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Borg: AT THE IOWA STATEHOUSE, THE PROCESS OF LINING UP VOTES AND MAJOR APPROPRIATIONS BILLS IS DELAYING ADJOURNMENT OF THE 78TH IOWA GENERAL ASSEMBLY. WE'LL REVIEW THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION OF 2000 WITH OUR TEAM OF IOWA STATEHOUSE REPORTERS ON THIS EDITION OF IOWA PRESS.

FUNDING FOR IOWA PRESS WAS PROVIDED BY FRIENDS OF IOWA PUBLIC TELEVISION. AND BY THE IOWA BANKERS ASSOCIATION... FOR PERSONAL, BUSINESS, AND COMMERCIAL NEEDS, IOWA BANKS HELP IOWANS REACH THEIR FINANCIAL GOALS. AND BY THE ASSOCIATED GENERAL CONTRACTORS OF IOWA, THE PUBLIC'S PARTNER IN BUILDING IOWA'S HIGHWAY, BRIDGE, AND MUNICIPAL UTILITY INFRASTRUCTURE.

THIS IS THE SUNDAY, APRIL 23^rd EDITION OF IOWA PRESS. HERE IS DEAN BORG.

Borg: TOMORROW MORNING THE IOWA LEGISLATIVE SESSION OF 2000 RECONVENES, AND LEGISLATIVE LEADERS HOPE TO ADJOURN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY DURING THIS COMING WEEK. THIS PAST TUESDAY, APRIL 18, WAS THE 100TH DAY OF THE SCHEDULED 100-DAY LEGISLATIVE SESSION. THE SECOND TARGET DATE FOR ADJOURNMENT WAS THIS PAST THURSDAY. BUT THE SESSION CONTINUES. THERE ARE LATE-SESSION ISSUES TO BE DEALT WITH BEFORE THE GAVEL DOES COME DOWN ON ADJOURNMENT, AS IOWA'S 150 ELECTED SENATORS AND REPRESENTATIVES COMPLETE LEGISLATIVE ACTION ON THE NEW BUDGET AND SEND IT ON TO GOVERNOR TOM VILSACK. THERE ARE ALSO SOME NONBUDGET ISSUES TO BE SETTLED. WE GATHER TODAY TO DISCUSS THOSE ISSUES WITH OUR TEAM OF STATEHOUSE REPORTERS. DAVID YEPSEN OF THE DES MOINES REGISTER IS HERE, KAY HENDERSON OF RADIO IOWA, MIKE GLOVER OF THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, AND KATHIE OBRADOVICH OF THE LEE NEWSPAPERS. KATHIE, WHAT'S LEFT ON THE CALENDAR?

Obradovich: WELL, AS YOU MENTIONED, DEAN, THEY ARE NOT GETTING PAID ANYMORE. THEY'RE NOT GETTING THEIR EXPENSE CHECK, AND YET THEY'RE ARGUING MAINLY ABOUT MONEY. A LOT OF WHAT'S LEFT TO DO IS THE BUDGET, CLOSE TO A $5-BILLION BUDGET. THE GOVERNOR IS STILL NEGOTIATING WITH REPUBLICAN LEGISLATIVE LEADERS ABOUT WHAT SHOULD BE IN THAT BUDGET. SOME OF THE BIG THINGS THAT ARE STILL LEFT TO DO ARE HIGHER EDUCATION. THE GOVERNOR WANTS A LOT MORE MONEY FOR THE STATE'S UNIVERSITIES. THERE'S A FEW ISSUES DEALING WITH THE JUSTICE SYSTEMS, CORRECTIONS, AND ALSO TECHNOLOGY. THE GOVERNOR HAD A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF MONEY IN HIS BUDGET FOR TECHNOLOGY AND REPUBLICANS HAVEN'T FUNDED IT UP TO HIS SATISFACTION YET.

Glover: DEAN, THE ONLY THING THAT THEY HAVEN'T AGREED ON IS HOW MUCH OF YOUR MONEY THEY'RE GOING TO SPEND AND WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO SPEND IT. FUNDAMENTALLY, THAT GOVERNOR ALL SESSION LONG, WHO WANTS TO SPEND MORE THAN THE LEGISLATORS WANT TO SPEND. THEY SPENT A LOT OF THIS SESSION DODGING THAT ISSUE, SAYING, "WELL, WE'LL TALK ABOUT IT WHEN THE TIME COMES." THE TIME HAS NOW COME. THEY'RE EVENTUALLY GOING TO SPLIT THE DIFFERENCE, BUT I HAVE A FUNNY FEELING THAT, IN THIS SESSION, SOME THINGS SIMPLY AREN'T GOING TO GET FUNDED AT LEVELS THAT PEOPLE WANT.

Borg: WELL, YOU SAY THAT NEGOTIATIONS ARE GOING ON. THAT'S A VERY KIND WORD. IT ALWAYS SEEMS THAT THOSE THINGS THAT ARE LEFT TO THE END, AS YOU SUGGEST, MIKE, ARE THE CONTENTIOUS ISSUES. WHAT'S CONTENTIOUS, KAY, ABOUT WHAT'S LEFT?

Henderson: THEY DON'T WANT TO MAKE A DECISION. IT'S HARD TO MAKE A DECISION; IT'S HARD TO SAY NO TO PEOPLE. LEGISLATORS, IN THE END, ARE GOING TO HAVE TO SAY NO TO SOME FOLKS AND, HERETOFORE, THEY HAVEN'T SHOWN THE BACKBONE TO DO IT.

Yepsen: I THINK THE RUNT OF THE LITTER, SO TO SPEAK, IS THE REGENTS INSTITUTIONS. IF YOU LOOK AT THIS SESSION, THEY SPENT THE MONEY ON THINGS THEY CAN AGREE ON. WELL, WE'LL GIVE A LOT MORE MONEY TO LOCAL SCHOOLS. THAT'S FINE. HAND MORE OUT FOR ENVIRONMENT. THAT'S FINE. YOU GET DOWN TO THE END GAME HERE, AND THE STATE BOARD OF REGENTS AND THE STATE UNIVERSITIES ARE THE ONES THAT ARE COMING UP SHORT. DEAN, IT IS REALLY HARD FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE AT THE STATE UNIVERSITIES TO REALIZE HOW UNPOPULAR THEY ARE AT THE LEGISLATURE. GOVERNOR VILSACK DIDN'T EXACTLY GIVE THEM A LOT OF MONEY. THEY WEREN'T HAPPY ABOUT HIS BUDGET.

Borg: YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE REGENTS INSTITUTIONS?

