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| Speaker of The House Christopher Rants, Representative Pat Murphy, Senator Stewart Iverson, and Senator Mike Gronstal IOWA PRESS #3207>> Yepsen: REPUBLICANS ARE DETERMINED TO KEEP CONTROL OF BOTH CHAMBERS OF THE IOWA GENERAL ASSEMBLY. THE DEMOCRATS ARE JUST AS DETERMINED TO TAKE CONTROL. WE DISCUSS THE CAMPAIGN FOR THE IOWA LEGISLATURE WITH SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE CHRISTOPHER RANTS, REPRESENTATIVE PAT MURPHY, AND WITH SENATORS STEWART IVERSON AND MIKE GRONSTAL ON THIS EDITION OF "IOWA PRESS." FUNDING FOR THIS PROGRAM WAS PROVIDED BY "FRIENDS," THE IOWA PUBLIC TELEVISION FOUNDATION; BY THE IOWA BANKERS ASSOCIATION... FOR PERSONAL, BUSINESS, AND COMMERCIAL NEEDS, IOWA BANKS HELP IOWANS REACH THEIR FINANCIAL GOALS; AND BY CAPITOL RESOURCES, INC., LOCATED IN BROOKLYN, IOWA; AND NICOLE SCHLINGER AND ERIC LANGE INDIVIDUALLY, FUND-RAISING AND COMMUNICATION SERVICES FOR MAJOR CAMPAIGNS SINCE 1996. ON STATEWIDE IOWA PUBLIC TELEVISION, THIS IS THE FRIDAY, OCTOBER 15 EDITION OF "IOWA PRESS." HERE IS DAVID YEPSEN. Yepsen: SEVENTEEN DAYS AND COUNTING. THAT'S THE TIME BETWEEN NOW AND NOVEMBER 2'S GENERAL ELECTION. MOST MEDIA ATTENTION HAS BEEN ON THE HIGH-PROFILE RUN FOR THE WHITE HOUSE, BUT THERE'S PLENTY AT STAKE LOCALLY, INCLUDING THE IOWA STATEHOUSE, WHERE THE MAGIC NUMBER IS FIVE. THAT'S THE NUMBER OF SEATS IN EACH CHAMBER THAT MINORITY DEMOCRATS NEED TO TAKE CONTROL FROM THE REPUBLICANS, AND THAT'S THE TOPIC ON THE TABLE WITH FOUR STATEHOUSE LEADERS TODAY. JOINING US ARE REPRESENTATIVE PAT MURPHY, A DEMOCRAT FROM DUBUQUE WHO IS THE MINORITY LEADER IN THE IOWA HOUSE, AND REPRESENTATIVE CHRISTOPHER RANTS, A REPUBLICAN FROM SIOUX CITY WHO IS THE SPEAKER OF THE IOWA HOUSE. JOINING US FROM THE IOWA SENATE, SENATOR STEWART IVERSON, REPUBLICAN FROM DOWS WHO IS THE MAJORITY LEADER, AND SENATOR MIKE GRONSTAL, THE DEMOCRAT FROM COUNCIL BLUFFS WHO IS THE SENATE'S MINORITY LEADER. GENTLEMEN, THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING WITH US AGAIN FOR OUR BIANNUAL GATHERING OF LEGISLATIVE LEADERS. Iverson: THANKS FOR HAVING US. Murphy: THANKS FOR HAVING US. Yepsen: BEFORE WE BEGIN, I WANT TO TAKE A BRIEF LOOK AT THE SCORECARD. IN THE IOWA SENATE, THE REPUBLICAN LEAD OVER THE DEMOCRATS IS 29 TO 21. AS IS THE CASE EVERY TWO YEARS, HALF THE SENATE IS ON THE BALLOT. FIFTEEN SEATS ON THE BALLOT ARE REPUBLICAN, SIX ARE DEMOCRAT, AND FOUR ARE OPEN SEATS. IN THE IOWA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, THE REPUBLICAN LEAD IS 54 TO 46 OVER THE MINORITY DEMOCRATS, AND ALL 100 SEATS ON THE NOVEMBER BALLOT -- ARE ON THE NOVEMBER BALLOT. THE REPUBLICANS HAVE 49 OF THEM AND DEMOCRATS HAVE 43 AND THERE ARE 8 OPEN ONES. WELL, AFTER THE BATTLE FOR IOWA'S SEVEN ELECTORAL VOTES, THE BATTLE FOR CONTROL OF THE IOWA LEGISLATURE IS THE MOST SPIRITED CONTEST IN THE STATE THIS YEAR. DEMOCRATS HAVE HELD LEGISLATIVE CONTROL OF THE IOWA STATEHOUSE FROM 1982 THROUGH 1992, WHILE THE CURRENT REPUBLICAN MAJORITY IN BOTH CHAMBERS EXTENDS FROM 1996. WELL, REPRESENTATIVE MURPHY, GIVE US THE COMMERCIAL. I'D LIKE TO GIVE EVERYBODY A CHANCE HERE TO JUST GIVE US A QUICK COMMERCIAL. WHY SHOULD IOWANS VOTE FOR DEMOCRATS FOR THE IOWA HOUSE? Murphy: WELL, DAVID, I THINK THERE'S A NUMBER OF REASONS. I THINK THE FIRST ONE IS DEMOCRATS ARE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT HOW THE ECONOMY -- HOW THE ECONOMY IS GOING IN IOWA. WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CREATE THE JOB OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR YOUNG PEOPLE. SO WE THINK THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS TO GO BACK IN AND READDRESS THE IOWA VALUES PROGRAM SO WE HAVE A LONG-TERM FUNDING MECHANISM THAT WE ORIGINALLY PASSED IN THE HOUSE BUT THEN CHOSE NOT TO DO. AND I THINK ALONG WITH THAT, I THINK TWO OF THE OTHER HUGE ISSUES THAT ARE OUT THERE IS WE NEED TO ADDRESS ISSUES INVOLVING HEALTH CARE, ESPECIALLY FOR SMALL BUSINESS. A LOT OF SMALL BUSINESSES ARE SEEING DOUBLE DIGITS, SOME AS HIGH AS 30-PERCENT INCREASES IN THEIR HEALTH INSURANCE. WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN DO THE THINGS TO HELP THEM BE SUCCESSFUL AND KEEP THEIR COSTS DOWN. THE