Updated on Monday, Jan. 9

Legislative leaders tell us they don't expect a 2012 repeat of the drawn-out drama we saw in the Statehouse last year.

Agreement on key issues early on could set a good tone for taking on other issues in the session, House Speaker Kraig Paulsen, R-Hiawatha, said in a story for The Gazette. Iowa newspaper industry lobbyists and I met with Paulsen and House Majority Leader Linda Upmeyer, R-Garner, in December and he was optimistic then that legislators had no interest in enduring a prolonged session again.

A lot budget work was done last year, leaders have said, so less to argue about exists. Another thought is that many issues got more than ample airings last year and went nowhere, so no need exists to rehash them. Plus, it's an election year. People weary of how last year's General Assembly dragged on with considerable breaks in action until the end of June will want to get out of Des Moines.

At least that is the thinking as the Iowa Legislature's next session begins.

The Gazette once again is primed to let you know how the session progresses, with coverage from our Statehouse veterans Rod Boshart and James Q. Lynch and also Lee Enterprise newspaper Des Moines bureau chief Michael Wiser.

The Gazette and the five Lee newspapers in Iowa are sharing Statehouse reporting again in 2012. All of our readers benefit, with the best possible reports on how things that matter in our lives are affected by decisions made in Des Moines.

You can expect from The printed Gazette newspaper daily reports on the top issues being addressed. We will have, as in the past, a Capitol Report page that keeps you up to date, and will be able to catch day breaking news out of the Statehouse at TheGazette.com.

The focus this year will be on jobs creation, taxes and spending, Republicans say. They control the House. Republicans and Democrats, alike, say they want to improve the delivery of mental health services in the state. And Democrats, who control the Senate, say they also want to focus on jobs and are willing to work with Republicans on other key matters, although they also say they want to deal with areas of agreement, not disagreement.

Hopefully you've had a chance to follow a series of reports The Gazette has been publishing, leading up to Monday's start of the 2012 session. Our stories have examined proposals for state spending, property tax relief, what gasoline tax we could end up paying and delivering that desired mental health reform.

The Sunday Gazette ran a front-page story about hot button issues that could work their way into the session. Here is a link to the story, which came from Michael Wiser of the Lee papers and which was shared with The Gazette under that Statehouse agreement.

These are the items that may or may not determine if legislative leaders' hopes of a shortened session come true.

Legislative primers:

No acrimony: Lawmakers say this year will be different

Iowa lawmakers agree on some budget issues

Mental health reform an area of agreement for Iowa lawmakers

Iowa corrections head says more money needed this year to staff prisons

Iowa legislators to consider gas tax increase

State revenue estimates jump slightly through June 2013