
  year didn't
  increase as expected, we called for budget cuts and spending reductions.  As
  part of our
  budget, we have already presented to you a deappropriations bill.  We ask
  you for
  quick and speedy action on the bill.  I have appreciated the cooperation
  exhibited by
  leaders of both chambers and both parties as cuts and reductions were
  identified for
  consideration.  Let us continue that work together.  Working together, I
  know of no
  reason why, that bill could not be signed one week from today.

  Ordinarily, a budget-cutting year would be a very bad time to present an
  aggressive
  list of new ideas.  I can already hear the objections.  But our
  administration has a
  different approach.  This year, we are going back to the basics-the three
  Rs.

  The three Rs I am talking about are not reading, writing, and arithmetic.

  Our three Rs are reduce, reallocate, and redouble.  State agencies have
  identified
  $30 million in reductions they are ready to make.  They also will reallocate
  current
  dollars to fund priorities by undertaking hard-nosed evaluations of how
  funds can be
  better spent.  As for redoubling, state agencies are working smarter than
  ever to find
  other sources of money for our priorities-from federal funds, to private
  foundation
  funds.

  The budget we are presenting assumes a general fund revenue growth rate of
  4.2%
  and a general fund expenditure rate of 2.8%.  Our budget is balanced, is
  fiscally
  responsible, and calls for no new taxes.

  Last year, working together, we made a down payment on better educational
  opportunities for Iowa's students with the class size reduction, reading
  initiative, by
  increasing allowable growth, and by fully funding the community college
  formula for
  the first time in recent memory.  We must continue investing in our children
  and their
  future.  We fund an additional $10 million this year for the class size
  reduction and
  reading initiative.  We propose fixing the allowable growth rate at 4% for
  fiscal year
  2002 and fund an additional $8.9 million in new resources for the community
  colleges.
  But, that is just a beginning-we pledge to do more.
  We pledge to do more because Iowa prides itself on quality schools-from
  kindergarten to graduate school.  The challenge of a global economy will
  only be met by
  well-educated people.  Past success does not justify a lack of action.
  Declining test
  scores warn us of the price of complacency.

  To reverse that decline, emphasis must be placed on early childhood
  education.
  Iowa must be the leader, a nationally recognized leader in early childhood
  education.
  Brain research now proves the importance of the first years of life in the
  learning
  process.  In Iowa, parents will be their child's first and best teacher.  In
  Iowa, childcare
  providers will recognize their important role in the learning process.

  Our children are entitled to a great start.  We propose increased funding of
  $5.2
  million-through out empowerment communities-to improve early childhood
  education,
  and additional resources to provide greater access to quality childcare.
  Let us pledge
  together to rewrite the nation's number one educational goal.  Today it
  reads that
  every child should be ready to learn by the time he or she reaches
  kindergarten.
  Tomorrow, let it read that in Iowa, as a result of our efforts, every child
  shall begin
  learning at birth and be ready to learn more by the time he or she reaches
  kindergarten.

  As children enter Iowa schools, they will experience smaller class sizes and
  well-
  wired schools.  But, a great education requires more.  Poorly paid teachers
  and
  crumbling school buildings undermine our past efforts to improve educational
  opportunity.  Today, I announce an acceleration and expansion of our efforts
  to recruit,
  educate and retain quality teachers.  In the real world, we continue to lose
  many of our
  brightest and our best teachers to other states, who offer incentives or
  higher pay or to
  other professions that do likewise.  We can no longer afford to ignore the
  competition.
  Officials at the University of Northern Iowa and many of the private
  colleges know all
  too well how many potentially good teachers we lose each year.

  First, I am asking the Council on Continuous Improvement in Education to
  make
  recommendations for revising the manner in which we compensate teachers to
  enable
  Iowa to be competitive for quality and to report to me by the end of this
  year.  Second,
  I'm asking you to establish a fund to create an incentive for one or more
  school districts
  to develop and implement a model teacher compensation system. Third, I'm
  asking you
  to approve a tax credit program for three years that will help school
  districts now,
  particularly in rural areas, that are having a difficult time recruiting
  quality teachers
  to their districts to do so.  Finally, I am asking you to adopt changes in
  IPERS,
  including the Rule of 85, that will enable teachers interested in retiring
  to do so.  These
  retirements will free up resources that must be used to increase teacher
  compensation.
  It is time to get serious about teacher pay.

  Our children cannot afford to wait any longer for us to act.  These steps
  will enable
  us to better compete for talent, but we must not stop there.  We must
  increase funding
  for the teacher induction program that will ensure statewide application of
  a
  mentoring program for first-year teachers.  Extensive mentoring results in
  higher
  teacher satisfaction, which in turn means better retention of quality
  teachers.  After
  investing so much in quality teachers, we cannot afford to lose them after
  only a few
  years of teaching.

  Quality teachers with smaller classes and up-to-date technology mean little
  if
  school buildings are unsafe or are in poor condition.  Iowa remains one of
  only ten
  states that fails to provide any direct assistance to districts for building
  maintenance,
  repair or construction.  Our state ought to provide resources to school
  districts faced
  with serious safety issues and significant building needs.  We must
  recognize that
  some districts simply cannot do it alone.

