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| Election Analysis IOWA PRESS #3211>> Borg: FROM RHETORIC TO REALITY, VOTERS HAVE MADE THEIR DECISIONS, AND IOWA POLITICAL JOURNALISTS ANALYZE THE IMPLICATIONS ON THIS EDITION OF "IOWA PRESS." FUNDING FOR THIS PROGRAM WAS PROVIDED BY "FRIENDS," THE IOWA PUBLIC TELEVISION FOUNDATION; AND BY THE IOWA BANKERS ASSOCIATION... FOR PERSONAL, BUSINESS, AND COMMERCIAL NEEDS, IOWA BANKS HELP IOWANS REACH THEIR FINANCIAL GOALS. ON STATEWIDE IOWA PUBLIC TELEVISION, THIS IS THE FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 12 EDITION OF "IOWA PRESS." HERE IS DEAN BORG. Borg: ELECTIONS ARE ABOUT WINNERS AND LOSERS, NOT ONLY THE CANDIDATES BUT IDEAS ALSO ARE WINNERS AND LOSERS AS VOTERS ENDORSE OR REJECT IDEAS FOR PUBLIC POLICY. UBIQUITOUS ANALYSES FOLLOW ELECTIONS AS POLITICIANS AND OTHERS TRY TO INTERPRET THE MESSAGE FROM THE ELECTORATE. AND THAT'S WHAT WE'LL ATTEMPT HERE TODAY AS WE ASK IOWA POLITICAL JOURNALISTS FOR THEIR PERSPECTIVES ON THE POLICY IMPLICATIONS OF THE VOTERS' DECISIONS. WE'LL GET INSIGHTS FROM "DES MOINES REGISTER" POLITICAL COLUMNIST DAVID YEPSEN, "RADIO IOWA" NEWS DIRECTOR KAY HENDERSON, "ASSOCIATED PRESS" SENIOR POLITICAL WRITER MIKE GLOVER, AND "KUNI PUBLIC RADIO" STATEHOUSE CORRESPONDENT JENEANE BECK. KAY, I'LL START WITH YOU. GEORGE W. BUSH CARRIED IOWA, REPUBLICAN. DEMOCRATS SCORED GAINS IN THE IOWA LEGISLATURE. SO WHAT CAN IOWA'S POLITICAL PARTIES, THE REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS, TAKE AWAY FROM THIS AS THE WORK THAT THEY DID ORGANIZATIONALLY, WHAT THEY DID RIGHT OR WRONG, AND WHAT MUST THEY DO IN THE FUTURE? Henderson: WELL, AS YOU MENTIONED, GEORGE BUSH WON THIS STATE, THE FIRST TIME A REPUBLICAN HAS CARRIED THIS STATE SINCE RONALD REAGAN DID IT IN 1984, SO THAT'S A HUGE ACHIEVEMENT. YET THE REPUBLICAN VOTES THAT WERE TURNED OUT FOR THAT PERSON ON THE TOP OF THE TICKET DIDN'T TRANSLATE INTO VOTES DOWN THE TICKET. SO REPUBLICANS HAVE TO EVALUATE WHY SOME OF THEIR REPUBLICAN COUNTERPARTS ACROSS THE STATE VOTED FOR PRESIDENT BUT DID NOT VOTE ON DOWN THE TICKET. SECONDARILY, DEMOCRATS HAVE TO FIGURE OUT WHY, DESPITE A HUGE EFFORT, FOCUS ON ABSENTEE BALLOTS, AND SIGNIFICANT GAINS IN THE LEGISLATURE, IT DIDN'T TRANSLATE INTO VOTES FOR JOHN KERRY. SO THE DISCUSSION THEY'RE HAVING AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL IN REGARDS TO WHAT IS THE FUTURE OF THE NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY, THAT'S OCCURRING HERE AS WELL BECAUSE KERRY JUST DIDN'T SELL AS WELL AS THEY THOUGHT HE MIGHT, ESPECIALLY IN RURAL AREAS OF THE STATE. Yepsen: ONE ANSWER TO THE QUESTION WHY IS THAT REPUBLICANS DID NOT TARGET THEIR GET-OUT-THE-VOTE EFFORT AS WELL AS THE DEMOCRATS DID. A COUPLE YEARS AGO, DEMOCRATS HAD A GREAT VOTER TURNOUT PROGRAM AND THEY REELECTED HARKIN AND VILSACK IN THE FACE OF A REPUBLICAN TREND, BUT THEY MADE NO GAINS IN THE LEGISLATURE. AND THE REASON WAS THEY DIDN'T TARGET THAT AT SPECIFIC LEGISLATIVE SEATS. REPUBLICANS MADE THE SAME MISTAKE THIS TIME. THEY WANTED TO CARRY THE STATE FOR BUSH. THEY DID. THEY RAN UP THE SCORE, PARTICULARLY IN WESTERN IOWA IN REPUBLICAN COUNTIES OUT THERE, BUT THEY DIDN'T TARGET A TURNOUT EFFORT IN ENOUGH MARGINAL LEGISLATIVE DISTRICTS TO SAVE REPUBLICAN LEGISLATORS. Glover: I THINK ORGANIZATIONALLY WHAT BOTH PARTIES CAN TAKE FROM THIS ELECTION IS THE BEST ORGANIZATIONAL EFFORT I'VE SEEN IN ABOUT TWENTY-FIVE YEARS OF COVERING IOWA POLITICS. REMEMBER, JOHN KERRY GOT 100,000 MORE VOTES THAN AL GORE AND LOST THE STATE. BOTH PARTIES TARGETED A GET-OUT-THE-VOTE EFFORT, AND BOTH PARTIES SUCCEEDED IN THE GET-OUT-THE-VOTE EFFORT. I THINK ONE THING THAT BOTH PARTIES HAVE TO LOOK TO IS THE QUALITY OF THE CANDIDATES THAT THEY RECRUIT. I THINK THAT WAS A HUGE FACTOR IN THE DEMOCRATIC GAINS IN THE LEGISLATURE. THEY SIMPLY RECRUITED BETTER CANDIDATES. AND I THINK AT THE END OF THE DAY, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE PERSONA THAT WAS JOHN KERRY AND THE PERSONA THAT WAS GEORGE BUSH, THE GEORGE BUSH PERSONA WAS A BETTER SELL IN A WHOLE LOT OF SECTIONS OF IOWA, AND