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Yepsen: MOST STATEHOUSE OBSERVERS SAY IOWA'S PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES -- IOWA, IOWA STATE, AND NORTHERN IOWA -- DIDN'T GET ENOUGH MONEY FROM THE GOVERNOR AND THE LEGISLATURE; AND SOME IN THE EDUCATION COMMUNITY SAY DARK CLOUDS COULD BE ON THE HORIZON. WE'LL CALL ON THE ASSESSMENTS OF DR. MARTIN JISCHKE, PRESIDENT OF IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY, 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 21^st, EDITION OF IOWA PRESS. HERE IS DAVID YEPSEN.

Yepsen: IN ASSESSING THE HEALTH AND WELFARE OF IOWA'S THREE STATE UNIVERSITIES -- IOWA, IOWA STATE, AND NORTHERN IOWA -- THERE'S BOTH GOOD NEWS AND BAD NEWS. THE GOODS NEWS IS THAT THE REGENTS ENROLLMENTS ARE UP A BIT, AND ASSESSMENTS FROM BOTH INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE ACADEMY SAY THE UNIVERSITIES ARE ON TRACK IN THEIR ASSIGNED MISSIONS. THE BAD NEWS IS, IT'S CRUNCH TIME. THE REGENTS GOT LESS MONEY FROM THE GOVERNOR AND THE LEGISLATURE THAN THEY WANTED. THEY SAY ONE OF THREE THINGS COULD FOLLOW: FIRST, TARGETED FACULTY AND STAFF REDUCTIONS MIGHT HAVE TO BE CONSIDERED; SECOND, PROGRAMS MAY BE ELIMINATED; THIRD, TUITION COULD BE GOING ALL UP, OR PERHAPS ALL OF THE ABOVE. IN ANY EVENT, SOME SAY THERE'S A SENSE OF URGENCY TO ALL THIS. OTHERS SAY THE UNIVERSITIES WILL SURVIVE AT CURRENT FUNDING LEVELS, AND THAT THEY ALWAYS COMPLAIN ABOUT NOT GETTING ENOUGH MONEY FROM THE POLITICIANS IN DES MOINES. DR. MARTIN JISCHKE, PRESIDENT OF IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY, IS ONE OF THE REGENTS' PRESIDENTS WHO'LL HAVE TO DEAL WITH IT ALL, AND HE JOINS US FOR HIS ASSESSMENTS TODAY. DR. JISCHKE MARKS HIS 10TH ANNIVERSARY AS ISU'S 13TH PRESIDENT IN ANOTHER MONTH. CONGRATULATIONS.

Dr. Jischke: THANK YOU.

Yepsen: AND WELCOME ONCE AGAIN TO IOWA PRESS.

Dr. Jischke: GOOD TO BE HERE.

Yepsen: JOINING US AT THE IOWA PRESS TABLE ARE IOWA STATEHOUSE REPORTERS KAY HENDERSON OF RADIO IOWA, AND MIKE GLOVER OF THE ASSOCIATED PRESS.

Glover: DR. JISCHKE, WE'LL GET TO THESE BUDGET ISSUES IN JUST A FEW MINUTES; BUT IN RECENT DAYS THERE HAVE BEEN SOME REPORTS THAT YOU ARE UNDER CONSIDERATION BY OFFICIALS AT PURDUE UNIVERSITY FOR THE TOP JOB AT THAT UNIVERSITY. HAVE YOU HAD DISCUSSIONS WITH THAT UNIVERSITY?

Dr. Jischke: I'VE HEARD THESE RUMORS AS WELL. THEY'RE FLATTERING. PURDUE IS A VERY FINE UNIVERSITY, AND MANY WOULD THINK ITS PRESIDENCY IS A PRETTY ATTRACTIVE POSITION. BUT I'M CURRENTLY THE PRESIDENT OF IOWA STATE, WHICH IS ALSO A VERY, VERY FINE UNIVERSITY. AND I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT IOWA STATE, NOT TO SPECULATE ON RUMORS.

Glover: BUT HAVE YOU HAD DISCUSSIONS WITH THEM?

Dr. Jischke: I'VE HAD DISCUSSIONS WITH LOTS OF PEOPLE.

Glover: SPECIFICALLY, PURDUE UNIVERSITY.

Dr. Jischke: UH, LOTS OF PEOPLE. (laughter)

Glover: DR. JISCHKE, THERE ARE TWO ANSWERS TO THAT QUESTION: "YES" AND "NO."

(laughter)

Glover: EVERYTHING ELSE LEADS TO SPECULATION. YOU'RE OPENING UP SPECULATION NOW.

Dr. Jischke: I'M NOT GOING TO SPECULATE.

Yepsen: SO IT IS POSSIBLE THAT YOU COULD BE LEAVING IOWA STATE FOR PURDUE?

Dr. Jischke: I DON'T WANT TO SPECULATE ABOUT MY FUTURE TODAY. I THINK THE MORE IMPORTANT ISSUES HAVE TO DO WITH WHAT'S GOING ON RIGHT NOW.

Glover: BUT YOU NOT WON'T DENY TALKING TO THEM.

Dr. Jischke: NO.

Glover: OKAY. THAT ANSWERS THE QUESTION.

Henderson: IF INDIANA BASKETBALL COACH BOBBY KNIGHT WERE EMPLOYED AT IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY, WOULD HE HAVE A JOB TODAY?

Dr. Jischke: OH, BOY! MILES BRAND, THE PRESIDENT OF INDIANA UNIVERSITY, IS A VERY GOOD FRIEND OF MINE, AND I THINK HE'S GOTTEN A LOT OF ADVICE IN THE LAST SEVERAL WEEKS, AND I DON'T WANT TO ADD TO IT. I WILL TELL YOU WHAT WE TELL OUR COACHES AT IOWA STATE, AND I THINK IT RESPONDS TO YOUR QUESTION. FIRST, WE TELL THEM AT THE TOP OF THE LIST IS THE WELFARE OF THE STUDENT ATHLETES WHO ARE IN THEIR CHARGE. WE WANT THEM TO CARE ABOUT THESE YOUNG PEOPLE BOTH AS STUDENTS AND AS ATHLETES. SECOND, WINNING IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN LOSING. WINNING IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETICS. WE WANT COMPETITIVE PROGRAMS. THIRD, WE INSIST THAT THEY FOLLOW ALL THE RULES OF THE UNIVERSITY, THE CONFERENCE, AND THE NCAA. FOURTH, WE INSIST THAT THEY REPRESENT US WELL ON THE COURT AND OFF. AND FIFTH, IF THEY DO ALL THAT AND ARE HELD ACCOUNTABLE BY THE ATHLETIC DIRECTOR, THEY WILL BE REWARDED FOR GOOD PERFORMANCE AND THERE WILL BE CONSEQUENCES FOR NOT-SO-GOOD PERFORMANCE.