  Today, we propose using $100,000,000 of our $300,000,000 major attractions
  millennium fund to begin addressing safety issues and other building needs.
  I support
  the need to help our urban communities with major attractions to finance
  them, but
  the major attraction of most communities is and should be a safe,
  well-maintained
  school.

  We must also recognize that education in the 21st century will not be
  confined to a
  single geographic location.  Learning in this century should take place
  anytime,
  anywhere, for anybody.  Children learning at an accelerated rate ought to
  have the
  chance to do so at virtual schools or regional academies created through
  technology.
  We fund the beginning of this accelerated learning initiative.  Access to
  well-organized
  educational materials should be only a click away.  Iowa should lead in the
  development of the technology that delivers such information.  We propose a
  $2 million
  appropriation to begin the building the technological infrastructure of this
  21st century
  learning community.  Leadership in education requires nothing less.

  Along with safer, better schools, Iowans seeking knowledge will experience
  an
  enriched Iowa through better libraries and literate communities.  The First
  Lady has
  been a strong advocate for libraries this past year, visiting libraries
  large and small.
  She intends to visit every library in the state, and is well on her way.  We
  need to
  continue funding for the Enrich Iowa program and to increase it.  Her
  Stories 2000
  Initiative will expand on the theme of literate communities.  This
  initiative
  underscores the importance of reading and storytelling early in life and
  throughout
  life.  It strengthens family and community identity and helps prepare young
  people to
  read.

  Would an improved quality of life, centering on providing the best education
  in the
  country make a difference, leading to more Iowans, younger Iowans and
  better-paid
  Iowans?  Consider the story of Brian and Diane Bergstrom and their family,
  who
  moved to Cedar Rapids from Chicago four years ago.
  Brian and Diane grew up in the Swedesburg-Olds area.  They both have
  advanced
  degrees.  Diane received her master's degree from UNI, and Brian graduated
  from
  Harvard Law School, after a fellowship at Cambridge University in England.
  They
  were living and working in downtown Chicago, and started thinking about
  where their
  first son, Austin, now five years old, would go to school.  They moved back
  for a better
  education for Austin and his new younger brother, Augie, who was born in
  Iowa. They
  wanted to be closer to their families, including Brian's parents, Melvin and
  Vicky, who
  also are here today.  Education was a key reason this couple moved back.
  Quality
  educational opportunities were Iowa's promise to the Bergstroms.  Welcome
  back to
  Iowa, Brian, Diane, and Austin.  Please join me in welcoming back home to
  Iowa the
  Bergstroms.
  Iowa can seize this moment and become a national leader in education.  But
  we
  also have an unparalleled opportunity to be a national leader in health
  care,
  specifically, preventative health care.  Our tobacco settlement presents us
  with a once-
  in-a-lifetime opportunity to do something meaningful and long lasting.  We
  could, given
  the tight general fund, use all of these funds to cave in to the immediate
  financial
  pressures and avoid having to make tough choices, or we could dribble it out
  in a broad
  array of tax cuts, losing forever the opportunity to save health care
  dollars in the
  future and make Iowa a healthier state.  How we decide to invest these
  settlement
  funds will say much about our collective desire to improve the health and
  welfare of
  Iowans.  Let us join together for a healthier Iowa today, where disease,
  illness and the
  after-effects are properly treated or prevented.

  Where the stress and burden of illness and disease experienced by many Iowa
  families is relieved.  If we invest $55 million of tobacco settlement funds,
  we receive an
  immediate return of $100 million of federal resources.  Our investment will
  also pay for
  itself in general funds of health care savings, as we realize millions in
  savings over
  time.  More important than dollars and cents are the lives that will be
  saved.  Here is
  what we must do:

  1. Educate young people not to smoke or convince them to stop smoking
  through an aggressive anti-tobacco and enforcement program as
  proposed by Attorney General Tom Miller; this will save over a thousand
  young lives a year;
  2. Help Iowa's working families provide health insurance for their children
  through HAWK-I insurance and expanded Medicaid eligibility; this will
  impact tens of thousands of our children;
  3. Extend the time of residential substance abuse and mental health
  treatments and give those in need of help a real shot at recovery;
  4. Expand respite care for over one thousand families coping with the
  difficult task of caring for a loved one who is physically or mentally
  challenged, including brain injured loved ones;
  5. Create better access to primary care through stronger public health
  initiatives and from a variety of health care professionals who will be
  better compensated for their efforts; and,
  6. Respond to the Older Iowa Legislature's number one legislative goal by
  using federal funds in setting a national standard with a high quality,
  comprehensive care system for older Iowans needing home health care,
  assisted living, or nursing home care.  A system that leads the nation in
  insuring the maximum level of independence and quality of life for this
  most important group of Iowans.

  Finally, if we are to lead in health care, we must erase the stigma of
  mental illness.
  Mental illness affects one out of every four Iowa families.  A better
  public/private
  partnership must be developed if we are to properly and promptly treat
  mental illness.
  Iowa is the nation's insurance capital.  In that capacity, our state has the
  unique
  responsibility and opportunity to lead-and lead we will, when we establish
  full parity
  for mental illness coverages in insurance policies.  Parity's time in Iowa
  has come.

