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Borg: ACTIONS OF THE RECENTLY CONCLUDED 78th IOWA GENERAL ASSEMBLY ARE BEING EVALUATED AND, WITH THE GOVERNOR'S APPROVAL, SIGNED INTO LAW. WE'LL DISCUSS THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION WITH SENATE MINORITY LEADER MIKE GRONSTAL AND HOUSE MINORITY LEADER DAVE SCHRADER 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, MAY 14^th EDITION OF IOWA PRESS. HERE IS DEAN BORG.

Borg: THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION OF 2000 CONCLUDED BUSINESS 18 DAYS AGO, BUT THE POST-SESSION ANALYSIS CONTINUES. YOU'LL RECALL THAT LAST WEEK AT THIS TIME WE QUESTIONED TWO LEADERS OF THE REPUBLICAN MAJORITY THERE. THAT'S SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE BRENT SIEGRIST AND SENATOR STEWART IVERSON. WELL, THIS WEEK ASSESSMENTS FROM THE DEMOCRATIC MINORITY. JOINING US SENATOR MIKE GRONSTAL OF COUNCIL BLUFFS. HE'S THE MINORITY LEADER IN THE IOWA SENATE. AND REPRESENTATIVE DAVE SCHRADER OF MONROE, THE HOUSE MINORITY LEADER. GENTLEMEN, WELCOME BACK TWO IOWA PRESS.

Schrader: GOOD TO BE BACK.

Gronstal: THANKS FOR HAVING US.

Borg: ACROSS THE TABLE, TWO PEOPLE YOU RECOGNIZE FROM COVERING THE LEGISLATURE. JENEANE BECK OF KUNI PUBLIC RADIO AND MIKE GLOVER OF THE ASSOCIATED PRESS.

Glover: REPRESENTATIVE SCHRADER, LET'S STEP BACK FOR JUST A SECOND AND TAKE A BIG-PICTURE LOOK AT THIS LEGISLATURE AND MAYBE EVEN THIS BIENNIUM, THIS TWO-YEAR GENERAL ASSEMBLY. WHAT WILL BE THE LEGACY OF THIS GENERAL ASSEMBLY? WHAT WILL IT BE REMEMBERED FOR?

Schrader: I THINK THE BIG-PICTURE LOOK WILL BE REMEMBERED FOR ONE, AND THAT IS THE MILLENIUM FUNDS. SPECIFICALLY, THOUGH, THE EDUCATION COMPONENT OF THAT. THAT $50 MILLION THAT THE STATE WILL BE SPENDING TO HELP LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS WITH THEIR INFRASTRUCTURE, THAT'S SOMETHING BRAND NEW FOR IOWA. THAT'S NOT A CHANGE OR AN ADD ON. IT'S A BRAND-NEW DIRECTION. I THINK IT'S A DIRECTION THAT WE'LL CONTINUE TO GO. AND I BELIEVE THAT IS THE MILESTONE THAT WAS SET DURING THIS GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Glover: SENATOR GRONSTAL, IS THAT THE LANDMARK, THE SORT OF WATERSHED THAT THIS LEGISLATURE WILL BE REMEMBERED FOR?

Gronstal: I THINK THAT WAS A PIECE OF IT. I ALSO THINK WE DID SOME GOOD POINTS RELATED TO WATER QUALITY; THE SENIOR LIVING TRUST FUND WHERE WE'RE GOING TO CONVERT NURSING-HOME BEDS TO MANAGED-CARE BEDS. I THINK WE DID SOME GOOD THINGS IN SEVERAL AREAS LIKE THAT. BUT I THINK IT WILL BE REMEMBERED, IN PARTICULAR THE END OF THIS SESSION, FOR THE NEGLECT WHEN IT CAME TO EDUCATION IN IOWA. WE SPENT THE LAST TWO YEARS DRAGGING THE REPUBLICANS KICKING AND SCREAMING TO BARGAINING TABLE WHEN IT CAME TO EDUCATION ISSUES. REMEMBER A LITTLE OVER A YEAR AGO, THEIR FIRST ACTION ON THE CLASS-SIZE REDUCTION EFFORT WAS TO CUT IT 80 PERCENT. WE PRESSED THEM ON EDUCATION ISSUES, AND WE THINK THOSE WILL BE THE ISSUES OF THIS CAMPAIGN SEASON.

Beck: THE REPUBLICANS ARE TOUTING THEIR EDUCATION PACKAGE OF THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS SAYING THEY MADE GREAT STRIDES IN REDUCING CLASS SIZE AND IMPROVING READING PROGRAMS. WHAT WILL BE SOME OF THE HOLES THAT THEY LEFT THAT YOU CAN CAMPAIGN ON, REPRESENTATIVE SCHRADER?

Schrader: WELL, THE REPUBLICANS HAVE GOVERNED ON A PLATFORM OF INCREMENTALISM, DO A LITTLE BIT THIS YEAR AND A LITTLE BIT NEXT YEAR. WELL, THE PROBLEM IS THAT STATES AROUND US, STATES ACROSS THE NATION, HAVE BEEN DOING A LOT ON EDUCATION. WE'RE LOSING OUR PLACE AS FIRST IN THE NATION. IN THE WORLD-WIDE ECONOMY, THE TRAINING THAT OUR KIDS NEED, ISN'T BEING OFFERED. TEACHER PAY IS ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT WE HAVE TO ADDRESS THIS YEAR. EVERYBODY'S TALKING ABOUT IT. BUT YOU KNOW WHAT, A WHOLE LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT IT FOR A LONG TIME. THE LAST TIME ANYTHING SERIOUS HAPPENED, DEMOCRATS IN THE LEGISLATURE IN THE LATE '80S PUT REAL MONEY INTO EDUCATION, MONEY THAT HASN'T BEEN MATCHED SINCE. AND DURING ALL THESE GOOD TIMES OVER THE LAST DECADE, REPUBLICANS HAVE LET THIS PROBLEM LAY DORMANT, AND NOW ARE JUST NOW REALIZING THAT SOMETHING HAS TO HAPPEN. THEIR BRAND OF INCREMENTALISM WON'T SOLVE THE PROBLEM.