OTHER PIECE OF THAT I THINK ALSO, THOUGH, IS EDUCATION. WE'VE HAD A COUPLE PROGRAMS THAT HAVE NOT HAD THE FUNDING THAT THEY NEED TO HAVE IN EDUCATION. WE'VE ELIMINATED FUNDING FOR PHASE THREE, AND WE'VE ELIMINATED FUNDING FOR THE TECHNOLOGY IN SCHOOLS. WE NEED TO TRY TO READDRESS THOSE ISSUES, AND I THINK THOSE ARE THE THREE BIGGEST REASONS THAT YOU NEED TO HAVE DEMOCRATS IN CONTROL OF THE IOWA HOUSE. Yepsen: MR. SPEAKER, SAME QUESTION. WHY SHOULD IOWANS VOTE FOR REPUBLICANS FOR THE IOWA HOUSE? Rants: WELL, I THINK A LOT OF ELECTIONS WILL TURN ON POCKETBOOK ISSUES, AND I THINK REPUBLICANS ARE THE ONES THAT IOWANS WILL TRUST TO MANAGE THE STATE'S CHECKBOOK WHEN IT COMES TO TAXES AND SPENDING. WE KNOW THAT REPUBLICANS HAVE A BETTER RECORD THAN THE DEMOCRATS DO AS FAR AS KEEPING IOWA'S BUDGET BALANCED AND KEEPING THE TAXES IN IOWA LOW. WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE ISSUES OF JOBS AND THE ECONOMY, IT'S FINE TO TALK ABOUT SPENDING TAXPAYERS' MONEY, BUT IT'S REPUBLICANS THAT HAVE BEEN CONTINUALLY FOCUSED ON IMPROVING IOWA'S BUSINESS CLIMATE, MAKING SURE THOSE SMALL BUSINESSES, THOSE SMALL MANUFACTURERS ARE ABLE TO COMPETE, MAKE A BUCK IN THE STATE, PROVIDE JOBS FOR THEIR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS. ON EDUCATION, YOU CAN TALK ALL YOU WANT ABOUT SPENDING MONEY, BUT JUST SPENDING MONEY IS NOT THE ANSWER. REPUBLICANS ARE THE ONES WHO ARE CONTINUALLY TALKING ABOUT HOW WE MAKE CHANGES IN THE CLASSROOM TO IMPROVE STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT. IF IT'S ALL ABOUT MONEY, THAT'S TYPICALLY WHAT THE DEMOCRATS ARE OFFERING IOWANS. BUT IF IT'S ABOUT MAKING DIFFERENCES IN PEOPLE'S LIVES, ABOUT HOW WE DO BUSINESS IN THE STATE OR HOW WE DO BUSINESS IN THE SCHOOLS, THAT'S WHAT REPUBLICANS ARE OFFERING TO THE VOTERS THIS YEAR. Yepsen: SENATOR GRONSTAL, LET'S TURN OUR ATTENTION TO YOUR CHAMBER. WHY SHOULD IOWANS VOTE FOR DEMOCRATS FOR THE IOWA SENATE? Gronstal: WELL, I THINK THERE ARE A COUPLE REASONS, AND I THINK ISSUES RELATED THERE IS CERTAINLY BROAD CONCERN IN OUR STATE ABOUT JOB CREATION, REAL CONCERN ABOUT THE FACT THAT OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS WE'VE PROBABLY LAID OFF AND NOT FILLED 1,800 TEACHING POSITIONS IN OUR K-12 SCHOOLS, REAL CONCERNS ABOUT THE EVER-INCREASING COST OF HEALTH CARE. AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT HELPS SMALL BUSINESSES IF WE CREATE A MORE COMPETITIVE CLIMATE TO HELP BRING DOWN THE COST OF HEALTH CARE. BUT I ALSO SAY THAT THERE ARE SOME ISSUES MORE ABOUT WHETHER THE CURRENT MAJORITY PARTY HAS QUIT LISTENING. I DON'T THINK THEY'RE LISTENING TO IOWANS. I THINK WHEN YOU GO INTO SOME DISTRICTS IN IOWA, YOU FIND -- YOU FIND LEGISLATORS THAT ARE BASICALLY SAYING EVERYTHING IS FINE WITH OUR LOCAL SCHOOLS. EVEN THOUGH TEACHERS AND PARENTS AND STUDENTS AND SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT PROBLEMS TO THEM, THEY SAY THERE IS NO PROBLEM. SO I THINK YOU'LL END UP WITH A LEGISLATURE A LOT MORE WILLING TO LISTEN. CHRIS RANTS TALKS ABOUT MANAGING THE BUDGET. THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS WITHIN THE LAST THREE WEEKS, MOST IOWANS PAID THEIR PROPERTY TAXES, AND THEY SAW A $275-MILLION PROPERTY TAX INCREASE IN THEIR BILLS. THEY TALK A GOOD LINE ON IT, BUT THE REALITY IS THEY HAVE SHIFTED HUGE COSTS TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT. Yepsen: SENATOR IVERSON, GIVE US THE REPUBLICAN COMMERCIAL. Iverson: WELL, FIRST OF ALL, I THINK, ONE, YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT THE TRACK RECORD. I THINK REPUBLICANS HAVE DONE A VERY GOOD JOB MANAGING THE ECONOMY IN THIS STATE, CREATING JOBS. REGULATORY REFORM IS EQUALLY AS BIG AN ISSUE AS TAKING THE VALUES FUND, WHICH I HAPPEN TO AGREE WITH, IN HELPING WITH SOME INCENTIVE. BUT THE REGULATORY CLIMATE, THE BUSINESS CLIMATE, TAXES, THEY'RE ALL VERY, VERY IMPORTANT. AND I THINK THAT WE HAVE SHOWN THAT WE CAN GET THINGS DONE IN GOVERNMENT WITHOUT INCREASING TAXES. AND I THINK THE BIGGEST THING TO LOOK AT IS WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT A SHIFT, I DON'T SEE THAT WE HAVE SHIFTED ANYTHING ONTO PROPERTY TAXES. WHAT WE HAVE DONE IS ALSO ASKED LOCAL OFFICIALS TO HELP MAKE SOME OF THE TOUGH DECISIONS THAT