  Will an improved quality of life and Iowa being a national leader in
  preventative
  health care make a difference and lead to more Iowans, younger Iowans and
  better-
  paid Iowans?  Let me tell you the story of Yukio Strachan from Des Moines.
  Yukio
  came to Drake University's School of Pharmacy and Health Sciences from
  Chicago.
  After receiving her Doctor of Pharmacy degree in 1998, she decided to stay.
  Why?  She
  says a big draw was a good job with Hy-Vee, and the family atmosphere of the
  company.  Also, she believes she has more opportunities in pharmacy here,
  such as
  conducting regular teaching seminars at a residence for senior citizens.
  She expected
  Iowa to be slower-paced than Chicago, but has found herself busier than
  before with
  activities that range from being a fitness instructor, to her sorority to
  her church.
  Quality of health care opportunities was Iowa's promise to Yukio.
  Welcome home to Iowa, Yukio.
  However, being a national leader in education or preventative health care
  will
  mean little if we can not drink the water or breathe the air.  Aldo Leopold
  once said
  that:  "We abuse the land because we regard it as a commodity belonging to
  us.  When
  we see the land as a community to which we belong, we may begin to use it
  with love
  and respect."  We face a severe threat to water quality from the 159
  polluted
  waterways that crisscross our state.  We clean up these waterways by
  recognizing what
  the land and water are to all of us-the essential building blocks of our
  future-the
  essential infrastructure of our state.  We must invest in our working land
  and water.
  Our clean water initiative proposes to do just that.  For a small investment
  of state
  dollars, we generate over $50 million from the federal government to put in
  the pockets
  of our farm families in the form of incentives for farmer participation in
  private land
  conservation programs.  These programs support the establishment of
  vegetative
  buffers, field borders and wetlands; as well as encourage soil conservation
  practices.

  The clean water initiative we propose is a catalyst for positive change and
  builds on
  what we know works.  Fully fund the clean water initiative and watch the
  native
  prairie grasses grow and become home to natural habitat that will draw
  people from
  all over the country.  Fully fund the clean water initiative and measure the
  improvement of our water.  Fully fund the clean water initiative and welcome
  more
  prosperity back to rural Iowa.  This clean water initiative will establish
  Iowa as a
  national leader in private land conservation.

  One other program also must be fully funded to improve Iowa's environment.
  Isn't
  it about time to fulfill the promise made to the people of Iowa in the last
  century, in the
  last millennium, shouldn't we finally fund REAP at $20 million?

  Leadership involves accepting the challenge of finding solutions to what
  appears to
  be unsolvable problems.  Leadership in land stewardship and the environment
  mandates that we resolve the hog lot issue in our state.  We propose a
  reasonable
  solution, shared responsibility with integrators and statewide standards
  based on
  sound science with modifications allowed based on a county's land use plans.
  We pride
  ourselves on our local control of schools and the empowerment of local
  officials to make
  decisions about a broad array of human services.  Aren't local officials as
  qualified to
  help make decisions about their environment?  Let's find a way to give local
  control to
  the siting and location of large livestock facilities.

  Will investing in our natural resources by being a national leader in
  private land
  conservation, our parks, our roadsides, and our trails lead to more Iowans,
  younger
  Iowans, and better-paid Iowans?  Let me tell you the story of Dave Carr and
  Mark
  Chelgren, co-founders of Frog Legs in Vinton.

  Dave grew up in Charles City, graduated in aerospace engineering from Iowa
  State,
  and did his graduate work in California.  He is a cyclist who has ridden 13
  RAGBRAIs,
  and RAGBRAI lured him and native Californian Mark Chelgren back in 1995.  A
  RAGBRAI connection took them to watch a wheelchair rugby match in Colorado.
  Why,
  they wondered, couldn't wheelchairs have the high-performance features of
  the high-
  tech mountain bikes they rode?  An idea was born. By this time, Mark had
  followed his
  heart back to Iowa to marry Janet Comer that he met on RAGBRAI.  The
  business was
  begun in their living room.  He and Dave created a high-tech shock absorber
  for
  wheelchairs, shaped like a frog's leg, hence the company name.  Dave
  Kaufman, a
  native Iowan living in Las Vegas, moved back to become the director of
  marketing.

  Now in their third year of business in Vinton, Iowa, Frog Legs sells
  worldwide and
  has ten employees.

  Quality air, water, and open spaces were Iowa's promise to Dave, Mark, and
  Dave.
  Welcome home to Iowa.
  It can be difficult to know when you are standing at the beginning of a
  scientific
  revolution.  When John Atanasoff and Clifford Berry put together the world's
  first
  digital computer in Ames in 1939, it was doubtful that they knew.  Likewise,
  the
  scientists and businesspeople around this state who are entering a golden
  age of
  discovery in agricultural research, probably can't realize the future
  ramifications of
  their work.  But as I travel to the biocatasis laboratory in Iowa City, and
  hear the
  plans for the new plant sciences center at Iowa State University, and see
  the new,
  leading-edge companies that use plants and animals for products ranging from
  fuels,
  fibers, to pharmacy products,  I can sense that Iowa is uniquely poised to
  become the
  epicenter of a new world food economy.

