Iowa Public Television

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THIS IS THE SUNDAY, JUNE 10 EDITION OF "IOWA PRESS." HERE IS DEAN BORG.

Borg: WELL, TODAY WE'RE NINE DAYS AWAY FROM THAT SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE SESSION THAT WILL WRAP UP BUSINESS UNFINISHED IN THE REGULAR LEGISLATIVE SESSION EARLIER THIS YEAR. WHEN THE REGULAR SESSION ADJOURNED ON MAY 8, SOME WEIGHTY ISSUES REMAINED ON THE TABLE. STATEHOUSE AND CONGRESSIONAL REDISTRICTING, THE MAIN ISSUE. ELECTRICITY SUPPLY, FULL FUNDING FOR WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, JUST TO MENTION A FEW. BUT ANOTHER ISSUE HAS SURFACED, AND THAT'S TAXATION ON THE FEDERAL REBATES ON THEIR WAY TO IOWA. ARE YOU GOING TO PAY STATE TAX ON THAT REBATE? WELL, OUR TEAM OF STATEHOUSE REPORTERS GATHERS NOW TO REVIEW THOSE ISSUES AND MORE. JOINING US ARE DAVID YEPSEN OF "THE DES MOINES REGISTER," JENEANE BECK OF "KUNI PUBLIC RADIO," MIKE GLOVER OF "THE ASSOCIATED PRESS," AND KATHIE OBRADOVICH OF "THE LEE NEWSPAPERS." KATHIE, I SAID REDISTRICTING IS THE MAIN ISSUE. I SHOULD SAY UP FRONT, WE'RE TAPING THIS ON FRIDAY, AND OVERNIGHT IN POLITICS IS AN ETERNITY. SO SOME OF OUR COMMENTS TODAY MAY BE OUTDATED BY THE TIME THAT LISTENERS RECEIVE THIS, BUT REDISTRICTING ISN'T GOING TO CHANGE TOO MUCH. WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN?

Obradovich: WELL, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE KNOW FOR SURE THAT THEY'RE GOING TO VOTE ON IN THE SPECIAL SESSION IS WHETHER TO ACCEPT THE SECOND PLAN FOR REDISTRICTING. THEY REJECTED AN EARLIER PLAN THAT NONPARTISAN LEGISLATIVE STAFFERS HAD DRAWN UP. REPUBLICANS SAID THAT THERE WASN'T ENOUGH -- OR THAT THERE WAS TOO MUCH VARIATION IN THE POPULATION BETWEEN THE VARIOUS DISTRICTS. YOU'RE TRYING TO ACHIEVE AN IDEAL OF ONE PERSON, ONE VOTE. BEHIND THAT TECHNICAL ARGUMENT WAS A LOT OF POLITICAL ANGST. REPUBLICANS WERE UPSET ABOUT THE WAY THE DISTRICTS TREATED CONGRESS. IT THREW TWO INCUMBENT CONGRESSMEN TOGETHER, NUSSLE AND LEACH, IN EASTERN IOWA. AND IT WAS ALSO PROBABLY A PROBLEM FOR STATEHOUSE CONTROL. NOW THEY'RE ON THEIR SECOND MAP, BUT THEY'RE A LITTLE HAPPIER ABOUT IT AND IT LOOKS LIKE THEY'RE GOING TO PASS IT.

Borg: WHAT MADE REPUBLICANS GRUDGINGLY ACCEPT THIS ONE? THAT WAS THE WORD THAT CHUCK LARSON USED, "GRUDGINGLY."

Glover: LET'S LOOK AT THE BIG PICTURE, DEAN. THE FIRST PLAN, REPUBLICANS WERE UNHAPPY BECAUSE TWO INCUMBENT MEMBERS OF CONGRESS WERE PAIRED TOGETHER AND BECAUSE IT CREATED A GIANT WESTERN IOWA DISTRICT THAT WASTED A BUNCH OF REPUBLICAN VOTES AND THEY SAID ISOLATED WESTERN IOWA. THEY WENT WEREN'T HAPPY. THEY REJECTED THAT PLAN. THE SECOND PLAN COMES ALONG AND GUESS WHAT, DEAN... IT PAIRED TWO INCUMBENT REPUBLICAN LEGISLATORS AND CREATED AN EVEN BIGGER WESTERN IOWA DISTRICT THAT ISOLATES WESTERN IOWA, AND THEY'RE GOING TO ACCEPT IT. WHY? BECAUSE THE LEGISLATIVE DISTRICTS FAVOR REPUBLICANS MORE. IT'S A MORE REPUBLICAN LEANING MAP. THEY'RE GOING TO TAKE IT.

Borg: JENEANE?

Beck: WELL, THEY ALSO CAN'T ARGUE WITH THAT POPULATION VARIATION ISSUE NOW BECAUSE IT'S BEEN REDUCED .02 PERCENT AND THEY REALLY HAVE NO ROOM TO ARGUE. THAT WAS THE PUBLIC REASON THEY GAVE BEFORE FOR REJECTING THE FIRST MAP. AS MIKE SAID, IF THEIR LEGISLATIVE DISTRICTS LOOK GOOD, FORGET CONGRESS. THEY'RE CONCERNED ABOUT IT BUT NOT ENOUGH TO VOTE THEMSELVES OUT OF OFFICE.

Glover: REMEMBER, THE MOST FAMOUS SAYING IN POLITICS IS "WE'RE ALL IN THIS ALONE, SON."

Borg: DAVE, I ASKED CHUCK LARSON THIS WEEK IF THEY'D LIKE TO HAVE PLAN ONE BACK, AND HE SORT OF LAUGHED NERVOUSLY AND ADMITTED, YES, THAT PLAN ONE DID HAVE SOME GOOD POINTS ABOUT IT.

Yepsen: WELL, CHUCK LARSON MIGHT LIKE IT FOR HIS OWN POLITICAL AGENDA. I THINK THE BEAUTY OF THIS LATEST PLAN IS IT CREATES WHAT OUGHT TO BE A SAFE REPUBLICAN DISTRICT, ONE SAFE DEMOCRATIC DISTRICT SOMEDAY, IF JIM LEACH DOESN'T RUN IN IT, AND THREE DISTRICTS THAT ARE PRETTY COMPETITIVE. I THINK ONCE YOU SCREW THESE POPULATION TOLERANCES DOWN SO TIGHT AS THIS SECOND PLAN DOES, IT GETS REAL DIFFICULT FOR POLITICIANS TO CHANGE THAT WITHOUT RUNNING AFOUL IN THE COURTS. SO THEY WANTED TO OPT FOR SOME CERTAINTY, DEAN. IN THIS GAME IN IOWA, MOST LEGISLATIVE DISTRICTS COULD BE WON BY EITHER PARTY IF THEY HAVE THE RIGHT CANDIDATE. THE IMPORTANT PART OF THE GAME HERE IS GETTING A GOOD CANDIDATE; IT ISN'T DRAWING DISTRICT LINES.

