Iowa Public Television

Narrator: 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. STATEWIDE IOWA PUBLIC TELEVISION IS CELEBRATING THE 30TH ANNIVERSARY OF "IOWA PRESS," NOW SERVING THE STATE AS IOWA'S LONGEST RUNNING NEWS INTERVIEW PROGRAM. WITH THIS WEEK'S EDITION OF "IOWA PRESS," HERE IS DEAN BORG.

Borg: HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM ALL OF US HERE AT IOWA PUBLIC TELEVISION. EACH YEAR AT THIS TIME, WE GATHER TO REFLECT ON THE TOP NEWS-EVENTS OF THE OLD YEAR AND PREDICT WHICH OF THOSE EVENTS WILL REVERBERATE INTO THE NEW YEAR. WITHOUT QUESTION, OF COURSE, THE TERRORIST ATTACK ON THE CIVILIAN POPULATION OF THIS COUNTRY ON SEPTEMBER 11 IS THE BIGGEST STORY OF 2001. LONG-TERM EFFECTS ARE CERTAIN THROUGHOUT THE WORLD. AND WE'RE COMING INTO A YEAR HERE IN IOWA, TOO, AN ELECTION YEAR. THERE'S A GUBERNATORIAL CAMPAIGN NOW UNDERWAY. NOVEMBER'S ELECTION ALSO HAS IOWA'S 150 ELECTED SENATORS AND REPRESENTATIVES IN NEW IOWA STATEHOUSE DISTRICTS. ONE OF IOWA'S TWO SEATS IN THE U.S. SENATE ON THE BALLOT, AS ARE IOWA'S FIVE SEATS IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, ALL, INCIDENTALLY, FROM NEWLY CONFIGURED CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS. THOSE AND OTHER NEWS ITEMS ARE ON THE TABLE TODAY FOR THE REPORTERS JOINING US HERE: "DES MOINES REGISTER" POLITICAL COLUMNIST DAVID YEPSEN; "RADIO IOWA" NEWS DIRECTOR KAY HENDERSON; "ASSOCIATED PRESS" POLITICAL REPORTER MIKE GLOVER, AND "LEE NEWSPAPER" STATEHOUSE REPORTER KATHIE OBRADOVICH. AND KATHIE, I MENTIONED SEPTEMBER 11 HAS CHANGED EVERYTHING. HOW HAS IT CHANGED IOWA AND HOW IS IT LIKELY TO REVERBERATE, AS I SAID, INTO THE NEW YEAR?

Obradovich: WELL, IOWA HAS HAD A LOT OF IMPACTS FROM SEPTEMBER 11. ONE, I THINK, IS A LOSS OF COMPLACENCY OR FEELINGS OF SECURITY ABOUT US IN THE HEARTLAND. PEOPLE ARE BEGINNING TO THINK, YES, IT CAN HAPPEN HERE. WE'LL HAVE SOME ONGOING DISCUSSION ABOUT HOW TO KEEP THINGS THAT WE VALUE IN THE STATE SAFE. BUT I THINK THAT THE BIGGEST ONGOING IMPACT THAT AFFECTS EACH ONE OF US PERSONALLY IS THE ECONOMY, AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I THINK WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO SEE EFFECTS OF WELL INTO THE NEW YEAR.

Henderson: ONE OF THE STRANGEST THINGS I WITNESSED AT THE END OF NOVEMBER WAS A MEETING AT THE FARM BUREAU CONVENTION HERE IN DES MOINES, WHERE THE DIRECTOR OF THE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY TALKED WITH FARMERS ABOUT THE THREATS TO THE FARM AND HOW THEY SHOULD KEEP THEIR EYES AND EARS OPEN TO THINGS THAT MIGHT OCCUR, THREATS TO THE FOOD SUPPLY. AND THAT'S BEEN TALKED ABOUT FOR YEARS AND YEARS, BUT FARMERS ARE STARTING TO TALK ABOUT THAT SERIOUSLY. YOU KNOW, THE OLD THREAT USED TO BE KIDS DRIVING THROUGH A FENCE AND THE COWS GETTING OUT. NOW THE THREAT IS BIOTERRORISM.

Glover: AND IT'S CHANGED NOT ONLY THE ECONOMY BUT IT'S CHANGED FOOD SECURITY AND THE WAY WE THINK ABOUT THAT. IT'S CHANGED THE STATE'S POLITICAL SYSTEM, I THINK TO AN EXTENT THAT WE MAY NOT KNOW FOR A LONG TIME.

Borg: HOW SO?

Glover: WELL, PEOPLE, I THINK IN THE WAKE OF SEPTEMBER 11, PEOPLE GOT VERY, VERY TIRED OF HEARING POLITICIANS QUIBBLE WITH EACH OTHER, ARGUE, THE OLD KIND OF PARTISAN SHOTS THAT POLITICIANS LIKE TO TAKE. THEY WANTED THEIR POLITICIANS TO WORK TOGETHER TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM. TO AN EXTENT -- AND YOU CAN GET INTO AN ARGUMENT AMONG POLITICIANS -- THAT'S STILL IN PLACE. POLITICIANS WHO ARE VIEWED, PERCEIVED AS GOING BACK TO THE OLD WAYS OF PARTISAN BICKERING ARE GOING TO BE PUNISHED, I THINK, BY VOTERS. AND PEOPLE WHO ARE SEEN AS TRYING TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF SEPTEMBER 11, DO SOMETHING FOR POLITICAL GAIN, WILL BE PUNISHED. IT'S BROUGHT, TO A DEGREE THAT WE CAN ARGUE ABOUT, A NEW LEVEL OF CIVILITY TO POLITICAL EXCHANGES.

Yepsen: YEAH, I THINK IT'S SHUT DOWN A LOT OF THE DISCUSSION FROM CHALLENGERS. I MEAN IF YOU'RE AN INCUMBENT, YOU'RE IN PRETTY GOOD SHAPE IF, FOR NO OTHER -- THERE'S A RALLY-AROUND-THE-FLAG SYNDROME THAT SETS IN, BUT THERE'S ALSO -- IT'S UNSEEMLY TO BE TALKING ABOUT CHEAP PARTISAN POLITICS AT THIS POINT. AND SO FOR -- EVER SINCE SEPTEMBER 11, THE VOICE FROM THE CHALLENGERS, FROM THOSE GUYS WHO WANT TO KNOCK OFF INCUMBENTS HAS REALLY BEEN MUTED. THE OTHER THING, DEAN, THAT SEPTEMBER 11 WILL DO IN IOWA, IS WE'RE GOING TO START SEEING A LOT MORE SECURITY AT THE STATE CAPITOL. IT'S SAD BUT IT'S NECESSARY. IF IT CAN HAPPEN IN OKLAHOMA CITY, IT CAN HAPPEN IN DES MOINES.