WE'VE MADE AT THE STATE LEVEL. EDUCATION, I THINK WE HAVE COME A LONG WAYS THERE IN MORE ACCOUNTABILITY. AND THE BIGGEST THING WHY WE HAVE FEWER TEACHERS IN IOWA TODAY IS BECAUSE WE HAVE 15,000 FEWER STUDENTS TODAY THAN WE HAD JUST A FEW SHORT YEARS AGO. SO IF WE WANT OUR ECONOMY TO GROW, WE WANT MORE STUDENTS IN OUR CLASSROOM, AND JOBS, WE HAVE TO GROW THE WHOLE ECONOMY. WE CAN'T JUST SAY, ALL RIGHT, GOSH, WE'RE GOING TO GIVE YOU $10 MILLION TO COME IN AND CREATE SOME JOBS. THERE ARE 42,000 SMALL BUSINESSES IN IOWA THAT HAVE FIVE OR FEWER EMPLOYEES. IF JUST HALF OF THOSE COMPANIES COULD ADD ONE INDIVIDUAL, THAT WOULD ADD MORE JOBS THAN THE $100 MILLION THAN THE VALUES FUND HAS ADDED. Yepsen: MR. MURPHY, AT THE BEGINNING OF THE PROGRAM, I RATTLED OFF SOME STATISTICS ABOUT CONTROL AND STUFF. ONE THAT I DIDN'T WAS THE FACT THAT DEMOCRATS HAVE NOT HAD WHAT'S CALLED THE TRIFECTA IN IOWA SINCE 1965, ALMOST FORTY YEARS, WHERE YOU'VE GOT THE IOWA HOUSE, THE IOWA SENATE, AND THE GOVERNORSHIP. YOU HAVE TO GO BACK TO HAROLD HUGHES. WHAT DIFFERENCE IS IT GOING TO MAKE IF YOU GET THE TRIFECTA THIS TIME? CAN I GET THE DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM OUT AND READ IT AND FIND OUT WHAT ALL YOU'RE GOING TO DO IN IOWA? Murphy: NO, IT'S NOT GOING TO BE THE PLATFORM. WHAT THE ISSUE IS GOING TO BE -- AND IT'S GOING TO BE A BIG ISSUE WITH DEMOCRATS. YOU'VE HEARD SENATOR IVERSON AND SPEAKER RANTS TALK ABOUT EDUCATION, AND THEY'RE SAYING, WELL, WE'RE GOING TO ALLOCATE DOLLARS TO THAT. HE MENTIONED WE HAVE LESS TEACHERS. WE ALSO HAVE HAD DECLINING SALARIES. WE WENT FROM 36TH IN SALARIES FOR TEACHERS IN THE STATE TO 40TH. SO WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO LOSE TEACHERS BECAUSE WE DON'T PUT THE RESOURCES INTO EDUCATION IN THE STATE. BUT I THINK WHAT YOU'LL SEE IS IF YOU TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT HAPPENED FORTY YEARS AGO -- AND MAY I REMIND EVERYBODY HERE THAT I WAS ONLY FIVE YEARS OLD WITH WHEN THAT OCCURRED, SO IT DOESN'T HAPPEN EVERY DAY. BUT IN THE MID 1960S, THEY CREATED THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM THAT IS THE BIGGEST PIECE OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TOOL IN THIS STATE THAT HELPS THE ENGINE RUN FOR BUSINESSES TO TRAIN THEM AS SKILLED WORKERS, TO GIVE PEOPLE AN OPPORTUNITY BEYOND HIGH SCHOOL AND TO MAKE IT AFFORDABLE SO THAT REGARDLESS OF WHERE YOU LIVE IN THIS STATE YOU DON'T HAVE TO TRAVEL MORE THAN 50 MILES TO A COMMUNITY COLLEGE TO GET EDUCATION BEYOND A HIGH SCHOOL. AND I THINK WE NEED TO READDRESS THAT BECAUSE WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHAT'S OCCURRED IN THE LAST TWO YEARS, YOU'VE SEEN TUITION RATES GO UP AT THE COMMUNITY COLLEGES AND AT THE REGENTS AT DOUBLE-DIGIT LEVELS. IT'S MAKING IT MORE COST PROHIBITIVE FOR PEOPLE TO GO TO SCHOOL, AND YOU HAVE DECLINING ENROLLMENT AT THE REGENTS UNIVERSITIES BECAUSE OF THE COST OF TUITION. SO I THINK THAT'S PROBABLY A BIG PIECE. Yepsen: SENATOR GRONSTAL, THE SAME SORT OF QUESTION. WHAT DIFFERENCE DO YOU THINK IT WILL MAKE IF YOUR PARTY GETS THE TRIFECTA? Gronstal: WELL, I CERTAINLY DON'T THINK WE'RE GOING TO COME IN AND TAKE EVERYTHING THE GOVERNOR SAYS. I THINK WE HAVE -- I THINK WE HAVE MANY PEOPLE THAT WILL HAVE SOME DISAGREEMENTS WITH THE GOVERNOR ON SOME ISSUES. THE GOVERNOR HAS TALKED ABOUT SCHOOL CONSOLIDATION. I THINK THERE ARE -- I THINK THERE ARE SOME LEGISLATORS FROM SOME DISTRICTS OUT THERE THAT ARE CERTAINLY NOT GOING TO AGREE WITH THAT. THERE WILL BE PLENTY OF AREAS OF DISAGREEMENT. WE'RE GOING TO LISTEN TO PEOPLE, AND I REALLY THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT REPUBLICANS HAVE, PARTICULARLY IN THE SENATE, HAVE FALLEN BACK ON. WE'RE GOING TO START LISTENING TO PEOPLE ABOUT WHAT IT TAKES TO BUILD A BETTER IOWA, AND WE'RE GOING TO WORK WITH PEOPLE. AND IT'S GOING TO BE A MUCH MORE OPEN AND A MUCH LESS PARTISAN ATMOSPHERE. WE WANT TO WORK WITH PEOPLE OF IOWA AND FIGURE OUT WHAT THE SOLUTIONS ARE TO SOME OF OUR PROBLEMS. Yepsen: WILL DEMOCRATS RAISE TAXES? Gronstal: THE DEMOCRATS REMAIN INCREDIBLY SKEPTICAL ABOUT TAX INCREASES. THAT'S WHY WE REJECTED THE REPUBLICAN BUDGET. WE DIDN'T GO ALONG WITH THE GOVERNOR LAST YEAR ON HIS TAX INCREASE PROPOSAL, AND