Borg: I MAY BE ASKING THE OBVIOUS HERE, BUT I MENTIONED CHUCK LARSON. OF COURSE, HE'S STATE REPUBLICAN PARTY CHAIR AND A STATE REPRESENTATIVE FROM CEDAR RAPIDS. NOW, HE SEEMED TO BE THE SPOKESPERSON FOR THE REPUBLICANS ON THIS ISSUE.

Glover: WELL, HE'S THE STATE REPUBLICAN CHAIRMAN SO, OBVIOUSLY, HE'LL SPEAK FOR REPUBLICANS. BUT THE INTERESTING THING ABOUT WHAT DAVE MENTIONED IS WHAT CHUCK WANTS TO DO EVENTUALLY IS RUN FOR CONGRESS. AND WHAT THIS MAP ASSURES IS HE'LL RUN FOR CONGRESS TEN YEARS FROM NOW BECAUSE IT'S A VERY DEMOCRATIC DISTRICT. A JIM LEACH, WHO CAN MOVE THERE -- AND WE CAN TALK ABOUT WHAT'S GOING TO BE HAPPENING IN THE MOVING -- BUT A JIM LEACH COULD MOVE THERE AND WIN IT, BUT A CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICAN WILL NEVER WIN IT.

Borg: JENEANE, MIKE BRINGS IT UP. THERE ARE SOME INCUMBENTS PACKING THEIR SUITCASES.

Beck: THERE ARE. BECAUSE JIM LEACH AND JIM NUSSLE WERE THROWN TOGETHER ONCE AGAIN, CONVENTIONAL WISDOM IS THAT MAYBE JIM LEACH WILL MOVE BECAUSE FACING NUSSLE, WHO IS MORE CONSERVATIVE IN A MORE CONSERVATIVE DISTRICT, WOULD BE HARD FOR CONGRESSMAN LEACH. SO HE MIGHT MOVE INTO THAT DISTRICT THAT MIKE WAS TALKING ABOUT. THEN THERE'S ALSO CONCERN BECAUSE LEONARD BOSWELL, WHO IS THE ONLY DEMOCRAT CONGRESSMAN FOR IOWA, WAS THROWN INTO THAT WESTERN IOWA DISTRICT WE TALKED ABOUT, WHICH IS HUGELY REPUBLICAN. SO WHILE HE HAS A FARMING BACKGROUND AND MIGHT APPEAL TO SOME VOTERS IN THAT DISTRICT, HE MAY MOVE TO TWO OTHER DISTRICTS, WHETHER HE MIGHT FACE LEACH OR HE MIGHT MOVE INTO SORT OF A CENTRAL IOWA DISTRICT SO THAT HE DOESN'T HAVE TO FACE SO MANY REPUBLICANS.

Glover: THAT'S STILL UP IN THE AIR. WE KNOW THAT LEONARD BOSWELL WILL NOT SAY WHERE HE IS. LEONARD BOSWELL IS A GOOD OLD BOY FROM SOUTHERN IOWA WHO WOULD KIND OF PLAY WELL IN WESTERN IOWA, BUT HE COULDN'T WIN THAT DISTRICT. WE KNOW HE'LL MOVE EITHER INTO THE SOUTHEAST IOWA DISTRICT THAT'S TOTALLY DEMOCRATIC OR MOVE INTO THE CENTRAL IOWA DISTRICT, WHICH LEANS DEMOCRATIC. HE HAS PROPERTY IN BOTH DISTRICTS, SO HE COULD LEGITIMATELY CLAIM THAT HE LIVES IN EITHER ONE OF THEM. AND HIS DECISION IS GOING TO HAVE AN IMPACT ON A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE. IN THAT CENTRAL IOWA DISTRICT, MATT MCCOY, THE STATE SENATOR FROM THE SOUTH SIDE OF DES MOINES, AND JOHN NORRIS, BOSWELL'S FORMER CAMPAIGN MANAGER, ARE RUNNING FOR CONGRESS.

Borg: AND IF HE MOVES OVER TO THE SECOND, IT HAS BEEN RUMORED THAT HE MIGHT MOVE INTO THE CEDAR RAPIDS/IOWA CITY AREA. THAT'S THE SECOND DISTRICT. WELL, THERE BOB RUSH HAS RUN TWICE. MAYBE HE'S NOT GOING TO RUN AGAIN. I DON'T KNOW. BUT THERE ARE OTHERS WHO HAVE THEIR EYE ON THAT ONE, TOO.

Glover: BOB RUSH HAS A POOR HISTORY OF RUNNING AGAINST JIM LEACH.

Yepsen: WELL, YOU SET UP THE POSSIBILITY OF A LEACH/BOSWELL RACE. THAT COULD HAPPEN. I DO THINK IF LEONARD BOSWELL MOVES INTO THE DISTRICT WHERE POLK COUNTY IS, JOHN NORRIS WILL FOLD HIS BID AND GO BACK TO HELPING TOM VILSACK, WHO NEEDS SOME HELP THESE DAYS.

Glover: BUT MATT MCCOY, THE STATE SENATOR, PROBABLY WON'T. AND I THINK THERE WOULD BE A PRIMARY THERE, AND THAT WOULD BE AN INTERESTING KIND OF A PRIMARY BECAUSE YOU HAVE LEONARD BOSWELL, AN INCUMBENT MEMBER OF CONGRESS, THAT PRESUMABLY WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY ESTABLISHMENT, RUNNING AGAINST FOR CONGRESS AGAINST MATT MCCOY WHO, ARGUABLY, WOULD HAVE A BETTER BASE.