Henderson: WOULD BOBBY NIGHT HAVE MET THOSE FIVE CRITERIA, IN YOUR OPINION?

Dr. Jischke: I DON'T KNOW ALL THAT WENT ON THERE, BUT POPULAR REPORTS WOULD SUGGEST NOT.

Henderson: LARRY EUSTACHY OFFENDED SOME IOWANS BY COMMENTS MADE AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE MICHIGAN STATE GAME IN THE NCAA TOURNAMENT. HAS HE MENDED FENCES WITH YOU AND WITH OTHER IOWANS?

Dr. Jischke: ABSOLUTELY. I TALKED TO LARRY DIRECTLY. THE ATHLETIC DIRECTOR DID. I THINK HE UNDERSTANDS WHY WE WERE CONCERNED AND A BIT EMBARRASSED. I MUST SAY I HAD SOME UNDERSTANDING OF THE INTENSITY OF THAT GAME. I WAS THERE AND I UNDERSTAND WHY HE FELT SO STRONGLY, BUT I THINK HE HAS COME TO REALIZE THAT KIND OF BEHAVIOR IS NOT WHAT WE WOULD LIKE FROM OUR BASKETBALL COACH.

Glover: NOW, THOSE BUDGET PROBLEMS WE TALKED ABOUT A LITTLE EARLIER.

Dr. Jischke: YES, YES.

Glover: THE LEGISLATURE HAS JUST CONCLUDED AND PASSED AND A BUDGET. SINCE THAT TIME, A LOT OF PEOPLE ASSOCIATED WITH THE BOARD OF REGENTS HAVE COMPLAINED THEY DIDN'T GET ENOUGH MONEY. WHAT KIND OF PROBLEMS DOES THIS BUDGET CAUSE FOR IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY?

Dr. Jischke: IT CAUSES THREE KINDS OF PROBLEMS. IN THE SHORT RUN, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO REDUCE OUR EXPENDITURES BY ABOUT $5 MILLION. THE FUNDING FROM THE LEGISLATURE SHORTED THE UNIVERSITY ABOUT 10 MILLION. WE CAN MAKE UP APPROXIMATELY HALF OF THAT THROUGH INCREASED TUITION AND FEES AND OTHER REVENUES. BUT WE'RE STILL SHORT ABOUT $5 MILLION IF WE'RE GOING TO MEET THE STATE SALARY POLICY AND OTHER MANDATORY COST INCREASES. THAT MEANS SOME REDUCTIONS; REDUCTIONS IN PERSONNEL, REDUCTIONS IN PROGRAMS, CLASS SIZES WILL BE A LITTLE LARGER. SO IN THE SHORT RUN, WE'VE GOT A $5-MILLION PROBLEM. IN THE SOMEWHAT LONGER RUN, IT'S A BIT DISCOURAGING. THIS IS A TIME WHEN THE UNIVERSITY'S ENROLLMENTS ARE GROWING. OUR RESEARCH PROGRAM IS GROWING. OUR ABILITY TO LEVERAGE THE STATE'S INVESTMENT WITH PRIVATE RESOURCES ARE GROWING. BY EVERY SENSIBLE MEASURE YOU COULD MAKE OF THE UNIVERSITY'S SUCCESS, WE ARE DOING VERY WELL. BUT TO BE REWARDED FOR ALL OF THAT SUCCESS WITH SHORT BUDGETS IS A VERY DISCOURAGING THING.

Glover: HAVE YOU SETTLED ON THE OPTIONS THAT YOU'RE GOING TO DECIDE ON IN THE WAKE OF THIS? I MEAN, HAVE YOU DECIDED HOW YOU'RE GOING TO HANDLE IT?

Dr. Jischke: IN THE BROAD BRUSH, YES. BUT I DON'T, AT THIS POINT, KNOW SPECIFICALLY HOW MANY PERSONNEL POSITIONS WILL BE TAKEN. LET ME ADD ONE MORE POINT, THOUGH, AND THIS IS, I THINK, MAYBE THE MOST IMPORTANT POINT. THIS CALLS INTO QUESTION THE STRATEGY WE HAVE HAD FOR IMPROVING THE UNIVERSITY. IT IS BUILT ON AN ASSUMPTION THAT THE STATE OF IOWA, THROUGH ITS LEADERS, ITS TAXPAYERS, WILL STAY THE COURSE WITH US AND WE WILL HAVE A STABLE BASE OF FUNDING FROM THE STATE OF IOWA. WE HAVE BUILT A STRATEGY AT IOWA STATE TO BECOME THE BEST LAND-GRANT UNIVERSITY THAT IS PREMISED ON THAT ONGOING STABLE FUNDING. IF THAT GETS CALLED INTO QUESTION, THEN I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE VERY, VERY DIFFICULT FOR IOWA STATE TO IMPROVE. AND I THINK IN THE LONG RUN, THAT IS A VERY, VERY BAD THING FOR THE STATE OF IOWA. IOWA IS KNOWN FOR A FEW THINGS, BUT AT THE TOP OF THE LIST IS A QUALITY EDUCATION SYSTEM. AND CONSISTENT UNDERFUNDING OF THE STATE UNIVERSITIES IS GOING TO JEOPARDIZE THAT REPUTATION AND JEOPARDIZE THE POTENTIAL, THE PROMISE, THAT HIGHER EDUCATION HAS FOR THE STATE. THAT'S THE MOST SERIOUS ISSUE.