Glover: IT'S GOING TO BE AT THE STATE CAPITOL, AND IT'S GOING TO BE IN EVERY PUBLIC AND, TO A DEGREE, EVERY PRIVATE BUILDING TOO. WE'RE NO LONGER GOING TO HAVE THIS OPEN STATE WHERE YOU JUST WANDER IN AND OUT OF BUILDINGS, STATE CAPITOL, STATE OFFICE BUILDINGS, PRIVATE BUILDINGS. YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO GET USED TO METAL DETECTORS.

Borg: I'M GOING TO GO BACK TO THE CIVILITY IN CAMPAIGNS. THAT LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THERE MUST BE, IN ADVERTISING AGENCIES, A LOT OF SEMINARS RIGHT NOW IN RETRAINING OF PEOPLE WHO WRITE THOSE COMMERCIALS AND NEGATIVE CAMPAIGNS.

Glover: WELL, DAVE HAD A GOOD POINT. THIS IS GOOD NEWS FOR INCUMBENTS, BECAUSE INCUMBENTS -- EFFECTIVELY CAMPAIGNS HAVE BEEN SHUT DOWN. THINK ABOUT THE DYNAMICS OF CAMPAIGNS. CHALLENGERS NEED LONG CAMPAIGNS BECAUSE INCUMBENTS ARE WELL KNOWN. HOW OFTEN HAVE YOU SEEN GOVERNOR TOM VILSACK ON TELEVISION IN THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS? A LOT. HOW OFTEN HAVE YOU SEEN HIS CHALLENGERS ON THE TELEVISION? NOT VERY MUCH AT ALL, IF AT ALL. SO IT'S SHORTENED-UP THE CAMPAIGN. IT DELAYED THE START OF THE 2002 CAMPAIGN. NOW, I SAID WE CAN ARGUE ABOUT THAT BECAUSE I'M WONDERING HOW LONG THAT'S GOING TO LAST. WE HAD A MAYOR'S ELECTION IN CEDAR RAPIDS THAT GOT PRETTY HOT. THEY SLAPPED EACH OTHER AROUND PRETTY GOOD. SO AT SOME POINT NEXT YEAR, THIS CAMPAIGN IS GOING TO START.

Borg: BUT THE MAYOR'S ELECTION IN CEDAR RAPIDS WAS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT, THAT IS, LOCAL ISSUES THERE. AND I DON'T KNOW IF SEPTEMBER 11 REALLY AFFECTED THAT WHATSOEVER, BUT WHEN YOU START DEALING, AS YOU SAY, WITH NATIONAL AND STATE ISSUES, I THINK THE CIVILITY IS GOING TO PLAY INTO IT.

Glover: THAT'S WHAT I MEAN; WE CAN DEBATE THAT BECAUSE NO ONE KNOWS QUITE HOW THAT'S GOING TO PLAY OUT. I THINK THE ELECTION WILL START. I THINK WE'LL START TO HAVE SOME BACK AND FORTH AND SOME SHOUTING. OTHERS SAY THAT THEY THINK THE CIVILITY THING IS GOING TO CARRY RIGHT THROUGH THE ELECTION, BUT WE DON'T KNOW. WE'LL HAVE TO WAIT AND SEE.

Obradovich: I THINK THE CIVILITY THING IS ALREADY GONE. WE'VE SEEN A LOT OF QUIBBLING ALREADY ABOUT THE FARM BILL. A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE COMING OUT AND BASHING THE OTHER SIDE ABOUT THEIR ANTICS ON THE FARM BILL. IN CONGRESS, THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF PARTISANSHIP OVER THE ECONOMIC STIMULUS PACKAGE. YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT AT THE STATEHOUSE, THINGS HAVE BEEN QUIET ON THE PARTISAN LEVEL. AND IN THE SPECIAL SESSION, IN PARTICULAR, WE SAW THEM GET A LOT DONE WITHOUT A LOT OF BICKERING. MAYBE SOME OF THAT CAN CONTINUE.

Henderson: YOU KNOW, WE'RE TRACING THIS RISE IN CIVILITY TO THE SEPTEMBER 11 ATTACKS, WHEN I WOULD TRACE IT TO THE DEFEAT REPUBLICANS SUFFERED AND FOLKS LIKE RON CORBETT, WHO WAS SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE AT THAT TIME, REALIZING THAT THE PUBLIC WAS BEGINNING TO NOT LIKE TO SEE THEIR POLITICIANS QUIBBLE WITH ONE ANOTHER. SO WHILE LOTS OF PEOPLE ATTRIBUTE THIS TO SEPTEMBER 11, I THINK THAT JUST BUTTRESSED THE FEELING THAT, YOU KNOW, FOLKS ARE TIRED OF US MESSING AROUND WITH ONE ANOTHER ALL THE TIME.

Yepsen: I THINK IT CHANGES THE ISSUES THAT WE TALK ABOUT. I MEAN BEFORE SEPTEMBER 11 WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE ECONOMY AND SOCIAL SECURITY. AFTER SEPTEMBER 11 FOR A WHILE WE DIDN'T TALK ABOUT THAT. WE TALKED ABOUT DEFENSE, TERRORISM. NOW THE ECONOMY IS STARTING TO COME BACK, ALTHOUGH TERRORISM IS STILL THE SECOND MOST MENTIONED ISSUE IN POLLS THAT VOTERS CARE ABOUT. I THINK PART OF THE REASON FOR SOME OF THE CIVILITY THAT WE'RE SEEING AT THE STATEHOUSE IS BECAUSE OF POLITICS. YOU KNOW, IT'S -- REPUBLICANS HAVE ALMOST PRIVATELY CONCLUDED THAT THEY CAN'T BEAT TOM VILSACK, SO WHY SPEND THEIR TIME BEATING HIM UP? THEY'VE GOT TO WORRY ABOUT THEIR OWN ELECTION CAMPAIGNS AND GETTING THEMSELVES REELECTED. AND SO IT DOESN'T LOOK GOOD TO BE BEATING-UP VILSACK FOR HIS PART. IT DOESN'T LOOK GOOD TO BE BEATING-UP A LEGISLATURE THAT HE WANTS TO GET THINGS OUT OF. SO FOR A WHILE HERE, WE'RE KIND OF IN THIS PRESESSION HUNKY-DORY, LOVEY-DOVEY PART OF THE TIME. BUT I TELL YOU, I THINK IT WILL GET NASTY BEFORE LONG.

