Legislators Get to Work

By John Drury

There was an interesting article in the Mason City Globe Gazette the other day. Todd Dorman, their Des Moines Bureau correspondent recently wrote about the new legislature getting to work in Des Moines. The focus of the article was on the opening day of the legislative session and how the new Republican minority is adjusting to the new Democratic majority. 

Since Democrats haven’t been the majority party in the legislature since 1992, it was interesting to hear what some of my local Republican legislators had to say about the new lineup.

Republican Representative Linda Upmeyer, almost gracefully said that she understands that things will change and it will take some getting used to.

Republican Senator E. Thurman Gaskill made an attempt at taking the high road and said that he was humbled to serve, regardless of who is in the majority.

And then there’s Henry. Republican Representative Henry Rayhons was actually quoted as saying, “In general, things are going pretty good. I’m not going to ask for too much for North Iowa.”

Well, since opening day, Representative Rayhons has voted against raising the minimum wage, and voted against the putting a cap on car title loans. Other north Iowa legislators have supported both measures.

The minimum wage, although watered down significantly from where it should be, will improve the lives of thousands of north Iowans.

Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller has called car title lending one of the worst consumer practices he’s seen in his 25 years on the job. This bill caps interest rates for these loans at 21 percent and apparently Representative Rayhons thinks this is a bad idea.

These two bills are both aimed at helping many north Iowans who are struggling to make ends meet and should have been supported by all of our legislators.

Well, at least Representative Rayhons has turned out to be a man of his word. He really isn’t going to ask for too much for North Iowa.

George W. Bush finally announces that it’s time for a new strategy in Iraq. Like it or not, he is sending 21,500 additional troops into Baghdad with the hopes that this “surge” will win his war.

In response to overwhelming opposition to this “plan”, Bush has said, “to oppose everything while proposing nothing is irresponsible,” which is kind of like saying, “well, this plan is better than nothing.”

Is it just me or does anyone else think that we should expect more from our Commander-in-Chief than to come up with a strategy that not even he can defend?

Impeach.

John Drury, Mayor
205 6^th Street
Swaledale, IA 50477