Yepsen: DR. JISCHKE, I'VE COVERED THE LEGISLATURE FOR OVER 20 YEARS NOW, AND EVERY YEAR THERE'S A RITUAL THAT GOES ON UP THERE. THE REGENTS COME AND ASK FOR THEIR BUDGET; THE LEGISLATURE DOESN'T GIVE IT TO THEM; AND THEN THE REGENTS INSTITUTIONS COMPLAIN. WHAT'S DIFFERENT ABOUT THIS BUDGET THAN PRIOR BUDGETS? AND HOW DO YOU RESPOND TO A LOT OF LEGISLATORS WHO SAY YOU'RE JUST CRYING WOLF?

Dr. Jischke: THIS IS THE WORST BUDGET, THE TOUGHEST LEGISLATIVE SESSION, I'VE HAD IN 10 YEARS. I HAVEN'T BEEN HERE 20, BUT I'VE BEEN HERE 10. THIS WAS PRETTY TOUGH. I BELIEVE, WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, THAT THE PRESS HAS MISSED A MUCH BIGGER STORY IN ALL OF THIS. OVER THE LAST 5 YEARS, THE STATE OF IOWA HAS CUT TAXES BY WELL OVER $700 MILLION -- 720 OR $730 MILLION IN TAX CUTS. I BELIEVE WE ARE NOW IN A POSITION AS A STATE WHERE THE ONGOING REVENUES CAN'T SUPPORT THE ONGOING SERVICES. WE HAVE COVERED THIS PROBLEM FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS BY DRAWING DOWN RESERVES, BUT THAT'S NO LONGER POSSIBLE. AND SO WE CAN WE NO LONGER CAN, IN AN ONGOING WAY, SUPPORT WHAT WE DO AS A STATE. IT'S EVIDENT EVERYWHERE. SALARIES FOR K-12 TEACHERS ARE SIMPLY NOT COMPETITIVE. WE WERE SHORTED IN OUR FUNDING FOR FACULTY SALARIES AT IOWA STATE. OUR OPERATING BUDGET WAS CUT, EVEN AS OUR ENROLLMENT GROWS.

Glover: ARE YOU SUGGESTING THAT TAXES HAVE TO BE INCREASED?

Dr. Jischke: UH, LET ME FINISH MY STORY, BUT I'LL COME TO THE CONCLUSION, I PROMISE YOU. THE DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WAS CUT 4 PERCENT ACROSS THE BOARD. WE CAN'T DEAL WITH OUR ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES. I BELIEVE WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT GIVING BACK SOME OF THOSE TAX CUTS IF WE'RE GOING TO SUSTAIN THE QUALITY OF EDUCATION HERE IN IOWA. I WORRY ABOUT THE LONG-TERM QUALITY OF OUR EDUCATIONAL ENTERPRISE. IF WE DON'T FIND A WAY TO ATTRACT AND RETAIN QUALITY TEACHERS -- COMPENSATE THEM COMPETITIVELY IN K-12 -- IF WE DON'T FIGURE OUT A WAY TO MAINTAIN OUR SALARIES AT IOWA STATE, IOWA'S REPUTATION FOR QUALITY EDUCATION IS IN JEOPARDY. I BELIEVE WE'VE GOT TO THINK ABOUT RETURNING SOME OF THAT TAX CUT SO WE CAN PUT THIS BUDGET IN ORDER.

Yepsen: THAT'S CALLED A TAX INCREASE.

Dr. Jischke: WELL, I --

Yepsen: WHICH TAXES SHOULD BE INCREASED AND BY HOW MUCH?

Dr. Jischke: I'M NOT PREPARED TO TALK ABOUT WHICH TAXES. I'M TRYING TO GIVE THIS BIGGER PICTURE THAT I THINK HAS NOT BEEN ADEQUATELY COVERED BY THE PRESS AND BY OTHERS. I BELIEVE THIS IS A STRATEGICALLY IMPORTANT ISSUE FOR IOWA. MY VIEW IS THAT THIS COMPETITIVENESS OF TEACHER SALARIES IN K-12 IS AT THE TOP OF THE LIST OF ISSUES FOR IOWA. I CAN TELL YOU THAT THE STUDENTS AT IOWA STATE WHO ARE GRADUATING IN THE COLLEGE OF EDUCATION ARE GETTING SALARY OFFERS FROM OTHER STATES THAT ARE SUBSTANTIALLY HIGHER.

Yepsen: ONE OF THE REASONS THAT THE REGENTS INSTITUTIONS HAVE BUDGET PROBLEMS WITH THE LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR IS THAT MANY POLICYMAKERS DON'T THINK THEY GET A GOOD RETURN ON THE INVESTMENT; THAT IF THEY HAVE A DOLLAR TO SPEND, THEY GET MORE BY SPENDING IT AT A COMMUNITY COLLEGE OR GIVING A TUITION GRANT TO A PRIVATE-COLLEGE STUDENT. HOW DO YOU RESPOND TO THAT?

Dr. Jischke: FIRST, I DON'T AGREE WITH THE ASSUMPTION THAT THAT'S WHAT THEY THINK. ALL THE EVIDENCE I HAVE ö

Yepsen: THAT'S WHAT THEY TELL ME, SIR.