Yepsen: REGENTS INSTITUTIONS. THE LEGISLATURE THEN CUT THAT EVEN MORE. A LOT OF LEGISLATORS -- THEY DON'T SEE THAT THE REGENTS INSTITUTIONS ARE DOING THEM ANY GOOD. THEY THINK THEY GET MORE VALUE FOR THEIR MONEY AT A COMMUNITY COLLEGE OR A PRIVATE COLLEGE. SO YOU ADD IT ALL TOGETHER: END OF THE SESSION AND THE UNPOPULARITY OF THE REGENTS INSTITUTIONS, AND THEY'RE GOING TO WIND UP COMING UP SHORT.

Obradovich: ANOTHER PROBLEM WITH THAT BUDGET IS THAT REPUBLICANS THOUGHT THAT THE GOVERNOR USED A BUDGET GIMMICK IN PREPARING THAT BUDGET FOR HIGHER EDUCATION. HE MOVED, LIKE, $20- OR $30 MILLION OFF TO A GAMBLING MONEY FUND THAT HAD NORMALLY ALREADY BEEN IN THAT BUDGET BILL. WELL, REPUBLICANS ESSENTIALLY SPENT THE MONEY ON OTHER THINGS THAN IN THE BUDGET AND, LO AND BEHOLD, THE THINGS THE GOVERNOR WANTED ARE NOW $20 MILLION OR $30 MILLION SHORT. THAT'S A REAL PROBLEM TOWARD THE END OF THE SESSION.

Glover: IT STILL COMES DOWN TO, I THINK, TO THE POINT THAT DAVE MADE. IF THE REGENTS HAD A LITTLE BIT MORE POLITICAL SUPPORT AT THE HILL, THAT WOULDN'T BE A PROBLEM; THEY WOULDN'T HAVE ANY PROBLEM AT ALL WITH THAT BUDGET GIMMICK. THE PROBLEM IS THE REGENTS ARE IN AN INSTITUTION WHERE THEY OCCASIONALLY HAVE GAY CONFERENCES. THEY OCCASIONALLY HAVE DIRTY MOVIES, AND SOME CONSERVATIVES UP AT THE HILL JUST DON'T LIKE THEM. REGENTS HAVE A BLIND SPOT. YOU'RE RIGHT ABOUT THAT. REGENTS SIMPLY DON'T UNDERSTAND, AND ALSO THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND THE ARGUMENT THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE BUY INTO AT THE STATEHOUSE, THAT TUITION IN THIS STATE, THE PUBLIC UNIVERSITY, IS A PRETTY DARN GOOD BARGAIN. KIDS IN THIS STATE PAY A LOT LESS THAN KIDS IN OTHER STATES FOR TUITION, AND THERE ARE A LOT OF LEGISLATORS THAT THINK THAT OUGHT TO BE CHANGED.

Henderson: IN ADDITION, THESE REGENTS INSTITUTIONS HAVE SHOWN A GREAT ABILITY TO RAISE MONEY ON THEIR OWN, GO OUT AND SOLICIT FUNDS FROM FOLKS, INCLUDING THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FOR RESEARCH AT THE UNIVERSITY OF IOWA, AND FROM PRIVATE DONORS AT IOWA STATE AND AT THE UNIVERSITY OF IOWA. SO IF THEY'RE ABLE TO GO OUT THERE AND RAISE THAT MONEY, LEGISLATORS CONTEND, WELL, WHY DON'T YOU GO OUT AND FUND YOUR OWN SHORTFALL.

Yepsen: I DON'T THINK IT HELPED THE REGENTS INSTITUTIONS WHEN ALL THE STUDENTS CAME TO THE CAPITOL WITH THEIR MISSPELLED SIGNS. THEY SORT OF TURNED THEMSELVES INTO A JOKE.

Borg: DAVE, IS CORRECT SPELLING GOING TO BE THE ONLY WAY THE REGENTS ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO TURN AROUND THIS PERCEPTION?

Yepsen: IT'S BEEN THERE FOR YEARS, DEAN. I THINK IT'S A PROBLEM THAT THE REGENTS INSTITUTIONS HAVE. THEY'VE GOT TO FIND WAYS TO EXPLAIN TO IOWANS THAT THEY'RE, IN FACT, RELEVANT. MOST LEGISLATORS THINK THEY DO GET A BIGGER BANG FOR THEIR BUCK WITH DOLLARS SPENT AT COMMUNITY COLLEGES AND PRIVATE COLLEGES.

Glover: DEAN, I THINK THE ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTION IS I DON'T THINK THEY'RE GOING TO TURN IT AROUND. I THINK AT THE END OF THIS SESSION, THE PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO TAKE IT ARE GOING TO BE THE REGENTS.

Henderson: BUT THEY'RE GOING TO TURN IT AROUND TO THE EXTENT THAT THE GOVERNOR IS NOT GOING TO BRING THEM BACK FOR A SPECIAL SESSION. THEY HAVE TO PUT ENOUGH INTO THE BUDGET TO SATISFY HIM SO THAT HE WON'T VETO THE BILL. IT'S GOING TO COME DOWN TO THAT NEGOTIATION.

Glover: I THINK HIS THRESHOLD MIGHT BE PRETTY LOW, THOUGH.

Yepsen: LET'S JUST NOT PICK ON THE REGENTS HERE. I THINK WHAT YOU HAVE -- YOU HAVE AN ACTIVIST GOVERNOR. HE'S A LIBERAL DEMOCRAT. HE WAS ELECTED TO DO THINGS. YOU HAVE A CONSERVATIVE LEGISLATURE. THEY DON'T BELIEVE IN SPENDING A LOT OF MONEY. THOSE ARE TWO FORCES THAT WERE BOUND TO COME TOGETHER, AND HERE THEY ARE IN THE END GAME. THEY ARE REALLY GRINDING. WHERE THEY AGREE TO WALK AWAY, AND THEY SPLIT THE DIFFERENCE AND WALK AWAY, IS THEY BOTH MADE THEIR POINT. GOVERNOR VILSACK HAS MADE HIS POINT TO HIS CONSTITUENTS AND TO HIS BASE VOTERS. CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICANS, THEY'VE MADE THEIR POINTS. IT'S TIME TO GO HOME.

Borg: MIKE, WE'VE SAID THE REGENTS ARE GOING TO COME OUT AS LOSERS PROBABLY IN THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION, COMPARATIVELY. WHO ARE OTHER WINNERS AND LOSERS?

Glover: I THINK ONE OF THE BIGGEST LOSERS IN THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION IS THE STATE'S ASSEMBLED BUSINESS COMMUNITY. THE STATE'S ASSEMBLED BUSINESS COMMUNITY GOT BEHIND ONE PIECE OF LEGISLATION, A BILL TO DEREGULATE THE ELECTRIC INDUSTRY. THE CHAMBERS OF COMMERCES, THE ASSOCIATION OF BUSINESS INDUSTRY, THE UTILITY GROUPS, ALL THE BUSINESS ASSOCIATIONS LINED UP BEHIND THAT BILL, AND THEY COULDN'T GET IT THROUGH A REPUBLICAN LEGISLATURE, EVEN THOUGH A DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR SAID HE WOULD SIGN IT. BIG LOSS FOR THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY AND RAISES SOME BIG QUESTIONS ABOUT THE CLOUT THAT GROUP HAS AT THE HILL.