Glover: AT THIS POINT IN TIME, IT'S CALLED LET'S SCRATCH EACH OTHER'S BACKS. IF YOU CAN'T BEAT VILSACK, LET'S MAKE HIM LOOK GOOD. IF YOU'RE TOM VILSACK AND YOU DON'T THINK DEMOCRATS ARE GOING TO GET THE LEGISLATURE, LET'S MAKE THEM LOOK GOOD.

Borg: PERHAPS WHAT YOU'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT HERE ANSWERS SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN PERPLEXING ME. COMING INTO THIS SESSION -- THIS COMING LEGISLATIVE SESSION, YOU'D THINK THAT IN AN ELECTION YEAR YOU'D BE TINKERING WITH NONCONTROVERSIAL THINGS. AND YET I SEE A HINT OF MAYBE BRINGING-UP THE ABORTION BILL FOR A LITTLE TINKERING THERE. THERE ARE THE HOG LOTS, ANOTHER CONTROVERSIAL THING THAT HAS BEEN OFF THE RADAR SCREEN FOR -- NOT EVEN BROUGHT UP. THEY'RE GOING TO BRING IT UP. YOU CAN THINK OF OTHERS. MIKE, HOW DO WE RECONCILE THAT?

Glover: WELL, IT'S AN ELECTION YEAR AND EACH PARTY HAS TO FIRST -- WHEN YOU START HEADING INTO AN ELECTION YEAR, YOU FIRST WORRY ABOUT YOUR BASE: GETTING YOUR BASE EXCITED, GETTING YOUR BASE INVOLVED, GETTING YOUR BASE WORKING. IF I'M A REPUBLICAN, I WANT TOM VILSACK ON RECORD VOTING AGAINST -- VETOING AN ABORTION BILL, VETOING A DEATH PENALTY BILL, BECAUSE THAT GETS MY CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICAN BASE EXCITED. SO, YES, IN AN ELECTION YEAR, AT TIMES YOU FORCE PEOPLE TO GO ON RECORD ON A NUMBER OF ISSUES. NOW, THE REASON I DON'T THINK A LOT OF THOSE THINGS ARE GOING TO HAPPEN THIS YEAR IS BECAUSE TOM VILSACK IS ALREADY ON RECORD ON ALMOST ALL OF THOSE THINGS. THOSE VOTES HAVE ALREADY BEEN TAKEN, SO I THINK THERE'S A LITTLE TALK ABOUT THAT. I THINK THERE'S A DEBATE WITHIN BOTH PARTIES ABOUT GOING THERE, BUT I THINK IN THE END THEY WON'T.

Borg: COURT REORGANIZATION WAS BROUGHT UP AS SOMETHING TO BE ACTED ON IN THIS SESSION. THERE WAS SUCH AN OUTCRY OUT IN RURAL IOWA THAT THEY BACKED OFF FROM THAT, MAYBE NOT PUT IT AWAY FOR GOOD. WHERE DOES THAT STAND, KATHIE?

Obradovich: THIS CONTINUES TO BE A REALLY HUGE ISSUE, PARTICULARLY IN RURAL IOWA. PEOPLE ARE -- FIRST OF ALL, THEY WERE VERY UPSET BY THE PLAN THAT THE JUDICIAL COUNCIL, WHICH IS BASICALLY THE CHIEF JUSTICE AND HIS CHIEF JUDGES AROUND THE STATE, THEY CAME-UP WITH A PLAN THAT WOULD HAVE PUT JUST A FEW COURT -- CLERKS OF COURT OFFICES IN 28 OF THE LARGEST COUNTIES AND LEFT A LOT OF RURAL COUNTIES WITHOUT A CLERK-OF-COURT'S OFFICE. PEOPLE THOUGHT THAT WAS REALLY EXTREME. THERE WERE FEARS THAT THIS WOULD BE THE FIRST SHOT THAT WILL LEAD TO CONSOLIDATION OF COUNTIES, CLOSING OF COURTHOUSES. PEOPLE IN SMALL TOWNS WERE REALLY UPSET ABOUT IT. THE CHIEF JUDGE, AS YOU SAID, SAID THAT PUBLIC OPINION WAS CLEARLY NOT IN FAVOR OF THAT PLAN. HE WITHDRAW IT BUT NOW HE'S LEFT WITH HAVING TO GO TO THE LEGISLATURE AND SAY, "OKAY, YOU KNOW, THIS IS THE SYSTEM WE SAID THAT WE COULD HAVE WITH THE AMOUNT OF MONEY YOU GAVE US. NOW, ARE YOU GOING TO GIVE US MORE MONEY, OR WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO?"

Borg: WHAT SURPRISED ME ABOUT THAT IS THAT HE BACKED AWAY FROM IT, OR WHOEVER WAS ADVANCING IT IN ADDITION TO THE CHIEF JUSTICE, BACKED AWAY FROM IT SO QUICKLY. HE HAD TO HAVE KNOWN IT WAS GOING TO BE CONTROVERSIAL AND PREPARED FOR THE HEAT.

Yepsen: HE BACKED AWAY TOO QUICKLY. I THINK IT IS A HUGE ISSUE WITH A SMALL GROUP OF PEOPLE OUT THERE. THE COUNTY-SEAT LAWYERS WHO LIKE WALKING ACROSS THE STREET TO FILE THEIR PAPERS; SHERIFFS; COURTHOUSE POLITICIANS WHO, AS KATHIE SAY, ARE WORRIED ABOUT THEIR JOBS. BUT I THINK TO THE AVERAGE IOWA PROPERTY TAXPAYER OUT THERE WHO MAYBE MAKES ONE TRIP EVERY FEW YEARS TO A CLERK'S OFFICE, I DON'T THINK THEY OBJECTED THAT MUCH. WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN NOW IS INSTEAD OF GOING TO 28 REGIONAL CLERKS-OF-COURT, WE'LL HAVE 99 CLERKS OF COURT, BUT A LOT OF THEM ARE GOING TO BE OPEN ONLY ABOUT TWO HOURS A WEEK.