  Are we as a state going to rise to the challenge and become the food capital
  of the
  world?  It makes sense for us to do so.  We have the infrastructure, the
  knowledge and
  the history of agricultural innovation.

  Let us continue our quest to be the world's food capital for leadership and
  greatness
  in this scientific revolution by increasing funding for the plant science
  center at Iowa
  State University, and by improving the biology program at the University of
  Iowa and
  the biology instruction program at the University of Northern Iowa.

  Working with John Pappajohn and our Department of Economic Development, we
  have identified the nation's best practices for venture capital.  We present
  that to you
  as well. Let us, working together, create a climate where entrepreneurs can
  grow their
  dreams as easily as we grow our corn and beans.

  In doing so, let us create the opportunity to convert the 60% of the raw
  commodities
  grown in our state to value-added products, such as ethanol.  Let us,
  working together,
  figure a way to become the nation's leader in ethanol.

  Value-added agriculture, changing commodities to ingredients, is the key to
  keeping profits and people in Iowa.

  For Iowa to become a national leader in the new economy, rural Iowa must
  grow;
  and for rural Iowa to grow, it needs high-speed Internet access.  Today, I
  call upon all
  of Iowa's private telecommunications companies to meet with me, the Lt.
  Governor,
  and the state's technology and communications officials to develop a
  strategic plan to
  make that happen as quickly as possible.

  Last year, the Lt. Governor convened a group of talented Iowans and
  challenged
  them to provide solutions to skilled work force shortages.  I appreciate her
  efforts and
  the efforts of the 21st Century Workforce Council.  Our budget reflects
  their work.  The
  council confirmed that Iowa's skilled work force shortages derive from our
  stagnant
  population.  But pointed out that our full employment statistics are
  deceiving.  Even
  with record low unemployment levels across the state, there are Iowa
  populations
  experiencing high rates of unemployment.  African-Americans are unemployed
  at
  double-digit rates.  People with disabilities are unemployed at double-digit
  rates.

  We propose the creation of an opportunity fund that would provide resources
  to
  remove the barriers existing to full employment for those Iowans.

  At the start of the new millennium, let us bring Iowa's promise to all of
  its people.

  But, there is another group of Iowans that we should pay attention to in our
  quest
  for skilled workers-Iowa's at-risk students.  No child should be allowed to
  fall through
  the cracks by becoming a high-school dropout or failing to develop needed
  job skills.
  Our budget provides $9.8 million for alternative schools funding for at-risk
  students.
  We also propose the expansion of a public-private partnership started last
  year called
  Jobs for America's Graduates.  This program, currently thriving in 22 other
  states,
  focuses attention and resources on young people who are in the bottom 20
  percent of
  their class.  It has been successful in keeping teenagers in school to
  graduate, and then
  following through for a year after graduation to ensure their continued
  success at work
  or at the next level of education.

  There is more to do.  We have to complete the good work you did last year in
  creating opportunities for enhanced skills for Iowa's workers at our
  community
  colleges.  There needs to be greater flexibility given to the community
  colleges in
  spending the resources provided for infrastructure on equipment.  Financial
  assistance
  must be extended to those interested in upgrading their skills.  Any
  individual willing
  to work hard enough to obtain new skills and to stay in Iowa and use those
  skills
  should not be shut out by the cost of tuition.  The core program, which
  stands for
  career opportunities and resources for education, proposed in this budget
  will add the
  flexibility and financial assistance needed to make a good program even
  better.

  Our skilled worker shortage also can be eased by making Iowa an inviting
  place for
  those coming to America, drawn by its hopes and dreams.  Had it not been for
  newcomers from other countries, Iowa would have experienced an out-migration
  of
  citizens in the last decade.  We must make sure that Iowa lives up to its
  history of a
  welcoming state.  Too often, difficulties exist for immigrants coming to our
  state and
  for the communities in which they settle.  Many Iowa communities, such as
  Storm
  Lake and West Liberty, are working hard on these challenges.  All of Iowa
  should learn
  from their experiences.  We propose developing a number of centers for new
  Iowans,
  run by Iowa WorkForce Development, to help families and communities seize
  the
  opportunity of diversity.  Let freedom's beacon of inclusion shine brightest
  here in the
  heartland.  At the start of the new millennium, let us bring Iowa's promise
  to all of its
  people.

  Can improving the quality of life for new immigrants and being a leader in
  the new
  economy lead to more Iowans, younger Iowans, and better-paid Iowans?  Let me
  tell
  you the story of the West Liberty Elementary School, where half of the
  students come
  from Spanish-speaking homes.  Many of these children's parents work at West
  Liberty
  Foods turkey processing plant.

  Two years ago, the elementary school began an innovative program, aimed at
  producing bright, bilingual students.  Starting in preschool, students who
  volunteered
  for the project were taught in English for half of the school day and in
  Spanish for the
  other half.

