Hogg calls on Democrats to stay engaged, spread positive vision

CEDAR RAPIDS - Senate Minority Leader-elect Rob Hogg is telling Democrats they have to play defense now that Republicans control the Governor's Office, as well as both chambers of the Iowa Legislature.

The Cedar Rapids Democrat plans to employ the strategy used by former University of Iowa basketball coach Tom Davis - a full-court press.

Hogg, 49, told about 70 people at a legislative preview and fundraiser in Cedar Rapids Tuesday evening that for the first time in his life both state government and the federal government are controlled by Republicans.

'It's a tough situation,” he told supporters. 'Things we took for granted may come under attack. Some bad things may happen.”

However, Hogg said Democrats can mitigate the damage and find their way back to the majority if they stay engaged and 'make sure the voices of people who need help are heard.”

'Don't let the Republicans off the hook by just assuming they are going to say ‘no' to you,” he said. 'If you assume that they will say ‘no' and you don't speak up, then you're enabling them to say ‘no.'”

'This is the 21st Century,” he said. 'We should be talking about broad prosperity and full employment and good jobs and good benefits and good schools, vibrant communities, rural revitalization across our state.”

Even as they play defense, Hogg called for Democrats to continue to share a 'positive vision” of working together to build a 'safe, healthy, peaceful, prosperous, sustainable and inclusive future.”

Finally, he offered encouragement to the many Democrats who are disheartened by the November election.

'Things can come back in a hurry and I for one am personally committed to doing everything possible I can to correct the mistakes we've made in the past and make the improvements we need to make ...” Hogg said.

If they do that and continue to spread their positive vision, 'we have a very, very positive future ahead of us no matter how dark things may seem at present,” he said.

l Comments: (319) 398-8375; james.lynch@thegazette.com