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Borg: THE GOVERNOR'S STRATEGIC PLANNING COUNCIL IS CONCLUDING ITS BUSINESS, AND SOME RECOMMENDATIONS ARE BOUND TO CREATE SOME CONTROVERSY. WE'LL DISCUSS THE IOWA 2010 PROJECT WITH CHAIRMAN DAVID OMAN AND COCHAIR BETSY BRANDSGARD 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.

THIS IS THE SUNDAY, JUNE 18^th EDITION OF IOWA PRESS. HERE IS DEAN BORG.

Borg: SHORTLY AFTER TAKING OFFICE IN JANUARY 1999, IOWA GOVERNOR TOM VILSACK ANNOUNCED PLANS TO DEVELOP A COMPREHENSIVE MAP FOR IOWA IN THE NEW CENTURY AND THE NEW MILLENNIUM. THE GOVERNOR'S STRATEGIC PLANNING COUNCIL, SUBTITLED THE IOWA 2010 PROJECT, BEGAN WORKING THE FIRST WEEK OF APRIL 1999 AND WILL SOON PRESENT ITS FINAL REPORT AND RECOMMENDATIONS. NOW, THAT REPORT WILL DEAL WITH EVERYTHING FROM THE IOWA ECONOMY TO EDUCATION TO QUALITY-OF-LIFE ISSUES IN OUR STATE. MORE IMPORTANTLY, THE 37-MEMBER BIPARTISAN COUNCIL IS MAKING DIRECT AND SPECIFIC SUGGESTIONS AS TO WHAT GOALS THE STATE SHOULD ADOPT, ENVISIONING WHERE THE STATE WANTS TO BE TEN YEARS FROM NOW. AND THERE'S BOUND TO BE SOME CONTROVERSY, AS WE SAID, ABOUT THE RECOMMENDATIONS AND HOW WE GET FROM WHERE WE ARE NOW TO WHERE THE COUNCIL THINKS WE SHOULD BE TEN YEARS FROM NOW. WELL, HERE TO HELP US BETTER UNDERSTAND WHAT'S TO COME ARE TWO OF THE COUNCIL'S LEADERS. DAVID OMAN OF DES MOINES IS THE CHAIRMAN OF THE GOVERNOR'S STRATEGIC PLANNING COUNCIL, AND BETSY BRANDSGARD OF DAVENPORT IS THE COCHAIR. WELCOME TO "IOWA PRESS."

Oman: THANKS, DEAN.

Borg: ALSO WITH US HERE AT THE TABLE, DAVID YEPSEN OF THE DES MOINES REGISTER, AND MIKE GLOVER OF THE ASSOCIATED PRESS.

Glover: MR. OMAN, THERE'S A LOT OF TALK ABOUT THE STRATEGIC PLAN FOR IOWA, WHERE WE'RE HEADED. WHAT PROBLEM DO YOU SEE THAT YOUR GROUP IS TRYING TO SOLVE? WHAT PROBLEM ARE WE TRYING TO ADDRESS? WE HEAR A LOT ABOUT DEMOGRAPHICS. IS THAT THE PROBLEM?

Oman: WE'VE LOOKED AT A LOT OF ISSUES, AND WE'VE HEARD FROM ABOUT 2,500 IOWANS, SPECIFICALLY, WITH ALL KINDS OF CONCERNS AND IDEAS. AND WE'VE LOOKED AT PAST STRATEGIC PLANS, WE'VE LOOKED AT OTHER STATES, AND WE'VE LOOKED AT THE DEMOGRAPHIC DATA, MIKE; AND WHAT WE BELIEVE LEADS THE PACK IN TERMS OF IMPORTANT WORK FOR IOWA IS GROWING THE POPULATION. WE HAVE A FLAT POPULATION, AN AGING DEMOGRAPHIC WITHIN THAT POPULATION; AND UNLESS WE GROW AND HAVE MORE PEOPLE MAKING MORE MONEY WITH BETTER JOBS, YOUNGER PEOPLE COMING IN, YOU'RE GOING TO SEE AN OLDER AND PERHAPS POORER STATE IN TEN YEARS.

Glover: MS. BRANDSGARD, IS THAT THE PROBLEM THAT IOWA FACES AS YOU SEE IT? A DEMOGRAPHIC ISSUE?

Brandsgard: ABSOLUTELY. EVERY PLACE WE TRAVELED AROUND THE STATE, THERE WERE FAMILIES TALKING ABOUT YOUNG PEOPLE IN THEIR FAMILIES THAT HAVE LEFT THE STATE AND NO REAL POSSIBILITY AT THIS POINT FOR THEM TO RETURN. AND THEY'RE VERY SAD ABOUT THAT AND THEY'RE VERY MUCH WANTING THEM TO COME BACK. THERE IS NO QUESTION THAT GROWING THE POPULATION AND BRINGING IOWANS INTO -- FORMER IOWANS INTO IOWA IS PART OF THAT.

Glover: LET ME JUST THROW A CYNIC'S POINT OF VIEW OUT HERE. GOVERNOR VILSACK LIKES TO TALK ABOUT BRINGING IN MORE IOWANS, YOUNGER IOWANS, AND BETTER-PAID IOWANS. IT'S SORT OF A CAMPAIGN SLOGAN. HE APPOINTED THIS GROUP. IS THIS AN EXTENSION OF HIS CAMPAIGN?

Brandsgard: ACTUALLY, WE WENT OUT AND DID A LOT OF RESEARCH QUITE INDEPENDENT OF THE GOVERNOR'S INITIATIVES, AND WE REALLY FOUND, BASICALLY, THE SAME CALL. WE NEED MORE IOWANS, WE NEED YOUNGER IOWANS, AND WE NEED IOWANS WHO ARE MAKING BETTER WAGES AND HAVE MORE OPPORTUNITIES. IT HAPPENS TO PARALLEL WHAT HE IS ALSO TALKING ABOUT; BUT I THINK IT'S BECAUSE HE, TOO, TALKED TO THE PEOPLE OF IOWA AND HEARD THE SAME MESSAGE.