  We have with us today 37 first-grade students who are in this dual-language
  program.  Their principal, Nancy Gardner, also is with them, as well as
  several
  teachers.

  Now, these students may be in first grade, but they already know more than I
  do
  regarding languages.  Think of what they'll be able to do in the world
  economy when
  they graduate!

  Students, I've been practicing and I have a question to ask you.  I'll ask
  it in
  Spanish, and you can answer in English.

  My question is:  En cual estado es mejor vivir y estudiar?
  (In what state is it best to live and study?)
  Students answer:  The state of Iowa!
  Muy bien.  Muchas gracias!
  (Very good students.  Thank you!)

  Quality of value-added economic opportuity is our promise to these students.

  State government needs to be more accountable and operated like a business.
  We've started by initiating a massive and comprehensive effort at regulatory
  reform.
  This is just a beginning.

  An accountable government means a government who knows who the boss really
  is.
  It is not the immediate supervisor, or the department head, the Governor, or
  legislative
  leader.  It's the people.  Government is of, for, and by the people.  To
  reach that goal,
  we must reconnect Iowans to their government by making it available 24 hours
  a day,
  seven days a week.  Currently, our state's information technology systems
  are a
  patchwork of computer systems that often are incompatible with each other
  and not
  capable of 24/7 service.  We need an IT department with a dedicated,
  uninterrupted,
  and reliable funding stream for information technology.  Delivering 24/7
  service.

  For years, we have talked about how uncompetitive our tax system is-how high
  our
  highest tax rate appears to be-how it discourages growth and expansion-how
  difficult
  it makes recruiting top talent from outside the state.  Here again, we have
  a choice.  To
  play politics as usual and fail to take action, or solve this problem once
  and for all.  An
  accountable government does what is right for the people, not what is
  politically
  expedient for special interests.  Let's eliminate our high tax rates.  Let's
  simplify our
  tax system.  Let's reduce the number of tax brackets.  Let's eliminate
  federal
  deductibility.  For those who are skeptical that tax rates will creep right
  back up, let's
  recognize who the boss really is in our systems-let's give the people the
  power to vote
  on future tax rate increases.

  An accountable government is also built on trust.  We establish trust by
  guaranteeing that our service is what the customer expects-that is why we
  propose a
  series of money-back guarantees for certain state services such as licenses
  and permits
  to ensure quality and satisfaction.
  We also build trust by the process we use to elect public officials.  Iowa
  needs more
  campaign disclosure and campaign finance reform.

  Voters need fuller disclosure.  They ought to be able to find out who is
  financing
  any candidate.  We should require full disclosure up to Election Day of
  contributions
  and expenditures?  Iowans ought to be able to find out who is paying for the
  telephone
  calls used in a campaign-especially those annoying push poll calls.  We
  should require
  a disclaimer at the end of each call, identifying who is paying for the
  call.

  At some point, the money madness in politics must stop.  Campaigns for
  governor
  should not be about money raised, but issues answered.  There is a better
  way.  Iowa
  should make available public funds, not from tax revenues, but from earned
  interest, to
  candidates for governor who voluntarily agree to limit their spending and
  who have
  broad based support.  Our agenda is about government of, by, and for the
  people-not
  government of, by, and for thousands, tens of thousands or millions of
  dollars in
  contributions.  Better disclosure, public financing, limited spending of
  governor's races
  and term limits for governors put the people back in charge.

  Will quality of life delivered through a more accountable government lead to
  more
  Iowans, younger Iowans and better paid Iowans?  Let me tell you the story of
  Bruce
  Banister of Jefferson, who sells classical guitars through the Internet.
  He's open
  24 hours a day, and epitomizes the new way to be responsive to customers.
  Bruce grew up in Jefferson, and spent years in Spain studying classical
  guitar.  He
  later went to Germany, where he taught and performed.  He began buying and
  selling
  finely made classical guitars to an esoteric group of buyers worldwide.  He
  met and
  married photographer Carola Wicenti there, and she agreed to move back to
  Iowa in
  the summer of 1998.  Bruce realized that his website-based business could be
  headquartered anywhere.  If you want to find him, just type in
  classicalguitarnet.com.
  He says he moved back for Iowa's open spaces slower-paced life, and to be
  close to
  family.
  Quality government is Iowa's promise to Bruce and Carola.  Welcome back to
  Iowa.
  The last part of the quality of life agenda I'll mention today is perhaps
  the most
  basic.  It doesn't do any good to improve education, clean up the
  environment, prevent
  disease, and create a larger and smarter work force if our communities
  aren't safe.
  Safe communities are one of Iowa's basic strengths.  To ensure our safe
  communities,
  we must reduce the supply and demand for illegal drugs.  I remain committed
  to a plan
  we worked on last year to fight the methamphetamine epidemic by adding six
  new
  narcotics agents to the Department of Public Safety this year.  These agents
  will make
  inroads in our war against methamphetamine and other drugs.