WE REJECTED THE REPUBLICAN BUDGET. AND I'VE GOT TO TELL YOU -- I MEAN THIS ISN'T MIKE GRONSTAL THE DEMOCRAT TALKING, THIS IS THE IOWA FARM BUREAU SAYS AS A DIRECT RESULT OF THEIR ACTIONS -- THEY SAID PROPERTY TAXES ACTUALLY WENT UP $475 MILLION IN THE LAST THREE YEARS, BUT THEY BLAMED THE LEGISLATURE AND THE REPUBLICAN BUDGETS FOR $275 MILLION OF THAT TAX INCREASE. Yepsen: MR. SPEAKER -- Rants: IT'S THIS IDEA OF A DEMOCRATIC TRIFECTA THAT OUGHT TO JUST -- IT'S THE HALLOWEEN NIGHTMARE FOR THIS YEAR. IT OUGHT TO SCARE THE DICKENS OUT OF TAXPAYERS IN THE STATE. AND TO BE HONEST, ALREADY DEMOCRATS ARE RUNNING AWAY FROM -- WELL, IF YOU ELECT US WE WON'T NECESSARILY DO WHAT THE GOVERNORS SAYS. BUT LOOK AT WHAT GOVERNOR HAS ASKED IOWANS TO GIVE HIM A DEMOCRATIC LEGISLATURE FOR. THE GOVERNOR SAYS GIVE ME A DEMOCRATIC LEGISLATURE AND I'LL REPEAL ENGLISH AS THE OFFICIAL LANGUAGE. THE GOVERNOR SAYS GIVE ME A DEMOCRATIC LEGISLATURE AND THERE WILL BE MORE GAY RIGHTS LEGISLATION IN THIS STATE. THE GOVERNOR HAS REPEATEDLY ASKED THE LEGISLATURE TO RAISE TAXES IN THIS STATE. AND HE'S SAYING AGAIN: GIVE ME A DEMOCRATIC LEGISLATURE SO I CAN DO THAT; GIVE ME A DEMOCRATIC LEGISLATURE SO I CAN CONSOLIDATE AND CLOSE RURAL SCHOOLS IN THIS STATE. IF THAT'S WHAT MEANING A DEMOCRATIC TRIFECTA IS ABOUT, I HOPE IOWANS KNOW THAT BEFORE THEY GO TO THE POLLS. Gronstal: NO, THAT'S WHAT YOU WANT TO SCARE IOWANS THAT IT'S ABOUT. Rants: NO, THOSE ARE THE FACTS, MICHAEL. Gronstal: WE ARE GOING TO PURSUE -- Rants: THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT GOVERNOR VILSACK HAS TOLD THE PEOPLE OF IOWA -- [ SPEAKING AT ONCE ] Yepsen: ONE AT A TIME. ONE AT A TIME. THIS ISN'T THE MCLAUGHLIN GROUP. SENATOR? Gronstal: THERE'S WHAT'S HAPPENING. I HAD TO GO THROUGH THE NEWSPAPERS IN IOWA AND CHECK THE SAMPLE BALLOTS, BECAUSE RIGHT NOW REPUBLICANS AREN'T RUNNING AGAINST OUR CANDIDATES BECAUSE THEY CAN'T BECAUSE OUR CANDIDATES ARE WORKING ON THE ISSUES. REPUBLICANS ARE RUNNING AGAINST GOVERNOR VILSACK. THEY'VE BEEN DOING IT FOR FIVE YEARS. THEY OUGHT TO GET OVER IT. HE IS THE GOVERNOR FOR TWO MORE YEARS. THEY OUGHT TO BE RUNNING AGAINST OUR CANDIDATES, BUT THEY CAN'T. THEY CAN'T! Yepsen: IT'S BEEN SUCCESSFUL BECAUSE THEY'VE KEPT CONTROL OF THE LEGISLATURE. Gronstal: BUT THEY CAN'T RUN AGAINST OUR CANDIDATES BECAUSE OUR CANDIDATES ARE RESPONSIVE TO THEIR COMMUNITIES. [ SPEAKING AT ONCE ] Rants: -- WILL TELL IOWANS WHERE THEY STAND ON THE ISSUES. Gronstal: NONSENSE! Rants: YOU LOOK AT -- YOU GO AROUND THE STATE AND YOU TALK TO GROUPS LIKE THE NFIB AND THE IOWA FARM BUREAU, YOU GO TO THESE CANDIDATE FORUMS AND LET -- DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES FOR THE LEGISLATURE WON'T TAKE A POSITION. THEY WON'T STAND WITH THE GOVERNOR, BUT THEY WON'T COME OUT AND SAY WHAT THEY BELIEVE EITHER. YOU HAVE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES AND, BY AND LARGE, WE ALL KNOW IT'S A CAMPAIGN ABOUT INCUMBENTS, YOUR INCUMBENTS, OUR INCUMBENTS. THERE ARE VERY FEW OPEN SEATS. BUT IT'S INTERESTING, THE CHALLENGER CANDIDATES ARE QUICK TO POINT OUT SHORTCOMINGS OR THINGS THEY DISAGREE WITH, BUT THEY DON'T OFFER ALTERNATIVES. Yepsen: SENATOR IVERSON, I WANT YOU TO GET INTO THIS. WHAT DIFFERENCE DOES IT MAKE? I MEAN ISN'T THERE SOMETHING TO BE SAID FOR THE DEMOCRATIC ARGUMENT THAT IF YOU HAD A DEMOCRATIC LEGISLATURE, THERE WOULD BE A LOT MORE HARMONY UP THERE IN THE CAPITOL? Iverson: WELL, I'LL TELL YOU, WE'LL TALK ABOUT HARMONY. WHEN GOVERNOR VILSACK WAS FIRST ELECTED, QUITE FRANKLY, THE FIRST COUPLE YEARS WE ALL WORKED VERY HARD TOGETHER AND IT WORKED PRETTY WELL. THE THIRD AND FOURTH YEARS WERE A LITTLE MORE TROUBLE -- A LITTLE MORE TROUBLING. AFTER THE GOVERNOR GOT REELECTED, HE WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO WORK WITH. ESSENTIALLY THE GOVERNOR WAS TELLING US IT'S MY WAY OR NO WAY. THAT'S WHEN IT REALLY GOT TOUGH, BECAUSE HE SAID HE WAS NOT RUNNING AGAIN AND HE WAS DEMANDING MORE AND MORE, YOU KNOW. AND I THINK WE WORK VERY HARD TO BE BIPARTISAN. WE DON'T START OUT SAYING, WELL, THIS IS A PARTISAN ISSUE, WE'VE GOT TO DO THIS. BUT, YOU KNOW, IF WE ALL SIT DOWN AND TALK ABOUT THINGS AND TRY TO WORK IT OUT, I THINK IT'S MUCH, MUCH BETTER. AND WE'VE HEARD A