Borg: KAY, THEIR LOSERS?

Henderson: IN REGARDS TO THAT BILL, I WOULD AGREE THAT THOSE FOLKS ARE LOSERS. WINNERS, IN THAT REGARD, ARE THE ASSOCIATION OF RETIRED FOLKS. THEY LOBBIED HARD AGAINST IT. THE PEOPLE WHO OPPOSED THAT BILL HAVE BUILT SOME POLITICAL POWER AT THE STATEHOUSE, AND THEY INTEND TO USE IT NEXT YEAR WHEN THEY REVISIT THIS ISSUE.

Yepsen: I THINK, DEAN, THE FACT THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY REALLY GOT THE SHAFT OUT OF A REPUBLICAN LEGISLATURE IS GOING TO HAVE POLITICAL RAMIFICATIONS, BECAUSE GUESS WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN NOW. LEGISLATORS ARE GOING TO BE GOING OUT SAYING GIVE ME SOME MONEY; FILL MY LITTLE TIN CUP. THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY IS GOING TO SAY "FORGET IT."

Obradovich: IN LINE WITH WHAT KAY SAID, I'D SAY THAT THE ELDERLY CAME OUT AS ONE OF THE WINNERS OF THIS SESSION. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT DIDN'T GET A LOT OF ATTENTION, BUT ONE OF THE BIG THINGS THAT THEY DID THIS YEAR WAS PUT A LOT OF MONEY INTO CONVERTING NURSING HOME SPACE INTO OTHER FORMS OF ASSISTED LIVING SO THAT ELDERLY CAN STAY IN THEIR HOMES LONGER. THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE OUT IN THIS STATE WHO HAVE A LOVED ONE IN A NURSING HOME WHO DOESN'T REALLY BELONG THERE. THAT'S REALLY GOING TO IMPACT THEIR LIVES. THERE'S A LOT OF FEDERAL MONEY INVOLVED IN THAT. PLUS THEY FLEXED THEIR POLITICAL MUSCLE, AND THEY'RE PROBABLY GOING TO BE THE ONLY THAT GETS A TAX CUT THIS YEAR.

Yepsen: I THINK ONE OF THE WINNERS HAVE TO BE THE URBAN AREAS, CEDAR RAPIDS AND DES MOINES, GETTING AN ARENA PROJECT AND A RAIN FOREST. THAT'S IMPORTANT FOR A COUPLE REASONS. FIRST OF ALL, FOR THE FIRST TIME, THE STATE HAS DECIDED TO GET IN THIS GAME OF BUILDING MAJOR ATTRACTIONS. THEY HAVEN'T DONE THAT BEFORE. SO THAT'S IMPORTANT. THE ACTUAL PROJECTS WILL BE IMPORTANT, AN ARENA IN DES MOINES, A RAIN FOREST IN CEDAR RAPIDS, AND MAYBE OTHER PROJECTS ELSEWHERE. TIED INTO THAT, DEAN, THE STATE ALSO DECIDED TO HELP, IN A $50-MILLION WAY, LOCAL\RURAL SCHOOL INFRASTRUCTURE. THE STATE HAS NEVER DONE THAT BEFORE. THAT'S PRECEDENT SETTING. TO ME, THAT IS ARGUABLY THE ONE THING THAT ANYBODY MAY REMEMBER OUT OF THIS SESSION TWENTY YEARS FROM NOW, BECAUSE IN EVERY SESSION FROM HERE ON OUT, WE'RE GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT HOW MUCH MORE MONEY DO WE WANT TO SPEND ON MAJOR ATTRACTIONS, HOW MUCH MORE MONEY DO WE WANT TO SPEND ON SCHOOLS.

Obradovich: ONE OF THE LOSERS THAT SUGGESTS THERE, DAVID, IS THE GAMBLING OPPONENTS. ALL OF THAT THING IS FUNDED WITH GAMBLING DOLLARS, AND NOW, ALL OF A SUDDEN, IF WE GET RID OF GAMBLING, OR IF WE SCALE BACK GAMBLING IN THE STATE, WE ARE BURNING DOWN SCHOOLS AND WE ARE GOING TO HURT LOCAL COMMUNITIES AND WE'RE GOING TO HURT THE ENVIRONMENT BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF ENVIRONMENTAL MONEY IN THERE NOW THIS YEAR.

Glover: ON THAT TOPIC, I THINK ANOTHER WINNER OF THIS SESSION WAS ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS. I THINK THEY CAME OUT OF THIS SESSION PRETTY DARN WELL AND AT A TIME WHEN A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE BEGINNING TO ARGUE THAT THE ENVIRONMENT DOESN'T HAVE ANY STEAM AS AN ISSUE. THIS LEGISLATURE PASSED A WATER-QUALITY BILL THAT THE GOVERNOR WANTED, NOT AS BIG AS HE WANTED, BUT A WATER-QUALITY BILL THAT HE WANTED THAT DOES A LOT AND SPENDS A LOT OF MONEY. THIS LEGISLATURE STUCK A LOT MORE MONEY IN THE FUNDAMENTAL ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAM, THE RESOURCE ENHANCEMENT AND PROTECTION PROGRAM, THAN HAS BEEN SPENT IN A LONG TIME, BUT ENVIRONMENTALISTS DID PRETTY WELL THIS YEAR.

Henderson: ANOTHER LOSER, I WOULD SAY, THE CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICANS WHO ARE REALLY AGAINST WHAT DAVID WAS TALKING ABOUT AND WHAT KATHIE WAS TALKING ABOUT. THEY'RE AGAINST GAMBLING. THEY'VE LOST ANOTHER ROUND. THEY'RE AGAINST HAVING THE STATE INVEST MEGABUCKS IN LOCAL-PROPERTY-TAX-SUPPORTED ENDEAVORS, LIKE FIXING UP SCHOOLS AND BUILDING THESE GRAND ARENAS AND RAIN FORESTS.

Borg: THAT'S ONE ISSUE I WANT TO BRING UP HERE. THE RAIN FOREST AND ARENA HERE IN DES MOINES -- THE RAIN FOREST IN CEDAR RAPIDS, ARENA IN DES MOINES -- HAD SOME MAJOR RURAL OPPOSITION BECAUSE THEY SAID WHY SPEND IT IN THE URBAN CENTERS, WE NEED RURAL DEVELOPMENT. WHAT WAS THE CARROT THAT BROUGHT THAT COALITION TOGETHER AND PASSED THAT LEGISLATION, DAVE?