Yepsen: WELL, EVERYBODY WANTS BETTER-PAID IOWANS. I MEAN, ISN'T THAT LIKE MOTHERHOOD, APPLE PIE, AND THE FLAG?

Brandsgard: IT IS SOMEWHAT LIKE MOTHERHOOD, APPLE PIE, AND THE FLAG, BUT I THINK IT'S REALITY. WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING AND OUR REPORT IS ACTUALLY ADDRESSING SOME SPECIFIC THINGS TO PAY IOWANS DIFFERENTLY, HIGHER WAGE SCALES, AND ATTRACT INDUSTRIES THAT WILL DO THE SAME.

Oman: DAVID, LET ME JUST –

Yepsen: WHAT MAKES YOU THINK, MS. BRANDSGARD, THAT ANYBODY IN IOWA WANTS TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS? IF WE LOOK AT POLLING, IT SHOWS MOST IOWANS THINK THIS STATE IS HEADED IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. SO WHAT'S IN THIS REPORT TO SHAKE IOWANS OUT OF THEIR COMPLACENCY?

Brandsgard: IF THE TOWN MEETINGS ARE ANY INDICATION -- AND WE HELD 15 OF THEM ACROSS THE STATE -- WE HONESTLY HEARD FROM HUNDREDS AND THOUSANDS, ACTUALLY, OF IOWANS WHO TALKED ABOUT THE NEED TO BRING PEOPLE INTO THIS STATE, PRIMARILY THEIR CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN -- BRING THEM BACK. AND WHAT THEY TOLD US WOULD BRING THEM BACK WOULD BE GOOD JOBS, OPPORTUNITIES IN A VARIETY OF INDUSTRIES WHERE THEY COULD MAKE THE SAME KIND OF PAY THAT THEY'RE BEING OFFERED IN MINNEAPOLIS AND KANSAS CITY AND CHICAGO AND ST. LOUIS.

Yepsen: MR. OMAN, I CUT YOU OFF.

Oman: WELL, I WAS JUST GOING TO THROW SOME NUMBERS BACK AT YOU. WE'RE 30th IN POPULATION IN THE COUNTRY. WE'RE 30th IN COST OF LIVING. WE'RE 30th IN AVERAGE INCOME. SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT BEING MIDDLE AMERICA, WE REALLY ARE. BUT WE'RE 40th IN AVERAGE WAGES. AND THE DIFFERENCE IS THE ENTITLEMENTS AND THE SUBSIDY PAYMENTS THAT THE FARMERS GET AND OTHERS, AND THESE YOUNG IOWANS WHO ARE GRADUATING FROM SCHOOL, THE 9,500, IN PARTICULAR, WHO ARE LEAVING IOWA EVERY YEAR OUR BRIGHTEST COLLEGE GRADUATES, ALMOST 10,000. THEY'RE NOT LOOKING AT A SUBSIDY OR AN ENTITLEMENT, THEY'RE LOOKING AT A STARTING WAGE. BUT THEY'RE NOT FINDING THOSE JOBS HERE, SO THEY'RE GOING ELSEWHERE WHICH, AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, IS GOING TO CHANGE OUR DEMOGRAPHIC MIX. WE'RE GOING TO BE A MUCH OLDER STATE WITH MORE PEOPLE ON FIXED OR LOW INCOME, THE INABILITY TO PAY FOR THE SERVICES FROM GOVERNMENT -- BETTER STREETS, BETTER SCHOOLS, CLEANER RIVERS -- THAN WE'RE ABLE TO DO TODAY.

Yepsen: DON'T IOWANS REALLY LIKE IT THAT WAY? I MEAN, IF YOU GO INTO ANY COMMUNITY AND PROPOSE A NEW BUSINESS, PROPOSE DOING ANYTHING DIFFERENTLY, YOU WILL RUN INTO A VERY CONSERVATIVE CULTURE THAT SAYS, NO, THIS IS FINE... ONE GOOD ROAD IS ENOUGH.

Oman: I THINK IF WE'VE DONE NOTHING ELSE IN 2010 -- AND WE'VE HOPEFULLY DONE A LOT, WORKED WELL, AND COME UP WITH SOME GOOD IDEAS -- WE'VE PUT RIGHT OUT IN THE PUBLIC SQUARE THE IDEA THAT WE NEED TO HAVE A VERY SERIOUS DEBATE IN THE STATE ABOUT WHERE WE GO. IF WE'RE SATISFIED, IF WE THINK THAT ALL WE NEED TO DO IS KEEP THE STATUS QUO AND ADD 3 PERCENT EVERY YEAR, I CAN SHOW YOU WHERE THE TRENDLINES WILL TAKE US. I'VE ALREADY MENTIONED THAT. OR WE CAN MAKE SOME FUNDAMENTAL DECISIONS AND SOME CHANGES, GET PEOPLE OUT OF THE LETHARGY AND SEE A STATE THAT'S MORE ENTREPRENEURIAL, MORE EXCITING, HAS A BETTER ENVIRONMENT, MORE RECREATION AND CULTURAL OPPORTUNITIES, AND A STATE THAT OUR YOUNG PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO LEAVE. AND ULTIMATELY, THE PEOPLE OF IOWA ARE GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE THAT CHOICE. THE POINT THAT WE'RE MAKING IS THAT WE DON'T HAVE A LONG TIME TO DO IT. WE'VE GOT JUST A FEW YEARS.

Glover: MS. BRANDSGARD, THERE HAVE BEEN DOZENS IF NOT SCORES OF COMMISSIONS, COMMITTEES, BLUE-RIBBON PANELS, WHICH HAVE BEEN CHARGED WITH LOOKING AT WHERE THE STATE IS HEADING. THOSE REPORTS ARE NOW GATHERING DUST IN VARIOUS OFFICES AROUND STATE GOVERNMENT. WHY WILL THIS BE DIFFERENT? WHY WON'T THIS REPORT SIMPLY GATHER DUST AFTER A SPLASHY PRESS CONFERENCE TO ANNOUNCE IT AND THEN ONTO THE SHELF.