LOT OF RHETORIC ALREADY ON THIS PROGRAM. BUT I WILL TELL YOU THAT WHEN WE LOOK AT THE HISTORY OF WHAT HAS HAPPENED IN THE PAST AND IF THE DEMOCRATS WOULD TAKE CONTROL OF BOTH HOUSES, I WILL TELL YOU THE GOVERNOR WILL PUSH VERY, VERY HARD TO INCREASE TAXES. THE SPENDING THAT HE HAS TALKED ABOUT, WHERE IS IT COMING FROM? HE'S TALKED ABOUT REVAMPING EDUCATION, BUT HE WON'T TALK ABOUT A DOLLAR AMOUNT. AND ALL THESE TYPES OF THINGS ALL POINT TO MORE MONEY. AS YOU'VE HEARD FROM PAT AND FROM MIKE, THEY'VE TALKED ABOUT THE FUNDING FOR EDUCATION, THE FUNDING FOR HEALTH CARE, THE FUNDING FOR THAT. OKAY, WELL, WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO WITH THE FUNDING? THE BIGGEST PROBLEM WE HAVE IS WE HAVE A PIE LIKE THIS. NOW, THE ARGUMENT IS -- IT'S A LEGITIMATE ARGUMENT -- HOW DO YOU DIVIDE UP THE PIE? THE TROUBLE IS DO YOU WANT THE PIE TO GROW. THAT'S THE BASIC DIFFERENCE BETWEEN US. NOW, NOBODY TALKS ABOUT RUNNING FOR TAXES. I VERY RARELY HEARD SOMEBODY SAY I'M GOING TO RAISE YOUR TAXES WHEN I'M RUNNING FOR OFFICE, BUT ONCE I GET ELECTED, THEN IT'S A DIFFERENT STORY. AND WE HAVE BEEN CONSISTENT. WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT RAISING PEOPLE'S TAXES. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PRIORITIZING THE AMOUNT OF DOLLARS THAT WE HAVE, AND WE WILL MAKE GOVERNMENT WORK. Yepsen: MR. MURPHY, WHAT'S WRONG WITH A CHECK AND BALANCE? I MEAN IT'S TRUE IOWA HAS HAD SPLIT GOVERNMENT FOR SOME TIME. BUT ISN'T THAT A HEALTHY THING? ONE SIDE SORT OF CHECKS THE OTHER. Murphy: I THINK THE ISSUE FOR VOTERS IS WHAT THE PRIORITIES ARE FOR THE CANDIDATES THAT ARE RUNNING. FIRST OF ALL, IF DEMOCRATS CONTROL LEGISLATURE, WE'RE NOT GOING TO TAKE UP AN ENGLISH ONLY BILL IF I'M IN THE HOUSE. SECONDLY, WE'RE NOT GOING TO FORCE SCHOOL CONSOLIDATION -- IN FACT, ACTUALLY IF YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT SCHOOL CONSOLIDATION, WHAT THESE GUYS HAVE BEEN DOING OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS IS FORCE SCHOOL CONSOLIDATION BECAUSE SMALL SCHOOL DISTRICTS CAN'T GET BY WITH THE DOLLARS THEY'RE GETTING. THEY'RE EITHER GETTING THE SAME OR THEY'RE GETTING LESS. AND LAST YEAR THE GOVERNOR PROPOSED AN EDUCATION LEVEL THAT WOULD HAVE GUARANTEED ALL SCHOOL DISTRICTS AT LEAST GOT SOME NEW DOLLARS AND THEY CHOSE NOT TO DO THAT. SO I THINK THAT'S THE FIRST POINT. BUT THE SECOND POINT TOO, WHEN YOU START TALKING ABOUT MANAGING THE BUDGET, TAKE A LOOK AT THIS. THE MEDICAID PROGRAM THAT WE'RE IN RIGHT NOW WILL RUN OUT OF MONEY BEFORE THE FISCAL YEAR ENDS. ALMOST ONE IN EVERY TEN IOWANS CURRENTLY ARE ON THE MEDICAID SYSTEM. MORE THAN ONE IN EVERY TEN IOWANS DOES NOT HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE BECAUSE BUSINESSES CAN'T AFFORD IT ANYMORE. THOSE ARE THE TYPES OF CONCERNS THAT I'M HEARING FROM IOWANS THAT THEY WANT US TO ADDRESS THAT THIS CURRENT LEGISLATURE HASN'T. SO IT'S MORE ABOUT LISTENING TO -- THE CANDIDATES LISTENING TO THE PEOPLE IN THEIR DISTRICT. WE HAVE CANDIDATES -- AND THE OTHER PART THAT'S INTERESTING -- LET ME FINISH. WE HAVE REPUBLICANS OUT THERE SAYING, WELL, I'M NOT TOO CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENED TO EDUCATION IN THE LAST TWO YEARS, AND REPRESENTATIVE DALE HANSON SAID THAT TWO NIGHTS AGO AT A FORUM. ALONG WITH THAT THE OTHER PART THAT'S INTERESTING, ISSUES LIKE THE MINIMUM WAGE, GUARANTEEING THAT PEOPLE KEEP THEIR OVERTIME IN A STATE LIKE ILLINOIS. THERE'S MAILINGS GOING OUT BY THEM NOW AFTER THEY HAVE VOTED AGAINST EVEN DOING IT, BUT NOW THEY'RE CLAIMING THEY'LL DO IT IF THEY GET CONTROL OF THE LEGISLATURE. Yepsen: MR. SPEAKER, WE'VE HEARD THE DEMOCRATS SAY TODAY NO TAX INCREASES IF THEY GET ELECTED. YOU'VE SAID THAT, NO TAX INCREASE. Iverson: YOU HAVEN'T HEARD THAT. Yepsen: I THOUGHT I HEARD THEM SAYING THAT. AREN'T YOU SAYING THAT, SENATOR? NO TAX INCREASES? Gronstal: WE HAVE NO PLAN TO RAISE TAXES AND I AGREE -- BUT I'VE GOT ONE ARGUMENT -- Yepsen: WAIT A MINUTE. WE'VE ESTABLISHED THAT. NO TAX INCREASES FROM THE DEMOCRATS. SO, SENATOR IVERSON, YOU'VE GOT A BUDGET. YOU'RE NOT GETTING THE KIND OF REVENUES THAT YOU NEED IN ORDER TO MEET THE BUILDING EXPENSES, SCHOOL AID, SALARIES. IF WE DON'T WANT TO RAISE TAXES IN THIS STATE, I WANT TO KNOW WHAT