Legislature leaders call for cooperation in first day

DES MOINES — With calls for cooperation and bipartisanship, leaders of the Iowa House and Senate launched the 86th General Assembly Monday.

Drawing on recent accomplishments — a major overhaul of commercial property taxes, new initiatives in teacher leadership and education, mental health reform and a state health and wellness plan — leaders of the Democratic-controlled Senate and Republican-controlled House called for working together to solve problems despite their partisan differences.

'Our best work is done when we come together to find solutions for the challenges our constituents face,' said Majority Leader Linda Upmeyer, R-Clear Lake.

However, in those opening day remarks, battle lines were drawn and, in one case, lawmakers were challenged to shrink the size and cost of state government.

Much of Day 1 of a planned 110-day session was spent on organizational activities — the election of leaders and formation of committees to carry out the Condition of the State address that Gov. Terry Branstad will deliver at 10 a.m. Tuesday to a joint session of the Legislature.

In welcoming lawmakers, Speaker Kraig Paulsen, R-Hiawatha, and Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal, D-Council Bluffs, set decidedly different tones.

Gronstal called out Branstad and House Republicans who, he said, 'have repeatedly refused to follow Iowa's law requiring school funding to be decided first, before the rest of the budget.'

'As a result, we are currently almost a year late in setting the 2015-16 school year budget,' he said. 'In the long run, you get what you pay for … and we aren't paying for world class schools.'

However, Paulsen, characterized 'putting even more money into education while test scores and other measurements continue to decline' as just doing 'more of the same.'

Senate President Pam Jochum, D-Dubuque, offered a way to bridge those differences.

'Let's begin by aiming higher than the partisan debates that divide us … by listening and talking to each other rather than over each other,' Jochum said.

She joined Gronstal and House Minority Leader Mark Smith, D-Marshalltown, in calling for more resources for education and children.

'If we believe that there are extraordinary possibilities in ordinary people, then what are we waiting for?' she said.

Overall, Democrats put the emphasis on helping and growing Iowa's middle class, which Gronstal said has largely been left out of the recovery from the Great Recession.

'What Iowa needs is a larger middle class,' Gronstal said. 'More Iowans with access to good jobs, great schools, affordable child care, health care, and housing, and the ability to retire with dignity.'

The Democratic leaders said the Legislature could start to help by funding local schools, freezing in-state tuition for a third consecutive year, stopping wage theft, boost worker training at community colleges, giving Iowa companies the first crack at state contracts and continuing to balance the state budget.

But Paulsen took a different tack.

'While others bring forward their laundry list of funding opportunities, spending priorities, or flashy government programs, I challenge this General Assembly to ensure that government do less and do it better,' Paulsen said.

If lawmakers want different results, Paulsen said they need to act differently and solve problems differently.

'Passing one more government program without examining the multitude of programs which already exist is more of the same,' Paulsen said. 'Passing another tax credit without examining the millions of dollars already invested in tax credits is more of the same. Offering up solutions to problems that have already been solved is pandering and more of the same.'

In that vein, Senate Minority Leader Bill Dix, R-Shell Rock, said Senate Republicans started the New Year and new session resolved 'to be fiscally responsible with the taxpayers' money.' However, they share some priorities with Democrats to 'ensure every child has access to a world class education, honor the commitments we have passed in this chamber and lift up the middle class.'

Smith told representatives author Willa Cather mused that winter was a time for the fields to lay fallow, for good books and for long naps.

Smith warned against following that path. Cather also said, he noted, 'winter lies too long and hangs on until it is stale and shabby, old and sullen.'

Lawmakers are set to adjourn May 1.