Brandsgard: WELL, I HAVE TO BE HONEST, DAVID AND I ASKED THAT VERY QUESTION OF THE GOVERNOR WHEN HE ASKED US TO BE ON AND TO LEAD UP THIS EFFORT, BECAUSE WE DID NOT WANT TO PRESIDE OVER THE FIRST STUDY OF THE YEAR 2000 THAT'S GOING TO SIT ON THE SHELF. I THINK IT'S DIFFERENT BECAUSE, FIRST OF ALL, WE INVOLVED IOWANS IN THE PROCESS OF COMING UP WITH BOTH IDENTIFYING THE ISSUES AND COMING UP WITH SOLUTIONS. WE INVOLVED PUBLIC POLICYMAKERS RIGHT ON THE COUNCIL FROM THE GET-GO. WE HAD LEGISLATIVE REPRESENTATION THAT WAS APPOINTED BY EACH CAUCUS. SO THEY'RE NOT APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR, THEY'RE APPOINTED BY THEIR CAUCUSES BECAUSE THEY'RE LEADERS AND THEY'RE INFLUENTIAL. THEY'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN HELPING CRAFT SOLUTIONS THEY THINK ARE IMPORTANT AND DOABLE. AND FINALLY, OF COURSE, WE HAVE A VERY POPULAR GOVERNOR WHO IS COMPLETELY BEHIND THIS EFFORT -- IT IS HIS EFFORT -- AND I THINK HE HAS EVERY INTENTION THROUGH HIS ENTERPRISE TEAMS IN STATE GOVERNMENT TO ENACT MANY OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS WE'RE PROPOSING.

Glover: MR. OMAN, SAME QUESTION TO YOU.

Oman: IF I CAN JUST ADD A P.S. TO WHAT BETSY SAID. SHE COVERED A LOT. WE'VE RUN A VERY OPEN PROCESS, A LOT OF OUTREACH, A LOT OF CITIZEN INVOLVEMENT, AND THAT'S BEEN HELPFUL. I THINK IT'S GIVEN US SOME CREDIBILITY AND STANDING. WE'LL SEE IF IT STANDS THE TEST OF TIME. THE POINT I WOULD SIMPLY MAKE IS THAT WE'VE LOOKED AT THE PAST STRATEGIC PLANS, THE ONES THAT YOU'VE SAID ARE GATHERING DUST, AND THERE'S BEEN ABOUT A PLAN DONE EVERY DECADE IN THE HISTORY OF THE STATE SINCE THE MID '30s. AND WHAT WE FOUND IN READING THEM IS ONE OF TWO THINGS HAPPEN. EITHER THEY WROTE ABOUT LOFTY GOALS AND DIDN'T HAVE SPECIFIC ACTION STEPS AND/OR THERE WASN'T MUCH FOLLOW-UP. AND THIS COUNCIL IS DETERMINED THAT THERE OUGHT TO BE SOME FOLLOW-UP. WE'RE WORKING THROUGH WITH THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE AS TO EXACTLY HOW THAT WILL OCCUR. YOU'RE NOT GOING TO SEE PEOPLE FADE AWAY. WE'VE BUILT UP AN INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF TRUST AMONG THE REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS ON THIS COUNCIL. AND WE KNOW THAT IF THERE'S GOING TO BE SYSTEMIC, ENDURING CHANGE IN THIS STATE, YOU'VE GOT TO HAVE BOTH PARTIES AND BOTH BRANCHES AT THE TABLE.

Borg: MS. BRANDSGARD, WHAT WILL BE YOUR PERSONAL ROLE IN WHAT DAVID SAYS IS THE FOLLOW-UP?

Brandsgard: I THINK EACH OF US, PROBABLY, ON THE COUNCIL HAS A RESPONSIBILITY TO GO WORK WITH THOSE GROUPS WITH WHOM WE INTERACT EVERY DAY. IN MY CASE, I WORK WITH DAVENPORT ONE IN THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY BACK IN THE QUAD CITIES. I THINK IT WILL BE IMPORTANT FOR ALL OF US TO GO BACK TO OUR NETWORKS WHERE WE MIGHT HAVE SOME INFLUENCE AND TRY AND GET SOME SUPPORT FROM THE GRASS ROOTS UNDER SOME OF THESE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WE'RE PROPOSING.

Borg: DAVID, YOU'VE DISPLAYED, IF NOTHING ELSE IN ALL OF THIS, YOU'VE DISPLAYED A LOT OF PASSION, AND YOU ARE HERE TODAY. IS THAT PASSION GOING TO CARRY THROUGH IN YOUR CONTINUED ROLE, AND WHAT IS GOING TO BE YOUR ROLE AS AN ADVOCATE?

Oman: WELL, I HOPE SO. AS I MENTIONED, WE'RE STILL TRYING TO RESOLVE WHAT WILL BE THE FOLLOW ON. OUR CHARTER GOES AWAY AT THE END OF JUNE, IN ABOUT TEN DAYS. WE'VE INVESTED A LOT OF TIME AND EFFORT IN THIS. WE'VE WORKED HARD AT IT AND WE'VE COME UP WITH SOME GOOD RECOMMENDATIONS. SOME ARE GOING TO BE CONTROVERSIAL. THAT'S OKAY. IF WE HAD A REPORT THAT EVERYBODY LIKED AND WAS WATERED DOWN, IT WOULDN'T AMOUNT TO ANYTHING. MY ROLE IN THE LAST MONTH HAS BEEN TO MEET WITH THE LEADERS OF SO MANY KEY ASSOCIATIONS AND INTEREST GROUPS IN THIS STATE, AND I'LL TAKE JUST A MINUTE TO TELL YOU ABOUT IT. IN THE LEAGUE OF CITIES, THE ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES, THE ISEA, THE SCHOOL BOARD AND SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS -- WE HAD PEOPLE WITH THE FARM BUREAU YESTERDAY, THE CHAMBERS, WE'LL BE WITH THE ABI GROUP RIGHT AFTER THIS TAPING, AND ON AND ON IT GOES. AND I TAKE GREAT HEART FROM THOSE CONVERSATIONS. SOME OF THOSE I'VE GONE IN THINKING I OUGHT TO HAVE A KEVLAR VEST ON WITH WHAT WE'RE TELLING THEM THEY NEED TO DO. BUT THESE PEOPLE GET IT AND THEY UNDERSTAND THAT THEY'VE GOT TO WORK THROUGH THEIR RANK AND FILE TO FIND THE POLITICAL WILL TO MAKE SOME OF THESE CHANGES. I'M PARTICULARLY IMPRESSED WITH THE LEADERS IN LOCAL GOVERNMENTS IN THIS STATE.