Glover: AND THE POINT BEING, DEAN, THIS ALL STARTED WHEN THE GOVERNOR ORDERED A 4.3-PERCENT ACROSS-THE-BOARD SPENDING CUT THAT DIDN'T APPLY TO THE COURTS, BECAUSE THAT'S A SEPARATE BRANCH OF GOVERNMENT. BUT THE COURT STEPPED FORWARD AND SAID, "WE'LL TAKE THE SAME 4.3-PERCENT CUT." WELL, IF HE DOESN'T CUT IT HERE, WHERE DOES HE CUT IT? WHEN YOU CUT BUDGETS, THAT MEANS YOU CUT THINGS THAT THE GOVERNMENT DOES, SO HE'S GOING TO HAVE TO CUT BACK ON SOMETHING. IF NOT THIS, THEN WHAT?

Obradovich: THIS WOULD SEEM, THOUGH, AS A BIG SHOT ACROSS THE BOW OF, I THINK, RURAL IOWANS WHO ARE ALREADY SMARTING FROM A LOSS OF REPRESENTATION IN REDISTRICTING. THIS IS THE FIRST OF A NUMBER OF ISSUES THAT WE'RE GOING TO SEE, INCLUDING CITIES NOW COMING TO THE STATE AND SAYING, "YEAH, WE WANT A LARGER SHARE OF THE ROAD TAX MONEY." AND I THINK WE'RE GOING TO SEE A LOT OF THESE RURAL/URBAN STRIFE ISSUES.

Yepsen: THE CITIES HAVE COME UP WITH THE RADICAL NOTION THAT WE SHOULD SPEND OUR ROAD DOLLARS WHERE THEY'RE GENERATED AND WHERE PEOPLE DRIVE. AND THIS IS GREAT NEWS TO FOLKS IN THE COUNTIES WHO THINK THAT SOMEHOW WE OUGHT TO BE BUILDING ROADS TO NOWHERE. KATHIE IS RIGHT. IT'S A SHOT ACROSS THE BOW, AND IT'S GOING TO BE PART OF OUR POLITICS FOR MANY YEARS TO COME AS WE SHIFT FROM BEING A RURAL STATE TO A MUCH MORE URBAN AND SUBURBAN STATE.

Glover: I THINK IN A LOT OF WAYS, DAVE SAID SOME GOOD POINTS. IN A LOT OF WAYS THE POLITICS IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF DECADES ARE GOING TO BE DOMINATED MORE BY DEMOGRAPHIC ISSUES THAN BY PARTISAN ISSUES. IT'S GOING TO MATTER MORE WHETHER YOU'RE A RURAL PERSON OR AN URBAN PERSON THAN WHETHER YOU'RE A DEMOCRAT OR A REPUBLICAN.

Borg: KAY, THIS LAST SESSION, A RADICAL, "REVOLUTIONARY" MAYBE IS A BETTER WORD, FOR INCREASING TEACHER PAY, A PIECE OF LEGISLATION PASSED THROUGH. BUT NOW IS IT IN JEOPARDY BECAUSE OF LOW FINANCES?

Henderson: YOU BETCHA. THEY'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE ANY MONEY TO PLUG INTO THAT SYSTEM WHEREBY TEACHERS' PERFORMANCE IS LINKED TO THEIR -- TEACHERS' PAY, RATHER, IS LINKED TO THEIR PERFORMANCE IN THE CLASSROOM. IT WILL BE DELAYED AND TEACHERS -- THE TEACHERS' UNION IS STARTING TO TALK ABOUT COMING FORWARD AND WORKING WITH LEGISLATORS AND MAYBE EVEN MODIFYING THE PLAN THAT WAS WRITTEN LAST YEAR. SO THAT'S A PLAN IN FLUX.

Borg: KATHIE, AS LONG AS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT EDUCATION, HIGHER EDUCATION, UNIVERSITY -- STATE UNIVERSITY STUDENTS ARE PAYING SIGNIFICANTLY, IN THE NEW YEAR, HIGHER TUITIONS. IS THAT GOING TO HAVE ANY EFFECTS IN THE LEGISLATURE, OR ARE THEY SAYING, "WELL, YOU'RE PAYING FOR WHAT YOU'RE GETTING"?

Obradovich: I THINK THAT IS NOT GOING CHANGE. FIRST OF ALL, THEY DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO CHANGE ANYTHING. AND SECOND OF ALL, YOU'VE GOT BASICALLY LEGISLATIVE LEADERS AND THE GOVERNOR IN AGREEMENT THAT IOWA IS ALREADY A REALLY GOOD DEAL FOR COLLEGE STUDENTS. THE STATE IS ALREADY PUTTING A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF MONEY INTO HIGHER EDUCATION. AND I DON'T SEE ANY CHANGE THERE. COMMUNITY COLLEGES, HOWEVER, ARE ANOTHER ISSUE. OUR TUITIONS IN IOWA FOR COMMUNITY COLLEGES ARE HIGHER COMPARED TO NATIONAL AVERAGES, AND I THINK THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE MORE SENTIMENT TO PROTECT THOSE.

Glover: DEAN, CAN I GIVE YOU A LITTLE PERSPECTIVE HERE? AS IT STANDS RIGHT NOW, IF YOU LOOK AT THIS BUDGET, THE STATE BUDGET IS GOING TO GROW NEXT YEAR IN THE CURRENT PROJECTION BY ABOUT $70 MILLION. THE ECONOMY WILL EXPAND A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE THE LEGISLATURE AS IT COMES IN IN JANUARY WILL HAVE ABOUT $70 MILLION IN NEW MONEY TO SPEND WITHOUT RAISING TAXES. AND EVERYBODY FROM THE GOVERNOR TO THE LEGISLATIVE LEADERS SAY THERE'S GOING TO BE NO TAX INCREASE. CURRENT LAW CALLS FOR STATE SPENDING NEXT YEAR TO INCREASE $500 MILLION. RECONCILE THE MATH. THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE $70 MILLION IN MONEY AND $500 MILLION ALREADY CALLED FOR IN NEW SPENDING. BEFORE YOU START TALKING ABOUT INCREASING TEACHER PAY, BEFORE YOU START TALKING ABOUT RAISING STATE WORKER SALARIES, BEFORE WE START ANY NEW PROGRAMS, THEY'RE IN TROUBLE.