Yepsen: AND REMEMBER, MATT MCCOY COMES OUT OF THE SOUTH SIDE OF DES MOINES. THERE IS A TON OF DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY VOTES THAT COME OUT OF THAT DISTRICT, AND I THINK MATT MCCOY WOULD BE TALKING TO LEONARD BOSWELL ABOUT BEING A CARPET BAGGER. THE QUESTION IS, IS THAT GOOD OLD BOY, LEONARD BOSWELL, GOING TO RUN WELL IN IOWA'S LARGEST COUNTY? . I'M NOT SURE.

Glover: WE DON'T KNOW.

Borg: THIS HELPED BRENT SIEGRIST, THOUGH, MAKE UP HIS MIND.

Obradovich: AS WELL, HE HAS ANNOUNCED AN EXPLORATORY COMMITTEE IN THAT MASSIVE FIFTH DISTRICT THAT'S HEAVILY REPUBLICAN. HE'S FROM COUNCIL BLUFFS. SO HE'S RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THAT. SO FAR WE HAVEN'T SEEN A LOT OF DEMOCRATS STEP UP. OF COURSE, IF LEONARD BOSWELL DOES NOT MOVE, UNLIKELY CHANCE THAT HE WON'T MOVE, THEN HE WOULD PROBABLY BE RUNNING AGAINST BRENT SIEGRIST.

Glover: KATHIE, IF YOU WANT THE DEMOCRATIC NOMINATION FOR CONGRESSMAN IN THE FIFTH DISTRICT, YOU'D PROBABLY HAVE IT. THE OTHER NAMES WE HEAR OUT THERE -- AND IT'S GOING TO BE A REPUBLICAN DISTRICT, IT'S GOING TO BE A REPUBLICAN FIGHT. WHOEVER WINS THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY PROBABLY IS GOING TO CONGRESS. BRENT SIEGRIST WHO IS -- HE TRIES TO HIDE IT, BUT HE'S A MODERATE. THE OTHER NAMES THAT WE HEAR ARE JOHN REDWINE, THE STATE SENATOR FROM SIOUX CITY, AND STEVE KING, A STATE SENATOR FROM KIRON... BOTH STAUNCH CONSERVATIVES. THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT RUNNING. IF WE GET -- PROBABLY FOR SIEGRIST, IF THEY GET THREE OR FOUR RIGHT WINGERS RUNNING, IT'S BETTER FOR HIM TO SPLIT THE RIGHT WING VOTE.

Borg: KATHIE, HAVE YOU AT ALL LOOKED AT THIS WITH AN EYE TOWARD WHAT DOES IT DO WITHIN THE LEGISLATIVE LEADERSHIP, THAT IS THE REDISTRICTING, IF PLAN TWO IS ADOPTED?

Beck: WELL, I HAVE TO THINK IT MUST BE FAIRLY COMFORTABLE FOR THEM OR THEY WOULD TRY TO GET THEIR MEMBERS TO VOTE AGAINST IT. THEY HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF POWER IN THAT WAY, BUT THEY HAVE ALL COME ON BOARD WITH IT. ACTUALLY, ONE REPUBLICAN STAFFER TOLD ME THAT THEY WERE QUITE GIDDY ABOUT THE MAP, WHICH SURPRISED ME A LITTLE BIT, SO THEY MUST THINK IT'S GOOD FOR THE CURRENT LEADERSHIP.

Yepsen: IT CREATES A NUMBER OF OPEN LEGISLATIVE SEATS, AND THOSE REPUBLICANS FEEL LIKE THEY HAVE A SHOT AT WINNING MORE OF THOSE THAN THEY DID UNDER THE FIRST PLAN. THE OTHER THING, DEAN, IS MOST MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE, INCUMBENT MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE, ARE NOT THROWN IN WITH ANOTHER INCUMBENT. WE TALK A LOT ABOUT WHO IS PAIRED UP WITH WHO AS AN INCUMBENT. LOOK, IF YOU'RE IN THE LEGISLATURE AND YOU'VE BEEN GIVEN A REAPPORTIONMENT PLAN THAT DOES NOT PUT YOU IN ANOTHER DISTRICT WITH AN INCUMBENT, YOU PRETTY MUCH LIKE THE PLAN. YOU'RE NOT INTERESTED IN SPINNING THE CHAMBER TO SEE A PLAN THREE.

Glover: UNDER THIS PLAN, THERE WILL BE 39 MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE, 100-MEMBER HOUSE, AND 39 MEMBERS WILL BE PAIRED UP WITH ONE ANOTHER; 25 MEMBERS OF THE SENATE WILL BE PAIRED UP WITH ONE ANOTHER. HOWEVER, IF YOU LOOK AT THE LEADERSHIP RACES, MARY KRAMER IS PAIRED UP WITH GENE MADDOX IN SUBURBAN WEST DES MOINES, OR SUBURBAN URBANDALE, WESTERN PART OF THE URBAN AREA. THAT'S ABOUT IT. THE REST OF THE LEADERSHIP PRETTY MUCH HAS AN OPEN SHOT AT IT. SO AS FAR AS THAT GOES, THAT'S NOT PUTTING MANY ROADBLOCKS IN THE WAY.

Obradovich: AND THERE ARE TONS OF OPEN SEATS. REPUBLICANS HAVE THE EDGE IN THE HOUSE ON PARTY REGISTRATION IN THOSE OPEN SEATS. DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS SPLIT EVENLY ON THE 14 OPEN SEATS IN THE SENATE. SO A LOT OF THOSE ARE GOING TO BE REAL TOSSUPS. IT SHOULD BE A REALLY INTERESTING ELECTION CYCLE NEXT TIME.

Glover: LET'S FACE IT, INTERESTING THINGS HAVE HAPPENED TO THIS STATE OVER THE LAST TEN YEARS. THE DEMOGRAPHICS OF THE STATE HAVE CHANGED. IT'S BECOMING A MORE URBAN AND SUBURBAN STATE, CONTINUING A TREND THAT HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR A LONG TIME. IT'S BECOMING A LESS RURAL STATE. THAT'S CONTINUING A TREND THAT'S BEEN GOING ON FOR A LONG TIME. SO WHATEVER MAP GETS APPROVED IS GOING TO LOOK A LOT LIKE THIS ONE. THERE'S GOING TO BE MORE SUBURBAN, MORE URBAN DISTRICTS, SUBURBAN DISTRICTS ARE GOING TO GET SMALLER, RURAL DISTRICTS ARE GOING TO GET BIGGER. SO IT'S JUST A QUESTION OF WHO GETS PAIRED WHERE. IT'S GOING TO LOOK LIKE THIS WHATEVER.

