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Speaker Rants: Closing Day Speech 2006
5/4/2006

The most often used saying that people don’t really mean is, “I hate to say I told you...” Nobody really hates to say that – we all take a certain guilty pleasure in telling people we were right.

One-hundred and fifteen days ago I told you – let me correct that – “we” told Iowa that we would defy conventional wisdom; that we would not let politics and the upcoming election get in the way of passing meaningful legislation.

The conventional wisdom was wrong; and the news media instead has done stories on our efforts to protect private property rights with one of the strongest eminent domain laws in the nation; our promotion of renewable fuels like ethanol and soy biodiesel, to make Iowa more energy independent; our increase in teacher salaries so we can compete with the rest of the nation – and the world – to make sure our children are learning from the best and the brightest; and of course our retirement tax cut, including the total elimination of the tax on Social Security benefits.

All of those are headline issues that appeared in your local news above the fold. But I think it’s those issues that we worked on that appear below the fold – if at all – where our work really shined.

It is true, more people turned out for the public hearing on Touch Play, than turned out for the hearing on establishing statewide education standards. Now that is sad commentary – but that didn’t stop us from requiring more rigor in our classroom, raising expectations of our students in the areas of math and science, and ensuring that our school districts have the necessary funds to hire the teachers they need in these kinds of shortage areas.

It is true, more news stories have been written about CITEC, but more legislative time has been spent on the things that will create jobs for our fellow citizens. It is tough to boil down to a nice soundbyte – but the work this chamber did on enterprise zones, targeted jobs tax credits, and equipping our regents institutions to capitalize on the bio-sciences will result in opportunities for our graduates, and fulfill the hope of a new and better job to the hundreds of Iowans who have recently discovered that their employers are leaving Iowa.

It is true, more news stories were written over our budget differences than our agreements, but one such early agreement was to devote enough money to Medicaid so that we can provide an increase to our healthcare providers. We also agreed early on to move more of our Medicaid funding back onto the general fund. We also agreed to increase our repayments to the Senior Living Trust Fund. These aren’t the things that most Iowans think about from day to day – but our failure to address those three issues adequately would have lasting impacts on those who need and provide healthcare and the elderly.

It’s all too easy to judge a legislative session on one to two marquee issues – but that would be a mistake. Too much good work was done by too many people to be summed up in a sound byte, or a single headline.

Of course none of us can do this job alone. The success we find in this House depends just as much on others as it does on ourselves, and so I would like to recognize a few on whom I’ve leaned to make this such a successful session.

Rep. Raecker, I know you collect quotes about character like I collect quotes by Teddy Roosevelt. I thought I’d give a TR quote on character that you can use yourself -

"Courtesy is as much a mark of a gentleman as courage."

I think you displayed both as you moved the budget through the process this year. I think it is no coincidence that every budget bill passed the House on a bi-partisan vote and I think the courtesy you extended to other members is a big part of that. But you never shrank from making the difficult decision required to keep our budget in balance and accomplish the Republican goals of refilling our reserves, restoring the Senior Living Trust Fund, and making room in the budget for tax cuts.

I want to acknowledge the work of Operation ROJY – that what I call Staff Sergeant Royd Chambers and General Jodi Tymeson – but when they aren’t within earshot. I haven’t seen two committee chairs work closer together to fashion a package of education funding and reforms than you two. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate your efforts on the part of my, and collectively, our, children.

It’s a shame, that we never thank the folks in the well, the folks in all of the back rooms, the Chief Clerks Office, the people crunching numbers, the people drafting amendments, the people proofing the journal until the last day of session. I thought about that as I was leaving the Capitol around 12:30 Wednesday (THIS) morning. The last people I talked to were the ladies in the chief clerk’s office, working to get things ready for us this morning. They all deserve our thanks for their work on our behalf and they deserve it more often than once a year.

I have to say a special thanks to the Republican Caucus staff. I can’t imagine a better group of people to work with. You all vet out my ideas – help me polish the good ones and make them work and bury from public view the bad ones. You never fail me with my requests for more information. You’re an integral part of our caucus family. Whether it be Mary’s 31 runs on the tax plan, Lon’s ability to track every change in every budget amendment, Ann’s overtime work on the final education package, Lew’s work on renewable fuels, Tim’s efforts to educate me on property rights, Kelly’s tireless effort on state government issues – yes I know you were here at 1:30 this morning, Kristin’s non-stop work to keep me straight on what is happening on enterprise zones, Bruce’s editing, re-editing, and editing again of the caucus newsletter, Brad the Medicaid maniac – you never fail us and we couldn’t do it without you. Jeff, you’re a trusted advisor, and a valued friend. Thank you to all of you.

To Allison, Tim, Becky and Allysa, you are the best team I could ever ask for. Just keeping track of me, has to be a job in itself. Becky makes sure I’m where I should be when I should be. Allison keeps me out of trouble and on task – she is the one who keeps things from falling through the cracks. Tim makes me look like I know what I’m doing when I don’t and takes the heat for me even when I do. Allysa – makes sure I don’t miss all of your votes when your desk voting machines are broken – as they apparently often are. Susan, you don’t work for me, but I still think of you as part of our office family and I want to thank you for your tireless work. I’m glad someone knows “where the bills are.” And Mat, you have been a valuable addition to our team this year.

To my fellow Republican leaders: Cecil, Rod, Libby, Carmen, Danny and Steve, thank you for all of your advice, counsel and extra effort you’ve given to me and our caucus. Mr. Majority Leader, you’ve been an excellent leader for our caucus and a great friend. Thank you for your work. You’ve never been afraid to take the tough votes or unwilling to roll up your sleeves and go to work to do what you think is right. I’m proud to have served along side you.

To my fellow Republicans, what a privilege you have allowed me. I tell the school kids who come visit – It’s the best seat in the House. Thank you for allowing me to sit in it for a while.

Rep. Murphy, thank you for your cooperation this week in helping us move the process as quickly and orderly as possible. To the House Democrats, you fight hard for the issues you believe in. We all do that, people come to this House with strong opinions, and closely held beliefs – and we grapple with those. There is nothing wrong with that philosophical battle, that’s why we were all sent here. I want to thank you for your efforts to break the budgetary log-jam. In my mind, your willingness to embrace our education package was most helpful.

Depending on your perspective, it’s either a good thing or a bad thing that when you are speaker, your first and last public comments are recorded for posterity in the House Journal. I would like leave this last thought as a piece of advice for any future legislature years from now that finds itself with a tied chamber – spend the quarter it would take for a coin flip.

Ladies and Gentlemen of House – enjoy your rest, and thank you for your service.


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