House Journal: Page 43: Tuesday, January 15, 2002
and beans into cures for illnesses, like Kemin; the next high-tech manufacturing firm
like Rockwell-Collins; and the next information solutions business-which could develop
into the next Principal.
This year we celebrate the five-year anniversary of Iowa’s welfare reform program -
one of the models for national reform. Over 98% of families who signed up for Family
Investment Plan benefits five years ago have moved off the welfare rolls within the
five-year limit. We’re proud of their success. And we’re proud of Iowa’s success in
making work a priority, breaking the cycle of dependency, and helping families become
independent and self-sufficient.
While we take steps to encourage the development of new economy opportunities,
let us not forget those who have made the successful journey from welfare to work and
other hard-working Iowans currently working at minimum wage. Today, over 100,000
Iowans, many of them women, many of them raising families, earn at or near the
minimum wage. These Iowans work a full productive week but still struggle to meet
even the most basic of needs. As we consider millions of dollars of help for Iowan
entrepreneurs and well-educated Iowans, can we not also find the political will to raise
the minimum wage? Hard work’s reward should be the dignity of self-sufficiency.
We face another great challenge that we must address this year. It is a challenge
that threatens the quality-of-life in communities across our state.
During the last 12 months, I’ve traveled to all 99 counties, walked over 100 miles,
and talked with thousands of Iowans. I know Iowans care about their natural
resources-particularly the quality of our water and air. They appreciate our efforts
with the Clean Water Initiative, begun two years ago, to encourage private land
conservation.
However, I can tell you that no issue generates more discussion about the
environment than hog confinements. For three years, I’ve asked for your help to
reunite Iowans to solve this issue. I am heartened by early indication of the
legislature’s willingness to do so.
Today, I renew my commitment to work with you to find a solution, whatever it
may be-local control or tougher enforcement authority. We must work cooperatively to
balance the rights and liberties of livestock producers and their neighbors in order to
preserve Iowa’s quality of life.
Of course solving the confinement issue alone won’t assure the future of rural Iowa.
I am concerned about debates that seem to pit rural Iowa vs. urban Iowa. We cannot
afford to be two Iowa's. We are-and we must be-one Iowa. Our work should ensure
economic opportunity in every one of our 99 counties. I stand ready and willing to work
with the legislature to make sure that, no matter where you live or work in Iowa, you
can dream big dreams-and make them real.
Our vision for Iowa’s future is expansive, but not expensive:
We can make Iowa government work better and smarter. We can ask the private
sector to do its fair share through a decent minimum wage and mental health and
substance abuse parity.
© 2002 Cornell College and
League of Women Voters of Iowa
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