The Iowa Senate

State of Iowa

Eighty-Second General Assembly

STATEHOUSE

Des Moines, Iowa  50319

 

For Immediate Release                                                                                        Contact:  Ron Wieck, (712) 251-4586

Friday, April 26, 2008                                                                                                            Mark Zieman  (563) 880-0012

                                                                                                                                                  David Johnson, (712) 348-2953

                                                                                                                                               

                                                                                                  

Senate Republican “Truth Tour” Sheds Light on 2008 Legislative Session

Primarily bad bills passed this year

 

DES MOINES – The legislative session ended this week and Senate Republicans are kicking off their annual “Truth Tour” to discuss the 2008 legislative session and it’s negative overtone.

 

“Many of the important decisions made this legislative session were done behind closed doors,” said Senate Minority Leader Ron Wieck (R-Sioux City).  “The Democrat majority had an agenda they pushed this year and we want Iowans to know the truth about that agenda.”

 

Senate Republicans are giving this legislative session a failing grade, proclaiming the Democrat-controlled Senate worked hard to undo everything positive done in previous sessions.  “We saw too many bad bills passed this year.  Democrats are growing government and taking away Iowan’s rights,” stated Senator Wieck.

 

Several other pieces of legislation passed in the Senate that will have negative, long-term effects on Iowa.  Among those bills, Iowa’s Chapter 20 Collective Bargaining law was gutted while taxes and fees were increased to the tune of over $500 million.  As many bills were rushed through the Senate chamber, it was clear that decisions were made behind closed doors in a partisan manner.

 

“The Senate Democrats have conducted a lot of business under the cloak of darkness.  Republicans didn’t receive budget numbers until the very end of session making it awfully difficult to make informed decisions for Iowans,” said Senator Wieck.

 

Over the past two years the Democratic majority have increased the budget by 13 percent or nearly three quarters of a billion dollars.  This, combined with nearly $700 million in tax increases has created a tax and spend liberal attitude in Des Moines. 

 

“Too many bad bills passed in the Senate and common sense needs to be restored under the Golden Dome.  We’re doing the “Truth Tour” to get the real story to Iowans,” said Senator Wieck.

 

 

 

###