House Journal: Page 1515: Friday, April 12, 2002
I want to thank all the people who make this place run - the clerks, the Chief Clerk
and her staff, the doorkeepers, and our nonpartisan agencies.
I want to thank my staff - Carolyn and Mark - and our caucus staff - Paulee, Dave,
Dean, Jenifer, Mary, Joe, Ed, Anna and Tom.
I think many people on both sides of the aisle put a lot of work into this session.
The budget problems we faced this year were formidable. But I have to say that,
despite what may have been good intentions, I am disappointed at how this session
turned out.
I am disappointed that we did not work together the way that I know we can.
We wasted too much time on things that, either because of our actions or the
Governor’s, would not become law. Our budget subcommittees really were not given a
chance to do their work. They were forced to start their work too late, and when they
had completed their work it was sometimes ignored.
We had an opportunity this year, provided to us by a tight budget, to modernize and
streamline state government, but we did not. Instead of making fundamental decisions
about priorities, we just nickel and dimed state departments. I did not think our
budget contained a vision for Iowa or addressed our fundamental problems.
When we began the session Democrats said we wanted to protect Iowans’ economic
security now and provide growth for Iowa’s future.
We worked with Republicans to pass a good series of venture capital and investor-
friendly initiatives. That was a highlight of this session.
But we also came here to continue progress in keeping our public schools the best in
the nation, and to improve health care for seniors and children. Instead, at best we
maintained the commitments we made last year.
We have a fundamental underlying problem in this state - we are losing too many of
our best and brightest children. No child should have to leave his or her hometown and
family to find a good job. Our goal must be to provide better opportunities for our kids
after they graduate.
We have differences about how to do that, but we need to put aside partisanship
and work through those differences for the common good.
We are leaving here with our work undone. We will certainly be back here again
and probably sooner than later. When we come back, we stand ready to work with you
and Governor Vilsack on a budget that we all support.
I have enjoyed working with Speaker Siegrist and Majority Leader Rants these past
two years. I want to thank you for the courtesy and assistance you have shown me.
REMARKS BY MAJORITY LEADER RANTS
Majority Leader Rants offered the following remarks:
© 2002 Cornell College and
League of Women Voters of Iowa
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