  We also propose increasing the staff for our state criminal laboratory to
  aid our
  prosecutors in investigations leading to convictions.  Another tool in our
  effort should
  be the expansion of drug courts.  Drug courts aimed at lower-risk substance
  abusers
  have shown to be successful in lowering the rate of recidivism among its
  graduates.
  We must increase our commitment to community-based corrections as an
  alternative to
  prison for low-risk drug addicts, holding them accountable for their offense
  and
  providing necessary treatment, we need to keep prison beds for more
  dangerous
  criminals.
  We need to avoid losing Iowans, particularly young Iowans, to untimely
  deaths.  It
  is tragic that children are being killed in firearm accidents.  New
  educational programs
  for gun owners will prevent children's access to firearms.  Our sheriffs and
  the
  Department of Public Safety will be working together on this effort.  We
  also need to
  ensure that if handguns do get into the hands of children they not lead to
  accidental
  deaths.  Handguns sold by dealers in Iowa, in the future, should be required
  to have
  safety locks.  We have no hesitation requiring safety caps on aspirin
  bottles-why not
  safety locks on handguns?

  Will safe communities and a focus on worthwhile programs for children lead
  to
  more Iowans, younger Iowans, and better-paid Iowans?  Let me tell you the
  story of
  Deirdre Cleary and her husband Marcos, who moved to Des Moines six months
  ago
  from New York City.

  Deirdre's Iowa connection was from middle school.  She attended middle
  school in
  Nevada, and then moved to California.  She's lived in New York City the past
  13 years,
  although her grandparents still live near Iowa Falls.

  Last summer, she came to the reception for former Iowans which the Human
  Resource Consortium, the Department of Economic Development, and our office
  held in
  New York City.  This was the event that we thought would draw perhaps 200
  former
  Iowans.  More than 800 showed up.  When Dierdre attended the reception and
  talked
  with state officials, she decided to come home.  She and her husband Marcos
  had been
  wanting to own a house in a good neighborhood where they could have one
  thing: a safe
  back yard.  They wanted that back yard for their two sons, Kristofer, age
  seven, and
  Jacob, age 15 months.

  They moved in August.  Dierdre found a job in her field, social work, at
  Mainstream
  Living, as a supported living coordinator for persons with mental
  disabilities.  Marcos,
  who was born and raised in Brooklyn, also found a job quickly.  They are
  renting a
  home, and hope to purchase their own home-with a back yard-soon.

  Quality of safe homes, schools, and communities is Iowa's promise to Deirdre
  and
  her family.  Welcome back to Iowa, Deirdre.  And welcome home to Iowa,
  Kristofer.

  During this past year, I have been energized by meeting with young Iowans
  and
  seeing their hope and enthusiasm for the future.  More than we realize, they
  do listen
  to us and watch what we do.  As I visited schools across our state, I said
  the pledge of
  allegiance more than once.

  Now you know that when you say the pledge, you do a few things.  You stand a
  little straighter and a little taller.  You place your hand over your
  heart-a symbol that
  you are repeating those words in all honesty.  And you look at the American
  flag.

  The words of the pledge stay with you a lifetime, particularly the last
  phrase, which
  is perhaps its most powerful and visionary.  When our forefathers wrote
  "...with liberty
  and justice for all," it was our collective guarantee of safety.

  They did not write:  "...with liberty and justice for all those who share my
  religious
  beliefs."

  They did not write:  "...with liberty and justice for all those who share my
  skin
  color."
  They did not write:  "...with liberty and justice for all those who speak
  the same
  language I do."

  They did not write:  "...with liberty and justice for all those who live as
  I do."

  They wrote:  "...with liberty and justice for all."

  We teach the Pledge of Allegiance to all our children.  They are justified
  in asking
  us if we believe, if we truly believe and live the words we have them
  memorize.

  Do we really believe in liberty and justice for all?  I believe in our heart
  of hearts we
  do.  I believe Iowa can lead the nation in delivering on this guarantee.

  I'd like to invite you here this morning to stand with me, placing our hands
  over
  our hearts, and repeating the words that our country was founded on.  Let us
  stand a
  little taller and a little straighter, and think about these simple words
  that should
  guide our lives-particularly that last phrase.

  "I pledge allegiance to the flag, of the United States of America.  And to
  the
  republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with
  liberty and justice
  for all."

  Over the last two hundred plus years, Americans have fought and died to
  uphold
  that vision of liberty and justice for all.  We owe a debt of gratitude to
  those veterans,
  which is why we propose fully funding Iowa's share of the World War II
  memorial.

  Please remain standing as I close.  We have now said the Pledge of
  Allegiance.  It
  will be a sign of our individual and our collective integrity, whether we
  live by those
  words and act by them when we take action in this Chamber, in the Senate
  Chamber
  and in the Governor's office.  It will be a sign of our collective
  leadership that we
  improve our quality of life and realize Iowa's promise.

  As we make our communities safer, our schools better, our health care more
  accessible, our environment cleaner, our crops and workers more valuable,
  and our
  government more accountable, people will come.  As we build on our strengths
  of fertile
  soil and fertile minds, people will come.  As Ray Kinsella was told in the
  movie Field of
  Dreams about our fields of opportunities:  "People will come.  They will
  come to Iowa
  for reasons they can't even fathom.  Oh, people will come, Ray.  People will
  most
  definitely come."