REPUBLICANS ARE GOING TO CUT OUT OF THE BUDGET NEXT YEAR. Iverson: OKAY, THE BIGGEST THING THAT WE WILL DO, AS WE HAVE DONE FOR THE PAST THREE OR FOUR YEARS, GO THROUGH THE ENTIRE BUDGET AND PRIORITIZE. CAN I SIT HERE TODAY AND SAY WE'RE GOING TO DO X, Y, Z? I THINK THAT'S A BIT PREMATURE. ONE, LET'S SEE HOW MANY DOLLARS WE HAVE TO WORK WITH. AND THEN, TWO, WE WILL GO IN AND PRIORITIZE LIKE WE HAVE DONE THE BUDGET FOR THE LAST FEW YEARS, BECAUSE REVENUES HAVE ACTUALLY GONE DOWN IN A COUPLE OF YEARS, WHERE THIS YEAR THEY'VE ACTUALLY GONE UP. SO THAT DOES HELP US. HAVE WE -- WE ALSO -- HAVE WE BORROWED SOME MONEY FROM SOME OTHER FUNDS TO CUSHION THE BLOW GOING DOWN? YES, BECAUSE WHAT WE'VE SEEN THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES, EVERY TIME A STATE RAISES TAXES, YOU GENERALLY HAVE FEWER JOBS. IOWA IS THE ONLY STATE IN THE NATION THAT DID NOT DOUBLE IN POPULATION IN THE LAST HUNDRED YEARS. WE CAN'T KEEP DOING THINGS THE SAME WAY AND EXPECT DIFFERENT RESULTS. WE CAN'T RAISE OUR TAX BURDEN AND EXPECT MORE BUSINESSES AND JOBS TO BE HERE. Yepsen: MR. SPEAKER, SAME QUESTION TO YOU. IF YOU'RE NOT GOING TO RAISE TAXES, AS YOU'VE SAID AND THE DEMOCRATS ARE SAYING, THEN WHAT PROGRAMS WILL REPUBLICANS CUT IF YOU GET CONTROL? Rants: THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT IN THE PAST WE'VE HAD TO CUT OTHER AREAS OF THE BUDGET TO FUND OUR OBLIGATION TO K-12 SCHOOLS, AND IT'S GROWN. WE JUST PASSED A 4-PERCENT ALLOWABLE GROWTH FOR THIS COMING YEAR. LUCKILY FOR US, BECAUSE WE HELD TIGHT ON THE IDEA OF RAISING TAXES, BECAUSE WE KEPT OUR BUDGET BALANCED, YOU SEE IOWA'S ECONOMY STARTING TO REBOUND. THE REVENUE ESTIMATING COUNCIL JUST MET A WEEK AGO AND HAS PROJECTED AN INCREASE IN REVENUES FOR THIS COMING YEAR. THAT SHOULD BE ENOUGH TO COVER OUR OBLIGATION TO K-12 WITHOUT HAVING TO CUT OTHER AREAS OF THE BUDGET TO DO THAT. ARE WE GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE SOME DIFFICULT DECISIONS IN TERMS OF MEDICAID? YES, WE WILL. AND THAT IS ONE OF THE CHALLENGES THAT THIS INCOMING LEGISLATURE WILL FACE. HOW DO WE FUND PRESCRIPTION DRUGS FOR LOW-INCOME IOWANS? REPUBLICANS IN THE LEGISLATURE HAVE TRIED TO MAKE CHANGES TO THAT TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE, FOR INSTANCE, TO PURCHASE GENERICS BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT THEY'RE CHEAPER AND THE STATE CAN SAVE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS. OUR DEMOCRATS HAVE OPPOSED THAT. THEY DON'T WANT TO MAKE IOWANS -- OR DON'T WANT IOWANS TO HAVE TO MAKE DECISIONS TO TRY TO HELP SAVE MONEY FOR THE REST OF THE TAXPAYERS IN THE STATE. SO IT'S THOSE KIND OF DECISIONS THAT WE WILL HAVE TO TALK ABOUT IN JANUARY. Yepsen: A QUICK REPLY, MR. MURPHY. Murphy: FIRST OF ALL, ON THE PRESCRIPTION DRUGS, WE PASSED A BILL. IT WAS ACTUALLY MY BILL THAT WE PASSED TWO YEARS AGO THAT ALLOWED FOR THE STATE TO GET INTO PURCHASING COOPERATIVES WITH OTHER STATES. THAT'S THE DIRECTION WE NEED TO DO, DO MORE COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS THROUGH OTHER STATES TO GET LOWER PRESCRIPTION DRUGS. THE PROBLEM IOWA HAS RIGHT NOW WITH THE PRESCRIPTION DRUG ISSUE IS WE HAVE 245,000 SENIORS. WHEN YOU HAVE PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES THAT ARE NEGOTIATING WITH COUNTRIES 20-, 30 MILLION PEOPLE AT A TIME, THE WAY YOU GET -- THE WAY YOU GET THEIR ATTENTION IS BY HAVING MILLIONS OF PEOPLE THAT YOU'RE NEGOTIATING FOR. AND THE ONLY WAY THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN FOR IOWA IS IF WE DO IT WITH SURROUNDING STATES AND OTHER STATES BESIDES THAT. Yepsen: I NEED TO MOVE ON. THE SPECIFIC ISSUES THAT I HEAR FROM VOTERS, FAR AND AWAY THE BIGGEST ONE IS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND JOBS. SENATOR GRONSTAL, WHAT SPECIFICALLY WOULD A DEMOCRATIC LEGISLATURE DO TO IMPROVE IOWA'S ECONOMY? Gronstal: WELL, FIRST OF ALL, WE WOULD WORK ON CREATING A LONG-TERM FUNDING SOURCE FOR THE IOWA VALUES FUND. THAT'S NUMBER ONE. IT'S CREATED 11,000 NEW JOBS IN THIS STATE THAT PAY AN AVERAGE SALARY OF $39,000 APIECE. THAT'S A PRETTY GOOD DEAL. AND WE DO WANT TO EXPAND THE PIE, NOT THROUGH INCREASING TAXES, THROUGH INCREASING THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE JOBS. AND