Yepsen: I THINK IT WILL CHANGE THE FACE OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IN THIS STATE SOME. YOU'RE GOING TO SEE FEWER, WHAT I CALL "FARM BUREAU REPUBLICANS", YOU KNOW, THE FARMER FROM A SMALL TOWN WHO COMES HERE. AND YOU'RE GOING TO SEE MORE SUBURBAN, MODERATE WOMEN SERVING IN THE LEGISLATURE AS A RESULT OF THIS ELECTION. AND THE OTHER THING I WANT TO MENTION, WE WERE ALL TALKING ABOUT HOW REPUBLICANS LIKE THIS SECOND PLAN. I DON'T THINK THAT MEANS IT'S A SLAM-DUNK FOR THEM AT ALL. I THINK DEMOCRATS ARE VERY OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THEIR CHANCES OF TAKING CONTROL OF THE LEGISLATURE BECAUSE ANY REDISTRICTING PLAN TAKES AWAY THAT ADVANTAGE OF INCUMBENCY IN THE MAJORITY.

Glover: REMEMBER SOMETHING... IN 1981 REPUBLICANS CONTROLLED BOTH CHAMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE. THEY WROTE A NEW MAP AND DEMOCRATS TOOK CONTROL. IN 1991 DEMOCRATS CONTROLLED BOTH CHAMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE. THEY WROTE A NEW MAP AND REPUBLICANS TOOK CONTROL. HISTORY TELLS US THE CHANGE IS GOING TO HAPPEN AFTER THIS.

Borg: IN FACT, AS I TALKED TO CHUCK LARSON, THE STATE REPUBLICAN CHAIR, THIS WEEK, HE SAID THAT SOME REPUBLICANS HAVE ALREADY SAID: "I CAN'T STAND THIS PLAN; I'M GOING TO RESIGN;" OR "I'M NOT GOING TO RUN AGAIN."

Yepsen: WELL, AND THAT'S THE WONDER OF DEMOCRACY AT WORK HERE. WE DON'T HAVE TERM LIMITS IN IOWA, BUT WE DO HAVE A NONPARTISAN REDISTRICTING PLAN. MIKE MENTIONED THE PARTY TURNOVER THAT OCCURS EVERY TEN YEARS. THERE'S ALSO JUST A LOT OF CHANGE IN FACES. WE'LL SEE OVER A THIRD OF THE FACES IN THE LEGISLATURE WHO ARE DIFFERENT IN 2003.

Glover: AND WHAT HAPPENED AFTER THE LAST ELECTION, A LOT OF LEADERS OF BOTH THE REPUBLICAN AND DEMOCRATIC PARTY WENT TO THEIR MEMBERS, A LOT OF WHOM WERE THINKING ABOUT RETIRING. THEY'RE GETTING UP THERE. IT'S TIME TO MOVE ON TO SOMETHING ELSE. AND THEY SAID, "NO, HANG ON FOR ONE MORE TERM. WE NEED YOU TO BE AROUND FOR REDISTRICTING. HELP US WITH REDISTRICTING, HELP US GET THAT PASSED, AND THEN YOU CAN RETIRE." AND A LOT OF PEOPLE SAID, "OKAY, ONE MORE TERM BUT THAT'S IT." SO THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF PLANNED RETIREMENTS AFTER THIS.

Borg: NOW, KATHIE, THE SESSION THAT'S COMING UP NOW IN ABOUT TEN DAYS OR SO HAS MORE ON THE AGENDA THAN REDISTRICTING.

Obradovich: THE LAUNDRY LIST IS GROWING, DEAN. THE GOVERNOR COMES OUT ABOUT EVERY OTHER DAY AND ADDS SOMETHING TO THE LIST. THIS LAST WEEK HE SAID THAT HE WOULD LIKE REPUBLICAN LEGISLATORS WHO IGNORED THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE PLEAS FOR MORE PROPERTY TAX FUNDING DURING THE REGULAR SESSION. HE WANTS TO COME BACK AND TRY THAT AGAIN. HE WANTS TO GIVE COMMUNITY COLLEGES AN OPPORTUNITY TO RAISE PROPERTY TAXES TO HELP FUND. THAT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN. REPUBLICANS ALSO WANT TO MAKE YOUR TAX REBATE FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TAX FREE FOR THE STATE. IF THEY DON'T DO THIS, WHEN YOU GET YOUR TAX REBATE FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, IF YOU GET IT, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO PAY TAXES NEXT YEAR FOR THE STATE. AND THEY WANT TO SAVE IOWANS THAT EXTRA TAX MONEY. THERE ARE A COUPLE OTHER ISSUES LIKE THEIR PLANT SITING, WHICH YOU MENTIONED UP FRONT, THAT THEY DIDN'T GET DONE DURING THE REGULAR SESSION, AND AN ISSUE ABOUT WHETHER TO KEEP RURAL WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT OFFICES IN THE STATE OPEN.

Borg: JENEANE? GO AHEAD.

Yepsen: WELL, I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY I THINK THE LEGISLATURE WILL PASS A PLANT SITING BILL TO BUILD MORE POWER PLANTS IN IOWA. THE GOVERNOR MAY VETO THIS BECAUSE HE'S WORRIED THAT IT'S TOO PRO UTILITY. IT'S AN INTERESTING POLITICAL DYNAMIC, DEAN, BECAUSE THE REPUBLICANS ARE SAYING, "FINE, LET HIM VETO IT. WE'LL DO OUR PART TO BUILD MORE POWER PLANTS IN IOWA. NEXT SUMMER WHEN THERE ARE BLACKOUTS IN IOWA, WE'LL START CALLING TOM VILSACK THE GRAY DAVIS OF IOWA IF HE VETOES THIS BILL."

Borg: JENEANE, I WAS GOING TO ASK YOU ON OTHER ISSUES THERE, ARE THESE GOING TO BE CONTENTIOUS. IS THERE GOING TO BE MORE THAN A ONE-DAY SESSION?