THAT ACCOUNTED FOR HIS VICTORY. Borg: BUT WHAT MIKE IS SAYING, THEN, JENEANE, IS THAT THE DEMOCRATS HAD A BETTER IDENTIFIED CANDIDATE AT THE LOCAL LEVEL? Beck: AT THE LOCAL LEVEL, EXACTLY. THEY RECRUITED MAYORS OR WELL-KNOWN PEOPLE WITHIN THEIR COMMUNITIES THAT WERE WELL LIKED. OR IN EASTERN IOWA, SAY IN DUBUQUE, THEY RECRUITED PRO-LIFE DEMOCRATS, WHERE IN THE PAST MAYBE THEY WOULDN'T DO THAT BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T WANT DEMOCRATS IN THE LEGISLATURE THAT WERE PRO-LIFE. NOW THEY SAID, "HEY, WE WANT THE MAJORITY. AND IF THAT MEANS WE HAVE A COUPLE OF DEMOCRATS FROM EASTERN IOWA WHO ARE PRO-LIFE, SO BE IT." SO THEY PICKED THE CANDIDATES THAT COULD WIN IN THEIR DISTRICT. Glover: YOU'VE GOT TO PUT YOURSELF IN THE SHOES OF SOMEBODY WHO DOESN'T VOTE ALL THAT OFTEN. LET'S SAY THEY GET RECRUITED TO VOTE FOR GEORGE BUSH. SO THEY SHOW UP TO VOTE FOR GEORGE BUSH. THEY GO, GEORGE BUSH; DOWN THE ROAD, I'LL TAKE CONGRESSMAN -- I KNOW THEM; I'LL VOTE FOR THEM. THEY GET INTO THE LEGISLATURE AND SAY WHO ARE THESE PEOPLE. WELL, MAYBE THEY KNOW THIS GUY. THEY SAY, "OH, THAT'S THE MAYOR IN THAT TOWN OVER NEXT DOOR. OH, THAT'S SO AND SO WHO HEADED THAT UNITED WAY FUND DRIVE LAST YEAR. I KIND OF LIKE HIM." YOU VOTE FOR THEM AND YOU DON'T EVEN PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT PARTY THEY ARE. THAT'S WHERE DEMOCRATS SCORED THEIR GAINS AT THE LOCAL LEVEL. Borg: AND WHEN IT'S ALL SAID AND DONE, THEY MAY NOT HAVE KNOWN THEY WERE DOING IT BUT 50/50 -- I MEAN NOT 50. IT'S 50 BUT 25/25 IN THE IOWA SENATE. KAY, WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS OF THAT? Henderson: WELL, FOR US IT'S GREAT COPY BECAUSE THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT HAPPENING IN THE IOWA SENATE IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS, IN THE NEXT TWO YEARS. IT MEANS THAT THERE'S A LEADERSHIP BATTLE LOOMING; WHEREBY, SENATE REPUBLICAN LEADER AT THIS POINT STEWART IVERSON AND CURRENT SENATE PRESIDENT JEFF LAMBERTI ARE HAVING A LEADERSHIP BATTLE. IT MEANS THAT DEMOCRATS WILL HAVE A SHARE AND A RESPONSIBILITY IN WHAT OCCURS THAT COMES OUT OF THE SENATE. SO IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE HOW THEY SHARE POWER IN A 25/25 SENATE. I THINK THE MOST INTERESTING THING ABOUT THIS ALL, THOUGH, WILL BE GOVERNOR VILSACK'S REACTION. HE HAS, AS MANY OF OUR VIEWERS KNOW, OVER THE PAST WEEK INDICATED HE'S INTERESTED IN BECOMING CHAIRMAN OF THE DEMOCRAT NATIONAL COMMITTEE, WHICH WOULD TAKE HIM AWAY FROM IOWA. I THINK IN THIS SCENARIO, WHERE YOU HAVE A DIRECTLY SPLIT SENATE AND A REPUBLICAN LED HOUSE BY JUST THE SLIMMEST OF MAJORITIES, HE IS EITHER THE DEAL MAKER OR THE DEAL BREAKER UP AT THE STATEHOUSE. SO I THINK A LOT HINGES ON WHAT TOM VILSACK DOES IN THE COMING MONTHS. Borg: GO AHEAD, DAVID? Yepsen: I GUESS I DISAGREE WITH KAY ON ONE THING. I THINK WE COULD SEE A RATHER LIMITED LEGISLATIVE SESSION, ONE THAT DOESN'T DO VERY MUCH AT ALL. 25/25 FOR ANYTHING TO PASS IN THE SENATE TAKES VOTES FROM THE OTHER PARTY. IT WILL TAKE A LEADER FROM THE OTHER PARTY WILLING TO CALL IT UP FOR DEBATE. IT WILL TAKE A LEADER FROM THE OTHER PARTY IN COMMITTEE, A COMMITTEE COCHAIR WILLING TO CALL IT UP, WHICH MEANS, DEAN, THAT THE EXTREMIST STUFF JUST GETS SHELVED AND SET ASIDE. AND SO SOME OF THE MOST CONTENTIOUS ISSUES, LIBERAL STUFF, VERY CONSERVATIVE THINGS, THEY'RE JUST NOT GOING TO GET BROUGHT UP. AND SO IT COULD BE A VERY NARROW SESSION. IT COULD BE A VERY LIMITED SESSION. FRANKLY, I DON'T HAVE A SENSE THAT PEOPLE IN IOWA RIGHT TODAY ARE LOOKING FOR THEIR LEGISLATURE TO DO A WHOLE LOT. Glover: AND THERE'S A LOT OF BRAVE TALK COMING OUT OF THE LEGISLATURE RIGHT NOW. A LOT OF LEGISLATORS ARE TALKING ABOUT THE PERIOD FROM 1992 TO 1996 WHEN THE REPUBLICANS CONTROLLED THE HOUSE, THE DEMOCRATS CONTROLLED THE SENATE, AND THERE WAS A REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR. THEY SAY THERE ARE A LOT OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOMPLISHMENTS DURING THAT PERIOD, AND THERE WERE. SO THERE'S A LOT OF BRAVE TALK ABOUT WE'RE PUSHED TO CONSIDER ONLY THESE CENTRIST