Senate Journal: Page 3: Monday, January 8, 2001

  Disciplined government spending that allows us to restore dollars to Iowa
  families,
  because they will make wise choices that benefit us all.

  So here we are-January 8, 2001-a new General Assembly.

  Lots of talk and lots of speculation:  "Who will run and for what?"  "How
  much
  partisanship and conflict will occur?"  "When will the 'honeymoon' be over?"
  "How
  many firemen-first mentalities?"  "Who will focus only on the controversial,
  and so
  delay or prevent important work from being accomplished?"

  We can make one another "look bad."  We can offer amendments to catch each
  other
  on "bad" votes.  We can shine the light on the "splits," partisanship,
  chamber
  differences, rural/urban.

  There is equal-or perhaps more-potential to squander our opportunities than
  there is to seize the opportunities we have been given by our constituents.

  Martin Luther King said, "The measure of a man is not where he stands in
  moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of
  challenge and
  controversy."

  Today, we are at a moment of comfort and convenience.  Our tests will come
  during
  moments of challenge and controversy.

  So perhaps we should practice the old Swedish proverb, "Fear less, hope
  more; eat
  less, chew more; whine less, breathe more; talk less, say more; hate less,
  love more; and
  all good things will be ours."

  REMARKS BY THE MAJORITY LEADER

  Senator Iverson addressed the Senate as follows:

  I want to welcome all the Senators, staff, and visitors who are present
  today for the
  opening of the 2001 Regular Session of the 79th General Assembly.  Isn't it
  exciting to
  be here again?  I especially want to extend a warm welcome to those new
  Senators who
  are joining us for the first time today.  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 than the rest.  We must continue to work toward a responsible
  and
  balanced budget that reflects the priorities of Iowans.  That is our job.

  One way of ensuring the continued growth and prosperity of our great state
  is to
  adhere to the 99% spending limit bill that was passed some years ago.  We
  will
  continue to promote Iowa values by limiting the growth of government and
  wasteful
  spending.  We must put a greater emphasis on the family budget and a smaller
  emphasis on the government budget.  By providing meaningful tax relief and
  eliminating wasteful spending, we are investing in Iowa's families and our
  people.

© 2001 Cornell College and League of Women Voters of Iowa

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