Dr. Jischke: WELL, I'VE TALKED TO THEM AS WELL. WHEN WE HAD OUR HEARINGS BEFORE THE APPROPRIATIONS -- EDUCATION APPROPRIATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE, THEY WERE VERY POSITIVE ABOUT THE WORK THAT IOWA STATE WAS DOING. I'VE TALKED TO INDIVIDUAL LEGISLATORS. "ARE WE DOING SOMETHING WRONG?" "ARE WE NOT DOING WHAT WE SHOULD BE?" THE ANSWER IS "NO." WE'RE NOT ONLY INCREASING OUR ENROLLMENTS, OUR GRADUATION RATES ARE GROWING. OUR RESEARCH PROGRAM IS INCREASING. WE ARE HELPING TO CREATE JOBS HERE IN IOWA. WE ARE HELPING FARMERS DEAL WITH THESE TOUGH COMMODITY PRICE SITUATIONS. I THINK THE UNIVERSITY IS DOING ITS JOB AND DOING IT WELL, AND IT IS RECOGNIZED. THAT'S NOT THE PROBLEM. THEY DON'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO TAKE CARE OF ALL THE NEEDS THE STATE HAS. WE NEED TO HAVE AN EXCELLENT EDUCATION SYSTEM IN GENERAL -- K-12, THE COMMUNITY COLLEGES, THE REGENTS. I THINK THIS ARGUMENT THAT IT'S A KIND OF POLITICS OF DIVISION, A KIND OF POLITICS OF ENVY, IS WRONG-HEADED. I DON'T THINK PEOPLE OF IOWA BUY IT. I DON'T THINK IT'S TRUE. WE NEED TO HAVE ALL OF EDUCATION ADEQUATELY FUNDED. AND TO PLAY ONE OFF AGAINST THE OTHER -- I JUST -- I MEAN, I DON'T EVEN WANT TO BUY INTO THAT. I NEED, AS THE PRESIDENT OF IOWA STATE, FOR K-12 TO BE EXCELLENT. THAT'S WHERE OUR STUDENTS COME FROM. K-12 NEEDS A FIRST-RATE REGENTS SYSTEM BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE THEIR TEACHERS COME FROM. WE'RE PART OF A LARGER EDUCATIONAL CLOTH, AND WE OUGHT TO SEE THIS IN A LARGER PICTURE, IN MY VIEW.

Henderson: MANY REPUBLICAN LEGISLATORS LOOK AT THE PICTURE, THOUGH, AND THEY HOLD A DIFFERENT PHILOSOPHICAL VIEW. THEY SEE THESE UNIVERSITIES AS BEHEMOTHS THAT ARE -- YOU KNOW, THERE ARE PLACES TO CUT IN YOUR BUDGET. WHY AREN'T YOU CUTTING THE BUDGET IN PARTICULAR AREAS -- ENDING DUPLICATION, IN PARTICULAR AREAS, SUCH AS BUSINESSES HAVE DONE?

Dr. Jischke: WE HAVE DONE THAT. WE HAVE DONE THAT. BY ALL THE EVIDENCE WE HAVE, THERE IS RELATIVELY LITTLE DUPLICATION AMONG THE REGENT INSTITUTIONS. THERE ARE NO ECONOMIES TO BE HAD BY ELIMINATING PROGRAMS. FOR EXAMPLE, WE ALL HAVE A COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES. THAT'S CENTRAL TO EVERYONE'S EDUCATION. OUR STUDENTS OUGHT TO KNOW THEIR LANGUAGE, THEY OUGHT TO KNOW THEIR HISTORY, THEY OUGHT TO KNOW A LITTLE SCIENCE. WE ALL HAVE TO HAVE A COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES. WE HAVE BEEN INDEPENDENTLY ASSESSED SEVERAL TIMES BY OUTSIDE CONSULTANTS, MANAGEMENT CONSULTANTS, LOOKING AT OUR UNIVERSITIES, AND THEY GIVE US VERY HIGH MARKS. I THINK WE CAN STAND ANY TEST OF SCRUTINY. THAT'S NOT THE ISSUE, IN MY VIEW. THE ISSUE IS: HOW DO WE FUND THESE NEEDED ENTERPRISES? IOWA HAS HAD A LONG TRADITION OF TRYING TO CREATE ACCESS AT THESE UNIVERSITIES, AND WE'VE KEPT TUITION RELATIVELY MODEST. AN ALTERNATIVE IS HIGHER TUITION, BUT IT'S GOING TO RESULT IN FEWER STUDENTS HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY. I HAPPEN TO THINK THAT'S WRONG-HEADED.

Glover: IF WE GET TO THAT TUITION QUESTION, CRITICS OF THIS BUDGET THAT THE LEGISLATURE PASSED SAY THAT IT'S SURE TO LEAD TO INCREASES IN TUITION DOWN THE ROAD. PEOPLE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ARGUMENT SAY, "WHAT'S WRONG WITH THAT? THAT IOWA'S TUITIONS ARE COMPARATIVELY LOW TO OTHER PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES IN THE COUNTRY, AND IOWA STUDENTS OUGHT TO PAY A LITTLE BIT MORE OF THE COST OF THEIR OWN EDUCATION." HOW DO YOU RESPOND TO THAT?

Dr. Jischke: FIRST, THE FACTS ARE BASICALLY CORRECT. IOWA TUITIONS ARE RELATIVELY LOW BY NATIONAL MEASURES. BUT I DON'T THINK THAT'S AN ACCIDENT; THAT'S A MATTER OF PUBLIC POLICY. IOWANS HAVE PLACED A VERY HIGH PREMIUM ON ACCESS AND OPPORTUNITY. THAT'S WHAT LAND-GRANT UNIVERSITIES WERE CREATED FOR IN THE FIRST PLACE. WE WANT THE COST TO STUDENTS TO BE LOW. ONE OF THE REALITIES IS THAT ABILITY DOESN'T NECESSARILY CORRELATE WITH FAMILY INCOME. THERE ARE LOTS OF BRIGHT, YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE COMING OUT OF PRETTY MODEST ECONOMIC CIRCUMSTANCES. AND THERE IS A CONCERN THAT IF YOU RAISE TUITION, SOME OF THOSE STUDENTS WILL NOT BEING GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEND IOWA STATE. IT'S ULTIMATELY A PUBLIC-POLICY QUESTION.

Glover: IS THERE A NEED IN THIS STATE, THEN, FOR A DEBATE ABOUT WHETHER THAT'S GOOD PUBLIC POLICY, BAD PUBLIC POLICY, WHETHER TUITIONS OUGHT TO BE LOW, WHETHER ACCESS OUGHT TO BE AN ISSUE. IS IT TIME TO HAVE THAT DEBATE?

Dr. Jischke: I BELIEVE THERE OUGHT TO BE A DEBATE ABOUT THE QUALITY OF EDUCATION GENERALLY. AND ONE ELEMENT OF IT IS, IN FACT, TUITION. THERE'S NO QUESTION ABOUT THAT. IF WE'RE GOING TO SUSTAIN THE QUALITY AT IOWA STATE, IN PARTICULAR, WE HAVE TO HAVE A CERTAIN LEVEL OF RESOURCE TO DO THAT.