Yepsen: BACK TO YOUR QUESTION ON TUITIONS, DEAN. AS THE FATHER OF A SIXTEEN YEAR OLD, I'VE BEEN DOING A LOT OF FORMULAS AND CALCULATING AND PROJECTING WHAT THIS IS GOING TO COST ME. AND I THINK IT'S CLEAR THAT IN IOWA, IF YOU'RE A PARENT OF A STUDENT WHO WANTS TO ATTEND A STATE UNIVERSITY, YOU BETTER PLAN ON SOME, DARE I SAY, DOUBLE-DIGIT TUITION INCREASES FOR THE NEXT FEW YEARS.

Borg: REPUBLICANS ABOUT A MONTH AGO SAID: "WE'RE HEARING THE PEOPLE SAYING THEY WANT US TO RECONSIDER, AT LEAST TAKE UP AND LOOK AGAIN, AT HOW WE HANDLE LARGE HOG LOTS AND OTHER LIVESTOCK OPERATIONS IN THIS STATE." KAY, WHAT IS THE POLITICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF THAT?

Henderson: THE POLITICAL SIGNIFICANCE IS FOR YEARS, SINCE THE LAW WAS PASSED IN 1995, THAT SET UP STANDARDS FOR THE LOCATION OF THESE CONFINEMENT OPERATIONS, REPUBLICANS HAVE SAID, "LET THE LAW WORK, IT DOESN'T NEED ANY TINKERING." NOW THEY SAY IT NEEDS TINKERING. THE PROBLEM IS THE FOLKS WHO HATE THE LAW THE MOST ARE THE ONES THAT WANT TO GIVE COUNTY BOARDS OF SUPERVISORS AND EVEN CITY COUNCILS THE AUTHORITY TO SAY, "NOT IN MY BACK YARD, NOT THERE, NOT THERE." SO THE REAL PROBLEM IS THAT THE SEISMIC CHANGE THAT THE PEOPLE WHO ARE HANKERING FOR IT WANT IS NOT GOING TO OCCUR, AND WHAT REPUBLICANS ARE PUTTING FORWARD IS REALLY NOT GOING TO ANSWER THE CRITICS THAT THEY'RE TRYING TO ANSWER.

Yepsen: DAVID, WHAT I THOUGHT WAS REALLY STUPID WAS THE REPUBLICANS AGREED TO BRING THIS ISSUE UP WITH NO CLEAR IDEA OF WHERE THEY WANTED TO GO WITH IT. THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY WANT TO DO. THEY SAID, "WE WANT TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THE HOG LOT ISSUE." WELL, OKAY. IN DOING THAT, THEY'VE RAISED A LOT OF EXPECTATIONS THAT THEY'RE NOT GOING TO MEET. THEY'RE GOING TO TWEAK THIS LAW A LITTLE BIT, IF THEY DO ANYTHING. AND THAT'S GOING TO LEAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE MORE IRRITATED AND FRUSTRATED. THE SECOND POINT ON HOGS, DEAN. THIS DEBATE REFLECTS THE CHANGING NATURE OF IOWA. THE CHANGING NATURE OF RURAL IOWA. FIVE, TEN YEARS AGO, MOST PEOPLE WHO LIVED IN RURAL IOWA WERE INVOLVED IN AGRICULTURE PRODUCTION. ABOUT THREE YEARS AGO, THE POPULATION LINES IN IOWA CHANGED. MOST PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN RURAL IOWA AREN'T LIVING -- AREN'T FARMERS. AND SO YOU HAVE NEW PEOPLE MOVING INTO RURAL IOWA. THEY DON'T PUT UP WITH THESE SMELLS THE WAY A LONG-TIME RESIDENT PUT UP WITH IT. AND LEGISLATORS ARE NOW STARTING TO HEAR FROM THESE PEOPLE WHO ARE SAYING, "HEY, I DON'T LIKE LIVING OUT HERE IN BUCOLIC RURAL IOWA AND HAVING THAT STINK IN THE AIR.

Glover: I THINK IT CHANGED IN THE INDUSTRY BECAUSE REPUBLICANS, WHEN THEY CAME OUT OF THAT CAUCUS AND SAID THEY WERE GOING TO DEAL WITH THE HOG LOT ISSUE, WERE VERY FRANK. AND THEY SAID, TEN YEARS AGO, WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT TRYING PROTECT FAMILY FARMERS, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PROTECTING YOUR NEIGHBOR, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PROTECTING YOUR FRIEND DOWN THE ROAD, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT PROTECTING A NEIGHBOR, A FRIEND. NOW WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PROTECTING SMITHFIELD FOODS. NOW YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT PROTECTING MURPHY FAMILY FARMS. YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT CORPORATE TAKEOVERS OF THE PRODUCTION OF THESE TYPES OF THINGS. IT'S VERY DIFFICULT FOR A LEGISLATOR TO DO THAT.

Borg: IS THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION, KAY, LIKELY TO DO ANYTHING WITH AN ECONOMIC STIMULUS PACKAGE?

Henderson: WELL, LEGISLATIVE LEADERS ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE SAY THEY WILL DEDICATE THE FIRST FEW WEEKS OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION DOING JUST THAT, COMING UP WITH A STATE ECONOMIC STIMULUS PACKAGE. THEY'VE OUTLINED SOME IDEAS FOR ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO INVEST CAPITAL IN VENTURESOME-TYPES OF BUSINESSES. I'M NOT SURE ANYTHING WILL COME OF THAT. GOVERNOR VILSACK HAS SOME IDEAS. EVEN IF THEY DO PASS SOMETHING, IT'S NOT GOING TO BE TERRIBLY SIGNIFICANT AND BE THE KIND OF STIMULUS TO THE ECONOMY. EVEN IF THEY DO PASS SOMETHING -- IF THEY PASS IT IN FEBRUARY, IT'S NOT GOING TO HAVE ANY EFFECT IN MARCH. THESE ARE LONG-TERM KINDS OF THINGS THAT THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT.

Borg: KATHIE.