Beck: THAT'S YET TO BE SEEN. THE GOVERNOR HAS ASKED THEM TO APPROVE A SCALED-BACK VERSION OF THAT PLANT-SITING BILL. REPUBLICANS TELL ME, "FORGET IT, TOO LATE. WE'VE GOT THE VOTES FOR THIS BILL NOW. WE'RE GOING TO PUSH THROUGH OUR PLAN." SO THAT WILL AT LEAST BE CONTENTIOUS IF THEY DO A FULL DEBATE OF IT, BECAUSE DEMOCRATS ARE GOING STAND UP AND SPEAK AT LENGTH ABOUT WHAT'S WRONG WITH THIS PLAN. SOME OF THE OTHER ISSUES SHOULDN'T TAKE THAT MUCH TIME. THE TAX REBATE, IT'S A LITTLE BIT HARD TO SPEAK AGAINST, EVEN THOUGH THE GOVERNOR IS SORT OF SAYING THE STATE CAN'T AFFORD TO GIVE UP THAT INCOME. BUT I DON'T KNOW IF STATEHOUSE DEMOCRATS WILL SPEAK OUT AGAINST IT. WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, THE GOVERNOR WANTS THEM TO TAKE IT UP, BUT THERE'S NO ASSURANCE THAT THEY WILL EVEN BOTHER. STEWART IVERSON REALLY DOESN'T WANT TO CHARGE BUSINESSES TO KEEP THOSE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT SITES UP, SO HE MAY JUST LET IT FALL BY THE WAYSIDE.

Glover: WHAT'S INTERESTING, DEAN, ARE ISSUES THAT WERE FOUGHT DURING THE REGULAR LEGISLATIVE SESSION AND REJECTED DURING THE REGULAR LEGISLATIVE SESSION. I'VE SEEN NO EVIDENCE THAT ANY MINDS HAVE BEEN CHANGED. I THINK THE ONLY THING THAT WILL EMERGE FROM THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION WILL BE A NEW MAP.

Obradovich: I THINK THEY WILL PASS A PLANT-SITING BILL. I THINK THAT THEY'RE SCARED, FIRST OF ALL, THAT THEY WEREN'T ABLE TO DO ANYTHING FOR THEIR -- REPUBLICANS WEREN'T ABLE TO DO ANYTHING FOR THEIR FRIENDS IN THE UTILITY COMPANIES LAST YEAR WITH DEREGULATION AND THEY OWE THEM ONE THIS YEAR. THEY'RE GOING TO PROBABLY GET TO A VOTE ON THAT PLANT SITING BILL. BUT AGAIN, THE GOVERNOR'S MAYBE. THE GOVERNOR IS TRYING TO GET THE BEST DEAL THAT HE CAN OUT OF IT BUT, LIKE DAVID SAID, HE DOESN'T WANT TO BE THE GRAY DAVIS OF IOWA EITHER.

Yepsen: AND TOM VILSACK HAS NOT TOED THE DEMOCRATIC MANTRA ON THIS UTILITY ISSUE. HE UNDERSTANDS THE STATE HAS A PROBLEM. HE'S BEEN -- A LOT OF DEMOCRATS ARE CRITICAL OF HIM FOR EVEN DOING BUSINESS WITH THE UTILITIES ON THIS. IF THE REPUBLICAN LEGISLATURE SENDS HIM A BILL THAT HE COULD LIVE WITH -- I MEAN, THEY OUGHT TO BE REASONABLE AND SEND HIM A NICE COMPROMISE PIECE OF LEGISLATION -- HE'D SIGN IT.

Glover: THEY OUGHT TO BE REASONABLE AND SEND HIM A NICE COMPROMISE PIECE OF LEGISLATION, BUT THEY WON'T.

Yepsen: IF THEY WANT HIM TO SIGN IT. THEY WANT HIM TO VETO IT SO THEY HAVE THE ISSUE.

Glover: THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT THEY'LL DO.

Obradovich: EXCEPT THAT STEW IVERSON SAYS THAT THEIR AMENDMENT THAT THEY'RE WORKING ON HAS 95 PERCENT OF WHAT THE GOVERNOR ASKED FOR IN ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND ASSISTANCE FOR LOW INCOME AND SOME OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL THINGS THAT HE WANTS.

Glover: AND WHEN HE SAYS THAT, I SEE HIS NOSE GROWING.

Obradovich: YEAH.

Glover: I SEE A UTILITY BILL COMING OUT OF THERE.

Obradovich: I THINK VILSACK COULD SIGN THE BILL.

Borg: YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE GOVERNOR'S INTEGRITY. I WANTED TO ASK YOU, MIKE, ON A SCALE OF ONE TO FIVE, HOW WOULD YOU RATE THE DEGREE OF EMBARRASSMENT GOVERNOR VILSACK AND DHS OVER THE LANGUAGE AND THE ANNOUNCEMENT LAST FALL ON A POLICY THAT REALLY WASN'T A POLICY ON TAKING THE CHILDREN OUT OF THE HOME IN ABUSIVE SITUATIONS OR SUSPECTED ABUSIVE SITUATIONS?

Glover: THEY'VE HAD A PROBLEM WITH THAT WHOLE ISSUE SINCE LAST YEAR, WITH THE SHELBY DUIS CASE. IT'S NOT BEEN HANDLED TERRIBLY WELL FROM THE BEGINNING. THIS IS JUST ONE MORE EPISODE THAN THAT. THEY FUMBLED THAT BALL FROM THE BEGINNING. IN PART, I THINK IT REFLECTS -- THEY'VE HANDLED THE ISSUE NOT VERY DEFTLY, BECAUSE IT IS A TERRIBLY, TERRIBLY, DIFFICULT ISSUE, IF YOU INTERVENE IN A FAMILY SITUATION, THEN YOU HAVE THE RIGHT-WINGERS BANGING ON YOU, TALKING ABOUT GOVERNMENT MIXING UP IN FAMILY LIFE. IF YOU DON'T INTERVENE, YOU'VE GOT THE LEFT-WINGERS, YOU LET THIS KID DIE. IT'S A NO-WIN SITUATION. BUT GIVEN THAT, PUBLICLY THEY'VE HANDLED IT VERY POORLY AND IT'S JUST BEEN A POOR PUBLIC RELATIONS DISASTER.

Borg: LET ME REPHRASE THE QUESTION. HAS THE GOVERNOR LOST SOME CREDIBILITY OVER THIS?