Yepsen: EXCUSE ME, MR. OMAN, ARE THOSE GROUPS YOU JUST MENTIONED READY TO DO THINGS DIFFERENTLY?

Oman: WELL –

Yepsen: ARE WE GOING TO SEE ABI TALK ABOUT RAISING CORPORATE TAXES? ARE WE GOING TO SEE THE ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES TALK ABOUT MERGING COUNTIES OR THE IOWA ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL BOARDS TALK ABOUT MERGING SCHOOLS? ARE WE GOING TO SEE THESE GROUPS WANT TO DO ANYTHING DIFFERENTLY?

Oman: I HOPE SO. --

Yepsen: HOPE SO?

Oman: WELL, AS I'VE SAID, WHEN YOU CAN GET AARP TO BE TALKING ABOUT THE NEED FOR BETTER CHILD CARE IN THE STATE OR WHEN YOU CAN HAVE THE FARM BUREAU DELEGATES LOOKING AT SOME ENVIRONMENTAL IDEAS OR SOME OF THE EXAMPLES YOU'VE MENTIONED, I KNOW THAT WE WILL HAVE HAD SOME SUCCESS. THEY'RE DOING THAT. AND I KNOW THE RHETORIC IS EASIER THAN THE FOLLOW-UP. AND THAT'S WHY WE ALL HAVE TO STAY AT THIS TASK IN THE MONTHS AND YEARS AHEAD.

Yepsen: AS ROSS PEROT ONCE SAID, "LET'S GET IN UNDER THE HOOD," AND LOOK AT SOME OF THINGS YOU FOLKS ARE SUGGESTING THAT WE DO IN THE STATE. MS. BRANDSGARD, ONE OF THE THINGS YOU'VE RECOMMENDED IS INCREASING THE NUMBER OF IMMIGRANTS IN IOWA. WHY DO YOU THINK IOWA, WHICH IS 97 PERCENT WHITE, IS ALL OF A SUDDEN WILLING AND ABLE TO ACCOMMODATE A LOT OF NEW IMMIGRANTS?

Brandsgard: DAVID, I DON'T KNOW THAT'S IT'S GOING TO BE SIMPLE FOR IOWANS TO TALK ABOUT EMBRACING LOTS OF NEW IOWANS. BUT I DON'T ALSO THINK IT'S THE NARROW DEFINITION THAT SOME OF US ARE TALKING ABOUT WHEN YOU SAY THE WORD "IMMIGRANT." I THINK WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WELCOMING NEW IOWANS, WHETHER THEY'RE COMING TO US FROM MEXICO OR PAKISTAN OR WISCONSIN. WE WANT TO BRING PEOPLE INTO THE STATE. MANY IOWANS, I THINK, ARE RECEPTIVE TO THAT BECAUSE THEY'VE HAD EXPERIENCE IN THEIR OWN COMMUNITIES. AND YOU'LL RECALL WHEN WE HAD A LOT OF ASIAN PEOPLE COME INTO THE STATE QUITE A WHILE AGO, IT WAS VERY WELL HANDLED. IT WAS WONDERFULLY INTEGRATED INTO THE COMMUNITIES. AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT VERY MUCH THE SAME KIND OF APPROACH.

Yepsen: MR. OMAN, SAME QUESTION TO YOU. WHY DO YOU THINK IOWA IS READY TO ACCEPT A LOT OF NEW IMMIGRANTS AND, SPECIFICALLY, LOOKING AT THE EXAMPLES THAT YOU CAN FIND IN THE MEAT-PACKING TOWNS IN THIS STATE... STORM LAKE, PERRY, MARSHALLTOWN, MAYBE IOWA FALLS. IN ALL OF THOSE COMMUNITIES, WE HAVE SEEN INSTANCES OF RACISM THAT HAVE OCCURRED WHEN BUSINESSES HAVE TRIED TO BRING IN IMMIGRANTS. I MEAN, CALL THEM WHAT YOU WANT TO -- NEIGHBORS, GUESTS -- THEY'RE IMMIGRANTS. WHAT MAKES YOU THINK IOWANS ARE READY TO ACCEPT THESE PEOPLE?

Oman: I COULD MAKE A MORAL CASE THAT THE IDEA OF KEEPING FAMILIES TOGETHER OUGHT TO BE A TOP PRIORITY FOR THIS STATE. KEEPING IOWA FAMILIES TOGETHER, NOT SEEING OUR CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN LEAVE AND BRINGING OTHER FAMILIES HERE TO GROW OUR STATE. AND WE'RE REALLY ONLY TALKING ABOUT REPOPULATING IOWA AND GETTING BACK THE 200,000 PEOPLE WHO LEFT THIS STATE IN THE 1980s. WE HAVE A LOT OF ROOM TO GROW. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE FROM EUROPE; WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE FROM ASIA. THE TAI DAM REFUGEES WHO CAME HERE 20 YEARS AGO, PENNILESS AND NOT KNOWING THE LANGUAGE, BROUGHT A GREAT ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT BECAUSE THEY HAD THE AMERICAN DREAM.

Yepsen: RIGHT. NOW, A LOT OF THEM LEFT FOR A WARMER CLIMATE IN CALIFORNIA.

Oman: WELL, A LOT OF THEM STAYED AND THEIR KIDS ARE GRADUATING AS VALEDICTORIANS IN OUR HIGH SCHOOLS. THERE ARE 15,000 EVANGELICAL CHRISTIANS WHO WOULD LIKE TO LEAVE RUSSIA RIGHT NOW. WHY DON'T WE WORK WITH THEM? WOULDN'T THAT BE A NATURAL FIT IN A STATE LIKE IOWA THAT WAS SETTLED BY IMMIGRANTS 100 YEARS AGO?