Glover: IS IT YOUR VIEW THAT TUITIONS OUGHT TO BE LOW TO ASSURE ACCESS?

Dr. Jischke: I -- AT THE MARGIN, ABSOLUTELY. I MEAN, IF I HAD THE CHOICE BETWEEN KEEPING THEM LOW TO ENSURE ACCESS OR RAISING THEM TO REPLACE FUNDING FROM THE STATE, I'D GO FOR THE FIRST. BUT IF YOU SAY THE REAL ALTERNATIVE IS: DO YOU EITHER RAISE TUITION OR REDUCE QUALITY, THEN THERE'S NO QUESTION IN MY MIND THAT TUITION HAS TO GO UP.

Yepsen: TALK TO A PARENT AND A STUDENT RIGHT NOW WHO'S GETTING -- TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW MUCH TUITION IS GOING TO GO UP. I'M ONE OF THOSE PARENTS WHO'S GOT A KID HEADED TO COLLEGE IN NOT TOO MANY YEARS.

Dr. Jischke: RIGHT.

Yepsen: WHAT FIGURE DO I PULL IN THERE FOR TUITION INCREASES?

Dr. Jischke: OVER THE LAST 4 OR 5 YEARS, WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT INCREASES IN THE 4- TO 5-PERCENT RANGE. I WOULD SAY THAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE HIGHER THAN THAT. HOW MUCH HIGHER, I DON'T KNOW. THAT'S ULTIMATELY A DECISION FOR THE BOARD OF REGENTS, BUT THEY'RE GOING TO BE HIGHER.

Yepsen: ABOVE 5 PERCENT?

Dr. Jischke: ABSOLUTELY. AT LEAST THAT WOULD BE THE KIND OF RECOMMENDATION THAT I WOULD BE MAKING TO THE BOARD AS THEY DEBATE TUITION IN THE COMING MONTHS. WE HAVE GOT TO MAKE UP SOME OF THE GROUND WE'VE LOST IN THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

Glover: YOU'LL RECOMMEND THAT. IS IT YOUR SENSE THAT'S WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN?

Dr. Jischke: I DON'T THINK THE BOARD HAS YET HAD THE DEBATE. I THINK IT WILL BE A DIFFICULT DEBATE, BECAUSE IT WILL JOIN THIS VERY IMPORTANT QUESTION OF QUALITY AND ACCESS. AND THERE WILL BE STRONGLY HELD VIEWS ON BOTH SIDES IS MY GUESS.

Henderson: LET'S TALK ABOUT SOME SPECIFIC PROGRAMS AT IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY. WHAT IS THE STATUS OF THE PLANT SCIENCE INITIATIVE?

Dr. Jischke: IT'S BEEN AMAZINGLY SUCCESSFUL, FROM MY POINT OF VIEW. FIRST, WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GENERATE SIGNIFICANT RESOURCES FROM THE STATE OF IOWA. IT'S ONE OF THE FEW BRIGHT SPOTS IN THIS BUDGET. WE'RE NOW UP TO ABOUT $5 MILLION A YEAR IN STATE FUNDING. WE HAVE MATCHED THAT WITH 100 MILLION IN PRIVATE DOLLARS. WE ARE BUILDING A FACILITY, A CO-LABORATORY, ON THE CAMPUS WITH SUPPORT FROM THE CARVER FOUNDATION. THAT PART HAS GONE VERY WELL. SECOND, WE'RE BEGINNING TO SEE ITS IMPACT IN THE PROGRAMS OF THE UNIVERSITY. WE'RE ATTRACTING LARGE NUMBERS OF VERY, VERY BRIGHT STUDENTS. NEARLY HALF OF OUR FRESHMAN NATIONAL MERIT SCHOLARS ARE ENROLLED IN PROGRAMS RELATED TO THE PLANT SCIENCES. ABSOLUTELY AMAZING. WE'VE ATTRACTED SOME VERY, VERY TALENTED FACULTY AND GRADUATE STUDENTS. OUR GRANTS ARE UP. WE'RE BEGINNING TO SEE THE IMPACT OF THIS ON THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF IOWA. ALMOST IMMEDIATELY AFTER WE ANNOUNCED THIS PLANT SCIENCES INITIATIVE, ONE OF THE START-UP COMPANIES IN THE AMES AREA DECIDED TO LOCATE ITS WORLD HEADQUARTERS IN OUR RESEARCH PARK... X-SEED. SO WE'RE SEEING POSITIVE IMPACTS ALREADY, AND WE'RE ONLY ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF INTO THE PROGRAM. SO I THINK IT'S GOING VERY, VERY WELL.

Glover: ONE OF THE HOTTEST ISSUES IN THIS STATE HAS BEEN THE DEVELOPMENT OF BIG HOG LOTS. EACH YEAR WE KEEP HEARING THAT RESEARCH AND SCIENCE IS GOING TO SOLVE A LOT OF THE PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS, AND EACH YEAR WE SEE THAT NOT HAPPENING. DID IOWA STATE REACT QUICKLY ENOUGH TO DEAL WITH THIS ISSUE? HAVE YOU DONE ENOUGH TO HELP THIS STATE DEAL WITH THAT BURGEONING INDUSTRY?

