Democratic leaders tour state to discuss 2010 priorities

Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal of Council Bluffs

Senate President Jack Kibbie of Emmetsburg

On Thursday and Friday Democratic leaders of the Senate and House crisscrossed the state discussing legislative priorities for the 2010 session. They pledged to act responsibly to keep the state’s fiscal house in order and to create good-paying jobs, help small businesses expand, and make sure the unemployed get the skills they need to land a job.

Leaders visited Cedar Rapids, Waterloo, Waverly, Mason City, Sioux City, Muscatine, Davenport, Oelwein, Decorah, Washington, Fairfield, Ottumwa, Oskaloosa, and Marshalltown.

That’s quite a road trip!

I’ve compiled some of the coverage of their tour below:

• KWWL Waterloo – “Democrats talk legislative priorities for upcoming session“
• KGLO Mason City – Audio and video of the entire meeting (Facebook)
• Mason City Globe Gazette – “‘Bumpy ride’ coming for 2010 legislative session”
• Waverly Democrat – “Senators have hope for future among recession, budget cuts”
• Muscatine Journal – “Legislators look on the bright side”
• DecorahNews.com – “Beard and Wilhelm agree: no state tax increases in 2010″
• Fort Dodge Messenger – “Kibbie prepares”
• Oskaloosa Herald – “Balancing state budget, efficiency focus for legislators”
• KWPC Muscatine – “State Leaders Meet in Muscatine”
• Ottumwa Courier – “Legislative briefing: Upcoming session could be rough”
• Sioux City Journal – “Gronstal aims to cut session short”
• KPTH Fox 44 Sioux City – “Legislators Discuss Upcoming Issues in Sioux City”
• Marshalltown Times-Republican – “Jobs and balanced budget top legislative priorities in 2010″
• Webster City Daily Freeman-Journal – “Budget, jobs, families top issues for legislature”
• Oelwein Daily Register – “Money, Money, Money, is what lawmakers have on their minds as they head into upcoming session”
• Decorah Journal – “House speaker Murphy pledges no tax increase”

Here’s the joint statement from Senator Gronstal and Senator Kibbie:

“With the national recession still causing pain for many middle class families, we will work to create good-paying jobs, help small businesses expand, and make sure the unemployed get the skills they need to land a job.

“Even though the recession has eroded state revenues, we will continue to balance the state budget without raising taxes. There are tough choices ahead, but we will take quick action in 2010 to reorganize state government, find efficiencies, and deliver services to Iowans more effectively.

“We will listen to Iowans and act responsibly to keep the state’s fiscal house in order. That includes bringing accountability to tax credits for big corporations. All spending by the state, including tax credits, should be a matter of public record for all Iowa taxpayers to see. Those that are successfully creating jobs should be continued. Those that aren’t should be eliminated.

“Iowans can be assured that we will not leave our kids behind in these tough times. We will ensure every Iowa kid gets a world-class education and has quality health care.”