The 2005 session of the Iowa Legislature is off and running. I am privileged to be starting my ninth year as your representative from House District 29. Much like the beginning of a school year, my first week was a time to reconnect with colleagues, staff and members of the lobby. I attended several initial organizational committee meetings and a variety of receptions. I worked on filing bills requested by constituents and getting my desk organized for the session. I am grateful that Adam Phillips is returning as my House Clerk. Adam is a graduate of UNI and Lisbon High School.

I have been assigned to the Standing Committees of Education, Judiciary and Human Resources. I will also be serving as the Ranking member of the Health and Human Services Joint Appropriations Subcommittee. That committee is responsible for the budgets of the Department of Public Health and the Department of Human Services. The biggest part of the budget in those departments is the Medicaid budget. Medicaid provides health care services for 300,000 Iowans, about 1 of every 10 Iowans.

It is gratifying to see the enthusiasm of the new members of the Iowa Legislature. We welcomed twelve new members to the House. The balance of power in the Iowa House of Representatives is nearly even as we now have 51 Republicans and 49 Democrats. The Iowa Senate is a dead heat with a 25-25 split.

This even split in power means that we must work together to achieve goals acceptable to all legislators and all Iowans. We know our areas of agreement: the need to revive the Iowa Values Fund; the need to invest in our schools and our children’s future; the need to address the Medicaid crisis in Iowa; and the need to reform Iowa’s tax system, especially our property tax system.

On Tuesday, in his Condition of the State Address, Governor Vilsack came to the Legislature and laid out his goals and priorities for the session. The Governor called for action on early childhood care, health and education, improving the economic condition of the state, maintaining a strong Medicaid program and making Iowa a better place to live by investing in our communities.

Acknowledging the nearly equally divided and split Legislature, the Governor asked that we put aside party politics, partisanship and ideology. Vilsack said: “Let us commit to governing as one—no Republican agenda, no Democrat agenda—just simply one, common, shared Iowa agenda”.

On Wednesday, the Chief Justice of the Iowa Supreme Court, Louis Lavorato, gave his State of the Judiciary Address to the General Assembly. Chief Justice Lavorato expressed significant concern about reduced citizen access to the courts and our justice system as result of ongoing budget cuts. He implored the legislature to restore funding or risk serious consequences to our system of justice.

There is no doubt that five years of budget cuts to the court system has had a cumulative impact. With fewer court personnel, hearings are frequently delayed. The courts are actually closed some days, because staff is furloughed in order to balance the court’s budget. This brings to mind the saying, “justice delayed is justice denied”.

We face serious problems, but we can find solutions if we have the will and the ability to work together. Iowans will judge this session on our ability to compromise and reach consensus. We must work together to make Iowa the best place to live, work and raise a family.

You can write me at the State Capitol, Des Moines, IA 50319; call me at 515/281-7328 or e-mail me at ro.foege@legis.state.ia.us.

Ro

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