Beck: WE WILL GET BACK TO TEACHER PAY, BUT, SENATOR GRONSTAL, ARE THERE OTHER PLACES THEY DROPPED THE BALL THAT YOU PLAN TO HIT THEM HARD IN THE ELECTION?

Gronstal: WELL, I THINK THEIR ENTIRE RECORD ON EDUCATION IS SUSPECT. I THINK THEY -- AGAIN, WE DRUG THEM KICKING AND SCREAMING TO ACCOMPLISH WHAT WE DID ACCOMPLISH. IF I WAS THEM, I'D BE TALKING ABOUT EDUCATION, TOO, BECAUSE THEIR RECORD IS ABYSSMAL. AT THE END OF THIS SESSION, THINK BALANCED THIS STATE'S BUDGET ON THE BACKS OF STUDENTS. THEY NEGLECTED COMMUNITY COLLEGES. THEY NEGLECTED OUR STATE UNIVERSITIES. I THINK THEY HAVE A PRETTY SHODDY RECORD WHEN IT COMES TO EDUCATION. I THINK THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT IT AND MAKING PROPOSALS ON IT RIGHT NOW IS TO COVER THAT RECORD.

Glover: REPRESENTATIVE SCHRADER, SOMETHING'S GOING TO BE VERY, VERY DIFFERENT THIS YEAR. FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MORE THAN 30 YEARS, DEMOCRATS ARE GOING TO OUT TO A LEGISLATIVE CAMPAIGN WITH A DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR. HOW IS THAT GOING TO WORK?

Schrader: IT'S GOING TO HELP A LOT. I CAN'T QUANTIFY IT. I WISH I COULD. IT'S GOING TO GOOD, I DON'T KNOW HOW GOOD. GOVERNOR VILSACK HAS ALREADY BEEN A GREAT HELP. JUST THE FACT THAT HE'S IN OFFICE PUSHING FOR THE PROGRAMS, THE PROGRAMS THAT IOWANS WANT, JUST THE FACT THAT HE WAS SITTING IN THAT OFFICE AS OUR LEADER, MADE THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS SO MUCH EASIER AND BETTER FOR MIKE AND I THIS TIME OUT. PEOPLE THAT -- COMMUNITY LEADERS THAT WE HAD BEEN ASKING FOR YEARS TO RUN FOR THE LEGISLATURE STEPPED FORWARD THIS TIME AND SAID, "WE WANT TO A PART OF THIS TEAM." IT'S GOING TO BE GOOD. WE DON'T KNOW HOW GOOD YET.

Glover: SENATOR GRONSTAL, ONE OF THE CRITICISMS THAT THE GOVERNOR HAS GOTTEN IS THAT DURING THE PAST COUPLE OF LEGISLATIVE SESSIONS, A DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR AND A REPUBLICAN MAJORITY IN THE LEGISLATURE HAS AGREED TO WORK TOGETHER TO GET ALONG TO MAKE EACH OTHER LOOK GOOD; AND, THEREFORE, REASSURE EACH OTHER'S REELECTION. HAS THAT HAPPENED?

Gronstal: I DON'T THINK THAT'S HAPPENED. I THINK IF YOU LOOK AT THIS SESSION, THE REPUBLICANS SPENT MORE TIME TALKING ABOUT, BASICALLY, NONSENSE. THINGS LIKE WHETHER IT'S AN ILLEGAL BUDGET AND ALL OF THOSE KINDS OF ISSUES. BUT THOSE ISSUES HAVEN'T BEEN BEEN REAL SINCE 1992 WHEN DEMOCRATS PASSED THE BUDGET REFORM BILL. NO LEGISLATURE, NO GOVERNOR CAN SPEND MORE THAN 99 PERCENT OF THE GENERAL FUND REVENUE. SO THOSE OLD, TIRED, POLITICAL ARGUMENTS ABOUT DEMOCRATS BEING OVERSPENDERS, IT JUST DON'T HOLD WATER ANY MORE. SO I DON'T THINK THOSE ARE THE REAL ISSUES. I THINK THE REAL ISSUES ARE EDUCATION AND HEALTHCARE AND CLEAN WATER. AND I THINK THOSE ARE THE THINGS OUR CANDIDATES ARE GOING TO TALK ABOUT ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL.

Borg: GIVEN THAT LITANY, REPRESENTATIVE SCHRADER -- AND BOTH OF YOU SEEM TO SAY THAT EDUCATION IS GOING TO BE THE FORCE THAT YOU'RE GOING TO TRY TO USE TO REGAIN CONTROL OF THE IOWA LEGISLATURE. BUT I HAVE NOT HEARD A BIG GROUNDSWELL OF IOWA VOTERS SAYING, "WE'RE UPSET WITH THE PERFORMANCE OF THIS LEGISLATURE." AND, COMBINE THAT WITH A GOOD ECONOMY -- REALLY, WHAT ARE YOUR HOPES?

Schrader: WELL, YOU KNOW, THAT'S ONE OF THE TOUGH THINGS ABOUT THIS BUSINESS, DEAN, THAT YOU JUST MENTIONED. THERE'S A GUY IN NEW MEXICO RIGHT NOW THAT DECIDED TO START SOME BRUSH FIRES, AND THAT DECISION HAS RESTED SQUARELY UPON HIM, AND HE'S FEELING A LOT OF HEAT. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HAS BEEN DIFFICULT IN THE LEGISLATURE LATELY IS THAT FOR -- PARTICULARLY FOR THE MINORITY -- IS THAT DECISIONS ARE BEING MADE THERE -- NOT NECESSARILY GOOD DECISIONS; BUT THE HEAT THAT SHOULD COME FROM THOSE BAD DECISIONS ISN'T HAPPENING. PAUL JOHNSON, IN HIS RESIGNATION, ONE OF THE WORDS HE USED WAS THE "CAVALIER" ATTITUDE THAT THE REPUBLICAN LEGISLATURE HAS GIVEN. THAT'S TRUE. EDUCATION IS AN ISSUE -- TO COME BACK TO YOUR QUESTION -- THAT BOTH PARTIES TALK ABOUT A LOT, AND I BELIEVE THAT MOST PEOPLE THAT RUN FOR THE LEGISLATURE TRULY BELIEVE THAT THEY WANT TO WORK HARD ON. THE PROBLEM IS THAT IT TAKES SOME EFFORT. IT OFTEN TAKES SOME TOUGH DECISIONS, PUTTING RESOURCES THERE. AND THAT IS AN EQUAL AMONG DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS. DEMOCRATS HAVE BEEN WILLING TO DO THE TOUGH THINGS. THERE ARE OTHER ISSUES THOUGH. IF EDUCATION ISN'T THE ONLY ISSUE, CONSUMER-PROTECTION ISSUES HAVE BEEN OFF THE TABLE FOR THIS REPUBLICAN LEGISLATURE FOR A LONG TIME. AND I BELIEVE THAT WHEN CONSUMERS GET A CHANCE TO LOOK AT A LEGISLATURE THAT WILL TAKE A LOOK AT CONSUMER-PROTECTION ISSUES AND STAND ON THEIR SIDE INSTEAD OF STANDING WITH THE SPECIAL INTEREST EVERY TIME THE PUBLIC GOOD AND A SPECIAL INTEREST INTEREST IS UP AGAINST ONE ANOTHER, THAT THEY'RE GOING TO CHOOSE DEMOCRATS.