THAT WILL RELIEVE MEDICAID AS WELL. FEWER PEOPLE WILL NEED MEDICAID. SO NUMBER ONE IS A LONG-TERM COMMITMENT TO THE IOWA VALUES FUND. NUMBER TWO IS TO WORK ON THIS INSURANCE BUSINESS. YOU KNOW, THE COST OF A FAMILY POLICY HAS GONE UP $3,500 IN THE LAST FOUR YEARS. IT'S $10,000 A YEAR NOW FOR FAMILY COVERAGE ON AN INSURANCE POLICY. Yepsen: SO WHAT DO YOU DO? WHAT CAN THE LEGISLATURE DO ABOUT THAT? Gronstal: AND SO WE CAN -- AND SO WE CAN WORK TOGETHER WITH THE INSURANCE COMPANIES AND WITH OTHER FOLKS OUT THERE AND COME UP WITH A WAY TO CREATE PURCHASING POOLS FOR HEALTH INSURANCE SO THAT SMALL BUSINESS HAS ACCESS TO MORE AFFORDABLE INSURANCE POLICIES JUST AS BIG BUSINESSES DO, BECAUSE THEY'RE LARGE PURCHASERS. Yepsen: MR. MURPHY, I WANT A QUICK ANSWER. WHAT DOES IT -- WHAT DO DEMOCRATS DO TO IMPROVE THE ECONOMY? I'D LIKE SOME SPECIFICS FROM YOU. Murphy: SPECIFICS? OKAY. TO IMPROVE THE HEALTH INSURANCE PORTION OF IT IS WHAT WE DID WAS WE INTRODUCED A BILL LAST YEAR CALLED HIFA, HEALTHY IOWANS FOR ALL. BOB OSTERHAUS IS THE LEAD SPONSOR. IT'S BASED ON SOMETHING THEY DID IN MAINE. AND WE'VE BEEN DISCUSSING -- I TALKED EARLIER THIS SUMMER AND FOUGHT WITH THE INSURANCE INDUSTRY ABOUT IT HERE IN IOWA. THE GOAL IS TO SET UP AN INSURANCE POOL WHERE YOU USE STATE EMPLOYEES AS THE BASIS FOR GETTING A LOW-COST INSURANCE POOL, BECAUSE YOU'VE GOT A HUNDRED THOUSAND MEMBERS, AND YOU ALLOW BUSINESS AND SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO ACCESS THAT. SCHOOL DISTRICTS, THEIR BIGGEST INCREASE COST IS NOT SALARIES, IT'S HEALTH INSURANCE. HOW DO YOU CONTROL THAT? BY GIVING THEM AN INSURANCE POOL WHERE THERE'S A LARGE NUMBER OF PEOPLE, SO INSTEAD OF SEEING A 15- OR 20- OR 25-PERCENT INCREASE IN HEALTH INSURANCE, HOPEFULLY THEY'LL SEE A SINGLE-DIGIT INCREASE. THE LARGE -- ANOTHER ONE TO HELP SMALL BUSINESS, WE HAVEN'T FUNDED THE SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTERS AT THE LEVEL THEY WANT TO BE AT, AT THE LAST THREE YEARS. THERE'S AREAS OF THE STATE THAT DO NOT HAVE THE SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTERS THAT THEY NEED OR THE TOOLS THAT THEY NEED. I THINK THAT'S THE SINGLE BIGGEST PIECE WE CAN USE TO HELP SMALL BUSINESS IN IOWA. AND THOSE ARE TWO THINGS THAT WE WILL DO BESIDES THE IOWA VALUES FUND. Yepsen: SENATOR IVERSON, SAME QUESTION. WHAT WILL REPUBLICANS DO TO IMPROVE THE STATE ECONOMY IF YOU'RE GIVEN CONTROL AGAIN? Iverson: WELL, I THINK WE'RE LOOKING AT A NUMBER OF THINGS. ONE, YOU KNOW, DO WE GENERALLY APPROVE OF THE CONCEPT OF THE VALUES FUND? YES. THE LONG-TERM FUNDING STREAM IS IMPORTANT; WHERE DO WE GET THE MONEY TO DO IT. NUMBER TWO, REGULATORY REFORM. WE WERE ABLE TO WORK WITH THE GOVERNOR AND PUT A PACKAGE TOGETHER. NOW THE TRIAL ATTORNEYS ARE ACTUALLY TAKING US TO COURT OVER THE WORK COMP ISSUE. AND WE HEAR A LOT OF TALK ABOUT THE VALUES FUND, BUT SENATOR GRONSTAL HAS NOT VOTED FOR THE VALUES FUND BILL THAT ACTUALLY GOT SIGNED INTO LAW. SO WE TALKED ABOUT THAT. OUR TAX STRUCTURE IS VERY IMPORTANT. BUT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT REGULATORY REFORM, I THINK WE HAVE TO LOOK AT A NUMBER OF THINGS BESIDES THE WORK COMP ISSUE. ONE, WE HAVE AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF DEFENSIVE MEDICINE THAT HEALTH INSURANCE COMPANIES ARE PAYING FOR. AND THAT'S NOT JUST A STATE PROBLEM; THAT'S A PROBLEM ACROSS THE UNITED STATES. AND I KNOW THAT PEOPLE SAY, WELL, JUST CAPPING -- HAVING CAPS ON THE NONECONOMIC DAMAGES IS NOT ENOUGH. OKAY. I'VE ACTUALLY TALKED TO THE BAR ASSOCIATION AND SAID, ALL RIGHT, WHAT ELSE ARE YOU THINKING ABOUT, WHAT ARE SOME OTHER THINGS. THAT'S A HUGE ISSUE BECAUSE IT'S NOT ONLY MALPRACTICE INSURANCE ON DOCTORS BUT IT HAPPENS TO ALL PROFESSIONS, AND WE NEED TO SOLVE SOME OF THOSE PROBLEMS. BUT SPECIFICALLY, THE ONE THING WE HAVE TO LOOK AT IS THE REGULATORY SIDE. THAT'S THE BIGGEST THING I CONTINUE TO HEAR FROM BUSINESSES. Yepsen: MR. SPEAKER? Rants: THIS IS CLEARLY THE BIGGEST PHILOSOPHICAL DIFFERENCE YOU'VE SEEN. BIG GOVERNMENT -- GOVERNMENT WILL CREATE JOBS IS THE ANSWER FROM THE DEMOCRATS. REPUBLICANS ARE TALKING THIS FALL ABOUT GETTING OUT OF THE WAY. YOU'VE GOT ENTREPRENEURS, SMALL BUSINESS PEOPLE, MANUFACTURERS ACROSS THE STATE THAT ARE JUST