The Senate

State of Iowa

Eighty-second General Assembly

STATEHOUSE

Des Moines, Iowa 50319

 

 

 

                       

 

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                                                                 Contact:  Kimberly Steenhoek

Monday, Jan. 8, 2007                                                                                                                                                                (515) 281-6571

 

Lundby:  I Look Forward to Session of Good, Balanced Bipartisan Policy

 

DES MOINES – Iowa Senate Minority Leader Mary Lundby (R-Marion) today delivered the following remarks on the opening day of the 82nd General Assembly:

 

Thank you Mr. President,

 

Mr. President, Senators and our esteemed guests, welcome to the Senate and the beginning of the 82nd General Assembly.  To the newly elected Senators, I offer my sincere hope for a good and productive session; and to those returning to the place we know and, on occasion, enjoy, I wish you all a good and productive session, as well. 

 

Over the last couple of weeks, I have taken the opportunity to read past speeches given by the “man with unseen power, the most powerful Iowa politician”,   Senator Mike Gronstal, the new Senate Majority leader.   Senator Gronstal offered many words of wisdom in those speeches and I have a few quotes that I thought truly set the right tone going into the 82nd General Assembly.

 

Quoted from Senator Mike Gronstal’s opening remarks to the 77th GA:

“In my campaign last fall, while knocking on thousands of doors, I never heard a citizen suggest that we needed Republican solutions…and I also never heard one say we needed Democratic solutions.  They expect us to listen to each other and recognize that neither party has all the answers and together we can find common sense solutions to the challenges that confront us.” 

 

How true, Senator Gronstal. 

 

And this quote from the opening of the 78th GA:

“After a contentious campaign, it is hard, at times, to forget that elections are about defining differences between ourselves and our opponents, but governing is about finding common ground to deal with the issues that face our state.” 

 

Once again, Senator Gronstal, you speak the truth.

 

And this one from the 80th GA:

 “ History tells us that we are at our best in the Iowa Legislature when we sit down, resolve our differences, and move ahead with confidence and boldness. When we are together and bold, the people of Iowa – whether Republican or Democrat – are the winners.” 

 

I want Senator Gronstal to know, from day one, we agree.

 

Of course, bi-partisanship serves the best interest of all Iowans.  And with ten years of comments indicating your continuing support for Democrats and Republicans working together, I am looking forward to a session where we produce good, balanced bipartisan policy. 

 

And make no mistake; Republicans intend to bring our constituents voices to the table.  We will work with Democrats when legislation represents the best interest of all Iowans.

 

·        When Senate Democrats propose legislation that takes a pragmatic approach to the environment, understanding the need for balance between agriculture, small business and quality of life, Senate Republicans will work with you. 

 

·        When Senate Democrats propose legislation that returns our budget surpluses to the taxpayers and not squandered on unnecessary expansion of state government, Senate Republicans will work with you. 

 

·        When Senate Democrats propose legislation that supports a common sense approach to public safety, which will maintain our ranking as the 2nd safest state in the country, Senate Republicans will work with you. 

 

·        When Senate Democrats propose legislation that boldly addresses our crisis in property tax policy through full scale reform and not simple shifts in the property tax burden that represents a stop-gap approach, Senate Republicans will work with you. 

 

·        When Senate Democrats propose legislation to increase teacher salaries, to treat teachers as professionals and not a mere bargaining unit, and insist on accountability, standards and results, Senate Republicans will work with you. 

 

·        When Senate Democrats propose legislation that helps all Iowans access affordable health care and assists small businesses by providing private sector solutions to health care, Senate Republicans will work with you. 

 

Senate Republicans whole heartedly agree with Majority Leader Gronstal’s long term goal of creating a bipartisan environment in the Iowa Senate.  I look forward to the long days in this session where Democratic and Republican bills and amendments will find equal time on the floor, where the debate on the Senate floor will be engaging and bipartisan and where good policy is made that reflects the best, bipartisan interests of all Iowans.

 

It is possible to find the middle ground and build a long list of accomplishments during this first session of the 82nd General Assembly, it simply requires that we listen to each other with optimism, hope and enough curiosity to find our common interests.  I wish you all good health and a happy and productive legislative session.  Let’s get to work!

 

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