Glover: SENATOR GRONSTAL, BUT THE ROOT OF DEAN'S QUESTION IS: FOR CHANGE TO HAPPEN IN STATE GOVERNMENT, VOTERS HAVE TO CLAMORING FOR CHANGE. ALL THE POLLS WE SEE SAY VOTERS ARE HAPPY WITH THE WAY THINGS ARE GOING. HOW DO YOU TAKE A CHANGE ARGUMENT TO THEM GIVEN --

Gronstal: I THINK YOU TAKE THE RECORD OF THE REPUBLICANS WHEN IT COMES TO EDUCATION. I THINK THEY HAVE A HORRIBLE RECORD WHEN IT COMES TO EDUCATION. AND I THINK WE TAKE THAT TO THE VOTERS. THAT TAKES TIME TO ASSEMBLE THAT DURING A CAMPAIGN, AND THAT COMES -- YOU KNOW, YOU DON'T ALL SIT HERE TODAY AND SAY WHAT THE PLAN IS FOR BEATING ALL THE REPUBLICANS. BUT THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF CAMPAIGNS IS ABOUT INDIVIDUAL CANDIDATES AND INDIVIDUAL DISTRICTS AND THE CHOICES THAT THE INCUMBENTS MADE OVER THE PREVIOUS FOUR YEARS. THAT'S WHERE CAMPAIGNS ARE RUN. SO WE'RE GOING TO GO BACK TO THOSE DISTRICTS AND TAKE ON THOSE 17 REPUBLICANS THAT ARE UP THIS TIME. TAKE THEM ON ON THEIR RECORD. AND ONCE WE SHOW THE RECORD OF THE PEOPLE IN THOSE DISTRICTS AND SHOW THEM THE QUALITY OF THE KINDS OF CANDIDATES WE'VE RECRUITED, I THINK WE'RE GOING TO VERY WELL.

Beck: CAN YOU ALSO CAMPAIGN ON THE FARM ECONOMY? DEAN MENTIONED A GOOD ECONOMY, BUT ONE SECTION OF IT THAT IS FALTERING IS THE FARM ECONOMY WITH CONTINUED LOW PRICES. SENATOR GRONSTAL, CAN YOU SAY TO THE VOTERS THAT THE LEGISLATURE HAS FAILED ON ACTED ON THIS?

Gronstal: I THINK THE LEGISLATURE HAS NEGLECTED MANY THINGS IN THE AREA OF THE WHOLE FARM -- NOT JUST THE FARM ECONOMY, THE WHOLE RURAL ECONOMY OF IOWA. AND I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THE STATE NEEDS TO DOING IN TERMS OF MAKING SURE THAT THE NETWORK IN RURAL IOWA EXISTS AND THAT WE HAVE THINGS LIKE EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES IN RURAL IOWA AND THAT WE HAVE THE HIGH-QUALITY TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICES IN RURAL IOWA. AND I THINK THE REPUBLICANS HAVE NEGLECTED THOSE ISSUES. THE AG COMMITTEE IN THE IOWA SENATE ONLY BROUGHT OUT TWO OR THREE BILLS IN THE LAST TWO YEARS. THEY'VE DONE ESSENTIALLY NOTHING IN THE WHOLE AREA OF THE AG ECONOMY. SO I THINK WE RESPOND TO THOSE ISSUES FOR BOTH AGRICULTURE AND RURAL IOWA.

Glover: REPRESENTATIVE SCHRADER, IT'S BEEN RAINING FOR ABOUT A WEEK NOW, SO WE OUGHT TO ASK YOU A DROUGHT QUESTION. THERE IS SOME SUGGESTION THAT THE STATE IS LOOKING AT A SHORTAGE OF MOISTURE THIS YEAR, DESPITE THE MOISTURE THAT'S COME THROUGH IN THE LAST WEEK OR SO. IS THERE ANYTHING THAT STATE GOVERNMENT OUGHT TO BE DOING TO PREPARE THIS STATE FOR THE POTENTIAL OF A DROUGHT? OR IS THERE ANYTHING THAT WE CAN DO TO DEAL WITH A CATACLYSMIC WEATHER EVENT LIKE THAT?

Gronstal: THERE IS VERY LITTLE THAT THE STATE CAN DO. THE OUTCOME OF THE DROUGHT IS LOW COMMODITY PRODUCTION. AND THE STATE, GENERALLY, HAS HAD A VERY SMALL ROLE, IF ANY ROLE, IN THE SUBSIDIZATION OF PRODUCTION. WHAT WE'VE TRIED TO DO IS HELP YOUNG FARMERS BEGIN FARMING, ASSIST PEOPLE IN STAYING ON THE FARM THAT ARE HAVING TROUBLE DURING TOUGH TIMES. RIGHT NOW, IT'S PREMATURE. I THINK THAT WE OUGHT TO JUST PRAY FOR RAIN.

Borg: WELL, ONE THAT CAN BE DONE IS TO PLAN FOR, MAYBE, DECREASED REVENUE. DO YOU THINK THAT THIS LEGISLATURE DID THAT?