Dr. Jischke: THIS ISSUE STARTED BEFORE I CAME TO IOWA STATE, SO I CAN'T REALLY RESPOND ACCURATELY TO WHETHER WE GOT INTO IT QUICKLY ENOUGH. BUT I CAN TELL YOU EVER SINCE I'VE BEEN AT IOWA STATE, THIS HAS BEEN A HIGH PRIORITY FOR RESEARCH IN OUR COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE AND ACROSS THE UNIVERSITY. WE HAVE MADE SUBSTANTIAL PROGRESS ON A COUPLE OF ISSUES. THE STORAGE OF MANURE -- BY THE WAY, MANURE HAPPENS WITH HOGS. YOU CAN'T AVOID IT. BUT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO FIND TECHNOLOGICAL SOLUTIONS TO CONTAINING THE ODOR PROBLEM FOR STORED MANURE. SECOND, WE HAVE A PRETTY GOOD IDEA OF HOW TO APPLY IT ONTO THE LAND IN A WAY THAT PROTECTS AIR QUALITY AND THE ENVIRONMENT. WE STILL HAVE A PROBLEM WITH MANAGING ODORS IN CONFINEMENT BUILDINGS, SORT OF BEFORE YOU STORE IT IN A PIT OR A LAGOON. WE'RE AT WORK ON THAT. WE DON'T HAVE THAT ANSWER YET. BUT WE'VE MADE A LOT OF PROGRESS. I THINK WE HAVE BEGUN TO SOLVE SOME OF THE PROBLEMS, BUT NOT ALL OF THE PROBLEMS.

Glover: IN RESEARCH ON THAT ISSUE, THERE ARE THOSE WHO SAY THAT YOU FOCUS TOO MUCH ON GIANT PRODUCERS AND HOW THEY OPERATE AND EFFICIENCIES OF SCALE, AND THAT THAT'S REFLECTIVE OF IOWA STATE'S CORPORATE-DRIVEN RESEARCH.

Dr. Jischke: ABSOLUTELY NOT. LET ME GIVE YOU A SPECIFIC EXAMPLE THAT RELATES DIRECTLY TO THE HOG ISSUE. WE WERE THE ONES THAT LED THE EFFORT IN IOWA TO TALK ABOUT HOOP BUILDINGS IN A COMPLETELY ALTERNATIVE -- COMPLETELY DIFFERENT ALTERNATIVE APPROACH TO MANAGING SWINE USING NEWSPAPERS AND OTHER KIND OF BEDDING. THE MANURE STAYS IN A SOLID FORM RATHER THAN LIQUIFIED BY ADDING WATER AND OTHER THINGS TO IT. COMPLETELY DIFFERENT, IT HAS A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT KIND OF ECONOMICS, AND IT LENDS ITSELF TO SMALLER-SIZED OPERATIONS. WE'RE TRYING VERY HARD TO HELP ALL OF IOWA AGRICULTURE. WE DON'T WANT TO BE SEEN AS A PARTISAN OF BIG OR SMALL -- WE'RE HERE TO HELP ALL OF THE FARMERS OF IOWA. WE HAVE A LONG TRADITION OF SUPPORTING THE FAMILY FARMER IN IOWA, AND WE WANT TO CONTINUE THAT. AND I THINK WE'RE DOING IT.

Henderson: THIS LAND-GRANT UNIVERSITY SITS IN THE MIDST OF A STATE, THOUGH, THAT HAS UNDERGONE SEISMIC CHANGES IN TERMS OF THE NATURE OF FARMING HERE. IS THE IOWA STATE EXTENSION SERVICE NECESSARY NOW, NUMBER ONE? AND NUMBER TWO, HAVE YOU REALLY ADDRESSED THOSE CHANGES THAT ARE MAKING FARMERS BE ALMOST DESPERATE BECAUSE OF THEIR FINANCIAL STRAITS?

Dr. Jischke: THE FIRST ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTION IS, "YES," EXTENSION IS NEEDED. EXTENSION SURELY BEGINS WITH AGRICULTURE -- AND I WANT TO COME BACK TO HOW WE'RE TRYING TO HELP IOWA AGRICULTURE AT THAT -- BUT IT ALSO INVOLVES YOUTH AND 4-H. WE HAVE THE LARGEST YOUTH PROGRAM IN IOWA; 160,000 YOUNG PEOPLE IN IOWA ARE PART OF OUR 4-H PROGRAM. WE'RE INVOLVED IN OUTREACH TO BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY. WE HELPED SMALL- TO MEDIUM-SIZED MANUFACTURERS IN IOWA MAKE THE Y2K TRANSITION. WE'RE INVOLVED IN OUTREACH TO COMMUNITIES. OUR VISIONING PROGRAM HELPS COMMUNITIES IN THEIR PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT. LET ME COME BACK TO AGRICULTURE. WE HAVE BEEN WORKING VERY HARD TO HELP IOWA AGRICULTURE UNDERSTAND THIS NEW REVOLUTION, THIS NEW ECONOMY WE ARE IN. WITHIN THE LAST 3 MONTHS, WE HAD A CONFERENCE AT IOWA STATE ON E COMMERCE AND ITS IMPACT ON AGRICULTURE. WE THOUGHT WE WOULD ATTRACT 100 PEOPLE. WELL, THE CROWD GOT TO 200. THEN IT GOT TO 300. WE MOVED IT FROM THE SCHEMAN BUILDING TO THE C Y STEPHENS AUDITORIUM. WE ENDED WITH 750 PEOPLE... A WONDERFUL EXAMPLE OF THE UNIVERSITY USING ITS EXPERTISE IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS, TO ADDRESS AN ISSUE THAT COULD POTENTIALLY HAVE AN ENORMOUS IMPACT ON IOWA AGRICULTURE. IT'S POSSIBLE THAT THE INTERNET IS GOING TO ALLOW INDIVIDUAL FARMERS TO MARKET TO CONSUMERS DIRECTLY.

Yepsen: BUT DO YOU EVER ASK YOURSELF AS YOU LOOK AT WHAT'S HAPPENED IN RURAL IOWA, GOING BACK TO KAY'S QUESTION... THE POVERTY, THE LOSS OF FAMILY FARMERS, THE DECLINE OF RURAL COMMUNITIES, AND SAY, "ARE WE DOING SOMETHING WRONG HERE AT IOWA STATE?" DO YOU EVER ASK YOURSELF THAT QUESTION?

