The Iowa Legislature's Democratic leaders, who have the majority, say they'd like to wrap up the 2010 session (start of session: Jan. 11) in 80 days.

All they have to do to make that happen is deal with the state's budget mess while only addressing, without much controversy, their stated priorities: access to education, good health care and jobs.

It won't be easy. The ground rules for dealing with the budget, Senate Majority Leader Michael Gronstal, D-Council Bluffs, told The Gazette Editorial Board last month, include spending reductions and tapping state reserves. "They're called rainy day funds," Gronstal said about using reserves, a move about which Republicans will have something to say. "We think it rained."

Even the Democrats' priorities will be on the table for cuts, although they may not bear as much of the brunt as other areas of state government, Gronstal said in a visit in which House Speaker Pat Murphy, D-Dubuque, also participated.

"This is not a year we're expanding programs. We're contracting," Gronstal said. "Everything is on the table."

For perspective, we're talking about a state that must cut $1.1 billion in anticipated spending next fiscal year. That would be in balance with the estimated $5.4 billion state financial mavens estimate the government can raise in the fiscal year that starts July 1. They think the state can raise $5.4 billion this fiscal year, too, down from almost $5.9 billion raised in fiscal 2009 with taxes, fees and other revenue sources, the latest state budget overview shows.

Money in the billions is a lot, and we think you'll be interested in the people deciding these matters on your behalf. Because of that our Des Moines bureau is ready for this session. Statehouse veterans Rod Boshart and James Q. Lynch, of The Gazette, and Lee Enterprises reporter Charlotte Eby are there for full coverage.

This is the second year The Gazette has teamed with five Lee Enterprises, newspapers in Iowa to bring you the best possible coverage of your state government. Combining our efforts gives all of our papers a strong report upon which you can rely.

Besides the newspaper, you can catch immediate coverage of the session at GazetteOnline at www.coveringiowapolitics.com

A lot of drama is expected in this year's General Assembly. Spending cuts this past year because of the down economy have meant fewer services from state agencies. It also has meant assessing blame. After all, 2010 is an election year and you get to hold people accountable at the polls.

Republicans are pointing to Governor Chet Culver and Democratic leadership in the Legislature, saying they didn't plot Iowa's spending plans properly last year despite warning signs that bad times were at hand. Democrats are saying they did a good job of keeping things running and not sending the state over a financial cliff during a horrendous recession.

Gronstal and Murphy said they have high hopes for wrapping up in 80 days but whenever the legislative session ends happens depends upon the minority party at the Statehouse. In other words, if Republicans do what Democrats want this session will sail smoothly for Democrats.

House Minority Leader Kraig Paulsen, R-Hiawatha, said we'll know in the first few weeks about an 80-day session. If Democrats want to whittle Iowa's Right to Work Law a political fight could derail an ambitious schedule toward adjournment, Paulsen said.

Republicans are ready to sit down and talk about the budget and health care, he said when he and Reps. Nick Wagner, R-Marion, and Renee Schulte, R-Cedar Rapids, met with the Gazette Editorial Board last month. They'd also like to talk about reorganizing state government to make it more efficient.

Expect attempts to overturn last year's controversial Supreme Court ruling allowing same-sex marriage in Iowa, too.

We'll let you know how this all plays out, and if you only have to tune in for 80 days.

The Lee newspapers that are part of the Des Moines Bureau

The newspapers that are part of the working agreement are the

Quad-City Times,

Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier,

Mason City Globe Gazette,

Sioux City Journal and

Muscatine Journal.