Schrader: WELL, I THINK THAT THIS LEGISLATURE ACTED IN A YEAR THAT WE KNEW WAS GOING TO A TOUGH YEAR. WE HAVE CUT TAXES OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS ABOUT $730 MILLION. WE FUNDED THREE NEW PRISONS AND SPENT SOME NEW MONEY ON EDUCATION. WE KNEW THAT WE WERE GOING TO HAVE A TOUGH BUDGET THIS YEAR. BUT LAST WINTER'S DEPRESSED LIVESTOCK MARKETS AND GRAIN MARKETS CAUSED -- OR A YEAR AGO'S DEPRESSED MARKETS -- CAUSED THERE TO A DIP IN OUR INCOME. SO OUR TOUGH BUDGET YEAR WAS EVEN MORE OF A CRUNCH. I BELIEVE THAT NEXT YEAR WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A YEAR THAT IS AN EASIER BUDGETING YEAR FOR US.

Borg: MIKE?

Glover: AS WE MOVE INTO THESE FARM ISSUES, ONE THAT SEEMS TO KEEP COMING BACK IS HOGS. THE LEGISLATURE, FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS, HAS DONE NOTHING ON REGULATING GIANT HOG LOTS. SENATOR GRONSTAL, IS SOMETHING GOING TO HAPPEN THIS YEAR?

Gronstal: I THINK THERE'S STRONG INTEREST IN THE LEGISLATURE IN PURSUING TOUGHER STANDARDS AND MAKING SURE THAT -- GUARANTEEING THAT HOG OPERATIONS DON'T POLLUTE THE WATER.

Glover: IF THERE IS SUCH STRONG INTEREST, WHY HASN'T ANYTHING HAPPENED?

Gronstal: I THINK IT'S BEEN BLOCKED BY THE REPUBLICAN MAJORITY. IT'S CLEAR THAT ö

Beck: WOULD THIS BE AN ELECTION ISSUE? YOU'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS OUT. IT HASN'T CHANGED THE MAKEUP OF THE LEGISLATURE. THE ISSUE MUCH LOCAL CONTROL, IS THAT GOING TO BE THE PUSH TO EVER PUT YOU IN POWER?

Schrader: YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'S A BIGGER ISSUE THAN IT HAS BEEN. IT'S KIND OF BEEN A WAVE THAT STARTED IN NORTH CENTRAL IOWA AND WENT IN BOTH DIRECTIONS IN THE STATE. NOW YOU'VE GOT PEOPLE IN GRUNDY COUNTY, PEOPLE IN SOUTHWESTERN IOWA, PEOPLE IN DUBUQUE COUNTY. THERE ARE MORE PEOPLE THAT ARE AWARE OF THIS ISSUE. IT WAS KIND OF AN ISSUE -- IF IT WAS IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD, YOU WERE REALLY CONCERNED, BUT OTHERS DIDN'T HELP YOU. THE REPUBLICANS SAY THAT THEY'VE REALLY HAD A GREAT BANNER YEAR FOR THE ENVIRONMENT. BUT THE FACT IS THE BIGGEST ENVIRONMENTAL THREAT IN THIS STATE IS THIS CONCENTRATION OF LIVESTOCK BY THESE COMMERCIAL HOG PRODUCERS. IF WE HAD LOCAL CONTROL OF SITING -- JUST THAT ONE SIMPLE THING SO THAT THESE FACILITIES WERE PUT IN PLACES THAT WEREN'T ENVIRONMENTALLY RISKY -- WE WOULDN'T HAVE A LOT OF THE RISKS THAT WE -- OR THE THREATS TO OUR ENVIRONMENT THAT WE HAVE IN PLACE RIGHT NOW. YOU CAN'T SAY THAT THIS WAS A GREAT YEAR FOR THE ENVIRONMENT WHEN YOU REFUSE TO EVEN ADDRESS THIS ISSUE.

Glover: SENATOR GRONSTAL, YOU AND REPRESENTATIVE SCHRADER BOTH MENTIONED EARLIER EDUCATION AS AN ISSUE, AND ONE OF THE BANNER HEADLINE-TYPE OF EDUCATION ISSUES IS THE CONCEPT OF PAYING TEACHERS MORE. THERE'S A HUGE WAVE OF RETIREMENT COMING AMONG IOWA'S TEACHERS. EVERYBODY IS FOR MORE PAY FOR TEACHERS; BUT ARE YOU WILLING TO STEP BACK AND TAKE A LOOK AT THE WAY TEACHERS ARE COMPENSATED AND LOOK AT A BRAND NEW WAY OF PAYING THEM, IN ADDITION TO PAYING THEM MORE?

Gronstal: I'M NOT ONLY WILLING TO LOOK AT IT, I'M ANXIOUS TO LOOK AT IT. I DO THINK WE HAVE A SYSTEM THAT IS VERY OLD AND VERY STALE IN A LOT OF WAYS. I THINK WE HAVE A LOT OF PROBLEMS IN TEACHER PAY. IT'S NOT JUST THE AMOUNT OF MONEY, IT'S THE WHOLE STRUCTURE. YOU CAN GET A TEACHER TO START FOR $23,000. FIVE YEARS LATER, WHEN THAT TEACHER IS LOOKING AT HOW THEY'RE GOING TO PUT THEIR OWN KIDS THROUGH COLLEGE, THEY START TO SAY, "GEE, I'M NOT SURE THIS WORKS." I THINK THERE ARE DIFFERENT PROBLEMS IN EDUCATION. I THINK WE OUGHT TO LOOK AT THE SALARY STRUCTURE. ONE THAT WORKS BETTER, ONE THAT WORKS MORE LIKE THE PRIVATE MARKETPLACE.

Glover: REPRESENTATIVE SCHRADER, ARE YOU WILLING TO TELL THE STATE'S TEACHER UNION, A CORE DEMOCRATIC CONSTITUENCY, IT'S TIME TO LOOK AT THE WAY THIS THING IS DONE ALL OVER AGAIN?

Schrader: WELL, I WANT TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM FIRST. THE PROBLEM THAT WE HAVE IS: WE'RE NOT GETTING THE BEST TEACHERS IN IOWA AS WE RECRUIT OUR TEACHERS FROM OUR GRADUATES FROM OUR UNIVERSITIES.