Dr. Jischke: WE ASK THAT QUESTION OFTEN. BUT WHAT WE ALSO TRY TO ASK IS, "WHAT CAN WE DO TO HELP PEOPLE?" AND WE TRY TO UNDERSTAND WHAT OUR LIMITATIONS ARE. SOME OF THESE FORCES, WE CANNOT CONTEND WITH. WE CAN HELP PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THEM. WE CAN SUGGEST ALTERNATIVES. WE CAN DO RESEARCH TO SHOW WHAT OTHERS ARE DOING AND SAY, "MAYBE YOU OUGHT TO TRY THIS." BUT ULTIMATELY, WE'RE ONE PART OF THE EVOLUTION OF IOWA. I BELIEVE A CENTRAL PART, A VERY IMPORTANT PART. BUT WE CAN'T SOLVE ALL THE PROBLEMS OF IOWA. WE'RE AN EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION, A RESEARCH INSTITUTION, THAT HAS TO PLAY A ROLE. BUT WE DON'T ULTIMATELY DECIDE THE FATE OF COMMUNITIES.

Glover: SOME OF THESE ISSUES SEEM TO ME TO BE TIED TOGETHER. YOU GO TO THE LEGISLATURE AND YOU'VE GOT SOME BUDGET PROBLEMS, THE LEGISLATURE'S NOT PARTICULARLY ENAMORED OF YOU. SOME PEOPLE CRITICIZE YOUR ROLE IN RESEARCH, YOUR ROLE IN HELPING CORPORATE AGRICULTURE. IS IOWA STATE IN A BAD POLITICAL POSITION RIGHT NOW? ARE YOU COMFORTABLE WITH THE JOB THAT YOU'VE DONE IN SELLING THE UNIVERSITY AND ITS MISSION?

Dr. Jischke: ABSOLUTELY. I JUST REJECT OUT OF HAND THE ASSUMPTIONS THAT LIE BEHIND THAT QUESTION. I BELIEVE WE ARE AT AN IMPORTANT TRANSITION TIME IN IOWA, BUT I DON'T HAVE ANY SENSE THAT THERE IS A FEELING THAT IOWA STATE, IN PARTICULAR, HAS LOST SUPPORT OR HAS NOT DELIVERED. I'LL GIVE YOU SOME EVIDENCE. OUR ENROLLMENTS ARE GROWING. MORE IOWA YOUNGSTERS WANT TO COME TO OUR UNIVERSITY TO STUDY. SECOND, OUR PRIVATE SUPPORT HAS GROWN. WE HAVE 54,000 CONTRIBUTORS EVERY YEAR. WE HAVE RAISED MORE THAN $100 MILLION THE LAST 4 YEARS PRIVATELY. THOSE ARE ALL VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTIONS. EVERYWHERE I GO, PEOPLE APPLAUD WHAT WE'RE DOING. I THINK ONE OF THE CHALLENGES WE HAVE -- AND I WANT TO GET BACK TO THE BIG PICTURE I MENTIONED EARLIER -- IS HOW DO WE STITCH THIS ALL TOGETHER INTO A STRATEGY FOR IOWA? I BELIEVE WE HAVE TO GROW THIS ECONOMY. WE HAVE TO CREATE MORE WEALTH IN THIS STATE, BOTH TO SUSTAIN WHAT WE HAVE, BUT ALSO TO CREATE A BRIGHTER FUTURE. THE GOVERNOR'S 2010 STRATEGIC PLANNING COUNCIL THAT I AM ON HAS AS ITS THEME, "GROWING IOWA." AND PART OF THAT IS TO GROW THE RESOURCES SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO HAVE FIRST-RATE EDUCATION.

Yepsen: YOU MENTIONED ALL THE PRIVATE MONEY YOU'RE RAISING.

Dr. Jischke: YEAH.

Yepsen: WHY CAN'T YOU RAISE SOME MONEY TO MAKE UP FOR THIS BUDGET SHORTFALL?

Jischke: THE ANSWERS ARE PRETTY SIMPLE. FIRST, THE DONORS DON'T BELIEVE THEIR JOB IS TO REPLACE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE TAXPAYERS. THEY SEE IT AS A PARTNERSHIP. THEY'RE QUITE PREPARED TO CONTRIBUTE TO ENHANCE THE EXCELLENCE OF IOWA STATE. BUT THEY ASSUME THERE WILL BE A BASIC FOUNDATION THAT THE STATE WILL PROVIDE FOR. AND, SECOND, THEY WANT TO DESIGNATE IN A VERY SPECIFIC WAY WHERE THEIR FUNDS GO. SO IF MIKE GIVES A SCHOLARSHIP, IT'S GOING TO GO TO JOURNALISM. IF KAY GIVES ONE, IT MIGHT BE TO THE ENGLISH DEPARTMENT. WE CANNOT USE PRIVATE FUNDS TO COVER THE GENERAL EXPENSES OF THE UNIVERSITY.

Yepsen: AND WHERE ARE YOU IN PICKING A NEW DEAN FOR THE COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE?

Dr. Jischke: WE'RE MAKING GREAT PROGRESS. WE MADE A DECISION THAT THERE WASN'T A SUFFICIENT CONSENSUS ON THE FIRST ROUND OF CANDIDATES. WE COULDN'T ATTRACT A PERSON OF THE STATURE WE WANTED. WE HAVE GONE BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD, AND I'M VERY PLEASED TO TELL YOU THAT THE QUALITY OF THE CANDIDATES IS HIGHER THAN THE FIRST ROUND, AND A NUMBER OF THEM ARE VERY INTERESTED ö PROVOST RICHMOND'S DOING AN EXCELLENT JOB. WE OUGHT TO GET THAT TAKEN CARE OF IN THE NEXT MONTH OR TWO.

Yepsen: IS THE PROBLEM THERE WHAT MIKE WAS TALKING ABOUT: WHAT IS THE ROLE OF IOWA STATE? OR IS THE PROBLEM MORE OF A PERSONNEL ONE, THAT WE JUST HAVEN'T GOTTEN THE BEST PEOPLE WE WANTED.