Glover: BUT MS. BRANDSGARD, LET'S ASSUME YOU GET OVER THIS HURDLE, LET'S ASSUME THAT YOU INCREASE IMMIGRATION AND START BRINGING NEW POPULATIONS INTO THIS STATE. WHAT STEPS SHOULD THE STATE TAKE TO HELP THEM FIT IN? WHAT DO WE HAVE TO DO TO ACCOMMODATE NEW IMMIGRANTS?

Brandsgard: A COUPLE OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE PLAN CALL FOR DIVERSITY WELCOME CENTERS. THAT SOUNDS KIND OF WARM AND FUZZY, BUT WHEN YOU GET RIGHT DOWN TO IT, IT'S ABOUT EDUCATING PEOPLE ABOUT THEIR RIGHTS, IN SOME WAYS, IN TERMS OF THE WORKFORCE, BECAUSE ONE OF THE THINGS WE WANT TO SAFEGUARD AGAINST WHEN WE RECOMMEND A STRATEGY LIKE THIS IS BECOMING A LOW-WAGE STATE. THAT'S SOME OF THE CONCERNS PEOPLE HAVE ABOUT BRINGING IN NEW PEOPLE. EDUCATING WORKERS ABOUT THEIR RIGHTS IN THESE DIVERSITY CENTERS, I THINK, IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT, AND EDUCATING OTHER IOWANS ABOUT HOW TO WORK WITH A DIVERSE COMMUNITY AND INTEGRATE THAT.

Glover: MR. OMAN, THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT YOU HEAR A LOT WHEN YOU HEAR PEOPLE TALK ABOUT BRINGING PEOPLE INTO THE STATE. THERE ARE CHARGES THAT, FOR INSTANCE, IN THESE MEAT-PACKING TOWNS THAT DAVID MENTIONED THAT THE REASON IMMIGRANTS ARE THERE IS BECAUSE THEY'LL WORK FOR LESS AND DO JOBS THAT OTHER PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO DO. AND THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO SAY THAT'S WHAT THIS IS ALL ABOUT: LET'S BRING A BUNCH OF PEOPLE IN WHO'LL WORK CHEAP JOBS THAT WE DON'T WANT TO DO.

Oman: LET ME TELL YOU, THERE ARE A LOT OF JOBS GOING BEGGING IN THIS STATE IN A LOT OF TOWNS IN A LOT OF INDUSTRIES. ROCKWELL-COLLINS IN CEDAR RAPIDS WOULD LIKE TO HIRE 600 ENGINEERS. HARKER MEATS IN LE MARS, A DIFFERENT PART OF THE STATE, A DIFFERENT INDUSTRY, WOULD LIKE TO HIRE 600. FIVE MILES FROM HERE IS THE BARR-NUNN TRUCKING FIRM IN GRANGER, AND THEY'VE GOT 40 TRACTOR-TRAILERS SITTING THERE BECAUSE THEY CAN'T FIND PEOPLE TO FILL THOSE JOBS. AND YOU'VE GOT THE BIGGEST MANUFACTURING EMPLOYER IN THE STATE, JOHN DEERE, TELLING THE CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION AND US THAT THEY NEED TO REPLACE 4,000 RETIRING WORKERS IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS, 2,500 IN BLACK HAWK COUNTY. SO WE'VE GOT TO WORK ON THE STRATEGY OF GETTING NEW IOWANS HERE FROM ANYWHERE WE CAN FIND THEM, SEE THAT THEY HAVE THE RIGHT SKILLS, AND GET THEM IN THOSE JOBS.

Glover: BUT HOW DO YOU DEAL WITH THAT PERCEPTION THAT YOU'RE REALLY BRINGING PEOPLE HERE TO FILL LOW-WAGE JOBS, A PERCEPTION THAT MS. BRANDSGARD MENTIONED.

Oman: WELL, THEY'RE NOT ALL LOW-WAGE JOBS. THERE ARE JOBS IN THESE LARGE COMPANIES THAT I JUST MENTIONED. THERE ARE SMALL RETAILERS. YOU TALK TO PEOPLE THAT RUN RESTAURANTS, PHOTO-FINISHING COMPANIES. I WAS ON AN AIRPLANE LAST NIGHT WITH A GENTLEMAN. THEY CAN'T FIND WORKERS, MIKE, AND WE'VE GOT TO GET THESE PEOPLE HERE. TO ANSWER YOUR LAST QUESTION TO BETSY, ONE WAY WE NEED TO DO IT IS TO WORK SMARTLY WITH OUR CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION AND THROUGH THEM WITH THE I.N.S. TO FAST-TRACK SOME OF THESE APPLICATIONS THAT NOW SIT FOR TWO OR THREE YEARS. THE H1B ISSUE OF GETTING SOME HIGH-SKILLED PEOPLE IN THIS STATE NEEDS TO BE WORKED OUT. WE'VE MET WITH ALL OF OUR CONGRESSMEN. I WANT TO SINGLE OUT SENATOR GRASSLEY, IN PARTICULAR, BUT ALL OF THEM HAVE BEEN ENCOURAGING TO US. THEY HAVE A PIVOTAL ROLE TO PLAY IN THIS, AND MOST OF THEM ARE TELLING US THEY WANT TO HELP.

Yepsen: MR. OMAN, WE'VE GOT WAY TOO MANY ISSUES TO COVER AND TOO LITTLE TIME, SO I WANT TO MOVE ON. TALK ABOUT THIS LOW-WAGE THING FOR A MINUTE. ARE BUSINESSES IN IOWA CHEAP? I MEAN, TO BORROW A PHRASE, "IF YOU PAY THEM, THEY WILL COME." THESE BUSINESSES YOU'VE JUST DESCRIBED THAT SAY THEY CAN'T ATTRACT WORKERS, THEY DON'T WANT TO PAY ENOUGH, DO THEY? IF YOU RAISE THE PAY, WON'T THEY ATTRACT MORE WORKERS?

Oman: YES. AND IN A FEW HOURS, WE'LL BE WITH THE BUSINESS GROUP, AND I'M GOING TO TELL THEM THAT.

Yepsen: AND WHAT IS YOUR MESSAGE GOING TO BE?