Glover: AND WHAT'S THE CAUSE OF THAT?

Schrader: THE REASON WE'RE NOT IS BECAUSE WE'RE IN A BIDDING WAR WITH OTHER STATES. THE WORLD HAS SHRUNK. IT ISN'T THAT BIG A DEAL FOR ONE OF OUR CHILDREN TO LEAVE THE STATE AFTER THEY'VE RECEIVED THEIR EDUCATION AND TEACH SOMEWHERE ELSE. AND WHEN IT'S 5, 6, $7,000 DOLLARS MORE RIGHT OUT OF COLLEGE FOR THAT FIRST-YEAR TEACHER IN MANY OTHER STATES, PLUS OTHER INCENTIVES -- HELPING MOVE THEM AND ALL OF THESE THINGS -- WE'RE LOSING THAT BATTLE FOR THE VERY BEST PEOPLE. NOW, I'M SURE WILLING TO LOOK AT ANY ADJUSTMENTS THAT WE COULD MAKE ON OUR SYSTEM THAT MIGHT MAKE IT BETTER. BUT THE MAIN GAME IS: WE'RE LOSING A COMPETITION WITH OTHER STATES. AND WHEN ALL OF THESE OTHER ISSUES ARE ADDED IN, I'VE HEARD THE REPUBLICANS SAY, "WELL, WE HAVE TO ADD IN THE ALLOWABLE GROWTH, MAYBE CHANGE THE WAY WE DO THAT, MAYBE CHANGE PHASE THREE," I'M CONCERNED THAT THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT SOME KIND OF SHELL GAME WHERE MONEY THAT'S ALREADY BEING SPENT IN OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM IS JUST DIVERTED IN ANOTHER WAY.

Glover: BUT MORE TO POINT, ARE YOU WILLING TO LOOK AT THE WAY TEACHERS ARE COMPENSATED AND DOING AWAY WITH THIS WHOLE SENIORITY-BASED PAY SYSTEM AND PAY GOOD TEACHERS BETTER AND MAKE IT EASIER TO GET RID OF BAD TEACHERS?

Schrader: WELL, MIKE, I DON'T EXACTLY KNOW WHAT'S BEING TALKED ABOUT WHEN THE NEED IS EXPRESSED TO MAKE IT EASIER TO GET RID OF BAD TEACHERS. I'M FAMILIAR WITH THE CHAPTER 20 CODE THAT TEACHERS ARE HIRED AND FIRED BY. YOU CAN FIRE TEACHERS THERE. THE REALITY IS: VERY FEW DISTRICTS FIRE TEACHERS. THE REASON THAT THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN IS A POLITICAL REASON. THOSE TEACHERS ARE THERE FOR A FEW YEARS, THEY LIVE NEXT DOOR TO SOMEBODY, THEY'RE PART OF THE COMMUNITY, AND THEY GRADUATE A BUNCH OF KIDS THROUGH THEIR CLASS. AND ALL OF A SUDDEN, THERE'S A POLITICAL CONSTITUENCY FOR THAT TEACHER. THE FACT IS: SCHOOL BOARDS AND ADMINISTERS AREN'T DOING THEIR WORK WHEN THERE ARE BAD TEACHERS THERE.

Beck: WILL YOU ALSO BE WILLING TO ADD AN ACCOUNTABILITY COMPONENT WHERE YOU'RE TESTING TEACHERS OR TESTING THE STUDENTS TO SEE IF THE TEACHERS ARE LIVING UP TO THEIR END OF THE COMMITMENT TO EDUCATE THE YOUTH?

Gronstal: I THINK WE OUGHT TO LOOK AT ANYTHING THAT'S GOING TO WORK. BUT I'D REMIND YOU, IT WAS ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO RIGHT AT THIS POINT IN TIME THAT GOVERNOR BRANSTAD, A REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR, WAS VETOING THE PLAN THAT THE LEGISLATURE HAD PASSED. HIS EFFORT WAS ALL ABOUT ENSURING BETTER TEACHERS IN THE STATE AND CREATING A MECHANISM THAT WOULD HELP LEAD TO A BETTER SALARY STRUCTURE. HE VETOED THAT EFFORT AND CALLED IT FAINT, HALF-HEARTED STEPS. NOW, THEY COME BACK TO YOU AND WANT YOU TO BELIEVE THAT NEXT YEAR THEY'RE GOING TO SOMETHING REALLY GOOD IN A CAMPAIGN YEAR. I JUST DON'T THINK IT WASHES. EVEN GOVERNOR BRANSTAD VETOED THEIR EFFORT TWO YEARS AGO. WE WERE COOPERATING WITH THE GOVERNOR ON THAT EFFORT.

Glover: CAN'T STOP RUNNING AGAINST GOVERNOR BRANSTAD, CAN YOU?

Gronstal: I'M NOT RUNNING AGAINST HIM, I WAS RUNNING WITH HIM, MIKE.

Glover: ANOTHER ISSUE THAT CROPPED UP BRIEFLY DURING THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION WAS THE WHOLE CONCEPT, SENATOR GRONSTAL, OF TAX REFORM. IF YOU'D STEP BACK FROM THE TAX-CUT/TAX-INCREASE DEBATE AND LOOK AT THE WHOLE IDEA OF RESTRUCTURING IOWA'S TAX SYSTEM, IT NEVER GOT OFF THE GROUND THIS YEAR. WHAT'S IT GOING TO TAKE TO GET THIS THAT ISSUE OFF THE LAUNCHING PAD AND INTO THE DEBATE?

Gronstal: I THINK IT TAKES DEMOCRATS BEING IN CONTROL OF THE LEGISLATURE. I THINK THE REPUBLICANS ARE CAPTIVES OF ONE SPECIAL INTEREST FROM MUSCATINE, IOWA, "IOWANS FOR TAX RELIEF." THEY ARE UNWILLING AND UNABLE, WITH THAT ORGANIZATION BACKING THEM, TO LOOK AT REFORMING OUR TAX CODE SO THAT IT'S FOR FOR THE MIDDLE CLASS. SO THEY'RE CAPTIVE OF ONE SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP IN THIS STATE. IT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN WHILE THEY'RE IN CHARGE.