Dr. Jischke: I DON'T THINK WE WERE AGGRESSIVE ENOUGH IN GOING AFTER CANDIDATES INITIALLY. WE THOUGHT IF WE JUST SIMPLY ADVERTISED THE JOB THAT THE VERY BEST PEOPLE WOULD COME AND APPLY. AND WHAT WE FOUND OUT IS WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO BE MORE AGGRESSIVE IN SEEKING OUT THE MOST TALENTED PEOPLE AND DESCRIBING TO THEM THE OPPORTUNITY. I HAPPEN TO BELIEVE THAT THE DEANSHIP OF THE COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE AT IOWA STATE IS THE BEST AG DEAN POSITION IN THE COUNTRY RIGHT NOW. THE SUPPORT WE HAVE GOTTEN FOR OUR PLANT SCIENCES INITIATIVE, THE FACILITY IMPROVEMENTS WE'VE MADE -- AND THE FACT IS THAT IOWA IS ONE OF THE MOST INTERESTING PLACES IN THE COUNTRY TO DEAL WITH AGRICULTURE. IT'S CENTRAL TO OUR ECONOMY. THERE ARE REAL ISSUES TO BE DEALT WITH. THIS IS AN EXCITING POSITION.

Glover: IT ALL COMES BACK TO MONEY SOMETIMES IT SEEMS, AND WE'VE TALKED ABOUT TAX MONEY THAT COMES IN AND PRIVATE MONEY THAT YOU RAISE. IS THERE A BALANCE YOU HAVE TO STRIKE BETWEEN RAISING PRIVATE MONEY AND THE COST OF GETTING THAT MONEY AND WHAT'S IMPLIED IN THE GIFT TO THE UNIVERSITY? DO YOU WORRY ABOUT RELYING TOO HEAVILY ON PRIVATE CONTRIBUTIONS?

Dr. Jischke: NOT YET.

(laughter)

Glover: WELL, IS THAT A DANGER IF THESE BUDGET CUTBACKS CONTINUE AND YOU'RE FORCED TO GO TO CORPORATIONS, GO TO INTEREST GROUPS, TO TRY TO RAISE MONEY THAT WAY?

Dr. Jischke: IT'S INCONCEIVABLE TO ME THAT WE COULD RAISE ENOUGH MONEY PRIVATELY THAT IT WOULD TIP THE BALANCE IN THE WAY YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT. IT CERTAINLY -- WE'VE GOT ENOUGH INCENTIVE TO RAISE THE PRIVATE FUNDS. I HAVE ALWAYS FELT COMFORTABLE WITH THE PRIVATE FUND-RAISING AT IOWA STATE, BECAUSE THE FOUNDATION OF OUR FUNDING WAS PUBLIC, AND WE COULD ALWAYS SAY "NO" TO SOMEBODY IF THEY WANTED US TO DO SOMETHING THAT SIMPLY WASN'T APPROPRIATE FOR A PUBLIC UNIVERSITY. I DON'T THINK PRIVATE FUND-RAISING WILL EVER REPLACE THE STATE SUPPORT. IT WILL COMPLEMENT IT, AND COULD COMPLEMENT IT EVEN MORE. I MEAN, WE'VE HAD GREAT SUCCESS. BUT I JUST DON'T BELIEVE IT'S POSSIBLE FOR IT TO REPLACE THE STATE'S MONEY.

Yepsen: YOUR CRITICS UP THERE SAY YOU'VE SLIGHTED THE TEACHING MISSION OF THE UNIVERSITY, THAT YOU PUT TOO MUCH EMPHASIS ON RESEARCH. HOW DO YOU RESPOND?

Dr. Jischke: THE FACTS -- FACTS OBVIOUSLY ARGUE AGAINST THAT. I MEAN, WHILE PEOPLE HAVE A RIGHT TO EXPRESS THEIR OPINIONS, AT LEAST AT A UNIVERSITY, THERE'S NO BASIS FOR THAT. THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS IS GROWING. THEIR GRADUATION RATES ARE GROWING. THE PEOPLE WHO COME TO RECRUIT OUR STUDENTS ARE GROWING IN NUMBER. ALL THE EVIDENCE OF THE SUCCESS OF OUR UNDER-GRADUATE PROGRAM IS INCREASING. WE HAVE ONE OF THE MOST SUCCESSFUL LEARNING COMMUNITY'S INITIATIVES IN THE UNITED STATES. HALF OF OUR FRESHMAN CLASS IS IN THESE NEW LEARNING COMMUNITIES. THERE'S REAL EXCITEMENT IN THE FACULTY ABOUT THESE INITIATIVES THAT DEAL WITH TEACHING AND LEARNING. I THINK THESE ARE CRITICS WHO ARE PRETTY OUT OF TOUCH WITH WHAT'S GOING ON AT IOWA STATE.

Henderson: DR. JISCHKE, ON THE EVE OF YOUR 10TH ANNIVERSARY AT IOWA STATE, WHAT HAVE BEEN THE HIGHLIGHTS OF YOUR TENURE THERE, AND PERHAPS, WHAT'S A LOW LIGHT?

Yepsen: IN ABOUT 30 SECONDS.

(laughter)

Dr. Jischke: THE HIGHLIGHTS ARE, SORT OF, TWO. ONE, GENERALLY WE'VE MADE A LOT OF PROGRESS. AND THEN THERE HAVE BEEN SOME JUST INTENSELY WONDERFUL PERSONAL EXPERIENCES. THE HIXSON SCHOLARS. LAST NIGHT I WAS AT THE SPECIAL OLYMPICS, AND THERE'S NOTHING WARMER THAN THE SPECIAL OLYMPICS AT IOWA STATE, A LAND-GRANT UNIVERSITY REACHING OUT. THE LOW POINT WAS A PHONE CALL TO A MAN NAMED SELLERS. I MEAN, THAT WAS AS PAINFUL A THING AS I HAVE EVER HAD TO DO.

Yepsen: DR. JISCHKE, WE'RE OUT OF TIME.

Dr. Jischke: THANK YOU.

Yepsen: THANKS FOR BEING WITH US AGAIN TODAY AND COMING DOWN. APPRECIATE IT. AND THAT'S IT FOR THIS WEEK'S EDITION OF IOWA PRESS. DEAN BORG WILL BE REJOINING US NEXT SUNDAY AT THIS TIME, AND I HOPE YOU WILL AS WELL. UNTIL THEN, I'M DAVID YEPSEN OF THE DES MOINES REGISTER. THANKS FOR JOINING US HERE ON STATEWIDE IOWA PUBLIC TELEVISION.

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.