Oman: THE MESSAGE IS THAT THEY'VE GOT TO PAY A LITTLE MORE AND THAT FROM PAYING MORE FOR COLLEGE INTERNS -- BECAUSE WHEN THESE YOUNG PEOPLE HAVE GREAT INTERNSHIP EXPERIENCES, LIKE THE PEOPLE, LIKE THE SURROUNDINGS, LIKE THE OPPORTUNITY AND THE CAREER LADDER, THEY'RE MORE LIKELY TO STAY. AND THEY'VE GOT TO RECOGNIZE THAT WE'RE IN A VERY COMPETITIVE MARKET. THE STATE'S ROLE, BACK TO THE OVERALL MISSION OF 2010, IS TO MAKE THIS A MORE EXCITING STATE, A STATE THAT HAS RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES, TRAILS, EVERYTHING ELSE. THAT'S THE GOVERNMENT'S ROLE.

Yepsen: NOW, WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO SAY TO YOUR REPUBLICAN BUSINESS FRIENDS WHEN THEY SAY, "GEE, WE JUST CAN'T AFFORD IT"? "WE WOULD LOSE PROFITS."

Oman: DAVID, IF THEY DON'T PAY ATTENTION TO THAT, TO THIS ISSUE OF HAVING THE 40th LEVEL OF WAGES IN THE COUNTRY, THEY'RE GOING TO LOSE WORKERS. AND PRETTY SOON THEY'RE GOING TO LOSE THEIR MARKET BECAUSE THERE WON'T BEING PEOPLE TO FILL THOSE JOBS. AND WHAT THAT MEANS IS THAT THESE COMPANIES WON'T EXPAND, THEY WON'T LOCATE ADDITIONAL OFFICES OR FACILITIES OR WAREHOUSES IN IOWA, THEY'LL OFFLOAD THOSE JOBS ELSEWHERE, AND THE JOBS WILL GO AWAY. THEN WE'LL BE IN A SPIRAL THAT NONE OF US WANT TO BE IN.

Brandsgard: I HAVE ONE THING TO ADD TOO. YOU ASKED ABOUT THE STATE'S ROLE IN TRYING TO RAISE THE WAGE BASE. WE WANT THEM TO TARGET INDUSTRIES THAT THEY REALLY WANT TO GO AFTER -- ADVANCED MANUFACTURING, INFORMATION SERVICES, TECHNOLOGY -- AND BRING THE WAGE BASE UP BECAUSE THOSE INDUSTRIES TYPICALLY ALSO PAY A HIGHER WAGE. BUT WE DON'T WANT THEM ALSO TO -- AND WE CALL FOR THIS IN THE REPORT -- TO PROVIDE INCENTIVES TO ANY COMPANY OR ANY INDUSTRY THAT IS PAYING A LOW WAGE. WE WANT TO HAVE A LIVING-WAGE STANDARD.

Glover: MS. BRANDSGARD, ONE ISSUE THAT PEOPLE TALK A LOT ABOUT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT ATTRACTING PEOPLE HERE IS THE STATE'S TAX POLICY. YOUR REPORT RECOMMENDS MAKING THE TAX POLICY FAIR AND ALL THAT SORT OF STUFF. WHAT EVIDENCE DO YOU SEE THAT THE STATE IS READY TO ADDRESS THE TAX POLICY OF THIS STATE? THIS YEAR A RELATIVELY MINOR CHANGE DEALING WITH FEDERAL DEDUCTABILITY WASN'T EVEN CONSIDERED BY THE LEGISLATURE. WHY DO YOU THINK THE STATE IS READY TO ADDRESS THAT?

Brandsgard: WE'VE HEARD FROM A LOT OF PEOPLE BOTH IN PUBLIC FORUMS AND CERTAINLY ON THE SIDE THAT THEY WOULD LIKE US TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE. AND OUR COUNCIL HAS NOT FORMALLY PASSED A TAX RECOMMENDATION. WE WILL DO SO NEXT FRIDAY WHEN WE'RE FINISHED WITH OUR REPORT. BUT I THINK THERE IS SOME WILL TO ACT, TO TRY AND DIRECT PUBLIC POLICY SO THAT THE TAX SYSTEM IN THIS STATE IS FAIR AND EQUITABLE AND UNDERSTANDABLE AND PERCEIVED TO BE THAT BY PEOPLE WHO ARE LOOKING AT THE STATE. IT IS CLEARLY NOT THAT NOW.

Glover: MR. OMAN, WHY ISN'T THERE ANY WILL IN THE ELECTED OFFICIALS OF THIS STATE TO DO THAT?

Oman: WELL, THE CHALLENGE COMING OUT OF ALL THIS PROCESS THAT I WANT TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT IS THAT WE NEED SOME WILL ON THE PART OF THESE LEADERS. WE HOPE TO BE GIVING THEM A GAME PLAN. WHAT WE REALLY NEED NOW IS LEADERSHIP, AND ALMOST A ROOSEVELTIAN STYLE OR REAGAN-LIKE STYLE OF LEADERSHIP, TO TAKE THESE IDEAS AND TO TAKE TO IOWANS THE FACT THAT WE NEED TO MAKE SOME FUNDAMENTAL CHANGES HERE. WE CAN'T JUST KEEPING FUDGING AROUND ON THE EDGES AND DICKERING WITH LITTLE ISSUES. AS THE CLOCK TICKS, OUR YOUNG PEOPLE CONTINUE TO LEAVE AND WE LOSE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GROW.

Glover: I KEEP COMING BACK TO THIS SAME POINT. THERE WAS A SUGGESTION THIS YEAR ON THE TABLE TO REVISE THE STATE'S TAX SYSTEM. IT WASN'T EVEN DEBATED, MUCH LESS VOTED ON.