Obradovich: ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THE GOVERNOR HAS SAID WAS THAT THE VENTURE CAPITAL THING IS A LONG-TERM PROSPECT. BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S CAUSING A LOT OF ECONOMIC STIMULUS IN IOWA RIGHT NOW IS THE VISION IOWA PROGRAM, WHICH IS A STATE BONDING PROGRAM. THEY'RE PUTTING $190 MILLION OUT INTO COMMUNITIES FOR THEM TO BUILD ARENAS AND CULTURAL CENTERS AND, YOU KNOW, BIG BEAUTIFUL PROJECTS ON THE RIVERS. AND THE LEGISLATORS PRETTY MUCH ARE IN AGREEMENT THAT THEY DON'T HAVE ANY MONEY TO EXPAND THAT PROGRAM AND CONTINUE THE STIMULUS.

Glover: THE BIGGEST PROBLEM THEY'VE GOT IS THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE SECRETLY THINK THE ECONOMY IS GOING TO START TURNING AROUND NEXT YEAR REGARDLESS OF WHAT THEY DO. THERE'S A LOT OF SIGNS THAT THE FIRST HALF OF NEXT YEAR, THINGS ARE TO GOING START GETTING BETTER.

Yepsen: I THINK IOWANS HAVE TO KEEP THE LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR IN PERSPECTIVE ON THIS. OUR ECONOMY IN THIS STATE IS ABOUT $80 BILLION GROSS STATE PRODUCT. THE STATE BUDGET IS ABOUT $5 BILLION. SO, I MEAN, THE ABILITY OF STATEHOUSE POLITICIANS TO DRIVE ANYTHING IN THE ECONOMY IS PRETTY LIMITED. I DO DISAGREE WITH KAY ON ONE THING. I THINK THAT THAT VENTURE CAPITAL BILL IS A BIG DEAL. I THINK IT WILL BE THE MOST IMPORTANT THING THE LEGISLATURE DOES THIS SESSION BECAUSE WE HAVE A LOT OF IDEAS FOR BUSINESSES IN THIS STATES COMING OUT OF STATE UNIVERSITIES, A LOT OF PATENTS, BUT WE'RE NOT TAKING THE NEXT STEP TO WHERE WE DEVELOP A BUSINESS. THAT'S LONG-TERM. IN TERMS OF IMMEDIATE EFFECT, I DON'T THINK THE LEGISLATURE CAN DO MUCH.

Borg: WHAT EFFECT WILL THE GAMBLING REFERENDA COMING UP THIS YEAR HAVE ON WHAT THE LEGISLATURE DOES? THAT'S A STREAM OF MONEY THEY'VE DEPENDED ON.

Yepsen: THERE IS TALK, DEAN, OF SEPARATING THE VOTES IN THE TOWNS THAT HAVE TRACKS SO THAT THE VOTERS ARE VOTING: DO WE WANT TO KEEP HORSES OR NOT; AND THEN, DO YOU WANT TO KEEP THE CASINO TRACK -- OR THE CASINO GAMBLING OR NOT? THAT'S GOING TO BE AN ISSUE THAT'S BEING DEBATED IN THE LEGISLATURE. IN SEVERAL OTHER -- I THINK IT'S ABOUT NINE COUNTIES IN THIS STATE, THERE WILL BE THESE REFERENDA VOTES WHETHER WE KEEP GAMBLING OR NOT. MY READING IS THAT EVERY PLACE EXCEPT POLK COUNTY, THOSE WILL PASS. THE ISSUE IS STILL UP IN THE AIR HERE IN POLK COUNTY. YOU'VE GOT A LOT OF SOCIAL CONSERVATIVES AND LIBERALS IN POLK COUNTY WHO DO NOT LIKE THE PRAIRIE MEADOWS RACETRACK. IF THEY CAN GET THEIR ACT TOGETHER, I THINK THEY CAN BEAT IT.

Glover: THAT'S -- THEY'VE BEEN VERY CLEVER, THE GAMBLING PROPONENTS HAVE, IN TAKING GAMBLING PROFITS AND TYING THEM TO THE VISION IOWA, WHICH EVERYBODY SUPPORTS, EVERY MAJOR CITY IN THE STATE IS GETTING SOMETHING FROM THAT. AND IF THOSE REFERENDUMS FAIL, THAT PROGRAM IS IN THE TANK.

Borg: BEFORE WE LEAVE THE SESSION AND GET INTO ELECTION CAMPAIGNS, MIKE, WE'RE COMING INTO A BIG CHANGE IN THE LEGISLATURE AS FAR AS THE WAY IT'S APPORTIONED. WHO ARE GOING TO BE THE WINNERS AND LOSERS IN THIS TWILIGHT TIME?

Glover: WELL, IT'S GOING TO BE A VERY INTERESTING THING. WE DON'T KNOW RIGHT NOW. ROUGHLY, AND BY MOST ESTIMATES, 40 PERCENT OF THE LEGISLATURE WILL CHANGE AFTER THIS COMING SESSION. 40 PERCENT OF THE LEGISLATURE WILL BE REPLACED BY SOMEBODY ELSE. NOW, WE DON'T KNOW HOW THOSE PEOPLE WHO ARE COMING IN -- EVERY DAY WE GO UP THERE AND WE HEAR SOMEBODY ELSE IS RETIRING, SOMEBODY ELSE IS LEAVING, SOMEBODY ELSE IS NOT RUNNING, SOMEBODY IS RUNNING FOR SOMETHING ELSE. WE DON'T KNOW HOW THOSE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO REACT. ARE THEY GOING TO COME IN AND SAY, "OKAY, I'M NOT COMING BACK. I'M GOING TO DO THE RIGHT THING. I'M GOING TO VOTE MY CONSCIENCE AND NOT WORRY ABOUT POLITICS." OR ARE THEY GOING TO COME IN AND SAY, "THAT GUY MESSED WITH ME FIVE YEARS AGO, I'M GOING TO GET HIM, AND IT'S GOING TO BE THE LAST THING I DO BEFORE I LEAVE HERE." WE DON'T KNOW HOW THAT'S GOING TO PLAY OUT. THERE WILL PROBABLY BE A LITTLE BIT OF ALL OF THAT. SO I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE KIND OF A STORMY MIX BECAUSE OF THAT.