Yepsen: WELL, I THINK SO. I THINK HE'S LOST SOME. I THINK HE HAD A BAD WEEK, FRANKLY. IT WASN'T JUST THIS, DEAN. THERE WAS THE WHOLE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION HAS PROMULGATING RULES THAT WOULD REQUIRE LOCAL SCHOOLS TO TALK ABOUT SEXUAL ORIENTATION AND BE TOLERANT. ANYTIME ANYBODY IN STATE GOVERNMENT IS DEALING WITH THE TWO WORDS "SEXUAL ORIENTATION," THEY OUGHT TO PUT A RED FLAG ON IT. AND NOBODY THOUGHT TO TELL THE GOVERNOR THEY THAT WERE DOING THIS. AND THERE'S A REAL FIGHT GOING ON IN THE BUREAUCRACY OVER HOW THIS EMBARRASSMENT OCCURRED. VILSACK SAW THAT, QUICKLY PULLED THE EXECUTIVE ORDER. IT LOOKED LIKE SOME BAD STAFF WORK ON THIS -- ON THE ISSUE WITH THE DHS. NOT A GOOD WEEK FOR VILSACK.

Borg: I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S COINCIDENTAL ALONG WITH WHAT DAVE HAS JUST BEEN TALKING IT ABOUT, THE GOVERNOR HAD A BAD WEEK, OR WHETHER IT WAS REDISTRICTING, BUT REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES FOR GOVERNOR STARTED COMING OUT OF THE WOODWORK, JENEANE.

Beck: THEY DID. THE SAME WEEK THAT SENATOR GRASSLEY SAID, "I WAS JOKING WHEN I SAID I SHOULD HAVE RUN FOR GOVERNOR," DAN GABLE SAID, "YEAH, A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE BEEN TALKING TO ME ABOUT THIS AND MAYBE I JUST WILL." HE'S THE FORMER WRESTLING COACH FOR IOWA. HE WAS A WRESTLER HIMSELF AT IOWA STATE, OLYMPIC MEDALIST. THIS GUY IS WELL THOUGHT OF IN IOWA. NOW, WHETHER THAT TRANSLATES INTO VOTES, I DON'T KNOW YET, BUT HE'S ENJOYING THE QUESTIONING THAT'S GOING ON ABOUT IT I THINK.

Obradovich: A LOT OF CANDIDATES FOR GOVERNOR HAVE COME AND GONE ALREADY. WE'VE HAD BOTH REPUBLICAN HOUSE'S SENATE LEADERS SAY "I MIGHT RUN," AND THEN THEY SAID, "OH, I'M NOT GOING TO." STEVE KING, AS WE MENTION BEFORE, NOW IS TALKING ABOUT RUNNING FOR CONGRESS. HE SAID HE MIGHT RUN FOR GOVERNOR AND BOWED OUT. I THINK IT'S TOO EARLY TO TELL WHEN THIS IS JUST MAYBE JUST A LITTLE BIT OF AN EGO BOOST FOR COACH GABLE. BUT WE'VE ALSO GOT A COUPLE OF OTHER CANDIDATES WHO SEEM TO BE FAIRLY SERIOUS ABOUT RUNNING. REPRESENTATIVE STEVE SUKUP, A REPUBLICAN FROM NORTH CENTRAL IOWA, HAS SAID THAT HE'S PLANNING TO RUN. ALSO, A BUSINESSMAN FROM SIOUX CITY, BOB VANDERPLATT, HAS BEEN MAKING A LOT OF MONEY. HE'S BEEN RAISING FUNDS AND TALKING TO A LOT OF REPUBLICANS AROUND THE STATE. THOSE TWO GUYS ARE PROBABLY GOING TO BE IN THERE, BUT I DON'T THINK WE'VE SEEN THE FIELD FIRM UP YET.

Yepsen: WELL, THIS WHOLE GABLE BUSINESS REALLY INDICATES TO ME IN WHAT WHAT POOR SHAPE THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IS IN. I MEAN, THEY FEEL LIKE THEY'VE GOT A CHANCE TO BEAT VILSACK, BUT YET THEY DON'T HAVE A REALLY HEAVYWEIGHT CONTENDER TO COME IN AND WEIGH IN AGAINST HIM. THERE'S SOME REAL TENSION INSIDE THE PARTY RIGHT NOW, BECAUSE AT THE SAME TIME SUKUP AND VANDERPLATT ARE OUT THERE KNOCKING THEMSELVES OUT TRYING TO GET A CAMPAIGN GOING, YOU'VE GOT PARTY LEADERS TALKING TO DAN GABLE TRYING TO GET HIM IN THE RACE. WHAT DOES THAT SAY ABOUT THE PARTY LEADERSHIP'S CONFIDENCE IN THE TWO GUYS WHO ARE OUT THERE TRYING TO RUN?

Glover: ONE OF THE INTERESTING THINGS I'M GOING TO DO DURING THIS SPECIAL SESSION IS WATCH THE HOUSE FLOOR AND WATCH CHUCK LARSON AND STEVE SUKUP LOOK AT EACH OTHER, BECAUSE STEVE SUKUP HAS BEEN SPILLING HIS GUTS ALL OVER THE STATE TRYING TO PUT A CAMPAIGN TOGETHER, RAISING MONEY. HE'S ACTUALLY DONE A PRETTY GOOD JOB OF CONSOLIDATING SOME FINANCIAL SUPPORT WITHIN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY. THEN, LOOKING ACROSS THE CHAMBER AT HIS PARTY CHAIRMAN AND COLLEAGUE, CHUCK LARSON, RECRUITING CANDIDATES AGAINST HIM.

Yepsen: YOU KNOW, I'M NOT SURE DAN GABLE IS GOING TO DO THIS, BUT IT DOES ADD A LITTLE INTEREST AND EXCITEMENT IN WHAT IS AN OTHERWISE BORING RACE. BUT IT'S POSSIBLE FOR CANDIDATES LIKE THAT TO DO THAT. I REMEMBER TALKING TO BILL BRADLEY ONE TIME, THE BASKETBALL PLAYER, FORMER NEW JERSEY SENATOR THAT WAS OUT HERE RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT. HE WAS SAYING WHEN YOU'RE A PROFESSIONAL ATHLETE, YOU'VE GOT A THRESHOLD PROBLEM WITH VOTERS. YOU'VE GOT TO -- WHEN YOU OFFER YOURSELF AS A CANDIDATE, THE FIRST THING YOU'VE GOT TO DO IS OVERCOME THE DUMB JOCK IMAGE. NOW, IF YOU CAN DO THAT, THEN YOU'VE GOT A CHANCE. AND THERE HAVE BEEN MANY SUCCESSFUL ATHLETIC FIGURES WHO HAVE DONE THAT AROUND THE COUNTRY. THE QUESTION FOR DAN GABLE, IF HE'S REALLY SERIOUS ABOUT THIS, IS CAN HE OVERCOME THAT IMAGE TO BE CONSIDERED A SERIOUS GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE.