Oman: WELL, I THINK PART OF THAT IS THE FUNCTION OF THE GRIDLOCK THAT SOMETIMES SHOWS ITS HEAD WITH ONE CHAMBER OR ONE PARTY CONTROLLING ONE BRANCH AND THE OTHER PARTY CONTROLLING THE OTHER BRANCH. ON THE FLIP SIDE OF THAT, YOU SAW GREAT WORK BY THE REPUBLICANS AND THE DEMOCRATS, THE GOVERNOR AND THE LEGISLATURE ON THE "VISION IOWA" PIECE. AND WHAT WE'RE SAYING IS WE'VE GOT ABOUT 60 DAYS THIS SUMMER, JULY AND AUGUST, AND LET'S ALL GO OFF AND CAMPAIGN AND THEN COME BACK IN NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER, TRY TO SEE IF WE CAN FIND SOME COMMON GROUND ON THESE IDEAS. WE ARE GOING TO GIVE THESE LEGISLATORS, AND MAYBE THE GOVERNOR, SOME POLITICAL COVER TO MAKE SOME OF THESE TOUGH CHOICE GO FORWARD.

Yepsen: WHAT KIND OF POLITICAL COVER DO YOU GIVE HIM WHEN YOU SAY WE NEED A TAX SYSTEM THAT IS EQUITABLE, NEUTRAL, SIMPLE, COMPETITIVE, AND PREDICTABLE? I MEAN, ISN'T THAT MOTHERHOOD, APPLE PIE, AND THE FLAG TOO?

Oman: WELL, WHAT WE'RE SAYING IS WE NEED TO SCRUB OUT SOME OF THESE NICHES AND CARVEOUTS AND DEDUCTIONS AND EVERYTHING THAT HAS CREPT –

Glover: WHICH ONES?

Yepsen: WELL, WHY DIDN'T YOU PUT THAT IN YOUR REPORT AND GIVE SOME SPECIFICITY.

Oman: WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IT. AND AS BETSY MENTIONED, THAT ONE WILL BE BACK ON THE TABLE WORKING ON NEXT FRIDAY.

Glover: WELL, LET'S LOOK AT THE TAX SYSTEM. YOU WANT TO MAKE THE TAX SYSTEM FAIR AND CARVE OUT SOME OF THESE LITTLE NICHES. WHICH ONES?

Oman: WELL, LOOK AT THE PROPERTY TAX SYSTEM WE HAVE IN THIS STATE. AND LOOK AT THE SALES TAX AND ALL THE DIFFERENT INDUSTRIES THAT HAVE LITTLE EXEMPTIONS IN THERE. IF WE CAN SCRUB SOME OF THOSE OUT –

Glover: WHICH ONES?

Oman: -- AND HAVE EVERYBODY PAYING, MAYBE WE'LL BE ABLE TO GET TO THE DAY WHEN WE CAN BRING DOWN SOME OF THE RATES?

Glover: WHICH ONES?

Oman: WE'RE WORKING ON IT. THERE'S A WHOLE LAUNDRY LIST OF THEM. YOU DON'T HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO LET US LIST THEM ALL.

[ SPEAKING AT ONCE]

Yepsen: I WANT TO MOVE ON TO ANOTHER ISSUE THAT IOWANS CARE A GREAT DEAL ABOUT, AND THAT'S EDUCATION. WHAT ARE YOU RECOMMENDING BE DONE WITH THE SCHOOLS IN THIS STATE?

Brandsgard: ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE RECOMMENDING IS TO INCREASE TEACHER PAY. THAT SOUNDS LIKE SOMETHING YOU'VE ALREADY HEARD, BUT IT'S ESSENTIAL IN TERMS OF IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF EDUCATION THAT WE HAVE IN THE STATE. WE'RE HAVING A DIFFICULT TIME ATTRACTING TEACHERS, AND WE'RE HAVING A DIFFICULT TIME KEEPING THEM. WE ALSO WANT TO IMPROVE THE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF TEACHERS IN OUR SYSTEM NOW. IF WE WANT TO ALTER STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT AND HAVE IT INCREASE, WE REALLY NEED TO PAY ATTENTION TO THOSE PEOPLE WHO ARE EDUCATING OUR YOUNG PEOPLE. SO THAT IS A PRIMARY RECOMMENDATION, AND WE'RE REALLY STANDING BEHIND THAT FULL FORCE.

Glover: MS. BRANDSGARD, ANOTHER PORTION OF YOUR REPORT DEALS WITH WHAT'S CALLED QUALITY-OF-LIFE RECREATION ISSUES. YOU TALK A LOT ABOUT TRAILS AND THAT SORT OF STUFF. IOWA DOESN'T HAVE AN OCEAN. I DON'T THINK YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A MOUNTAIN IN IOWA. GIVEN THAT, ISN'T IOWA AT AN INHERENT DISADVANTAGE WITH STATES THAT DO? AND HOW DO YOU DEAL WITH THAT? HOW DO YOU CHANGE THAT?

Brandsgard: I THINK WE CAPITALIZE ON WHAT WE HAVE. AND WE DO HAVE THE START OF A WONDERFUL BIKE TRAIL SYSTEM IN THIS STATE, AND THAT'S ONE THING THAT OUR COLLEAGUE CHUCK OFFENBURGER WOULD BE VERY HAPPY TO HEAR US SAY. THAT HAD A LOT OF POTENTIAL AROUND THE STATE. PEOPLE TALKED TO US ABOUT THE NEED TO DO THAT. PEOPLE TALKED ABOUT THE NEED TO DEVELOP THE NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENTAL KIND OF CORRIDOR THAT WE'RE RECOMMENDING ON HIGHWAY 20. AND THEY TALKED TO US JUST ABOUT MAJOR ATTRACTIONS FUND, CERTAINLY LIKE "VISION IOWA" IS ALREADY ADDRESSING, BUT TO CONTINUE THAT KIND OF THING. IT'S NOT SIMPLY ENOUGH TO DO HIGH WAGES IN THIS STATE. WE HAVE TO KEEP PEOPLE HERE ONCE THEY'RE HERE, AND THE YOUNG PEOPLE TOLD US THAT VERY THING.

Yepsen: MR. OMAN, YOUR GROUP IS ALSO STUDYING WAYS TO REORGANIZE GOVERNMENTS IN THIS STATE. NOW, IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING YOU'VE REACHED NO CONCLUSION ABOUT THAT, BUT WHAT ARE SOME OF THE IDEAS THAT YOU THINK WILL ULTIMATELY BE RECOMMENDED.