Yepsen: THE RURAL SCHOOL PIECE BY GIVING RURAL LEGISLATORS SOME MONEY FOR RURAL SCHOOLS. IT'S NOT A LOT. BUT IT ENABLED THEM TO COME OUT OF THERE AND SAY WE GOT A LITTLE SOMETHING.

Henderson: ALSO, THERE'S A BIT OF FATALISM IN RURAL IOWA. THEY SEE FRIENDS, NEIGHBORS, KIDS THAT THEY'RE RAISING IN RURAL IOWA MOVING AWAY, AND THEY'RE A LITTLE BIT FATALISTIC. THEY'RE THINKING THERE'S NOT GOING TO BE ANYBODY LIVING IN RURAL IOWA, SO WHY BUILD A GAZEBO OR AN ARENA IN RURAL IOWA WHEN IT'S NEEDED IN THE URBAN CENTERS?

Yepsen: EVENTUALLY THERE WILL BE MONEY IN THIS PROGRAM FOR GAZEBOS. I MEAN THERE WILL BE SOME RURAL COMMUNITIES THAT COME OUT OF THIS THING OKAY WITH SOME BIG PROJECTS FOR THEIR TOWN. IN FAIRNESS TO RURAL LAW MAKERS, SOME OF THEM ARE STARTING TO RISE ABOVE SOME OF THIS NARROW PAROCHIALISM. THEY REALIZE IOWA HAS CHANGED. RURAL IOWA IS NEVER GOING TO BE THE SAME. GUESS WHO GOES TO THE RAIN FORESTS. GUESS WHO GOES TO THE ARENAS. IT'S GOING TO BE THEIR CONSTITUENTS. YOU SAW BY THE OVERWHELMING VOTE THAT THE THING EVENTUALLY PASSED BY THAT THERE WAS A STRONG RURAL SUPPORT FOR IT.

Glover: THE CARROT IN THAT THING, DEAN, WAS REALLY A STICK. THERE'S A CENSUS COMING UP, AND THERE'S ANOTHER REAPPORTIONMENT COMING UP. THAT CENSUS IS GOING TO SHOW THAT THIS STATE IS BECOMING INCREASINGLY URBAN AND SUBURBAN AND INCREASINGLY LESS RURAL. THOSE RURAL LEGISLATORS UNDERSTAND THAT THIS YEAR, MAYBE THEY CAN GET THAT LITTLE POT OF MONEY FOR SOME RURAL SCHOOLS AND GAZEBOS OUT IN RURAL IOWA, MAYBE NEXT YEAR, OR AFTER THE NEXT REAPPORTIONMENT, MAYBE THERE WON'T EVEN BE MONEY FOR A MINI GAZEBO.

Borg: SOME POLITICAL REALITIES COMING HOME TO ROOST. KATHIE, YOU HAD SOME COMMENT?

Obradovich: I THINK THAT'S RIGHT. I ALSO THINK THAT, ON ANOTHER TOPIC, THAT YOU TEND TO HAVE A LOT OF CONSTITUENCIES WHO ARE OUT THERE WHO AREN'T GETTING MONEY THIS YEAR AS WELL. THOSE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE GOING TO THE POLLS AS WELL, TOO.

Yepsen: GOING BACK TO THE WINNERS AND LOSERS THING, MIKE MENTIONED ENVIRONMENTALISTS PROBABLY CAME OUT AHEAD AND I AGREE. THEY DID WALK -- THE DEFEAT OF THE DEREG BILL HAS LEFT A LOT OF LIBERAL GROUPS UP THERE UPSET. NOT ALL OF THEM WERE AGAINST IT; THERE WERE SOME OF THEM THAT WERE FOR IT. I THINK SOME ENVIRONMENTALISTS ARE SAYING WHAT HAVE WE DONE HERE, BECAUSE THERE WERE PROVISIONS IN THAT BILL TO QUADRUPLE THE AMOUNT OF WIND ENERGY IN THIS STATE. OUT THE WINDOW, AND I DOUBT THEY WILL EVER BE ABLE TO GET THAT AGAIN OUT OF THIS LEGISLATURE.

Borg: AND THE PROPONENTS ARE ALREADY THREATENING THAT. THEY SAY THAT'S GONE.

Yepsen: THAT WAS IT. YOU WALKED AWAY FROM THE TABLE.

Glover: ANOTHER GROUP THAT I WOULD ARGUE DIDN'T WALK AWAY FROM THIS SESSION VERY WELL ARE THOSE CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICANS THAT KAY MENTIONED WHO LIKE TAX CUTS. I SUSPECT THIS LEGISLATURE WILL END UP PASSING A TAX CUT THAT WILL BE EVEN SMALLER THAN SOME OF THE MINUSCULE ELECTION-YEAR TAX CUTS THEY PASSED IN THE PAST. THE GOVERNOR WILL PROBABLY FIND A WAY TO ACCEPT A LITTLE BIT OF THAT. THERE'S NOT GOING TO BE A BROAD TAX CUT DESPITE THE STATE ECONOMY THAT'S HUMMING ALONG PRETTY WELL. THIS LEGISLATURE MADE A CONSCIOUS DECISION TO SPEND AND NOT GIVE BACK.

Borg: KAY, THAT BRINGS UP A PHILOSOPHICAL QUESTION THAT I HAVE. THAT IS WE TALK ABOUT -- WE HEAR TAX CUTS IN ONE EAR, AND WE HEAR IN THE OTHER EAR, WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY NOW AT THE END OF THE SESSION TO FULLY FUND ALL OUR RESPONSIBILITIES. HOW DO THEY RECONCILE THAT, TALK ABOUT TAX CUTS OUT OF ONE SIDE OF THE MOUTH, AND SAY WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY OUT OF THE OTHER?

Henderson: WELL, IT'S JUST REALITY UP THERE. THEY HAVE COMMITTED SO MANY STATE RESOURCES TO ONGOING PROGRAMS THAT THEY REALLY HAVE LITTLE LEFT TO PLAY WITH. AS DAVID MENTIONED EARLIER, THEY'VE SPENT A LITTLE MORE ON SCHOOLS, THEY'VE DOLED A LITTLE BIT OUT TO VARIOUS INTEREST GROUPS AND, AT THE VERY END, THEY HAVE VERY LITTLE MONEY LEFT TO GIVE OUT TO IOWANS AS TAX CUTS.