Borg: LET'S GET INTO THE CAMPAIGN, KAY. GUBERNATORIAL, WE'VE ALREADY SAID HERE A MOMENT AGO THAT TOM VILSACK SEEMS TO BE PRETTY SAFE. HOW IS THAT GOING TO PLAY INTO THE SESSION AND EVERYTHING ELSE THAT WE SEE THIS YEAR?

Henderson: HE'S DOING AN EXCELLENT JOB RAISING MONEY FOR HIS OWN CAMPAIGN. REPUBLICANS ON THE OTHER SIDE HAVE TWO CONTENDERS AT THIS MOMENT. AND YOU GET THE SENSE, WHEN YOU TALK TO REPUBLICANS, THAT THEY REALLY WISH THERE WAS SOMEONE ELSE OUT THERE, THAT THEY'RE STILL LOOKING FOR ANOTHER HORSE TO PUT IN THE RACE. STEVE SUKUP IS A STATE LEGISLATOR RUNNING AGAINST BOB VANDERPLAATS, WHO IS THE HEAD OF A NONPROFIT AGENCY IN SIOUX CITY. THEY ARE MEETING WITH THE RANK-AND-FILE REPUBLICANS AT THIS MOMENT. IT IS A PRIMARY RACE BETWEEN THE TWO OF THEM, SO NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE PAYING ATTENTION. AND I THINK THEIR GREATEST PROBLEM IS THAT ON DOWN THE ROAD, NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE PAYING ATTENTION TO THEM BECAUSE, UNLIKE PREVIOUS DEMOCRATS, TOM VILSACK IS GOING TO HAVE A LOT OF MONEY TO WAGE A GENERAL ELECTION CAMPAIGN.

Glover: AND I'LL THROW THE CAVEAT IN: A YEAR OUT WE DIDN'T KNOW WHO TOM VILSACK WAS, AND HE WAS THINKING ABOUT EITHER RUNNING FOR CONGRESS OR GETTING OUT OF THE LEGISLATURE ENTIRELY. WHOEVER THE REPUBLICANS NOMINATE WILL HAVE -- AND I AGREE WITH KAY; I THINK TOM VILSACK IS THE FAVORITE RIGHT NOW. BUT WHOEVER THE REPUBLICANS NOMINATE WILL HAVE ALL THE MONEY HE NEEDS TO RUN FOR GOVERNOR. THAT WILL MAKE HIM A SERIOUS CANDIDATE.

Yepsen: HISTORY TEACHES THAT A REPUBLICAN NOMINATION FOR GOVERNOR OF IOWA IS ALWAYS A PRIZE WORTH HAVING. THEY GENERALLY WIN THE GOVERNORSHIP. VILSACK HAS GOT TO CLEAN THIS BUDGET UP. VOTERS ARE A LITTLE WARY ABOUT THE ABILITY OF DEMOCRATS TO MANAGE THE PUBLIC PURSE. IF HE CAN GET THIS BUDGET DEFICIT MESS BEHIND HIM, HE'LL BE IN GOOD SHAPE.

Obradovich: AND OF COURSE, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HIM AS IF HE IS A DECLARED CANDIDATE. HE HASN'T ACTUALLY DECLARED THAT HE'S RUNNING AGAIN.

Yepsen: HE'S GOT THAT $2 MILLION.

Obradovich: YOU KNOW, WHY WOULD PEOPLE BE GIVING HIM ALL THAT MONEY IF HE WASN'T GOING TO RUN?

Glover: ANYBODY WHO RAISES A MILLION DOLLARS IN ONE WEEKEND IS A DECLARED CANDIDATE IN MY EYES.

Borg: SO YOU'RE NOT ABOUT TO MAKE A PREDICTION THAT HE WON'T RUN?

Obradovich: NO, NO.

Borg: KATHIE, U.S. SENATE. HARKIN/GANSKE.

Obradovich: YEAH, I THINK THAT RACE HAS, AGAIN, BEEN PRETTY LOW PROFILE. WE'VE SEEN A LITTLE BIT OF BICKERING, YOU KNOW, BETWEEN GANSKE AND HARKIN, PARTICULARLY OVER THE FARM BILL, ECONOMIC STIMULUS. BUT UNTIL THEY GET OUT OF CONGRESS AND GET OUT HERE AND CAMPAIGN, NOBODY IS GOING TO HAVE MUCH TRACTION.

Borg: THAT'S THE POINT. KAY, GO AHEAD.

Henderson: WELL, THIS IS SUCH AN ODD ONE BECAUSE GREG GANSKE IS THE REPUBLICAN HORSE IN THIS RACE. THERE IS A PRIMARY THAT HE MUST FACE. THERE'S VERY LITTLE ACTIVITY, WHICH HAS JUST BEEN PUZZLING TO ME. I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND IT.

Glover: IT GETS BACK TO THE CAMPAIGN HASN'T STARTED YET. AND IF I'M A CHALLENGER, IT'S IN MY INTEREST TO GET THIS DARN CAMPAIGN GOING.

Henderson: AND I THINK HE'S MAKING A CRUCIAL MISTAKE.

Glover: WELL, HE MAY BE MAKING A CRUCIAL MISTAKE OR CIRCUMSTANCES MAY HAVE TAKEN OVER.

Yepsen: YEAH, OF SEPTEMBER 11. GANSKE IS TRYING TO RUN IN THE CENTER. REPUBLICANS HAVE NEVER HAD A SENATE CANDIDATE AGAINST HARKIN, SO IT'S SOMETHING NEW. THE DANGER IN THAT IS THAT HE DOESN'T CLEAVE A LOT OF DIFFERENCES WITH HARKIN. HARKIN'S REELECTION MARGINS HAVE BEEN GOING DOWN; REPUBLICANS THINK THEY HAVE A SHOT. BUT YOU LOOK AT HARKIN'S POLLS. HE LOOKS TO BE IN PRETTY GOOD SHAPE, THE SAME AS TOM VILSACK. SO DEMOCRATS ARE IN A UNIQUE POSITION THIS YEAR OF HAVING TWO FRONT RUNNERS AT THE TOP OF THE TICKET. THEY'RE NEVER IN THAT SHAPE VERY OFTEN.

Glover: PART OF THE PROBLEM YOU RUN INTO WITH GANSKE RUNNING FOR THE SENATE, THAT MAKES A LOT OF SENSE IF YOU'RE SITTING IN A DRAWING ROOM KIND OF DRAWING UP HOW DO I DO THIS TACTICALLY. ONE OF THE THINGS YOU LOSE WHEN YOU DON'T RUN AS CONSERVATIVES IS YOU DON'T GET YOUR BASE FIRED UP. REPUBLICAN ACTIVISTS AREN'T EXCITED ABOUT GREG GANSKE.