Obradovich: I DON'T THINK DAN GABLE HAS A PROBLEM WITH THAT, THOUGH. I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE AROUND THE STATE ALREADY KNOW THAT HE'S PRETTY INTELLIGENT, PRETTY ARTICULATE, AND PRETTY THOUGHTFUL. I DON'T THINK HE'D HAVE TOO MUCH OF A PROBLEM BEING SEEN AS A FAIRLY SERIOUS CANDIDATE, IF HE DECIDED THAT'S REALLY WHAT HE WANTS.

Yepsen: I WONDER IF YOU KNOWS HOW BIG THE STATE BUDGET IS.

Glover: THERE'S SOME HURDLES HE HAS TO GET OVER. BUT ONE THING THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT IS, ALL WE REALLY ASK HIM TO DO, DEAN, IS ENTERTAIN US. AND THIS GUARANTEES US HE'LL ENTERTAIN US A LOT LONGER.

Borg: WHAT ABOUT MARY KRAMER. HER NAME WAS BROUGHT UP IN ANOTHER REALM HERE EARLIER. BUT IS MARY KRAMER A POSSIBLE CANDIDATE FOR GOVERNOR?

Glover: SHE HAS LOOKED AT IT.

Borg: SHE'S PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE.

Glover: SHE'S PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE. SHE WAS PAIRED IN A VERY BAD SENATE DISTRICT IN THE LAST CAMPAIGN. SHE'S PAIRED IN A PRETTY BAD SENATE DISTRICT IN THIS CAMPAIGN. SO WHENEVER YOU'RE PAIRED LIKE THAT, YOU START LOOKING AT OTHER THINGS. SHE'S BEEN RUMORED TO HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT IT. I DON'T KNOW VERY MANY PEOPLE WHO ARE TAKING HER ALL THAT SERIOUSLY.

Beck: SHE'S ALSO RUMORED AS RUNNING POSSIBLY FOR CONGRESS IN THAT NEW DISTRICT. SO YOU DON'T KNOW YET. I THINK SHE'S ALSO LIKE DAN GABLE, ENJOYING THE ATTENTION IT BRINGS, ENJOYING PEOPLE COMING UP AND ASKING HER ABOUT IT, BUT I DON'T THINK SHE KNOWS YET.

Glover: I DON'T KNOW IF A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE TREATING HER CANDIDACY FOR EITHER GOVERNOR OR CONGRESS ALL THAT SERIOUSLY.

Borg: WELL, I SHOULD MENTION THAT NEXT WEEK WE'RE GOING TO GET SOME INSIGHT INTO WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IN THE SPECIAL SESSION AND SO ON, WHEN WE HAVE SENATE MAJORITY LEADER STEWART IVERSON AND HOUSE MINORITY LEADER DICK MYERS ON THE PROGRAM.

Beck: THAT SHOULD BE FUN.

Borg: WE'LL TALK MORE ABOUT THAT THEN.

Yepsen: WELL, AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S GOING ON UP THERE IS IVERSON IS BEING TALKED ABOUT AS A CANDIDATE FOR STATE AUDITOR. AND IF HE'S DECIDING HE'S GOING TO MOVE UP, THAT CREATES ALL KINDS OF INTERESTING INTRIGUE INSIDE THE LEGISLATURE AS THEY SEEK TO SUCCEED HIM. IT MAY PROMPT MARY KRAMER TO DECIDE IF SHE WANTS TO STAY IN THE IOWA SENATE IN ORDER TO BECOME MAJORITY LEADER.

Glover: YOU HAVE A CERTAIN LEADERSHIP FIGHT IN THE HOUSE. THE HOUSE SPEAKER BRENT SIEGRIST, AS KATHIE MENTIONED, IS ANNOUNCED HIS EXPLORATORY COMMITTEE FOR CONGRESS. HE'S GOING TO BE LEAVING THE HOUSE, SO THERE'S A FIGHT GOING ON FOR WHO THE NEXT SPEAKER IS GOING TO BE. IVERSON IS PROBABLY GOING TO RUN FOR AUDITOR, SO THERE'S GOING TO BE A FIGHT FOR SENATE MAJORITY LEADER. SO THERE ARE INTERNAL INTRIGUES GOING ON IN BOTH CHAMBERS.

Borg: MIKE, I MENTIONED EARLIER AS WE BEGAN THIS SHOW THAT WE WERE TAPING THIS PROGRAM ON FRIDAY. THAT'S THE DAY THAT, OF COURSE, PRESIDENT BUSH IS COMING TO IOWA, AND A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE FROM THE NATIONAL SCENE ALSO GETTING THEIR EYES ON IOWA AND MAKING A TRIP OUT HERE. AND IT ISN'T TO SEE THE FLOOD.

Glover: NO, IT'S NOT TO SEE THE FLOOD. THE FLOOD IS OVER, DEAN, AND THE WATER HAS GONE DOWN. THE CANDIDATES KEEP FLOODING IN. NO, YOU HAVE, WITHIN THIS MONTH, YOU HAVE THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN, TERRY MC AULIFF, IS COMING. YOU HAVE JOHN KERRY, THE SENATOR OF MASSACHUSETTS, COMING. YOU HAVE BILL BRADLEY, THE FORMER U.S. SENATOR WHO RAN FOR PRESIDENT ONCE, IS COMING. PRESIDENT BUSH IS COMING OUT. YOU HAVE JOHN ASHCROFT, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, IS COMING OUT. WHAT THAT SAYS, I THINK, IS THAT YOU'RE GOING TO START SEEING, FAIRLY QUICKLY, WHICH DEMOCRATS WANT TO BE PRESIDENT. YOU'LL START TO SEE THEM SHOW UP AND START PUTTING SOME ORGANIZATIONS TOGETHER. BUT I THINK WHAT YOU'RE ALSO STARTING TO SEE IS PRESIDENT BUSH STARTING TO BUILD THAT FIRE WALL IN IOWA. TO MAKE SURE THAT, SHOULD SOME CHALLENGE ARISE WITHIN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY, SHOULD HE RUN INTO SOME PROBLEMS IN HIS FIRST TERM AND SOMEONE COME OUT OF THE WOODWORK, A JOHN MCCAIN OR SOME -- THE NEW VERSION OF PAT BUCHANAN, THAT HE'LL HAVE BUILT A FIRE WALL HERE TO PROTECT HIMSELF SO THERE WILL BE NO EARLY SURPRISES FOR HIM. THAT'S GOING TO BE A THEME OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL YEARS.