Obradovich: I THINK THAT PLAYS INTO THE PHILOSOPHY THAT THE GOVERNOR HAS AS WELL. HE'S SAYING THAT IF THERE'S GOING TO BE A TAX CUT, IT HAS TO BE SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO GROW THE ECONOMY. I THINK YOU CAN ARGUE WHETHER GIVING SOMEBODY A TAX CUT FOR REHABBING OLD BUILDINGS IS GOING TO GROW THE ECONOMY. THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THEY'RE THINKING ABOUT. THOSE ARE THE TYPES OF TAX CUTS THAT ARE VERY TARGETED AND HARDLY ANYBODY IS GOING TO GET THEM.

Henderson: ALSO, PUBLIC OPINION POLLS SHOW YOU THAT TAX CUTS ARE NOT THE NUMBER-ONE PRIORITY OF FOLKS. CRIME AND EDUCATION AND THE ECONOMY ARE THEIR NUMBER-ONE ISSUES. PEOPLE AREN'T CLAMORING FOR TAX CUTS AS THEY HAVE BEEN IN THE PAST.

Yepsen: WHEN YOU HEAR THAT TAX CUTS VERSUS UNMET NEEDS, YOU'RE HEARING THE GRIDLOCK. YOU'RE HEARING REPUBLICANS WHO SAY WE WANT TAX CUT. YOU'RE HEARING A GOVERNOR SAYING WE NEED TO SPEND MONEY TO FIX PROBLEMS. THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE HEARING WHEN YOU'RE HEARING THAT. THE BIGGEST PROBLEM THAT I SEE BUDGETWISE AT THE STATEHOUSE IS THE INABILITY OF OUR POLICY MAKERS TO CUT ANYTHING. STATE SPENDING SINCE 1990 HAS GONE UP 66 PERCENT. OUR POPULATION HAS GONE UP 3 PERCENT. YES, WE HAVE NEEDS IN THIS STATE FOR ALL KINDS OF THINGS. WHAT WE HAVE IS THE INABILITY TO GO INTO THE EXISTING POT OF MONEY AND CUT OUT A PROGRAM. NEITHER PARTY CAN FIND THE POLITICAL WILL TO DO THAT.

Glover: WHAT YOU HAD LAST YEAR, DEAN, WAS YOU HAD -- I THINK THIS CARRIES OVER INTO LAST YEAR -- WE HAD A BRAND NEW GOVERNOR WHO WAS AGGRESSIVE, WANTED TO DO SOME SPENDING. YOU HAD SOME CONSERVATIVES IN THE LEGISLATURE WHO WANTED TO CUT SOME TAXES AND THEY STRUCK A DEAL. LET'S DO BOTH. SO YOU HAD LET'S CUT TAXES OVER HERE, LET'S INCREASE SPENDING OVER HERE. NOW THEY'RE PAYING THE CONSEQUENCES FOR THAT.

Borg: MIKE, OTHER THAN ELECTRIC DEREGULATION, WHICH WILL BE BACK AGAIN, I ASSUME, IN THE NEXT GENERAL ASSEMBLY --

Glover: MAYBE.

Borg: 2001 -- YOU SAID MAYBE. ELABORATE.

Glover: I'M NOT AT ALL SURE IT WILL BE BACK IN 2001. A) ONE OF THE THINGS THAT GAVE IT THE MOST STEAM THIS YEAR, WAS IT HAD THE SUPPORT OF A DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR. UNDERSTAND LABOR HATES THE BILL. I'M NOT SURE A DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR IS GOING TO BE WILLING TO BE FOR THAT BILL THAT CLOSE TO AN ELECTION. THAT'S A BIG RISK. B) CONGRESS MAKES MAY STEP INTO THIS WHOLE ISSUE. ABOUT HALF THE STATES HAVE ALREADY DEREGULATED THEIR ELECTRIC INDUSTRY, AND CONGRESS IS TALKING ABOUT DOING IT THIS YEAR. THEY MIGHT TAKE CARE OF THE ISSUE BEFORE THIS LEGISLATURE HAS ANOTHER CHANCE.

Obradovich: THAT'S ONE THING THAT ACTUALLY MIGHT -- IF THEY HAVE TIME, THAT MIGHT BE THE ONE THING THAT GETS THE DEMOCRAT SIDE TO WANT TO DO IT, BECAUSE IF THEY LOOK AT WHAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS GOING TO DO, THEY MAY NOT GET THE DEAL FOR LABOR --

Glover: THEY WON'T.

Obradovich: AND THEY MAY NOT GET THE DEAL FOR RENEWABLE ENERGY. THAT MAY BE ENOUGH TO MAKE THEM WANT TO COME BACK TO THE TABLE NEXT YEAR.

Yepsen: I THINK IT DEPENDS ON WHICH PARTY CONTROLS THE LEGISLATURE.

Borg: AS TO WHETHER OR NOT IT COMES BACK?

Yepsen: THAT'S RIGHT.

Borg: KAY, WHAT ELSE IS PENDING THAT'S NOT GOING TO GET DONE IN THIS SESSION THAT YOU THINK WILL BE BACK IN 2001?

Henderson: YOU KNOW, THIS AGENDA THAT THEY'VE ADDRESSED THIS YEAR IS SO SPARSE I CAN HARDLY THINK OF ANYTHING OF MERIT THAT THEY HAVE YET TO DO THIS YEAR THAT THEY WILL RETURN TO NEXT YEAR.

Glover: I THINK AT SOME POINT, DEAN, WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO LOOK AT SOME KIND OF A REVISION OF THE STATE'S INCOME TAX CODE. I'M HEARING THE ARGUMENT MORE AND MORE THAT WITH FEDERAL DEDUCTIBILITY, WITH RELATIVELY HIGH STATE INCOME TAX RATES, A COMPETITIVES ISSUE IS STARTING TO BE RAISED MORE AND MORE, EVEN QUIETLY IN SOME REPUBLICANS CIRCLES. SO I THINK AT SOME POINT THAT DEBATE OVER MAKING THE INCOME TAX SYSTEM OF THIS STATE MORE COMPETITIVE THAN OTHER STATES MAY HAVE TO BE HELD. I THINK THAT'S ANOTHER ISSUE THAT WILL TURN LARGE IN CONTROL OF LEGISLATURE.

Obradovich: LEGISLATURE ALSO HAS A BIG CASH COW NOW WITH THE TOBACCO SETTLEMENT MONEY. WE HAVEN'T TALKED ABOUT THAT OUT HERE, BUT THAT WAS $55 MILLION THIS YEAR THAT THEY SPENT ON HEALTH CARE. I THINK THAT THERE IS GOING TO BE MORE AND MORE PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO WANT TO GET THEIR HANDS ON SOME OF THAT MONEY. IT'S GOING TO BE, PROBABLY, A FIGHT EVERY YEAR TO DECIDE HOW THEY'RE GOING TO DOLE THAT OUT.

