Senate Resolution 116 PAG LIN 1 1 SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 1 2 BY DVORSKY 1 3 A Resolution honoring the Iowa Democratic Party and the 1 4 Republican Party of Iowa for outstanding achievements in 1 5 bringing about nationwide recognition for the 2004 1 6 presidential precinct caucuses. 1 7 WHEREAS, every two years the major political 1 8 parties in the State of Iowa hold precinct caucuses to 1 9 select delegates from each major political party to 1 10 attend the county conventions; and 1 11 WHEREAS, since 1976, the precinct caucuses held in 1 12 presidential election years by the two major political 1 13 parties have been used for determining support for 1 14 presidential candidates and have served as the 1 15 nation's first important test of the presidential 1 16 candidates; and 1 17 WHEREAS, Iowa voters are civic=minded citizens who 1 18 take their caucus responsibilities seriously; and 1 19 WHEREAS, the presidential precinct caucuses held in 1 20 January 2004 benefited Iowa's economy by bringing 1 21 thousands of volunteers to the state for several 1 22 months, by serving as a base for national media and 1 23 for nationally telecast news and interview shows, and 1 24 by showcasing Iowa to citizens throughout the world; 1 25 and 1 26 WHEREAS, Gordon Fischer, Chairman of the Iowa 1 27 Democratic Party, ably served as a spokesperson for 1 28 the Iowa Democratic Party during the caucuses, 1 29 coordinating the efforts of thousands of Democratic 1 30 Party activists as the Iowa Democratic Party 2 1 successfully hosted caucuses in the 1,997 precincts, 2 2 and allowed preferences among the many Democratic 2 3 presidential candidates to be considered and 2 4 candidates to be selected by the participants; and 2 5 WHEREAS, Leon Mosley, Cochairman of the Republican 2 6 Party of Iowa, ably served as a spokesperson for the 2 7 Republican Party of Iowa during the caucuses, 2 8 coordinating the efforts of thousands of Republican 2 9 Party activists as the Republican Party of Iowa 2 10 successfully hosted caucuses in the 1,997 precincts 2 11 and allowed the participants to record their support 2 12 for President George W. Bush and to work on party 2 13 platforms for the 2004 general election; NOW 2 14 THEREFORE, 2 15 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE, That the Senate 2 16 extends its heartiest congratulations to the Iowa 2 17 Democratic Party and the Republican Party of Iowa, for 2 18 their outstanding achievements in bringing about 2 19 nationwide recognition for the January 2004 2 20 presidential precinct caucuses; and 2 21 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That an official copy of 2 22 this Resolution be prepared and presented to Chairman 2 23 Gordon Fischer of the Iowa Democratic Party and to 2 24 Cochairman Leon Mosley of the Republican Party of 2 25 Iowa. 2 26 LSB 6349SS 80 2 27 rj/sh/8