ISSUES, WE'LL HAVE TO REACH CONSENSUS AND WE WILL, AND WE'LL BOTH LOOK BAD IF WE FALL INTO GRIDLOCK. I THINK THAT TALK IS GOING TO LAST FOR A WHILE. BUT I'M A SINIC AND I THINK AFTER A WHILE THEIR BEST INSTINCTS ARE GOING TO TAKE OVER AND THESE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO END UP BEING AT EACH OTHER'S THROATS. Borg: JENEANE, LET'S GO BACK TO THIS LEADERSHIP STRUGGLE FOR THE REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP IN THE IOWA SENATE. JEFF LAMBERTI HAS BEEN THE REPUBLICAN LEADER. NO, THE OTHER WAY AROUND. HE'S BEEN SENATE PRESIDENT AND STEW IVERSON HAS BEEN THE REPUBLICAN MAJORITY LEADER. NOW, WHAT ARE THE MECHANICS -- IF THERE'S ONLY GOING TO BE ONE POWER PERSON THERE AND YOU HAVE TO SHARE POWER NOW WITH THE DEMOCRATS, THERE WILL BE A REPUBLICAN MAJORITY LEADER AND THAT WILL BE THE POWER OF POSITION. Beck: THE FLOOR LEADER. Borg: WHAT ARE THE MECHANICS OF DECIDING THAT? Beck: WELL, THOSE TWO WILL HAVE TO DECIDE WHETHER THEY'RE GOING TO BATTLE IT OUT FOR THAT POSITION OF FLOOR LEADER -- THE SENATE PRESIDENT WILL BE MORE OF A FIGURE HEAD -- OR WHETHER ONE OF THEM STEPS ASIDE. AND I KNOW THAT EVERYONE BELIEVES THERE WILL BE A STIFF BATTLE BETWEEN THE TWO FOR THAT POSITION OF FLOOR LEADER, BUT I'VE HAD SOME TELL ME THAT JEFF LAMBERTI WANTS TO BE GOVERNOR OF IOWA. AND FRANKLY, THE FLOOR LEADER POSITION TAKES MORE TIME. AND AS SENATE PRESIDENT, HE STILL HAS A NICE TITLE AND HE CAN SIT BACK AND BE ABOVE THE FRAY AND GO CAMPAIGN FOR GOVERNOR IN THE LAST YEAR, NOT THIS YEAR BUT THE NEXT YEAR WHEN IT'S REALLY CRITICAL; WHEREAS, IF HE'S FLOOR LEADER, HE DOESN'T HAVE THAT TIME. SO I'M HEARING THAT MAYBE HE WON'T BATTLE IT AS MUCH AS PEOPLE THINK. Glover: THERE ARE 25 SENATE REPUBLICANS. THEY WILL DECIDE IN A PRIVATE MEETING WHO THEIR NEW FLOOR LEADER WILL BE. IT WILL BE EITHER LAMBERTI OR STEW IVERSON. THE TWO I'M TOLD ARE COMPETING FOR IT RIGHT NOW. NOW, THERE MAY COME A POINT WHERE ONE OF THEM WILL DECIDE THEY'VE LOST AND THE OTHER GUY IS GOING TO GET IT AND THEY'LL STEP ASIDE. I THINK THAT'S THE MORE LIKELY SCENARIO WHERE EITHER JEFF OR IVERSON WILL DECIDE THE OTHER GUY HAS WON AND THEY'LL STEP ASIDE. Yepsen: IT'S AN INTERESTING DISCUSSION GOING ON INSIDE THE REPUBLICAN SENATE CAUCUS. IT REALLY HAS A LOT TO DO WITH THE DIRECTION THEY WANT TO TAKE. STEWART IVERSON FROM DOWS, RURAL REPUBLICAN, HE BELIEVES THAT POLITICS -- THAT GOVERNMENT SHOULDN'T DO A WHOLE LOT. LAMBERTI, YOUNGER, FROM ANKENY, MORE MODERATE. HE VOTED TO CONFIRM JONATHAN WILSON, A GAY DES MOINES LAWYER, TO THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION. THAT UPSET A LOT OF SOCIAL CONSERVATIVES. SO IT'S AN INTERESTING PULL HERE. YES, IT'S PERSONALITIES BUT IT'S ALSO THE DIRECTION THAT REPUBLICANS WANT TO GO IN THIS STATE: DO THEY STICK WITH THE RURAL PAST; DO THEY BECOME MORE SUBURBAN, MORE MODERATE? THAT'S REALLY A LOT OF WHAT THIS DISCUSSION IS ABOUT. Henderson: AND A CAVEAT TO JENEANE'S COMMENT ABOUT WHETHER SENATOR LAMBERTI IS INTERESTED IN BECOMING THE SENATE PRESIDENT OR THE TRUE LEADER OF REPUBLICANS IN THE SENATE, YOU NEED LOOK NO FARTHER THAN BOB DOLE'S RESIGNATION FROM THE U.S. SENATE AS ITS MAJORITY LEADER TO SEE THAT ONCE HE LOST THAT POWER BASE, HE LOST A LOT OF ATTENTION BECAUSE HE WAS NOT IN A CONSTANT CONFLICT IN THE NEWS WITH PRESIDENT CLINTON AT THAT TIME. AND I THINK THAT IS PLAYING INTO JEFF LAMBERTI'S DECISION AS WELL. HE CAN BE THE PERSON IN CONSTANT CONTACT VERBALLY WITH TOM VILSACK IF HE'S THE REPUBLICAN LEADER IN THE SENATE. Glover: THAT'S EXACTLY THE DYNAMICS THAT HE'S THINKING ABOUT, BECAUSE LET'S SAY TOM VILSACK COMES IN AND SAYS, "I WANT TO BE CHAIRMAN OF THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE." WE'RE ALL GOING TO COLLECTIVELY RUN UPSTAIRS TO THE LEGISLATURE AND FIND A REPUBLICAN TO GET THE END OF THE STORY. IF JEFF LAMBERTI IS PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE, I'M NOT GOING TO GO LOOKING FOR HIM. Borg: ARE THERE ANY -- IVERSON AND LAMBERTI ARE THE TWO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT. ARE THERE ANY DARK-HORSE POSSIBILITIES THERE? Yepsen: