Senate Journal: Page 3: Monday, January 14, 2002
We recognize these public servants and their families today, as they protect our
best interests—freedom and liberty—here in Iowa, across the country, and around the
world. We thank also the employers and the communities and families who are
experiencing the effects of the citizen-soldiers call to duty.
In the words of John Curran, "The condition of which God has given liberty to man
is eternal vigilance." We thank you for your vigilance on our behalf.
Theodore Roosevelt said, "Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance
to work hard at work worth doing."
Friends and colleagues, what we do here is work worth doing.
And this year there is lots of that worthwhile work.
The prophecy for the session is "Ain't It Awful?" Everyone has had a voice in
defining the problems for us. They are many and difficult. As leaders in the state, it is
now up to us to seek and to find solutions. We have heard all the reasons why we can't
find those solutions. Let's not allow that to become a self-fulfilling prophecy. As the
Greek philosopher Syrus said, "Anyone can steer the ship in calm water."
And as my Irish grandmother knew so well, when there seem to be no solutions,
seek them lovingly. To do so will assure that our behaviors, as well as our decisions,
are worthy of scrutiny.
Iowa deserves our best.
I close with a story: A pastor set out on a long journey. He visited many churches
along the way, and in most found a golden telephone with a sign beside it that said,
"Five minutes-$10,000." When asked, the pastor of each church explained, "That's our
direct line to God." Finally the traveler reached Iowa, and in the first church came
upon the golden telephone. But the sign said, "Five minutes-35 cents." When asked,
the pastor explained, "You're in Iowa now—it's a local call."
And so we begin!
REMARKS BY THE MAJORITY LEADER
Senator Iverson addressed the Senate as follows:
I want to take this opportunity to welcome all of you back for the 2002 Regular
Session of the 79th General Assembly. I think that the word "opportunity" best
describes this legislative session. It will be an opportunity to pay tribute to our
freedom—something that we have seen and will continue to do this morning and
throughout the legislative session.
We need to look at our state’s budget shortfall as an opportunity instead of an
obstacle. It is an opportunity to remake state government to ensure that every tax-
dollar that is taken from hard-working Iowans is spent in a wise and efficient manner.
© 2002 Cornell College and
League of Women Voters of Iowa
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