SAYING: GET OUT OF OUR WAY; WE'VE GOT THE KNOW-HOW; WE'VE GOT THE PEOPLE; WE'VE GOT THE BEST WORK FORCE; JUST LET US COMPETE. AND WHAT DO WE GET FROM DEMOCRATS? WE GET OPPOSITION TO CHANGING OUR TAX CLIMATE. WE GET OPPOSITION TO CHANGING OUR REGULATORY CLIMATE. YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT INSURANCE, PAT? TALK ABOUT THE WORKERS COMP INSURANCE PEOPLE IN SIOUX CITY ARE PAYING WHEN THEY'RE CHOOSING TO GO TO SOUTH DAKOTA INSTEAD. TALK ABOUT THE WORKERS COMP INSURANCE THAT SMALL EMPLOYERS ARE HAVING TO PAY. IT'S DRIVING THEM OUT OF STATE. THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS THAT WE COULD DO TO JUST ALLOW PEOPLE TO MAKE A PROFIT. PROFIT SHOULDN'T BE A DIRTY WORD IN IOWA, AND WE OUGHT TO GET OUT OF THE WAY AND LET OUR BUSINESS PEOPLE MAKE A BUCK. Murphy: THAT'S ALSO A VERY CLEAR DIFFERENCE. HE'S SAYING THAT WHEN PEOPLE ARE HAVING -- SMALL BUSINESSES ARE HAVING A 30-PERCENT INCREASE IN HEALTH INSURANCE, HE'S SAYING GET OUT OF THE WAY. WHY HAVE WE WENT FROM 8 PERCENT OF THE PEOPLE HAVING NO HEALTH INSURANCE IN THE STATE TO 10.5 PERCENT? AND THE REASON WHY IS SMALL BUSINESSES AREN'T ABLE TO OFFER HEALTH INSURANCE BECAUSE IT'S GOTTEN TOO EXPENSIVE. THAT'S WHEN GOVERNMENT -- Rants: AND WHY WHEN WE'RE TRIED TO DO LITTLE THINGS -- Murphy: NO, THAT'S WHEN THE GOVERNMENT'S GOAL IS TO OFFER A SOLUTION -- Rants: PAT, WHEN WE'VE TRIED TO DO THINGS WITH MEDICAL MALPRACTICE, YOU GUYS VOTE AGAINST IT EVERY TIME. Gronstal: ACTUALLY THAT'S NOT TRUE. IT'S THE DEMOCRATS THAT PUT TOGETHER A MEDICAL MALPRACTICE REFORM BILL IN THE '80S THAT WORKED PRETTY WELL. WE WORKED TOGETHER WITH THE TRIAL LAWYERS, THE MEDICAL COMMUNITY, THE INSURANCE COMMUNITY, AND WE CAME UP WITH A BILL THAT HAD A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT. SO THAT SIMPLY ISN'T TRUE, CHRIS. YOU'RE TRYING TO -- YOU'RE TRYING TO PAINT THIS PICTURE OF DEMOCRATS BEING UNWILLING TO LISTEN AND WORK WITH PEOPLE -- Iverson: BUT, SENATOR GRONSTAL, IT'S NOT WORKING NOW. AND WHO'S LISTENING? Gronstal: AND THAT'S WHY -- Iverson: YOU KEEP SAYING WE'RE NOT LISTENING -- Gronstal: THAT'S WHY WE ARE MORE THAN WILLING TO SIT DOWN AND WORK WITH PEOPLE AND COME UP WITH SOME SOLUTIONS. Yepsen: I'VE GOT -- I'VE GOT -- Gronstal: YOU GUYS KNEW THIS BILL WAS VETOED BEFORE YOU EVER PASSED IT. Yepsen: THE CLOCK IS RUNNING, ALL RIGHT. I'VE GOT ABOUT A MINUTE LEFT. I WANT TO GIVE FIFTEEN SECONDS TO YOU AND ABOUT FIFTEEN TO YOU. WHY DEMOCRATS? Gronstal: I THINK IT REALLY BOILS DOWN TO THE QUALITY OF THE CANDIDATES THAT WE RECRUITED. I'VE GOT FOUR MAYORS, TWO SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENTS, FOUR SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS. I'VE GOT PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN ON FRONT LINES OF THE BAD BUDGET CHOICES THE REPUBLICANS HAVE MADE WELL CONNECTED TO THEIR COMMUNITIES. THAT'S WHY WE'RE GOING TO WIN. Yepsen: MR. SPEAKER, QUICK. Rants: IOWANS ARE GOING TO TRUST REPUBLICANS WITH THE POCKETBOOK AS WE CONTINUE TO MOVE IOWA'S ECONOMY FORWARD. Yepsen: THANK YOU. THANK YOU ALL FOR A VIGOROUS DISCUSSION. ON OUR NEXT EDITION OF "IOWA PRESS," WE CONTINUE OUT ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL, AND WE TURN OUR SPOTLIGHT TO THE CAMPAIGN TO REPRESENT IOWA IN THE UNITED STATES SENATE. THE MAJOR-PARTY CANDIDATES WILL BE WITH US HERE AT THE "IOWA PRESS" TABLE: THE REPUBLICAN INCUMBENT, SENATOR CHARLES GRASSLEY OF NEW HARTFORD, AND HIS DEMOCRATIC CHALLENGER, ART SMALL OF IOWA CITY. THAT'S NEXT WEEKEND, FRIDAY AT 7:30 AND SUNDAY AT NOON. DEAN BORG WILL BE REJOINING US AT THAT TIME, AND I HOPE YOU WILL AS WELL. I'M DAVID YEPSEN OF "THE DES MOINES REGISTER." THANKS FOR JOINING US HERE ON STATEWIDE IOWA PUBLIC TELEVISION. CAPTIONS BY: MIDWEST CAPTIONING DES MOINES, IOWA. FUNDING FOR THIS PROGRAM WAS PROVIDED BY "FRIENDS," THE IOWA PUBLIC TELEVISION FOUNDATION; BY THE IOWA BANKERS ASSOCIATION... FOR PERSONAL, BUSINESS, AND COMMERCIAL NEEDS, IOWA BANKS HELP IOWANS REACH THEIR FINANCIAL GOALS; AND BY CAPITOL RESOURCES, INC., LOCATED IN BROOKLYN, IOWA; AND NICOLE SCHLINGER AND ERIC LANGE INDIVIDUALLY, FUND-RAISING AND COMMUNICATION SERVICES FOR MAJOR CAMPAIGNS SINCE 1996. |
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