WELL, IF THEY DEADLOCK -- IF THE TWO OF THEM DEADLOCK, YOU COULD SEE A THIRD OPTION EMERGE, BUT I DON'T THINK SO, DEAN. I THINK THEY'LL SETTLE THIS AMONG THEMSELVES. I HAVE TO SAY THIS. I THINK IT'S RIGHT JEFF LAMBERTI HAS AMBITIONS FOR GOVERNOR AND HE DOESN'T WANT TO BE BOGGED DOWN AS A LEADER, BUT IT'S ALSO TRUE THAT MAJORITY LEADERS RARELY BECOME SUCCESSFUL MINORITY LEADERS. IF YOU LOSE THE MAJORITY, AS STEW IVERSON HAS DONE, THERE'S A LOT OF RESENTMENT TOWARD YOUR LEADERSHIP INSIDE YOUR CAUCUS, AND MEMBERS START LOOKING AROUND. SO I THINK THAT'S ONE OF THE LIABILITIES THAT IVERSON HAS IN THIS RACE RIGHT NOW. Borg: YOU'VE SAID WHAT'S IN IT FOR LAMBERTI. WHAT'S IN IT FOR IVERSON? WHAT ARE THE PLUSES AND MINUSES? Glover: HE TRULY ENJOYS -- AND I'VE COVERED HIM SINCE HE'S BEEN ELECTED. HE TRULY ENJOYS THE PREREQUISITES AND THE POWER OF BEING MAJORITY LEADER OF THE SENATE, DECIDING WHO GETS WHAT, HOW THE PIE GETS SLICED UP, WHAT COMES UP, THE INFLUENCE THAT GIVES YOU IN THE LOBBY, AND THE STATUS THAT GIVES YOU IN IOWA POLITICS. HE TRULY ENJOYS THAT. AND HE IS A CANDIDATE WHO DOES NOT HAVE AMBITIONS TO RUN FOR GOVERNOR, DOES NOT HAVE AMBITIONS TO RUN FOR HIGHER OFFICE. THIS IS THE DREAM JOB FOR HIM, AND HE JUST TRULY ENJOYS IT. Borg: YOU'VE ALLUDED TO IT BUT I JUST WANT TO TIE A RIBBON AROUND IT. IF LAMBERTI OR IF IVERSON, IF IT GOES EITHER WAY, WHAT ARE THE LIKELY PERSONALITY CHANGES IN THE WAY THE REPUBLICANS CONDUCT THEMSELVES IN THE SENATE? Yepsen: WELL, I THINK THAT'S PART OF THE DEALMAKING THAT'S GOING ON. IF YOU'RE LEADER, YOU GET TO PICK COMMITTEE CHAIRS SO THERE'S PROBABLY -- THERE IS NEGOTIATIONS THAT ARE TAKING PLACE OVER WHO'S GOING TO BE WHAT COMMITTEE CHAIR, WHAT ISSUES GET BROUGHT UP AND MAYBE GET SET ASIDE, WHO CAN WORK BEST WITH THE DEMOCRATS, WHO CAN BE A FACE FOR THE REPUBLICAN PARTY. I MEAN THE FIRST TASK THAT THEY REALLY HAVE IS TO GET THAT MAJORITY BACK. AND SO REPUBLICAN SENATORS ARE HAVING TO THINK WHO CAN LEAD THE CHARGE HERE IN '06. Borg: WELL, AND THEN THAT LEADS INTO ANOTHER NATURAL QUESTION OF THERE ARE OUTSIDERS WHO WOULD LIKE TO SEE ONE OR THE OTHER GET POWER THERE, I WOULD GUESS. AND IT'S A BROADER QUESTION OF WITH THE RECENT ELECTION AND WHAT HAPPENED NOW IN THE COMPOSITION OF THE LEGISLATURE, WHO, IF YOU CAN IDENTIFY SOME WINNERS AND LOSERS; JENEANE, CAN YOU? Beck: WITHIN THE LEGISLATURE? Borg: WELL, OUTSIDE. LOBBYISTS, ORGANIZATIONS, AND SO ON. Beck: WELL, THERE ARE DEMOCRATIC LOBBYISTS WHO, YOU KNOW, WOULD LIKE TO PUSH A STRONGER DEMOCRATIC AGENDA WHO ARE SAYING TO THE SENATORS, "DON'T SHARE POWER, TRY TO TAKE A VOTE WHILE CHUCK LARSON, WHO IS SERVING IN IRAQ, IS GONE AND, YOU KNOW, ASSIGN A LEADER WHILE THE DEMOCRATS HAVE A ONE-VOTE EDGE WHILE HE'S STILL SERVING IN IRAQ." HE'S NOT DUE BACK TILL JANUARY OR FEBRUARY. THAT WON'T HAPPEN BECAUSE DEMOCRATS UNDERSTAND THAT WOULD START SUCH A HUGE BATTLE. AND IT WOULD LOOK UNPATRIOTIC AND THEY KNOW THAT AND THEY WON'T DO THAT. BUT THERE ARE, YOU KNOW, LOBBYISTS FOR CERTAIN ISSUES THAT SAY, "COME ON, IF YOU DO THIS, WE'VE GOT A LITTLE MORE POWER FOR AT LEAST A COUPLE OF MONTHS." BUT IT WON'T HAPPEN. Glover: I THINK SOME OF THE TRADITIONAL POWER GROUPS WITHIN BOTH PARTIES ARE LOSERS IN THIS ELECTION. I THINK LABOR IS A LOSER. I THINK LABOR BET ALL OF ITS CHIPS ON JOHN KERRY, PUT ALL OF THEIR EFFORT INTO CARRYING THE STATE FOR HIM, AND IT FAILED. I THINK SOME OF THE BIG REPUBLICAN GROUPS, THE FARM BUREAU, IOWANS FOR TAX RELIEF, TOOK THEIR EYE OFF THE BALL. THEY TOO PUT ALL THEIR CHIPS INTO CARRYING THE STATE FOR GEORGE BUSH, AND THEY FORGOT ABOUT, OH, THERE'S A LEGISLATURE OUT THERE TOO. AND SO THEY WERE BEATEN IN SOME PRETTY IMPORTANT LEGISLATIVE RACES. AND I THINK BOTH PARTIES TO AN EXTENT WERE SEDUCED BY THE NATIONAL CAMPAIGN. THEY WERE SEDUCED AWAY FROM WHAT IS LOCAL POLITICS. AT THE END OF THE DAY THE MOST IMPORTANT THING FOR THEM IS LOCAL ELECTIONS, AND THEY TOOK THEIR EYE OFF THE BALL. Borg: WELL, IT WAS EASY TO DO. WE HAD NOTHING BUT PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES AND THEIR SURROGATES IN IOWA. Glover: BUT THIS COMMENT