Yepsen: I WAS TALKING TO LEGISLATIVE LEADERS LAST WEEK ABOUT THAT VERY QUESTION, WHAT'S UP FOR THE FUTURE, AND ALL OF THEM MENTIONED TEACHERS' SALARIES. THERE'S A REAL PROBLEM WITH THE STATE'S TEACHER CORPS. IT'S GETTING OLDER. IT'S RETIRING. WE'VE GOT TO ATTRACT NEW, YOUNGER TEACHERS, AND THE STATE IS NOT DOING A VERY GOD JOB OF THAT WITH SOME OF THESE CRUMMY SALARIES THAT WE PAY. THERE'S GOING TO HAVE TO BE SOME SERIOUS MONEY PUT INTO THAT SOMETIME.

Glover: ANOTHER ISSUE THAT'S HANGING OVER, I THINK, IS THIS WHOLE ISSUE OF IOWA BEING AN OLD, SHRINKING STATE. I THINK A CONTINUING ISSUE FOR THE NEXT FORSEEABLE FUTURE, REALLY, IS HOW TO GET YOUNG PEOPLE BACK IN THIS STATE AND INVOLVED IN THIS STATE'S ECONOMY. I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING VILSACK RAISED THAT HAS STRUCK A CHORD UP THERE. I DON'T THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE -- MAYBE NOT EVERYBODY AGREES WITH HOW HE WANTS TO GO ABOUT IT, BUT I THINK THE NOTION OF YOUNG PEOPLE MOVING AWAY AND REVERSING THE TREND IS SOMETHING THAT IS RESONATING AROUND HERE.

Henderson: THE ONE PROBLEM FOR LEGISLATORS AS THEY GO AROUND AND SEEK REELECTION IS THAT NONE OF THE ISSUES THAT THESE FOLKS HAVE RAISED HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED BY LEGISLATORS THIS YEAR.

Borg: LET'S PICK UP ON THAT THEN, KAY. MIKE, WHAT WOULD YOU SAY ARE THE CHANCES -- AND I'LL ASK EVERYBODY ELSE TOO -- OF THE DEMOCRATS RETAKING THE LEGISLATURE?

Glover: I THINK THEY'RE ALMOST NIL IN THE SENATE AND THEY'RE NOT VERY GOOD IN THE HOUSE. THEY'VE GOT A FAIR AMOUNT OF GROUND TO MAKE UP IN THE SENATE. I WENT OVER RACE-BY-RACE IN THE SENATE, AND I THINK I STARTED THE REPUBLICANS OFF WITH 28 OR 29 SEATS, AND THEN YOU GET INTO MARGINAL RACES. LEGISLATIVE ELECTIONS, DEAN, ARE NOT ABOUT ELECTRIC DEREG, TAX CUTS. LEGISLATIVE ELECTIONS ARE ABOUT WHO IS MOST CONNECTED TO A COMMUNITY. IT'S RUNNING FOR CLASS PRESIDENT: WHO'S MOST CONNECTED TO THE COMMUNITY, WHO'S MOST POPULAR, WHO'S MOST RESPECTED. BOTH PARTIES HAVE DONE A PRETTY GOOD JOB RECRUITING CANDIDATES. I SEE ALMOST A STANDOFF. I CAN SEE THAT LEGISLATURE NEXT YEAR LOOKING A LOT LIKE IT LOOKS THIS YEAR.

Borg: KAY, ANY DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE?

Henderson: I THINK MIKE'S RIGHT ON. THE ONLY DIFFERENCE THAT I MIGHT SEE IS IN THE HOUSE. HOUSE LEADERS MIGHT BE ABLE TO MAKE A BIGGER RUN FOR IT BECAUSE THEY HAVE A DEMOCRAT GOVERNOR WHO IS OUT THERE HELPING THEM RAISE MONEY FOR LEGISLATIVE RACES, SO THAT THEY CAN BE COMPETITIVE IN TERMS OF MESSAGE.

Obradovich: ONE OF THE PROBLEMS WITH THAT, THOUGH, IS THAT THEY'RE ALSO BEING OVERSHADOWED IN TERMS OF MESSAGE BY THE GOVERNOR. WE HAVEN'T SEEN THE DEMOCRATS OUT THERE GOING THEIR OWN WAY VERY MUCH, AND WHERE THEY HAVE GONE THEIR OWN WAY, SOMETIMES IT'S MAYBE A LITTLE BIT OF A FIGHT WITH THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE. SO THEY HAVEN'T REALLY DISTINGUISHED THEMSELVES ON THEIR OWN ISSUES THIS YEAR.

Yepsen: I THINK A LOT OF IT WILL DEPEND ON THE TURNOUT, DEAN. TIMES ARE GOOD IN IOWA. WE DON'T HAVE -- PEOPLE AT HOME. WE DON'T HAVE BIG RACES FOR CONGRESS. WE DON'T HAVE A BIG RACE FOR GOVERNOR OR SENATOR. SO THE ONLY THING TO BRING PEOPLE OUT IS A RACE FOR PRESIDENT. NOW THAT ORDINARILY WILL DO IT, BUT IF A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE STAYING HOME BECAUSE THEY DON'T CARE OR AREN'T HAPPY, THAT WILL HAVE AN IMPACT ON LEGISLATIVE RACES. SO I GUESS I WOULD SAY THAT THE ODDS PROBABLY FAVOR THE REPUBLICANS FOR KEEPING CONTROL.

Borg: ARE THERE SOME THINGS THAT EITHER REPUBLICANS OR DEMOCRATS, MIKE, CAN TAKE OUT OF THIS SESSION AND USE AS CAMPAIGN ISSUES?

Glover: SURE. I THINK DEMOCRATS CAN COME OUT OF THIS SESSION AND SAY LARGELY THEY OPPOSED THIS DEREGULATION BILL. THEY CAN NOW GO TO ORGANIZED LABOR AND SAY YOU HATED THE ELECTRIC DEREGULATION BILL, WE KILLED IT, IT'S TIME TO PAY THE DUES. THEY WALKED OUT OF THERE WITH THAT ISSUE. I THINK REPUBLICANS, ON THE OTHER HAND, ARE GOING TO WALK OUT -- DAVE MENTIONED THIS EARLIER -- THERE'S A BIG PROBLEM WITH THAT ISSUE. THEY COULDN'T DELIVER FOR THEIR BUSINESS FRIENDS. THAT'S GOING TO BE A PROBLEM. THAT DEREGULATION BILL IS SOMETHING THAT BOTH SIDES WALKED OUT WITH EITHER BAGGAGE, OR HEFT WITH, BECAUSE IT'S A MONEY ISSUE.

