Senate Leader Jerry Behn Criticizes State Democrats for Lack of Focus

As the 2012 legislative session enters its third month, Iowans are still wondering when they are going to see movement on issues in the Iowa Senate that are of importance to them.

Senate Republicans made it very clear from the beginning of session that our focus would be on putting more Iowans back to work and letting Iowans keep more of their hard earned money.

What does that mean?

• It means passing a budget that is free of gimmicks, spends less than we take in, saves for the future and is balanced without raising taxes.

• It means having permanent, aggressive and authentic property tax relief for all classes of property.

• It means having government regulation reform that eliminates unnecessary regulations without jeopardizing the safety and health of hardworking Iowans.

• It means having true education reform that gives our kids the tools they need to succeed in this increasingly competitive global economy.

In fact, Senate Republicans have offered literally dozens of pieces of legislation aimed at growing our state’s economy and making government more efficient and effective.

Yet, almost none of those bills have seen the light of day.

Partisanship and politics continues to trump good policy.

Instead, we end up only debating two types of bills: those that are non-controversial and have minimal impact on everyday Iowans or those sponsored by Senate Democrats that only continue to spend more money, give union bosses more power and strip away more of our freedoms and liberties.

What about extensive government regulatory reform or aggressive and permanent property tax relief? 

How about education reform to make our schools the best in the world again?

What about helping our state budget situation by requiring legislators and government workers to pay a portion of their health insurance?

The simple answer is that all of that has taken a back seat to the Senate Democrats’ alternative agenda. 

To date, Senate Democrats seem uninterested or worse – outright opposed – to moving forward on those issues that are of importance to hardworking Iowans.

The great people of this state deserve better.

Shouldn’t the hardworking taxpayers of Iowa get some measurable results from their legislators?

Senate Republicans think so.

We will continue to make our case because it is the right thing to do.

It is not too late to have these important discussions, but it will take a major shift in mentality of the Senate Democrats to make that happen.

It would be a real shame if we missed this golden opportunity to make our state more competitive and to give our citizens – present and future – a brighter and more hopeful future.

As always, I want to hear from you and can be reached by phone at 515-281-3560 or by e-mail at Jerry.Behn@legis.iowa.gov

Jerry Behn

Senate Republican Leader

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