WILL EXTEND TO THE STATE PARTIES. FOR EXAMPLE, IOWA DEMOCRATS HAVE TRADITIONALLY HAD, AS THEIR TOP PRIORITY, KEEPING IOWA'S CAUCUSES FIRST IN THE NATION. THAT'S NOT THE CASE RIGHT NOW. THERE'S A COMMISSION STUDYING IT. WHY? BECAUSE THE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE CAME TO THE IOWA DEMOCRATIC PARTY AND SAID, "I DON'T WANT TO RILE THE FOLKS IN MICHIGAN. LET'S PUT THIS OFF UNTIL AFTER THE ELECTION. GET ME ELECTED AND I'LL TAKE CARE OF YOU." WELL, A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO GETTING JOHN KERRY ELECTED, SO NOW IOWA'S CAUCUSES ARE IN DANGER IN PART BECAUSE A BUNCH OF IOWA DEMOCRATS TOOK THEIR EYE OFF THE BALL. Yepsen: YEAH, THEY WERE MORE CONCERNED ABOUT GETTING JOBS IN THE KERRY ADMINISTRATION THAN THEY WERE HAVING A FIGHT TO PRESERVE THE CAUCUSES. THEY COULD LOSE THE CAUCUSES AS A RESULT. I THINK ONE LOSER AT THE STATEHOUSE IN ALL THIS IS CHET CULVER, THE SECRETARY OF STATE. THE COUNTING ON ELECTION NIGHT DID NOT GO AS RAPIDLY AS A LOT OF PEOPLE WOULD HAVE LIKED AND IOWA SORT OF HUNG OUT THERE FOR SEVERAL DAYS. AND I'VE HEARD A LOT OF CRITICISM FROM REPUBLICANS AND FROM OTHERS WHO BLAME CULVER FOR THIS. I THINK IT'S A LITTLE UNFAIR BECAUSE HE JUST COUNTS THE VOTES. HE DOESN'T MAKE PREDICTIONS OF WHO'S GOING TO WIN OR LOSE. BUT THE FACT IS IT WAS A ROUGH PROCESS. THERE'S NEW FEDERAL LAWS TO ADMINISTER. BUT I THINK HIS GUBERNATORIAL AMBITIONS TOOK SOME HITS HERE IN THIS ELECTION CAMPAIGN. Borg: IT'S BEEN ALLUDED TO AND I JUST WANT TO GO BACK AND PICK UP, I THINK IT WAS YOU, KAY, WHO SAID THAT GOVERNOR VILSACK'S ABILITY TO GET LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES THROUGH THIS SESSION OF THE LEGISLATURE IS PROBABLY ENHANCED. Henderson: IT COULD BE ENHANCED OR IT COULD BE DRAMATICALLY DECREASED BECAUSE REPUBLICANS MAY WANT TO STAND IN THE ROAD IN CASE HE DOES BECOME DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE CHAIR. IF HE REVERSES HIMSELF AND SAID, "YOU KNOW WHAT, I THINK I'LL RUN FOR A THIRD TERM," ALL HELL COULD BREAK LOOSE UP THERE AND YOU COULD REALLY HAVE A FIGHT AMONG REPUBLICANS AND TOM VILSACK TO MAKE HIM LOOK BAD AS HE WOULD SEEK REELECTION IN TWO YEARS. Glover: WHAT YOU'RE SEEING IS SORT OF A PUBLIC INTERNAL DEBATE WITHIN TOM VILSACK ABOUT WHAT HE'S GOING TO DO AND WHERE HE GOES FROM HERE. HE'S UP IN TWO YEARS. HE SAID HE'S NOT GOING TO RUN AGAIN. HE CLEARLY HAS SOME INTEREST IN SEEKING THE DEMOCRATIC NOMINATION IN 2008, AND HE'S GOING THROUGH AN INTERNAL DEBATE PROCESS ABOUT WHAT'S THE BEST WAY TO GET THERE. HE CAN BE THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN, A FOUR-YEAR TERM, BY THE WAY. DON'T FORGET THAT. AND HE COULD BE THE FACE OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY FOR THE NEXT TWO YEARS. SOME PEOPLE SAY THAT COULD MAKE HIM A NATIONAL FIGURE IN LAUNCHING TOWARDS THE NOMINATION. OTHERS SEE HIM AS BEING A PARTISAN ATTACK DOG FOR THE NEXT TWO YEARS, NOT THE BEST WAY TO POSITION -- Yepsen: I THINK WHOEVER THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CHAIRMAN IS, IS NOT GOING TO BE THE DEMOCRATIC NOMINEE FOR PRESIDENT. THE JOB IS TOO PARTISAN. THEY'RE AT ODDS. AND I ASSUME THE NEW MEMBERS OF THE NATIONAL COMMITTEE WILL GET THAT ASSURANCE FROM WHOEVER THE NATIONAL CHAIRMAN IS GOING TO BE. THE GOVERNOR IS IN AN ENHANCED POSITION HERE. HE CAME OUT AHEAD. HIS PARTY PICKED UP SEATS IN THE ELECTION. AND HE'S ALSO MADE IT CLEAR TO REPUBLICANS THAT HE'S NOT SEEKING A THIRD TERM. THE DEMOCRAT -- THE NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY IS IN A SUCH A MESS AND THEY HAVE SUCH LIMITED TALENT THAT TOM VILSACK'S NAME HAS JUST POPPED UP AS SOMEBODY WHO WOULD MAKE A GREAT NATIONAL CHAIRMAN. IF HE DOES THAT, DEAN, REPUBLICANS IN THE LEGISLATURE WILL TRASH HIS LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM. HE CAN KISS OFF THE VALUES FUND. HE CAN KISS GOOD-BYE EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION. REPUBLICANS PLAYED ROUGH WITH HIM WHEN HE WAS TALKED ABOUT FOR VICE PRESIDENT. HE GOT VERY LITTLE DONE UNTIL AFTER THAT WAS SETTLED. IF HE GOES OFF TO BECOME NATIONAL CHAIRMAN, WE