Glover: REPRESENTATIVE SCHRADER, CRITICS OF THAT PROPOSAL THAT THE GOVERNOR OFFERED SAY THAT WHAT THAT IS IS THAT'S JUST SIMPLY LAYING THE GROUND FOR TAX INCREASE DOWN THE ROAD. HOW CAN YOU ASSURE VOTERS THAT YOU CAN DO TAX REFORM WITHOUT DOING TAX INCREASES?

Schrader: WELL THE TAX REFORM ISN'T SOME MYSTICAL THING IN IOWA. TAX REFORM IN IOWA IS THE ELIMINATION OF FEDERAL DEDUCTABILITY. WE OUGHT TO JOIN THE OTHER 46 STATES -- 45 STATES, I BELIEVE -- THAT HAVE DONE THAT. THAT IS A SHIFT -- JUST A PURE SHIFT FROM ONE DEDUCTION INTO LOWER RATES. AND WE WOULD PUT THAT MONEY BACK INTO EACH BRACKET SO THAT THOSE BRACKETS RECEIVE THE REWARDS OF LOWER RATES BASED ON WHAT THE -- THE BREAK THEIR GETTING FROM FEDERAL DEDUCTABILITY. IT'S SOMETHING THAT BUSINESS LEADERS AGREE WITH. IT'S SOMETHING THAT, I BELIEVE, A VAST MAJORITY OF IOWANS THINK WOULD MAKE OUR TAX SYSTEM EASIER TO DEAL WITH. BUT IT WOULD ALSO -- THE KEY THING IS: IT MAKES IT EASIER FOR PEOPLE FROM THE OUTSIDE THAT ARE LOOKING AT OUR STATE TO SAY, "HEY, THIS ISN'T THE HIGH-TAX RATE STATE WE THOUGHT IT WAS." "TAX RATES HERE ARE IN LINE." IF WE DO FEDERAL DEDUCTABILITY, WE CAN GET THERE.

Beck: BUT TO FOLLOW UP ON THAT, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS SAID A YEAR OR TWO AGO WHEN THEY WERE GOING TO A TAX REFORM STUDY, IS THAT TO DO REFORM, THERE WOULD HAVE TO MONEY. THERE WASN'T VERY MUCH MONEY IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET. AND WHO'S TWO SAY THERE'S GOING TO ENOUGH MONEY TO REFORM THE TAX CODE IN NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET? DID WE PASS TOO MANY TAX CUTS IN THE PREVIOUS YEARS TO NOW REFORM THE CODE?

Schrader: YOU HAVE TO HAVE MONEY TO DO FEDERAL DEDUCTABILITY FOR ONE REASON -- YOU MAY HAVE TO HAVE MONEY. THE FACT IS: WHEN YOU DO FEDERAL DEDUCTABILITY, THE TOP TAX BRACKET BEGINS WITH PEOPLE EARNING ABOUT $75,000. IT'S NOT EXACT. BUT IT BEGINS THERE AND THEN GOES ONTO INFINITY. AND WHEN YOU PUT THAT MONEY BACK INTO THAT TOP BRACKET, SOME OF THE PEOPLE THAT ARE DOING VERY WELL IN THAT BRACKET ACTUALLY SEE A SMALL INCREASE. IF YOU'RE WORRIED ABOUT THE 3 PERCENT OR SO OF IOWANS THAT ARE GOING TO SEE A SMALL INCREASE -- BY THE WAY, THEY'RE THE 3 PERCENT THAT ARE DOING THE VERY BEST OF ANYONE -- AND IF YOU'RE WILLING TO TAKE MONEY FROM THE OTHER 97 PERCENT OF THE PEOPLE TO HELP THAT 3 PERCENT, YOU HAVE TO PUT MONEY INTO TAX REFORM. I'M NOT SURE THAT WHEN WE DO TAX REFORM THAT WE OUGHT TWO SAY TO 97 PERCENT OF IOWANS, "WE'VE GOT TO TAKE SOME MONEY FROM YOU TO HELP THE PEOPLE THAT ARE DOING THE VERY BEST."

Glover: BUT, REPRESENTATIVE SCHRADER, TO BRING THIS WHOLE DEBATE FULL CIRCLE, THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSED, AND IT'S BEEN DEBATED IN THE LEGISLATURE BEFORE, WHAT HAS TO HAPPEN TO MAKE THIS ACTUALLY HAPPEN? WHAT POLITICALLY, WHAT POLICY? WHAT HAS TO HAPPEN? I MEAN, THIS SEEMS TO KIND OF AN EMPTY DEBATE RIGHT NOW.

Schrader: NO, THIS IS AN EASY DEBATE. YOU HAVE TO ELECT DEMOCRATS TO LEGISLATURE, AND YOU WILL SEE THE ELIMINATION OF FEDERAL DEDUCTABILITY, AND YOU WILL SEE IOWA TAX RATES GO DOWN ACROSS THE BOARD BECAUSE OF THAT.

Beck: SENATOR GRONSTAL, YOU MENTIONED EARLIER THAT REGENTS UNIVERSITIES, OR THE PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES OF IOWA, FELT A LITTLE SHORTED IN THE LAST LEGISLATIVE SESSION. THEY FELT THEY DIDN'T GET ENOUGH MONEY AND THEY SAID THAT THAT WOULD MEAN THERE WOULD BE A TUITION HIKE. IOWAâS MIDWEST SCHOOLS -- WE ARE ON THE LOWER END OF TUITION -- AND, SO, SHOULD THEY HAVE A HIKE?

Beck: SHOULD STUDENTS PAY MORE? ESPECIALLY THE OUT-OF-STATE STUDENTS.