Oman: SURE, JUST TO FOLLOW UP ON BETSY FOR A MOMENT. WE'VE GOT THE FOURTH-HIGHEST NUMBER OF TRAIL MILES OF ANY STATE IN THE COUNTRY FOR PEOPLE WHO LIKE TO BIKE, HIKE, BLADE, WHATEVER. THAT'S THE GOOD NEWS. THE BAD NEWS IS THEY'RE NOT CONNECTED. THERE'S A LOW-COST STEP THAT WE CAN TAKE AS IOWANS TO MAKE THIS STATE A LITTLE MORE APPEALING TO YOUNG PEOPLE. ON YOUR QUESTION, DAVID, WE'RE LOOKING AT A LOT OF IDEAS TO STREAMLINE GOVERNMENT AND HAVE SMART GOVERNMENT, DIGITAL GOVERNMENT, E GOVERNMENT AS WE NOW ARE IN THE 21st CENTURY. ON THE TABLE IS LOOKING AT SCHOOLS AND SUGGESTING THAT THERE BE A VERY STRONG LOOK AT SOME CONSOLIDATION. IS THAT CONTROVERSIAL? OF COURSE IT IS. BUT THE DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR, TED STILWILL, I THINK, SHOWED GREAT COURAGE COMING ON YOUR SHOW A FEW WEEKS AGO TALKING ABOUT THAT. THESE CENSUS NUMBERS ARE COMING OUT IN A FEW MONTHS. YOU'LL SEE THE DECLINING POPULATIONS IN THESE SMALLER COMMUNITIES. WE'VE GOT HUNDREDS OF SCHOOL PRINCIPALS AND ADMINISTRATORS RETIRING IN THE NEXT FOUR YEARS. WHY NOT TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT AS A TIME TO ENCOURAGE THESE SCHOOLS TO PULL TOGETHER? WE'RE NOT NECESSARILY TALKING ABOUT MANDATING IT, BUT REALLY PUTTING A LASER FOCUS ON THIS AND HAVING THEM DO IT. I WOULD BE STRONGER ON THAT, BUT I'M NOT SURE WE'D GET THAT THROUGH THE COUNCIL. WE'RE ALSO TALKING ABOUT COUNTIES, AND WE'RE ALSO TALKING ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF A RECOMMENDATION IN THESE URBAN/SUBURBAN AREAS, LIKE POLK COUNTY AND LINN COUNTY WHERE WE HAVE ALL THESE POLITICAL JURISDICTIONS. I MEAN, WHY DO WE NEED 16 COMMUNITIES OR 16 SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN POLK COUNTY?

Yepsen: MS. BRANDSGARD, HOW REALISTIC DO YOU THINK ANY OF THAT'S GOING TO BE? I MEAN, DOESN'T MERGING SCHOOLS MAKE IMMIGRATION LOOK EASY?

Brandsgard: PROBABLY. AGAIN, WE HAVE NOT DECIDED ON THAT YET. NEXT WEEK, WE'LL HAVE RECOMMENDATIONS, BUT THERE'S A PRETTY, I GUESS, BROAD ARRAY OF OPINIONS ON THE COUNCIL ALONE. SO I DON'T THINK IT WOULD BE SIMPLE, BUT I WOULD IMAGINE WE WOULD RECOMMEND, STILL, SOME PRETTY STRONG LANGUAGE ABOUT THE NEED TO WORK IN REGIONAL ALLIANCES BOTH IN TERMS OF COUNTY AND MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT AND IN SCHOOL DISTRICTS.

Glover: MS. BRANDSGARD, LET'S STEP BACK FOR A SECOND. WE'VE GOT LESS THAN A MINUTE TO GO. AREN'T WE REALLY LOOKING AT SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN GOING ON FOR MORE THAN A CENTURY? I MEAN, ISN'T THERE SOMETHING INHERENTLY NATURAL -- WE TALK ABOUT KIDS WANTING TO GET AWAY, LEAVE THE FARM, HEAD FOR THE CITY AS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR A LONG TIME. ISN'T IT NORMAL AND NATURAL FOR YOUNG PEOPLE TO WANT TO SPREAD THEIR WINGS AND EXPLORE?

Brandsgard: ABSOLUTELY. WE'RE NOT TRYING TO DRAW A LINE AROUND THE STATE AND SAY YOU CAN'T EVER LEAVE. WE WOULD LIKE TO, THOUGH, LURE YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE TALENTED AND EXCITED ABOUT THE FUTURE TO COME BACK TO THIS STATE, RAISE THEIR FAMILIES HERE, AND BE PRODUCTIVE CITIZENS IN THE STATE. WE WANT TO GET THEM BACK, BUT I RECOGNIZE WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO MUCH ABOUT THEIR NEED TO GO.

Yepsen: DEAN, BEFORE YOU SIGN OFF, WE NEED TO BORROW ONE OTHER LINE FROM ROSS PEROT, AND THAT IS, THE WEB SITE FOR THIS GROUP IS IOWA2010.COM.

Brandsgard: RIGHT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, DAVID.

Borg: WITH THAT PROMOTION, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR GIVING US A GLIMPSE OF THE FUTURE AND WHAT YOU HOPE IT TO BE. BEFORE CLOSING, WE HAVE THIS REMINDER. IOWA PRESS -- TALKING ABOUT THE WEB -- IS NOW AVAILABLE TO IOWA PUBLIC TELEVISION VIEWERS ON THE WORLDWIDE WEB. SO AFTER YOU LOOK AT 2010, LOOK AT OURS. EACH WEEK OUR WEBPAGE FEATURES COMMENTARY FROM OUR TEAM OF IOWA PRESS REPORTERS, NEWS LINKS TO OTHER RESOURCES CONCERNING THE TOPICS THAT WE TALK ABOUT HERE ON IOWA PRESS, BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES ON OUR REPORTERS, A LOOK AHEAD, AND ALSO TRANSCRIPTS FROM PAST IOWA PRESS PROGRAMS. NOW, THE ADDRESS IS WWW.IOWAPRESS.IPTV.ORG. THAT'S IT FOR THIS WEEK'S EDITION OF IOWA PRESS. I'M DEAN BORG. THANKS FOR JOINING US TODAY.

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