WILL HAVE A CONTENTIOUS SESSION AND ONE THAT DOESN'T DO A WHOLE LOT, BECAUSE THEY'LL BE TRYING TO MAKE TOM VILSACK LOOK BAD. Borg: BUT HOW CAN THEY DO THAT WITH VERY LIMITED POWER? Yepsen: BY NOTHING DOING NOTHING. Beck: YEAH. Yepsen: BY TELLING THE GOVERNOR HERE'S YOUR PROGRAM AND THERE'S THE WASTE BASKET. Glover: SEE, THE ONLY THING THEY ACTUALLY HAVE TO PASS THIS YEAR -- NEXT YEAR IS THE BUDGET. THEY HAVE TO PASS A BUDGET TO GET THE STATE THROUGH THE NEXT YEAR. THEY DON'T HAVE TO DO ANYTHING ELSE. THEY DON'T HAVE TO DO ANY EDUCATION PROGRAMS. THEY DON'T HAVE TO DO ANY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS. THEY'D LOOK KIND OF BAD IF THEY DIDN'T, BUT THEY DON'T CARE ABOUT THAT. Yepsen: BUT THERE ARE A LOT OF REPUBLICANS UP THERE WHO HAVE THAT PHILOSOPHY: THAT GOVERNMENT SHOULD NOT DO A LOT -- Beck: THAT'S WHAT SENATOR IVERSON THINKS. Yepsen: -- THAT THE STATE IS IN DEBT AND WE HAVE A LITTLE EXTRA MONEY COMING INTO THE STATE TILL NOW; WE OUGHT TO TAKE THAT MONEY AND PAY OFF THE BILLS, WHICH WOULD AUTOMATICALLY HAPPEN IF THEY DID NOTHING. YOU KNOW, DOING NOTHING IS ALWAYS AN OPTION IN PUBLIC POLICY. Beck: AND THE BUDGET IS NOT GOING TO BE AN EASY TASK. I MEAN THEY COME IN PROBABLY, DESPITE REVENUES INCREASING 300 MILLION IN THE HOLE BECAUSE OF BUILT-INS. THEY'VE GOT A MEDICAID BUDGET THAT'S GOING TO BE OUT OF HAND. THEY'VE GOT NEW RESTRICTIONS ON PRESCRIPTION DRUGS. I MEAN REPUBLICANS ARE SCRATCHING THEIR OWN HEADS IN UNDERSTANDING WHY THE PRESIDENT RESTRICTED THEIR ABILITY TO PURCHASE AS LARGE GROUPS AND THEY CAN'T PURCHASE PRESCRIPTION DRUGS THAT WAY. AND THEY KNOW IT'S GOING TO BE A HIT TO THEIR POCKETBOOKS, SO THE BUDGET IS NO EASY TASK. AND SAYING ALL THEY HAVE TO DO IS PASS A BUDGET, THAT'S GOING TO TAKE MONTHS. Borg: WOULD YOU SAY THAT THERE'S A DICHOTOMY BETWEEN THE FEDERAL AND THE STATE GOVERNMENT IN IOWA RIGHT NOW? BECAUSE SOCIAL CONSERVATIVES SCORED GAINS NATIONALLY, THEIR LEGISLATIVE AGENDA PROBABLY IS ENHANCED NATIONALLY, BUT MAYBE NOT THE SAME WAY IN IOWA. Beck: WELL, NEAL SCHUERER, A LEGISLATOR FROM AMANA, ONE OF THE LEADING CONSERVATIVES IN THE SENATE, WAS BEAT IN HIS ELECTION. AND ALSO, WE SAW THAT IN WESTERN IOWA KEN VEENSTRA WAS BEAT IN A PRIMARY AND HE WAS A LEADING CONSERVATIVE ALSO IN SENATE. SO TWO OF THEIR LEADING CONSERVATIVES WERE NOT REELECTED. AND WE ALSO SAW DANNY CARROLL, WHO IS ONE OF THE LEADING CONSERVATIVES IN THE IOWA HOUSE, REALLY STRUGGLE. HE WAS REELECTED BUT THAT WAS A TIGHT RACE. Yepsen: AND DON'T FORGET THAT JUDGE NEARY IN WESTERN IOWA, WHO SIGNED THAT CONTROVERSIAL ORDER GRANTING TWO LESBIANS A DIVORCE, AND CONSERVATIVES WENT AFTER HIM BIG-TIME, THAT HE LOST -- HE WAS RETAINED IN OFFICE BY A LANDSLIDE BY SOMETHING LIKE 58 PERCENT. SO SOCIAL CONSERVATIVES, THEY MAY BE ON THE ASCENDANCY NATIONALLY. BUT YOU'RE RIGHT, HERE IN IOWA, THEY'VE TAKEN SOME HITS. Glover: DAVE MENTIONED IT EARLIER BUT THERE ARE TWO GROUPS OF ISSUES THAT HAVE JUST GOT SHOVED OFF THE TABLE. ON THE LEFT, ALL KINDS OF ISSUES ABOUT PERMANENT FUNDING FOR THE VALUES FUND, ALL THIS MONEY GOING INTO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, ALL THAT KIND OF STUFF, OFF THE TABLE. ON THE RIGHT, BIG TAX CUTS, BIG SOCIAL ISSUES, TIGHTENING MARRIAGE REQUIREMENTS, TIGHTENING ABORTION LAWS, ALL THAT KIND OF STUFF OFF THE TABLE. THOSE KINDS OF ISSUES ARE ISSUES THAT MAINSTREAM POLITICIANS DON'T LIKE TO TALK ABOUT ANYWAY, AND THE TIE SAID IT JUST GIVES THEM AN EXCUSE TO GET RID OF THEM. SOMEBODY COMES IN WITH THE CRAZY RIGHT WING ISSUE, CRAZY LEFT WING ISSUE, "I'M SORRY, WE CAN'T, WE'RE TIED." Henderson: IT'S REALLY DIFFICULT TO EVER IDENTIFY A MANDATE THAT LEGISLATIVE CANDIDATES HAVE SINCE THERE'S SUCH DIFFERENT RACES ALL ACROSS THE STATE AND THERE'S NO ONE UNIFYING PROMISE THAT THEY OCCASIONALLY ON AN ELECTION MAKE, SO I MEAN NEITHER PARTY REALLY HAS A MANDATE TO DO ANYTHING, WHICH MEANS GRIDLOCK MAY INDEED BE THE OUTCOME. Borg: WHAT WILL BE THE TIMETABLE FOR SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT HERE? THAT IS DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE DECIDING ABOUT TOM