Gronstal: WELL, I THINK THE OUT-OF-STATE STUDENTS SHOULD PAY THE COST OF THEIR EDUCATION AT THE REGENTS INSTITUTIONS. THEY SHOULD BE PAYING THEIR COST. AND IF THEIR TUITIONS AREN'T COVERING THAT COST NOW, WE SHOULD BE DEALING WITH THAT. BUT FOR IN-STATE STUDENTS INSIDE THIS STATE, I THINK WE'RE PRICING MANY MIDDLE-CLASS PEOPLE OUT OF THE EDUCATION MARKET. I THINK THAT'S UNFORTUNATE. WE'RE NOT ONLY DOING IT AT OUR UNIVERSITIES, WE'RE DOING IT AT OUR COMMUNITIES COLLEGES. I THINK IT'S MORE OF A PROBLEM THERE. AT THE COMMUNITIES COLLEGES, WE HAVE SOME OF THE HIGHEST TUITIONS IN THE REGION, AND SOME OF THE HIGHEST TUITIONS IN THE COUNTRY, AT OUR COMMUNITY COLLEGES. REPUBLICANS TALK ABOUT WANTING INSTITUTIONS OF LIFE-LONG LEARNING IN OUR STATE. THAT'S WHAT THE COMMUNITY COLLEGES ARE. AND WE ARE LITERALLY PRICING THOUSANDS OF IOWANS OUT OF THAT MARKETPLACE.

Glover: REPRESENTATIVE SCHRADER, ONE OF THE ARGUMENTS REPUBLICANS USE WHEN THEY HERE JENEANE'S QUESTION IS THAT THEY ARE PUTTING MONEY INTO COMMUNITY COLLEGES BECAUSE COMMUNITY COLLEGES ARE COLLEGES THAT EDUCATE IOWANS WHO STAY IN IOWA AFTER THEY GRADUATE FROM THIS COMMUNITY COLLEGE. WHAT'S WRONG WITH THAT ARGUMENT? WHY NOT SUPPORT COLLEGES THAT EDUCATE KIDS WHO STAY HERE?

Schrader: WELL, WE SUPPORT COMMUNITY COLLEGES. WE ALSO OUGHT TO SUPPORT OUR INSTITUTIONS OF -- OUR REGENTS INSTITUTIONS, OUR FOUR-YEAR COLLEGES. WE SUPPORT, INDIRECTLY THROUGH OUR IOWA TUITION GRANTS, OUR PRIVATE COLLEGES IN IOWA BY PROVIDING THOSE GRANTS FOR STUDENTS WHO GO THERE. I THINK THAT IN THE WORLD WE LIVE IN NOW, EVERYBODY NEEDS MORE EDUCATION THAN A TWELFTH-GRADE EDUCATION, WHICH USED TO THE NORM. FOR A LOT OF FOLKS, THAT IS GOING TO BE COMMUNITY COLLEGES. FOR A LOT OF THE JOBS THAT WE NEED IN IOWA, THAT'S GOING TO A FOUR-YEAR DEGREE. AND I THINK THAT WE OUGHT TO MAKING POLICY AT THE STATE LEVEL THAT ENCOURAGES AND ENABLES MORE FOLKS TO PARTICIPATE INSTEAD OF LESS.

Glover: AND WHAT YOU SAY TO JENEANE'S QUESTION THAT IF YOU LOOK AT A COMPARISON OF IOWA TUITION RATES WITH THE REST OF THE COUNTRY, IOWA STUDENTS GET A BARGAIN. THEY PAY LESS TUITION THAN ALMOST ANYONE ELSE IN THE COUNTRY. WHY SHOULDN'T THEY PAY MORE?

Gronstal: I THINK THAT THE STUDENTS IN IOWA -- WE OUGHT TO HAVE MORE IOWA STUDENTS IN THOSE REGENTS INSTITUTIONS INSTEAD OF FEWER. AND IF WE CAN HOLD THOSE TUITION RATES DOWN AT THE ONE OF THE LOWER RATES IN THE NATION, THAT'S SOMETHING GOOD. AND I'D LIKE TO CONTINUE IT.

Borg: SENATOR GRONSTAL, EARLIER IN OUR DISCUSSION HERE YOU MENTIONED THE ENVIRONMENT AND THE RESIGNATION OF PAUL JOHNSON AS DNR CHIEF. BUT DOESN'T -- HE SAID THAT THE LEGISLATURE DID NOT ACT SUFFICIENTLY ON PRIORITIES THAT HE CONSIDERED ESSENTIAL IN IOWA IN THE ENVIRONMENT. YOU'VE GOT A DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR. WHAT -- WHAT DEFENSE DO YOU HAVE FOR WHAT HAPPENED?

Gronstal: WELL, WHAT HAPPENED IS THE REPUBLICANS, WHILE MAKING A GOOD EFFORT ON SURFACE-WATER QUALITY WITH THE BUFFER STRIP INITIATIVE, WHILE MAKING A GOOD EFFORT THERE, THEY FUNDED IT BY CUTTING HALF OF "REAP." THEY CUT REAP FROM THE GOVERNOR'S RECOMMENDED LEVEL OF $20 MILLION TO 10.5. THEY CUT REAP IN HALF. THAT'S OUR INVESTMENT IN MANY OF OUR STATE PARKS AND STATE LANDS. THEY CUT ONE PROGRAM SO THAT THEY COULD BRAG ABOUT ANOTHER ONE. NOW, THEY DESERVE TO BRAG ABOUT THE SECOND ONE, THAT IS A GOOD ONE. BUT THEY DIDN'T HAVE TO CUT THE FIRST ONE. WE MENTIONED HOGS EARLIER. PAUL JOHNSON HAD A NUMBER OF INITIATIVES -- MODEST EFFORTS BY THE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES -- TO GET A LITTLE MORE CONTROL OVER HOGS, AND THEY WALKED AWAY FROM DOING ANYTHING IN THAT AREA. SO, THAT'S WHAT -- I THINK THAT'S PAUL JOHNSON'S FRUSTRATION. YEAH, THEY TOOK A HIGH-PROFILE ISSUE AND SAID, "LOOK, WE NEED TO THIS SO THAT WE CAN APPEAL TO ENVIRONMENTAL CONSTITUENCY." AND THEN ON THE OTHER ISSUES, OVER ON THE SIDE, THEY CUT THEM.

Borg: BUT MY POINT IS: DIDN'T THE DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR CAVE TO -- AND NOT SUPPORT HIS DNR CHIEF?

