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Sen. Gronstal: Prepared text of opening statement
1/12/2009

Contact: Sen. Mike Gronstal, 515-281-3901

“Thank you Mr. President.

“This session will be a challenge. 

“While Iowa’s economy and our state budget are in far better financial shape than those of most states, the state of the nation’s economy is not good and it is not getting better

“We Iowans had little to do with the mismanagement, greed, and financial carelessness that have put the U.S. in what is generally agreed to be the worst economic situation since the Great Depression. 

“While we share little of the blame, we will continue to share the national pain.  Iowa families are losing the jobs they depend on.  Iowa small businesses are seeing sales fall.  Many Iowa homeowners are facing foreclosure. Iowans are wondering how bad things will get.

“Our greatest challenge, perhaps, is to lead our state through these tough times without sabotaging the commitments we’ve made on economic growth, health care and education.

“Perhaps our greatest challenge is to help our communities rebuild after last year’s floods and tornados devastated communities across Iowa.  Places like Cedar Rapids, the economic engine of eastern Iowa, and small towns like Parkersburg, Oakville and Waverly.

“We need to help Iowa communities rebuild their infrastructure.

“We need to help small businesses reestablish themselves.

“We need to help homeowners make decisions so they can move on with their lives. 

“Addressing these challenges during a national recession won’t be easy.  In my 26 years in the Legislature, I’ve never seen such a tough situation.

“Our resources are limited.  We will say “no” to many good ideas.  We are going to disappoint some people and frustrate others.

“If your idea of being an elected official involves being loved by everyone, the next few months will be pretty rough.

“With that said, I guess now is the perfect time to welcome the new members of the Senate to the chamber. 

“Given what I’ve just said, you may be wondering if you made a mistake.

“Well, you most assuredly did not.  Here’s why.

“While our state’s economy is struggling right now, I’m certain these hard times won’t last.  And when things begin to brighten, it will be easier for everyone to see that Iowa’s renewable energy economy is a shining example of where the world economy is headed.

“The shift away from fossil fuels is going to be the big story of this century.  Limited supplies, increasing costs, foreign entanglements and global warning mean that the world’s economies must move away from fossil fuels. 

“You can argue about how quickly this fundamental change will occur but you can’t claim that it won’t happen.

“Here in Iowa, we are at the epicenter of the change the world is looking for. 

“Iowa consumes about 1.6 billion gallons of fuel a year.  A decade ago, almost all of that fuel was imported, much of it from unstable countries.  Today, Iowa PRODUCES over three billion gallons of fuel a year.

“And Iowa’s bio-fuel industry and researchers at our universities are hard at work developing new ways to create fuel, including cellulosic ethanol.

“Iowa is the nation’s leader in wind energy production on a per capita basis.  Hundreds of wind turbines are being built.  Graduates from the wind technology center at Iowa Lakes Community College have their pick of jobs from around the world.

“By the year 2010, as much as 18 percent of the electricity used in Iowa will come from wind energy.   Compare that to the much talked about 20/25 proposals by other states, state which aim to reach 20% renewable energy consumption by the year 2025.

“We are years ahead of every other state in the union.  President-elect Obama says he wants the United States to be energy independent in 10 years.  Iowa is leading the way.  No wonder he chose Governor Tom Vilsack to be the new Secretary of Agriculture. 

“I think all Iowans – whether Republicans or Democrats – will agree that President-elect Obama made a great choice in Tom Vilsack – our former Senate colleague – to lead the U.S. Department of Agriculture. 

“Yes, the national economic mess is a very big speed bump on our road forward but there is no doubt that Iowa’s long-term future is bright, perhaps brighter than it has ever been

“And so, I say today to you newly elected Senators, with all sincerity: “Welcome to the Iowa Senate!”

“Here in the Senate, we pride ourselves on working together, on listening to each other, on respecting each other’s ideas, and finding bipartisan solutions.

“Yes, the media like it when we fight.  And yes, our partisan supporters on both sides of the political aisle helped you and us run spirited campaigns last fall. 

“We know that campaigns are about identifying differences.  But the trick to governing well is to set aside the differences of the campaigns and  focus on the common ground.

“I have yet to meet anyone who put forth the sort of effort you did to be elected simply to engage in partisan fights.

“Don’t let partisan passions lead you to forget that the Senate’s biggest accomplishments – the ones we’re most proud of—are usually overwhelmingly bipartisan.

“The legislation that made Iowa the world leader in renewable energy was bipartisan legislation.  The Iowa Power Fund and the earlier energy legislation were approved by large majorities composed of Democrats and Republicans.

“Last session’s votes on children’s health care, on the TIME21 transportation package, and the statewide school penny were all bipartisan. 

“You are here because you want to move Iowa forward. 

“You are here to help solve the problems your constituents face. 

“Your constituents believe are no such things as Republican ideas and Democratic ideas. 

“We need your ideas and your voice, regardless of party.  Please remember that my door is always open to you.”


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