Obradovich: I DISAGREE A LITTLE BIT ON THE DEREG ISSUE, BECAUSE I DON'T THINK THAT THE PUBLIC WAS THAT MUCH CONNECTED WITH IT. IT'S A VERY COMPLICATED ISSUE. IT'S NOT ONE THAT RESONATES VERY WELL IN A 30-SECOND COMMERCIAL. DEMOCRATS DID A BETTER JOB, OR THE OPPONENTS DID A BETTER JOB OF GETTING THE GRASSROOTS INVOLVED THAN THE FOLKS ON THE PLUS SIDE. I DON'T THINK IT'S REALLY GOING TO HURT THEM THAT MUCH.

Glover: I DON'T SEE THAT IT'S AN ISSUE. THE ONLY THING -- YOU'RE RIGHT, PEOPLE DON'T CARE ABOUT IT. LABOR UNIONS WHO HAVE A LOT OF MONEY CARE ABOUT IT. SO IT'S A WAY YOU CAN RAISE MONEY AND USE IT TO TRANSLATE ANOTHER ISSUE.

Yepsen: ONE THING, DEAN, THAT YOU CAN USE THAT EXPLAINS A LOT OF WHAT DID OR DIDN'T HAPPEN UP IN THIS SESSION IS MEMBERS ARE SPOOKED. THIS IS GOING TO BE A TOUGH ELECTION YEAR. REPUBLICANS KNOW THE DEMOCRATS ARE COMING AT THEM HARD WITH A DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR WHO IS FAIRLY POPULAR. SO THEY'RE RELUCTANT TO DO ANYTHING THAT MIGHT BE THE LEAST BIT CONTROVERSIAL, LIKE A DEREG BILL OR SAY NO TO SOMEBODY WHEN THEY COME IN WANTING TO SPEND MORE MONEY. DEMOCRATS JUST KEPT EGGING THEM ON, KEPT PUSHING THE EDGE OF THE ENVELOPE, BECAUSE EITHER DEMOCRATS WOULD WIN SOMETHING FOR A CONSTITUENCY OF THEIRâS, IF THE REPUBLICANS WENT ALONG, OR THEY'D SET UP A NICE ISSUE FOR THE FALL CAMPAIGN.

Obradovich: EVEN ON THE SOCIAL ISSUES, BOTH SIDES CAME OUT WITH SOMETHING. THE REPUBLICANS PASSED THE NOTIFICATION FOR ABORTION, SAYING THAT THE A WOMAN HAS TO WAIT 24 HOURS TO ABSORB INFORMATION BEFORE SHE CAN GET AN ABORTION. THAT PLAYED WELL FOR REPUBLICANS AND THEN VILSACK VETOED IT. BOTH SIDES ARE GOING TO HAVE SOMETHING TO TALK ABOUT ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL THERE.

Borg: KAY, I'D LIKE TO DEAL WITH THE ATMOSPHERE UP AT THE LEGISLATURE, AND PARTICULARLY AS IT RELATES TO LEADERSHIP. IS THERE A CLEAR LEADER IN THE IOWA LEGISLATURE?

Henderson: THERE IS NOT A CLEAR REPUBLICAN LEADER IN THE IOWA LEGISLATURE, AND THAT'S A PROBLEM FOR THEM. THEY HAVEN'T HAD ANYBODY LEADING THEM ON A PARTICULAR ISSUE, ABLE TO PULL PEOPLE ALONG WITH HIM. I THINK THAT'S A BIG PROBLEM FOR THEM.

Borg: IS THERE A STRUGGLE THOUGH, KAY, AMONG --

Henderson: THERE IS A BIG STRUGGLE WITHIN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY, AND DAVE MENTIONED -- JUST WHAT DAVE WAS TALKING ABOUT, YOU ARE SEEING THIS FESTERING WOUND COME FLARING OPEN DURING LEGISLATIVE DEBATE AMONG REPUBLICANS AS THEY FIGHT AMONGST THEIRSELVES AND USUALLY REPUBLICANS ARE PRETTY RESERVED, AND THEY HAVE THEIR FIGHTS IN PRIVATE. THIS TIME AROUND THEY'RE FIGHTING IN PUBLIC, AND I THINK THERE'S REAL PROBLEMS IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY BECAUSE THEY ARE ON UNCHARTED GROUND. I THINK THERE'S PROBLEMS WITH THE PARTY ITSELF. THEY HAVEN'T WON AN ELECTION IN A LONG TIME. THEY DON'T KNOW IF THEY CAN.

Yepsen: I THINK, DEAN, A COUPLE OF ISSUES THERE WITH LEADERSHIP. IN THE HOUSE, YOU'VE GOT NEW REPUBLICAN LEADERS. THEY'RE NEW EMPLOYEES. CHRIS RANTS IS NEW AND HE'S VERY YOUNG. HE DIDN'T DELIVER FOR A KEY CONSTITUENCY. SO I THINK YOU HAVE TO PUT HIM DOWN AS ONE OF THE BIG LOSERS OF THE SESSION. THEN YOU GO OVER TO THE SENATE, WITH STEW IVERSON. SENATOR IVERSON IS A GOOD, LIKABLE REPUBLICAN LEADER, BUT HE DOESN'T WANT TO DO ANYTHING. HE'S A CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICAN. HIS BIG GOAL WHEN HE GETS IN HERE IS PROBABLY TO ADJOURN. SO HE'S NOT EXACTLY THE KIND OF GUY WHO HAS AN ACTIVIST CONSERVATIVE AGENDA. THE RESULT IS THERE'S A REAL LEADERSHIP VACUUM ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE.

Glover: WE'VE HAD A POLITICAL FIGHT EVER SINCE TOM VILSACK HAS BEEN GOVERNOR AND HAS BEEN UNRESOLVED AMONG THE REPUBLICAN THE PARTY. THERE IS ONE FACTION OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY THAT SAYS LOOK, WE'VE GOT A NEW DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR, THE BEST TACTIC IS TO GET ALONG WITH HIM, CUT SOME DEALS, MAKE US BOTH LOOK GOOD, AND WE'LL BOTH WIN. THERE'S A CONSIDERABLE FACTION WITHIN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY THAT SAYS WE NEED TO FIND AN IOWA VERSION OF KEN STARR AND START ROUGHING THIS GUY UP AND GETTING HIM UP, BECAUSE IF WE MAKE HIM LOOK GOOD FOR THE NEXT FOUR YEARS, HE'S GOING TO GET REELECTED.

Obradovich: CUTTING DEALS ON BOTH LOOKING GOOD WAS OKAY LAST YEAR, BUT IT DOESN'T WORK AS WELL THIS YEAR WHEN YOU'VE GOT ELECTIONS COMING UP AND YOU NEED SOME ISSUES.

Glover: THEY STILL HAVEN'T RESOLVED IT.