Gronstal: NO, I DON'T THINK HE EVER CAVED. HE WAS FIGHTING FOR PAUL JOHNSON'S BUDGET THE LAST DAY OF THE SESSION. I WAS IN HIS OFFICE, AND HE WAS PRESSING THE REPUBLICANS ON THE, IN PARTICULAR, REAP FUNDING. SO I DON'T THINK YOU SEE ANY SIGN THAT THE GOVERNOR CAVED ON THIS STUFF. HE STUCK WITH SOME GUYS THAT REALLY DON'T WANT TO SEE THIS STATE MOVE FORWARD, THAT REALLY AREN'T CONCERNED ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT.

Borg: REPRESENTATIVE SCHRADER?

Schrader: DEAN, THIS IS WHAT YOU SAW AGAIN AND AGAIN THROUGH THIS SESSION, AND IT'S WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO SEE WITH DIVIDED GOVERNMENT, WITH THESE REPUBLICANS RUNNING THE LEGISLATURE. THE GOVERNOR WANTED $100 MILLION IN THE "VISION IOWA" PROGRAM FOR SCHOOL INFRASTRUCTURE. ALL WE COULD GET WAS $50 MILLION THROUGH THIS LEGISLATURE. THE GOVERNOR WANTED TO FULLY FUND, AT LEAST FOR ONE MORE YEAR, THE ALTERNATIVE HIGH SCHOOLS AROUND THE STATE THAT ARE KEEPING A LOT OF KIDS THAT OTHERWISE WOULDN'T BE IN HIGH SCHOOL IN HIGH SCHOOL. WE FUNDED THOSE FOLKS, MANY OF THEM AT 35 PERCENT LESS THAN THEY GOT LAST YEAR. THE GOVERNOR WANTED TO FULLY FUND REAP, HE GOT ABOUT HALF OF THAT. THE GOVERNOR WANTED MENTAL HEALTH PARITY -- HE SAID, "REAL MENTAL HEALTH PARITY" -- FOR FAMILIES THAT HAD THOSE PROBLEMS. THE REPUBLICANS PASSED A BILL IN THE HOUSE THAT WAS SO BAD THAT THE SENATE WAS EMBARRASSED TO EVEN TAKE IT UP. THEY'VE WATERED DOWN HIS PROPOSALS. THE GOVERNOR DIDN'T CAVE, BUT HE'S HAD TO COMPROMISE WITH THIS LEGISLATURE OR WE WOULD STILL BE IN SESSION.

Glover: REPRESENTATIVE SCHRADER, ONE OF THE BIG FIGHTS IN THIS UPCOMING ELECTION IS GOING TO BE FOR CONTROL OF THE IOWA HOUSE. THAT'S THE SIGNATURE OF THE CAMPAIGN OF THIS YEAR. GIVE ME THE ARGUMENT FOR DEMOCRATS TAKING CONTROL OF THE HOUSE.

Schrader: WELL, FIRST, WE'VE GOT A COUPLE OF THINGS GOING FOR US THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE GOING FOR US TWO YEARS AGO. IT'S ALWAYS A GOOD YEAR FOR DEMOCRATS IN IOWA WHEN WE HAVE A PRESIDENTAL RACE.

Glover: MM-HMM.

Schrader: OUR PEOPLE TURN OUT, WE GET NUMBERS. THE LAST -- FOUR YEARS AGO IN THE LAST PRESIDENTAL RACE, WE DEFEATED SEVEN REPUBLICAN INCUMBENTS. THE WILD CARD, NOW, FOR US IS GOVERNOR VILSACK. WE KNOW THAT THAT'S A NEW PART OF THE PUZZLE THAT WASN'T THERE BEFORE. BUT THE WIND'S AT OUR BACK BECAUSE OF THAT. WE HAVE THE RIGHT CANDIDATES RECRUITED IN THE RIGHT DISTRICTS TO WIN. WE CAN WIN THE OPEN SEATS THAT WE NEED TO. THE REPUBLICANS HAVE SOME VERY VULNERABLE INCUMBENTS. WE CAN DEFEAT THOSE FOLKS BECAUSE WE HAVE THE CANDIDATES OUT THERE THAT ARE LEADERS IN THEIR COMMUNITY THAT ARE GOING TO WIN, AND WE WILL COME BACK WITH A MAJORITY.

Glover: SENATOR GRONSTAL, DO YOU HAVE A SHOT AT THE SENATE?

Gronstal: I THINK WE HAVE A GREAT SHOT AT THE SENATE. THE ONLY THING I DISPUTE, WITH ALL RESPECT TO DAVE, I THINK WE'VE GOT AS GOOD A SHOT IN THE SENATE AS HE DOES IN THE HOUSE, AND HE'S GOT A GREAT SHOT IN THE HOUSE. WE'RE DOING VERY WELL ON THE CAMPAIGN FRONT. AND IF DEMOCRATS ARE ELECTED, WE'LL MAKE EDUCATION NUMBER ONE AGAIN. WE'LL REFORM OUR TAX CODE THAT IT'S FAIR FOR THE MIDDLE CLASS. WE'LL TAKE CARE OF OUR ENVIRONMENT. WE'LL MAKE SURE HEALTHCARE IS ACCESSIBLE TO ALL IOWANS.

Beck: QUICKLY, FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS, DEMOCRATS HAVE ELECTED A DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENT IN IOWA -- OR THEY'VE BEEN ABLE TO CARRY THE STATE FOR DEMOCRATS, LET ME PUT IT THAT WAY. CAN YOU DO THAT AGAIN THIS YEAR FOR AL GORE?

Schrader: YES.

Gronstal: I THINK WE'VE GOT A GREAT SHOT AT THAT.

Borg: THANK YOU, GENTLEMEN, FOR TAKING TIME TO BE WITH US TODAY ON IOWA PRESS. ON OUR NEXT EDITION, WE FOCUS ON EDUCATION-- SPECIFICALLY, HIGHER EDUCATION IN IOWA. JOINING US FOR HIS ASSESSMENTS AND FOR AN ON-CAMPUS UPDATE, THE PRESIDENT OF IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY, MARTIN JISCHKE, WILL BE DISCUSSING A NUMBER OF HIGHER-EDUCATION ISSUES. NEXT SUNDAY AT NOON AND 7, MARTIN JISCHKE, HERE ON STATE-WIDE IOWA PUBLIC TELEVISION. UNTIL THEN, I'M DEAN BORG. THANK FOR JOINING US TODAY.

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.