  May your God, my God, and our God bless this great state and its people.

  Thank you.

  Governor Vilsack was escorted from the House Chamber by the
  committee previously appointed.

  Representative Rants moved that the joint convention be
  dissolved, which motion prevailed by a voice vote.

  The Senate returned to the Senate Chamber.
  APPENDIX

  REPORTS OF COMMITTEE MEETINGS

  APPROPRIATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE ON ADMINISTRATION AND
  REGULATION

  Convened:  January 10, 2000, 3:30 p.m.

  Members Present:  Redwine, Chair; Bartz, Vice Chair; Flynn and Sexton.

  Members Absent:  McCoy, Ranking Member (excused).

  Committee Business:  Organizational meeting.

  Adjourned:  4:00 p.m.

  APPROPRIATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

  Convened:  January 10, 2000, 3:30 p.m.

  Members Present:  Rehberg, Chair; Redfern, Vice Chair; Horn, Ranking Member;
  and Kibbie.

  Members Absent:  McLaren (excused).

  Committee Business:  Committee organization, discussion of distribution of
  agency's
  reductions for FY 2000, and presentation by Department of Management (to
  answer
  questions about 2000 reductions).

  Adjourned:  4:30 p.m.

  APPROPRIATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE ON HEALTH AND HUMAN RIGHTS

  Convened:  January 10, 2000, 3:40 p.m.

  Members Present:  Rife, Chair; Zieman, Vice Chair; Bolkcom, Ranking Member;
  Dearden and McKibben.

  Members Absent:  None.

  Committee Business:  Organizational meeting.

  Adjourned:  3:54 p.m.

  APPROPRIATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE ON HUMAN SERVICES

  Convened:  January 10, 2000, 3:46 p.m.

  Members Present:  Tinsman, Chair; Veenstra, Vice Chair; Hammond, Ranking
  Member; Miller and Szymoniak.
  Members Absent:  None.

  Committee Business:  Accepted Governor's proposed budget reduction
  recommendation.

  Adjourned:  4:31 p.m.

  APPROPRIATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE ON JUSTICE SYSTEM

  Convened:  January 10, 2000, 3:35 p.m.

  Members Present:  Maddox, Chair; Angelo, Vice Chair; Dvorsky, Ranking
  Member;
  and Fraise.

  Members Absent:  McKean (excused).

  Committee Business:  Organizational meeting and discussion of
  deappropriations.

  Adjourned:  4:05 p.m.

  APPROPRIATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE ON OVERSIGHT AND
  COMMUNICATIONS

  Convened:  January 10, 2000, 3:30 p.m.

  Members Present:  King, Chair; Lundby, Vice Chair; Deluhery, Ranking Member;
  Harper and Rittmer.

  Members Absent:  None.

  Committee Business:  Organizational meeting.

  Adjourned:  3:58 p.m.

  APPROPRIATIONS

  Convened:  January 11, 2000, 8:10 a.m.

  Members Present:  McLaren, Chair; Kramer, Vice Chair; Flynn, Ranking Member;
  Behn, Black, Bolkcom, Connolly, Deluhery, Dvorsky, Freeman, Hammond, Hedge,
  Horn, Jensen, Johnson, King, Lamberti, Maddox, Redwine, Rehberg, Rife,
  Schuerer,
  Soukup, and Tinsman.

  Members Absent:  McCoy (excused).

  Committee Business:  Approved SSB 3000, as amended.

  Recessed:  8:50 a.m.

  Reconvened:  January 11, 2000, 9:12 a.m.

  Adjourned:  9:18 a.m.
  BUSINESS AND LABOR RELATIONS

  Convened:  January 11, 2000, 1:47 p.m.

  Members Present:  McKibben, Chair; Freeman, Vice Chair; Behn, Hedge, King,
  Rife,
  and Schuerer.

  Members Absent:  Dearden, Ranking Member; Fraise, Hansen, and Horn (all
  excused).

  Committee Business:  Organizational meeting.

  Adjourned:  1:52 p.m.

  COMMERCE

  Convened:  January 11, 2000, 2:50 p.m.

  Members Present:  Jensen, Chair; Maddox, Vice Chair; Deluhery, Ranking
  Member;
  Bolkcom, Gronstal, Hansen, King, Lamberti, Lundby, McCoy, Redfern, Redwine,
  and
  Schuerer.

  Members Absent:  Flynn and Johnson (both excused).

  Committee Business:  Organizational meeting and subcommittee assignment.

  Adjourned:  3:05 p.m.

  EDUCATION

  Convened:  January 11, 2000, 1:45 p.m.

  Members Present:  Redfern, Chair; Rehberg, Vice Chair; Connolly, Ranking
  Member;
  Angelo, Boettger, Dvorsky, Fink, Gaskill, Harper, Redwine, Sexton, Shearer,
  Szymoniak, Tinsman, and Veenstra.

  Members Absent:  None.

  Committee Business:  Organizational meeting.

  Recessed:  1:46 p.m.