Borg: AND HOW DOES THAT PLAY, MIKE, AS WE, IN OUR FINAL MINUTE HERE IN DISCUSSION, ENTER INTO THE CONGRESSIONAL CAMPAIGNS? ANYONE TROUBLE?

Glover: THERE ARE SEVERAL INTERESTING CONGRESSIONAL RACES. I THINK TOM LATHAM IN NORTH CENTRAL, IOWA, COULD BE IN TROUBLE. JOHN NORRIS, THE FORMER IOWA DEMOCRATIC PARTY CHAIRMAN, IS RUNNING AGAINST HIM, AND I THINK THAT WILL BE TIGHTER THAN A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK. I THINK LEONARD BOSWELL IN CENTRAL IOWA COULD HAVE A RACE ON HIS HANDS. HE DOESN'T FIT THIS DISTRICT VERY WELL. HE'S A RURAL CONGRESSMAN RUNNING IN A LARGELY URBAN DISTRICT. AND WE'VE GOT AN INTERESTING RACE OUT WEST IN THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY. BRENT SIEGRIST, A MODERATE, RUNNING AGAINST A FIELD OF CONSERVATIVES. WE'LL SEE HOW THAT STACKS UP.

Borg: JUST SUM IT UP ON THE STATEHOUSE.

Yepsen: RIGHT NOW THE DEMOCRATS HAVE A REAL SHOT OF TAKING THE IOWA HOUSE AWAY FROM THE REPUBLICANS. THEIR PROSPECTS FOR TAKING THE SENATE AWAY FROM THE REPUBLICANS IS NOT AS GOOD.

Borg: THANK YOU FOR YOUR INSIGHTS, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO 2002 AND TO HAVE YOU ALL BACK AND DEFEND WHAT YOU SAID HERE TODAY. AND ON THAT NOTE, WE EXTEND TO EACH OF YOU, TOO, OUR GOOD WISHES FOR THE NEW YEAR. ON BEHALF OF ALL OF US HERE AT IOWA PUBLIC TELEVISION AND "IOWA PRESS," WE WISH YOU THE VERY BEST, OUR "IOWA PRESS" VIEWERS, FOR A PROSPEROUS AND VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR. WE'VE NOTED PREVIOUSLY THAT IOWA PUBLIC TELEVISION IS CELEBRATING THE 30TH ANNIVERSARY OF "IOWA PRESS" NOW, AND WE CLOSE WITH A GLIMPSE FROM OUR "IOWA PRESS" PAST. IN THE PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN OF 1984, OHIO SENATOR JOHN GLENN STOOD OUT IN THE CROWDED FIELD OF PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES AS THE COUNTRY'S ONLY FORMER ASTRONAUT-TURNED-POLITICIAN. SENATOR GLENN, ON THIS PROGRAM, DEFENDED HIS WAR RECORD AND HIS OUTSPOKEN OPPOSITION TO EXCESSIVE, AS HE PUT IT, PENTAGON SPENDING, DESPITE WHAT HIS OPPONENTS CLAIMED WAS A PRO-PENTAGON VOTING RECORD. AND SENATOR GLENN CONTRASTED HIS MILITARY SERVICE RECORD WITH THAT OF PRESIDENT RONALD REAGAN. I'M DEAN BORG. THANKS FOR JOINING US TODAY. Glenn: MY EXPERIENCE WITH THE MILITARY IN 23 YEARS IN THE MARINE CORPS WAS IN TWO WARS, AND IT WAS NOT MAKING MOVIES ON THE 20TH-CENTURY LOT. IT WAS NOT IN "HELL CATS FOR THE NAVY"; I WAS FLYING THEM. AND OUT OF THAT BACKGROUND OF TWO WARS I THINK COMES A GOOD DEFINITION OR A GOOD BACKGROUND TO MAKE THE JUDGMENTS ON WHAT WE TRULY NEED IN OUR MILITARY, NOT WHAT THE LAST SALESMAN WAS SELLING THAT CAME UP THE MALL ENTRANCE STEPS OF THE PENTAGON. AND OUT OF THAT COMES SOMETHING ELSE. OUT OF THOSE TWO WARS, I CAME BACK FROM MORE MISSIONS THAN I'D LIKE TO REMEMBER AND HAD TO SIT DOWN AND WRITE NEXT-OF-KIN LETTERS BACK TO THE STATES. AND I THINK THOSE WHO LOOK AT SOME OF US THAT HAD A LOT OF COMBAT AS BEING TOO PRO-HAWKISH MILITARY ARE JUST WRONG, BECAUSE I KNOW OF NOBODY THAT IS ANY MORE PEACE LOVING THAN THOSE THAT HAVE REALLY BEEN IN COMBAT, I MEAN WHERE YOU'VE REALLY BEEN IN IT AND HAD TO COME BACK AND WRITE SOME OF THOSE NEXT-OF-KIN LETTERS. AT THE UNIVERSITY OF IOWA EARLIER TODAY, I LAID OUT A FIVE-POINT PROGRAM OF HOW I WOULD GO ABOUT NEGOTIATING PEACE AND ARMS CONTROL IN THIS COUNTRY AND LIMITING THE SPREAD OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS, HOW TO GO ABOUT REDUCING THEM, PREVENTING THE SPREAD TO OTHER NATIONS, INVOLVING THE OTHER NUCLEAR WEAPON STATES IN THIS WHOLE THING, AND OVERALL ARMS CONTROL. I STARTED WORKING ON THIS WHEN I FIRST GOT TO THE SENATE. NO ONE ELSE WAS DOING MUCH IN THIS AREA. AND IT WOUND UP WITH ME BEING THE PRINCIPAL AUTHOR OF THE NUCLEAR NONPROLIFERATION ACT OF '78 BECAUSE I WAS TO UTTERLY CONCERNED THAT THE DEVASTATION I'D SEEN OUT OF CONVENTIONAL WAR WAS NEVER EXPANDED INTO THAT NUCLEAR AREA. SO NO ONE IS GOING TO WORK ANY HARDER TOWARD THAT AREA THAN I AM.

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