Senate Journal: Page 4: Monday, January 8, 2001

  Although we have many challenges ahead of us, we also have many
  opportunities.
  As Senators, we are in the position to make Iowa schools the best in the
  nation, and we
  can do that by enhancing student achievement.

  Continuing to do what we do best, we can make Iowa's economy more
  competitive
  by diversification and by working to create more opportunities for the
  citizens of Iowa.

  We need to continue to promote industry in Iowa.  This can be achieved by
  supporting and promoting the Right to Work law.  Iowa's status as a Right to
  Work
  state is an important tool for luring good-paying jobs to Iowa, most
  especially in the
  rural areas.  We must also continue to promote value-added agriculture and
  embrace
  the growing field of biotechnology.

  These goals that I have outlined aren't just my goals; they are 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.  We have for six consecutive
  years voted
  overwhelmingly to reduce taxes on hardworking families.  We have worked
  together to
  improve our schools.  We have worked together to clean up our environment
  while
  strengthening our economy.

  Not all of our ideas become law, but we still must remain committed this
  session
  and into the future to developing solid solutions to the problems facing
  Iowans.

  Finally, I also want to take this opportunity to thank the administrative
  staff and
  the staff of the central agencies for all the hard work they have provided
  in the past,
  and for their efforts in the upcoming session.  I look forward to working on
  these issues
  with each and every one of you.

  REMARKS BY THE MINORITY LEADER

  Senator Gronstal addressed the Senate as follows:

  Thank you, Madam President.
  Madam President and ladies and gentlemen of the Senate.  First of all, I'd
  like to
  welcome everyone back this year, the new members, those of you that moved
  from the
  lower chamber to the upper chamber, those who won re-election last fall on
  the
  campaign trail and the holdover Senators; it is good to see you.

  Normally, these opening day speeches provide a litany of issues designed to
  appeal
  to a host of different constituencies and interest groups.  I'm going to
  depart from that
  tradition today and talk about just one issue: Who will teach our children?

  Yesterday, I drove to Cedar Falls to drop off my younger daughter at UNI.
  Sara is
  pursuing a degree in elementary education and wants to specialize in
  talented and
  gifted.  I'm proud of her.  We all know from experience and from research
  that good
  teachers make a difference in the lives of students.  In fact, the quality
  of the classroom
  teacher is the single most important predictor of student success.

© 2001 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: Sun Jan 13 11:17:37 CST 2002
URL: /DOCS/GA/79GA/Session.1/SJournal/00000/00004.html
jhf