VILSACK, LEGISLATIVE LEADERSHIP, PARTICULARLY THE CHOICE IN THE SENATE FOR LEADERSHIP AND SO ON? Glover: THE LEGISLATIVE LEADERSHIP ISSUE WILL PROBABLY BE SETTLED AT SOME POINT THIS MONTH. BY THE END OF THE MONTH, I THINK THEY'LL PROBABLY HAVE AN IDEA OF WHO THE LEADER IS GOING TO BE, AND THEY MAY HAVE CAUCUSED AND FORMALLY DONE THAT. THEY MAY NOT HAVE. THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE CHAIRMANSHIP WILL BE DECIDED IN FEBRUARY, BUT I THINK THAT ALSO WILL BE DECIDED BY THE FIRST OF THE YEAR. I THINK BY THE FIRST OF THE YEAR, THE PEOPLE WHO ARE THINKING ABOUT RUNNING WILL SORT IT THROUGH AND DECIDE. THE WAY THOSE THINGS WORK IS WHAT HAPPENS IS EVERYBODY KIND OF MAKES A DECISION ABOUT WHO IS GOING TO RUN. THEY KIND OF TEST THE WATERS, AND IT BECOMES APPARENT WHO THE FRONT-RUNNER IS AND EVERYBODY ELSE GETS OUT OF THE WAY. THAT PROCESS WILL HAVE HAPPENED BY THE FIRST OF THE YEAR. Borg: LET'S JUST PROJECT, IF TOM VILSACK SEEMS TO BE A FRONT-RUNNER FOR THE DNC CHAIRMANSHIP IN THE EARLY PART OF THE YEAR, HE'S GOT THE CONDITION OF THE STATE TO GIVE IN JANUARY. WHERE DOES THAT PUT HIM AS FAR AS A LEADER HERE IN THIS STATE IF A DECISION -- OR INDICATIONS ARE THAT HE'S GOING TO LEAVE? Yepsen: AND THAT'S WHY I THINK THE GOVERNOR WILL MAKE SOME DECISION ABOUT WHETHER HE WANTS TO PURSUE THIS CHAIRMANSHIP OR NOT RELATIVELY SOON. HE'S A POLICY WONK. HE LIKES TO DO ISSUES. HE'S SEES AN OPPORTUNITY HERE IN THIS SESSION, AND THAT HAS A LOT OF APPEAL TO HIM. SO I'M NOT SURE HE'S GOING TO WANT TO GET INVOLVED IN A HIGHLY CHARGED, PARTISAN JOB WHERE HE FLIES AROUND THE COUNTRY AND GOES ON TALK SHOWS AND JUST TRASHES EVERYTHING THE REPUBLICANS DO. SO I ASSUME THAT VILSACK MOVES SOONER RATHER THAN LATER ON HIS OWN CHOICE, IN WHICH CASE HE'LL HAVE PLENTY OF TIME TO FASHION A NICE CONDITION OF THE STATE MESSAGE. Borg: YOU KNOW, I'VE SAID MANY TIMES THE SUN NEVER SETS ON POLITICS IN IOWA. AND I'M SURE EVERY STATE SAYS THAT, BUT WE ARE IN A UNIQUE POSITION. YOU'VE ALREADY INDICATED THAT THE CAUCUSES MAY BE IN SOMEWHAT DANGER HERE, MIKE. WOULD YOU GO BACK AND REITERATE THAT THOUGHT? Glover: WHAT HAPPENS TYPICALLY EVERY FOUR YEARS IS THE DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS GO OFF TO THEIR NATIONAL CONVENTION. THE STATE DEMOCRATIC AND REPUBLICAN PARTY PRESSURE THEIR CANDIDATES TO APPROVE A PRIMARY CALENDAR DURING NATIONAL CONVENTION, THAT HAS IOWA AND NEW HAMPSHIRE FIRST. THE REPUBLICANS DID THAT THIS YEAR. IOWA WILL BE THE FIRST TEST AMONGST REPUBLICANS. THE DEMOCRATS DIDN'T DO THAT. THEY DIDN'T PRESSURE KERRY INTO FORCING THE PRIMARY CALENDAR THROUGH THE CONVENTION INTO PARTY RULES. INSTEAD, A COMMISSION WAS NAMED WHO SAID, "WE'LL LOOK AT IT AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS DOWN THE ROAD." SO THAT MEANS THERE WILL BE A LOT OF PRESSURE. YOU'RE ALREADY STARTING TO HEAR IN THE CONVERSATIONS YOU HEAR AFTER EVERY ELECTION WHEN DEMOCRATS LOSE, WE'VE GOT TO LOOK AT THE WAY WE PICK CANDIDATES. WE PICKED A BAD CANDIDATE. Borg: AND IOWA HELPED US -- Glover: AND IOWA HELPED PICK HIM SO WE OUGHT TO LOOK AT ALL THAT. THAT DEBATE WAS INEVITABLY GOING TO HAPPEN ANYWAY. TYPICALLY IT HAPPENS BEFORE THE CONVENTION. IT GETS SETTLED. NOW IT'S JUST GOING TO HAPPEN AND WHO KNOWS HOW IT COME OUT. Yepsen: WELL, AND I THINK A LOT OF DEMOCRATS WOULD LIKE TO GET RID OF IOWA AND NEW HAMPSHIRE AS FIRST. THERE ARE TWO DIFFICULTIES IN THAT. ONE IS INERTIA; WHAT'S THE ALTERNATIVE. I MEAN THERE'S NO REALLY GREAT ALTERNATIVE TO A NOMINATING PROCESS. YOU START AT SOME OTHER STATE, YOU JUST MOVE THE SAME PROBLEMS THERE. AND SECONDLY, THERE ARE PEOPLE IN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY WHO HAVE A VESTED INTEREST IN THIS PROCESS. I'LL GUARANTEE YOU THAT JOHN EDWARDS, WHO IS GOING TO RUN FOR PRESIDENT IN '08 AND WHO HAS A BIG INVESTMENT IN BOTH IOWA AND NEW HAMPSHIRE, IS GOING TO HAVE HIS PEOPLE GOING INTO THAT DNC MEETING SAYING, "WAIT A MINUTE, WE DON'T WANT TO CHANGE THIS PROCESS." Borg: "I'M WELL KNOWN IN BOTH THOSE STATES, AND I DON'T WANT TO FORFEIT THAT CAPITAL." Yepsen: WHY DOES HE WANT TO CHANGE THE PROCESS AND START IT IN NEBRASKA WHERE HE DOESN'T KNOW ANYBODY? Borg: YOU KNOW, IN 2006 WE'RE ALSO GOING TO BE ELECTING A GOVERNOR IN THIS STATE, AND TOM VILSACK CONTINUES TO INDICATE THAT HE MEANT WHAT HE SAID, "I'M NOT GOING TO RUN AGAIN." SO WHAT OTHER POSSIBILITIES ARE WE ALREADY BEGINNING TO SEE MANEUVERING, AND WILL WE SEE THAT INTENSIFIED? Glover: ABSOLUTELY. ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE, REPRESENTATIVE JIM NUSSLE HAS INDICATED HE'S INTERESTED IN RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR. DOUG GROSS, WHO WAS A NOMINEE IN 2002, HAS SAID HE'S INTERESTED IN RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR AGAIN. JEFF LAMBERTI, WHO WE'VE TALKED ABOUT, HAS INDICATED AN INTEREST IN RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR. CHRIS RANTS, WHO IS SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE, HAS INDICATED AN INTEREST IN RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR. AND STEVE KING -- Yepsen: BOB VANDER PLAATS. Glover: BOB VANDER PLAATS, WHO RAN IN 2002, HAS SAID HE WANTS TO RUN. STEVE KING HAS SENT MIXED SIGNALS, BUT HE CLEARLY HAS AN INTEREST IN RUNNING. SO THERE'S A PRETTY BIG, WIDE, AND OPPRESSIVE REPUBLICAN FIELD. ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE, THERE'S TALK THAT LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR SALLY PEDERSON MIGHT WANT TO RUN. THERE'S TALK THAT SECRETARY OF STATE CHET CULVER MIGHT WANT TO RUN AND A PERSISTENT THOUGHT THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT HEAD MIKE BLOUIN, A FORMER CONGRESSMAN, MIGHT WANT TO RUN. IT'S A MUCH SMALLER FIELD. Yepsen: AND EVERY ONE OF THOSE CANDIDATES HAS ASSETS AND LIABILITIES AND BAGGAGE. AND WE COULD GO THROUGH THAT LIST, AND WE WILL DURING THE COURSE OF THE NEXT TWO YEARS. AND SO I THINK THERE'S ENTIRELY -- THERE'S AN OPENING HERE FOR A DARK HORSE, FOR SOMEONE WHO COMES OUT OF NOWHERE, A PROMINENT BUSINESS PERSON. IT'S A WIDE-OPEN PROPOSITION. Borg: ANY IDEAS ON WHO THAT PROMINENT BUSINESS PERSON MIGHT BE? Yepsen: JOHN FORSYTHE, WHO WAS THE HEAD OF -- Beck: THE REGENTS. Yepsen: -- THE HEAD OF THE BOARD OF REGENTS. THERE ARE PROMINENT PEOPLE IN THIS STATE -- MIKE WHALEN, WHO RUNS THE MACHINE SHED RESTAURANT CHAINS. THERE ARE PEOPLE OUTSIDE OF THE DAY-TO-DAY POLITICS WHO -- PEOPLE WHO HAVE SOME MONEY WHO MIGHT BE PERSUADED TO GET IN THE RACE. Borg: JUST LIKE TOM STONER WHO RAN FOR THE U.S. SENATE A FEAR YEARS AGO. Yepsen: EXACTLY. HE LOST BUT HE GAVE CHUCK GRASSLEY A PRETTY GOOD RACE. Borg: WELL, I'LL LET YOU, JENEANE, FINISH IT UP WITH JUST A QUESTION ON WHAT ARE THE THINGS THAT YOU ARE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT PRECISELY NOW AS WE HEAD OUT OF THIS MONTH AND INTO DECEMBER AS FAR AS LOOKING AHEAD TO THE AGENDA OF THE IOWA LEGISLATURE? Beck: I THINK THAT THE AGENDA IS GOING TO BE LIMITED. I DO THINK IT'S GOING TO FOCUS STRICTLY ON THE BUDGET. I DO THINK THAT THERE COULD BE ISSUES THAT COME UP THAT, NOW THAT THERE IS GOING TO HAVE TO BE SOME MORE COHESION BETWEEN THE TWO PARTIES, YOU COULD SEE ISSUES COME UP LIKE MORE FUNDING FOR COMMUNITY COLLEGES OR MAYBE MENTAL HEALTH PARITY, THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN PUSHED TO THE SIDE BECAUSE THE MAJORITY LEADER HAS NOT WANTED TO TAKE THEM UP, SENATOR IVERSON. IF HE'S NOT REELECTED, IF LAMBERTI GETS IT, THERE ARE GOING TO BE A WHOLE BUNCH OF ISSUES THAT WE HAVEN'T SEEN BEFORE. Borg: AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR ALL OF YOUR INSIGHTS. THE ISSUES THAT SHE JUST OUTLINED AND THE POLICY DECISIONS ON THOSE ISSUES WILL BE OUR FUTURE TOPICS ON THIS PROGRAM. AND THAT'S THIS EDITION OF "IOWA PRESS." I HOPE YOU'LL WATCH NEXT WEEKEND, REGULAR AIRTIMES: 7:30 FRIDAY, SUNDAY AT NOON. I'M DEAN BORG. THANKS FOR JOINING US TODAY. CAPTIONS BY: MIDWEST CAPTIONING DES MOINES, IOWA FUNDING FOR THIS PROGRAM WAS PROVIDED BY "FRIENDS," THE IOWA PUBLIC TELEVISION FOUNDATION... AND BY THE IOWA BANKERS ASSOCIATION... FOR PERSONAL, BUSINESS, AND COMMERCIAL NEEDS, IOWA BANKS HELP IOWANS REACH THEIR FINANCIAL GOALS. |
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