Borg: WHAT'S IOWA'S STAKE, JENEANE, DO YOU SEE IN THE POWER CHANGE IN THE U.S. SENATE? CHUCK GRASSLEY LOST THE CHAIRMANSHIP OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE, BUT THEN TOM HARKIN CAME ON THE AG COMMITTEE. IS IT SIGNIFICANT POLITICALLY -- ANY OF YOU, BUT I'LL ASK JENEANE FIRST.

Beck: THERE ARE A COUPLE OF THINGS. I'M NOT SURE THE AG COMMITTEE MAYBE IS AS POWERFUL AS THE SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE, BUT THE FARM BILL IS GOING TO BE UP FOR NEGOTIATION. SO HAVING SENATOR HARKIN LEAD THAT COMMITTEE MAY BE SIGNIFICANT FOR IOWA. THE FREEDOM TO FARM ACT IS GOING TO BE RENEGOTIATED IN THE NEXT YEAR, AND SO IOWA FARMERS ARE GOING TO BE LOOKING TO HIM TO SEE IF SUPPORT PAYMENTS ARE GOING TO GO UP OR WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN WITH THAT.

Borg: SO TIMING IS KEY.

Beck: IT IS.

Yepsen: I THINK IT'S INTERESTING. THIS SENATE RACE -- WE HAVEN'T MENTIONED IT HERE TODAY, BUT THIS SENATE RACE BETWEEN TOM HARKIN AND PROBABLY GREG GANSKE IS GOING TO BE ONE OF THE MOST HOTLY-CONTESTED SENATE RACES IN THE COUNTRY. I THINK THIS CHAIRMANSHIP OF THE AG COMMITTEE IN ONE SENSE HELPS TOM HARKIN BECAUSE HE'LL BE ABLE TO RAISE MONEY, IT CLEARLY GIVES HIM MORE INFLUENCE. IT HELPS HIM WITH THE FARM COMMUNITY, WHERE HE DID NOT RUN WELL IN '96. BUT HE'S NOW GOING TO HAVE TO TAKE SOME RESPONSIBILITY FOR THAT FARM BILL. AND TOM HARKIN A LONG TIME AGO ONCE TOLD ME, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN NEVER GO WRONG VOTING AGAINST THE AG SECRETARY AND EVERY FARM BILL THAT COMES ALONG. AND NOW HE'S ALL OF A SUDDEN GOING TO HAVE TO BE ACCOUNTABLE FOR SOME OF THAT.

Obradovich: AS FAR AS CLOUT IS CONCERNED, ALSO, THE SENATE IS SO EVENLY DIVIDED THAT BEING RANKING MEMBER OF THAT FINANCE COMMITTEE IS REALLY NOT A BAD DEAL FOR GRASSLEY, AS WELL, BECAUSE HE OBVIOUSLY IS UNHAPPY ABOUT IT AND IT IS A LOSS OF THE AGENDA. BUT HE IS GOING TO HAVE TO WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH THE DEMOCRATS IN ORDER FOR THEM TO BE ABLE AT THE GET ANYTHING DONE.

Borg: LET ME SQUEEZE -- MIKE, GO AHEAD.

Glover: WELL, ONE OF THE THINGS I WANT TO SAY ABOUT THIS FARM BILL AS WE GO INTO IT, ALL THE BIG, HIGH-PROFILE HEADLINE ITEMS THAT WE READ ABOUT: ARE FARM SUPPORTS GOING TO BE IN THERE? ARE CROP ROTATIONS THINGS GOING TO BE IN THERE? ALL OF THAT IS BEING THOUGHT OUT IN AN EVENLY DIVIDED SENATE, BUT IT'S THE BELOW-THE-RADAR-SCREEN THINGS, THE DETAILS OF THAT FARM BILL, THAT THE CHAIRMAN GETS TO WRITE THAT WILL GIVE HARKIN ADDITIONAL POWER IN THAT BILL.

Borg: THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR INSIGHTS. WE'LL LOOK FORWARD TO THAT SPECIAL SESSION AND ALL THESE OTHER THINGS WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT.

Glover: "YOU'LL" LOOK FORWARD TO THAT SPECIAL SESSION.

Borg: WELL, WE'LL BE TRACKING, AS I SAY, THOSE ISSUES THAT WE DISCUSSED TODAY, AS OUR FOCUS CONTINUES ON THE IOWA STATEHOUSE NEXT WEEK ON "IOWA PRESS." JOINING US, AS I SAID EARLIER, SENATOR STEWART IVERSON. HE'S THE REPUBLICAN FROM DOWS. HE LEADS THE MAJORITY IN THE IOWA SENATE. AND REPRESENTATIVE DICK MYERS, DEMOCRAT FROM IOWA CITY... HE LEADS THE MINORITY DEMOCRATS IN THE IOWA HOUSE. TOPS ON THE AGENDA, OF COURSE, THE SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE SESSION THAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT DURING THE PAST FEW MINUTES HERE. THAT WILL BE AT NOON AND 7:00 NEXT SUNDAY HERE ON STATEWIDE IOWA PUBLIC TELEVISION. I HOPE YOU'LL WATCH. UNTIL THEN, I'M DEAN BORG. THANKS FOR JOINING US TODAY.

NARRATOR: FUNDING FOR "IOWA PRESS" HAS BEEN 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; BY THE ASSOCIATION OF BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY... THE VOICE OF IOWA BUSINESS, REPRESENTING THE INTERESTS OF OVER 1,500 IOWA BUSINESSES EMPLOYING 300,000 IOWANS; AND BY THE ASSOCIATED GENERAL CONTRACTORS OF IOWA... THE PUBLIC'S PARTNER IN BUILDING IOWA'S HIGHWAY, BRIDGE, AND MUNICIPAL UTILITY INFRASTRUCTURE.