  Reconvened:  January 11, 2000, 2:10 p.m.

  Adjourned:  2:15 p.m.

  HUMAN RESOURCES

  Convened:  January 11, 2000, 2:25 p.m.

  Members Present:  Boettger, Chair; Redwine, Vice Chair; Szymoniak, Ranking
  Member; Behn, Dvorsky, Harper, Schuerer, Shearer, Tinsman, and Veenstra.
  Members Absent:  Bartz, Hammond, and Miller (all excused).

  Committee Business:  Organizational meeting.

  Adjourned:  2:40 p.m.

  JUDICIARY

  Convened:  January 11, 2000, 3:34 p.m.

  Members Present:  McKean, Chair; Lamberti, Vice Chair; Hansen, Ranking
  Member;
  Angelo, Boettger, Dvorsky, Fraise, Hammond, Horn, Maddox, McCoy, McKibben,
  Miller, Redfern, and Tinsman.

  Members Absent:  None.

  Committee Business:  Subcommittee assignments and discussion of bills
  considered
  dead.

  Adjourned:  3:58 p.m.

  TRANSPORTATION

  Convened:  January 11, 2000, 2:20 p.m.

  Members Present:  Drake, Chair; Sexton, Vice Chair; McCoy, Ranking Member;
  Fink, Fraise, Freeman, Jensen, Judge, McKean, McKibben, Rittmer, and Zieman.

  Members Absent:  Kibbie (excused).

  Committee Business:  Organizational meeting.

  Adjourned:  2:52 p.m.

  CERTIFICATE OF RECOGNITION

  The Secretary of the Senate issued the following certificate of
  recognition:

  Kelli L. Dolan, Dubuque - For achieving the highest award in Girl Scouting,
  the
  Girl Scout Gold Award. Senator Connolly (01/10/00).

  INTRODUCTION OF RESOLUTION

  Senate Joint Resolution 2001, by Fraise, a joint resolution
  designating the channel catfish as the official state fish for the State
  of Iowa.
  Read first time under Rule 28 and referred to committee on State
  Government.

  INTRODUCTION OF BILLS

  Senate File 2011, by Redwine, a bill for an act allowing teaching
  parents to provide driver education instruction.

  Read first time under Rule 28 and referred to committee on
  Transportation.

  Senate File 2012, by Rehberg, a bill for an act concerning
  unemployment compensation by relieving unemployment
  compensation charges for employees who become unemployed due to
  a presidentially declared disaster.

  Read first time under Rule 28 and referred to committee on State
  Government.

  Senate File 2013, by committee on Appropriations, a bill for an
  act relating to state budgetary matters by providing for reductions
  and supplementation of appropriations for the fiscal year beginning
  July 1, 1999, transferring, crediting, and appropriating certain
  moneys, and providing effective dates.

  Read first time under Rule 28 and placed on Appropriations
  calendar.

  SUBCOMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS

  Senate Concurrent Resolution 102

  NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENT:  Bartz, Chair; Fink and Gaskill

  Senate File 2002

  JUDICIARY:  Hansen, Chair; McKibben and Miller

  Senate File 2003

  WAYS AND MEANS:  Hedge, Chair; Bartz and Flynn

  Senate File 2004

  WAYS AND MEANS:  Lamberti, Chair; Deluhery and Johnson
  Senate File 2007

  JUDICIARY:  Boettger, Chair; Fraise and McKean

  Senate File 2008

  JUDICIARY:  McKibben, Chair; Hammond and Tinsman

  Senate File 2009

  LOCAL GOVERNMENT:  Miller, Chair; Hammond and McKibben

  COMMITTEE REPORT

  APPROPRIATIONS

  Final Bill Action:  *SENATE FILE 2013 (SSB 3000), a bill for an act relating
  to state
  budgetary matters by providing for reductions and supplementation of
  appropriations for
  the fiscal year beginning July 1, 1999, transferring, crediting, and
  appropriating certain
  moneys, and providing effective dates.

  Recommendation:  APPROVED COMMITTEE BILL.

  Final Vote:  Ayes, 24:  McLaren, Kramer, Flynn, Behn, Black, Bolkcom,
  Connolly,
  Deluhery, Dvorsky, Freeman, Hammond, Hedge, Horn, Jensen, Johnson, King,
  Lamberti, Maddox, Redwine, Rehberg, Rife, Schuerer, Soukup, and Tinsman.
  Nays,
  none. Absent or not voting, 1:  McCoy.

  Fiscal Note:  NOT REQUIRED UNDER JOINT RULE 17.

  *Pursuant to Senate Rule 40, the Legislative Service Bureau reported
  nonsubstantive
  changes to the members of the Appropriations Committee on Senate File 2013,
  and
  they were attached to the committee report.

  ADJOURNMENT

  On motion of Senator Iverson, the Senate adjourned at 11:15 a.m.,
  until 9:00 a.m., Wednesday, January 12, 2000.
  28	JOURNAL OF THE SENATE	2nd Day
  2nd Day	TUESDAY, JANUARY 11, 2000	27

© 2000 Cornell College and League of Women Voters of Iowa

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