Borg: IS THERE A STRUGGLE AS YOU SEE IT TOO, KAY, FOR THE IMAGE OF WHO IS LEADING IOWA, EITHER IT'S THE GOVERNOR WHO'S SETTING THE TONE OR IT'S THE IOWA -- SOMEBODY IN THE IOWA LEGISLATURE.

Henderson: I THINK CLEARLY YOU CAN RANK GOVERNOR VILSACK AS ONE OF THE WINNERS. HE'S BEEN ABLE TO PLAY THESE PEOPLE. HE WAS A FORMER LEGISLATOR. HE KNOWS HOW TO CUT THE DEALS. ON MOST EVERY ISSUE, YOU CAN SEE HIS FINGERPRINTS ALL OVER WHAT THE LEGISLATURE IS PREPARING FOR HIM. I THINK HE'S A BIG WINNER IN THIS.

Glover: STRUCTURALLY, DEAN, THE GOVERNOR ALWAYS GETS 80 PERCENT OF WHAT HE WANTS, WHETHER IT'S TOM VILSACK, TERRY BRANSTAD, BOB RAY. THE GOVERNOR HAS THE BULLY PULPIT. THE GOVERNOR CAN SET THE AGENDA. TOM VILSACK CAME INTO THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION SAYING "I WANT THIS MAJOR PROJECTS ATTRACTION FUND. I WANT SOME MONEY FOR LOCAL SCHOOLS." REPUBLICANS SCREAMED AND HOLLERED AND, NO, WE CAN'T DO THAT, WE'LL NEVER DO THAT. WHAT DID HE GET? HE GOT THE MAJOR ATTRACTIONS FUND WITH SOME MONEY FOR LOCAL SCHOOLS. NOT QUITE WHAT HE WANTED, BUT HE GOT THE OUTLINES OF WHAT HE WANTED.

Henderson: THE PROBLEM FOR REPUBLICANS WHO VOTED FOR THAT IS TEN YEARS FROM NOW WHEN PEOPLE LOOK BACK AT THAT, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO REMEMBER THAT THE LEGISLATURE INVESTED STATE MONEY IN THAT. THEY'RE GOING TO LOOK AT THIS NICE FACILITY THAT DES MOINES LEADERS PUT TOGETHER, SO THEY'RE NOT GOING TO GET ANY CREDIT FOR THAT AT ALL.

Glover: THE VILSACK MEMORIAL ARENA.

Yepsen: THE BUDGET, DEAN, IS A HOUSE OF CARDS AND A GOVERNOR IS THE ONLY PERSON WHO PUTS IT ALL TOGETHER. INDIVIDUAL LEGISLATORS WOULD LIKE TO PULL SOME PIECE OUT OF THERE, BUT THEN THE WHOLE THING FALLS APART. SO THAT'S WHY, AS MIKE SAYS, A GOVERNOR GETS 80 PERCENT OF WHAT HE WANTS.

Borg: AND WOULD YOU SAY, MIKE, IN THIS SESSION, THAT GOVERNOR VILSACK HAS COME OUT AS A CLEAR WINNER?

Glover: YEAH, HE'S COME OUT AS A CLEAR WINNER BECAUSE NOT ONLY DID HE DICTATE THE AGENDA, HE GOT MOST OF WHAT'S IN THE AGENDA. HE'S LOOKED PRETTY GOOD GETTING MOST OF WHAT IS IN THE AGENDA, CUTTING THE DEALS. I SUSPECT IF YOU RUN A OPINION POLL RIGHT NOW, HIS APPROVAL RATING WOULD BE IN THE HIGH 60S.

Yepsen: THAT JUST DROVE REPUBLICANS NUTS TO MAKE HIM LOOK GOOD. THEY KNEW WHAT THEY WERE DOING. THEY HAD NO CHOICE, AND THEY MADE HIM LOOK GOOD. NOW THEY'RE GOING BACK HOME, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN TOM VILSACK IS GOING TO BE SHOWING UP DOWN THE STREET CAMPAIGNING FOR THEIR OPPONENT. THAT REALLY DRIVES THEM CRAZY.

Obradovich: AS ONE OF THE REPUBLICAN LEGISLATORS SAID TO ME, "I'M AFRAID I'M GOING TO DRIVE BY TERRACE HILL AND SEE BRENT SIEGRIST, THE HOUSE SPEAKER, OUT THERE WAXING VILSACK'S CAR."

Borg: WELL, I THINK WITH THAT WE'LL CONCLUDE OUR DISCUSSION HERE, AND WE'LL SEE WHAT THESE WANING DAYS OF THE IOWA LEGISLATURE DOES. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PERSPECTIVES TODAY. ON OUR NEXT EDITION OF IOWA PRESS, OUR FOCUS SHIFTS FROM THE IOWA CAPITOL TO WASHINGTON, D.C., AND JOINING US IS A MEMBER OF IOWA'S DELEGATION IN THE U.S. CONGRESS. WE'LL GET AN APPRAISAL OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE 106TH U.S. CONGRESS FROM REPRESENTATIVE JIM NUSSLE NOW IN HIS FIFTH TERM REPRESENTING IOWA'S SECOND CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT IN NORTHEAST IOWA. THAT WILL BE NEXT SUNDAY AT NOON AND 7:00. WE CLOSE WITH THIS PROGRAM REMINDER: FOLLOWING THIS EVENING'S 7:00 AIRING OF IOWA PRESS, WE HAVE A SPECIAL EDITION. THIS IS EARTH WEEK 2000, AND WE'LL FOCUS ON THE ENVIRONMENT FROM A LEGISLATIVE PERSPECTIVE. JOINING US HERE AT THE IOWA PRESS TABLE, REPUBLICAN SENATOR MERLIN BARTZ. HE'S FROM GRAFTON. HE'S THE CHAIR OF THE NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITTEE IN THE IOWA SENATE. WE'LL ALSO BE VISITING WITH DEMOCRAT REPRESENTATIVE BILL WITT. HE'S FROM CEDAR FALLS. HE'S THE RANKING MINORITY PARTY MEMBER IN THE HOUSE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION COMMITTEE. THAT WILL BE AT 7:30 HERE ON STATEWIDE IOWA PUBLIC TELEVISION. I'M DEAN BORG. THANKS FOR JOINING US.

FUNDING FOR IOWA PRESS WAS PROVIDED BY FRIENDS OF IOWA PUBLIC TELEVISION. AND BY THE IOWA BANKERS ASSOCIATION... FOR PERSONAL, BUSINESS, AND COMMERCIAL NEEDS, IOWA BANKS HELP IOWANS REACH THEIR FINANCIAL GOALS. AND BY THE ASSOCIATED GENERAL CONTRACTORS OF IOWA, THE PUBLIC'S PARTNER IN BUILDING IOWA'S HIGHWAY, BRIDGE, AND MUNICIPAL UTILITY INFRASTRUCTURE.