Keeping our communities safe
Where we live, work and play gives us all a sense of peace and security. Though Iowa ranks 8th in safest neighborhoods in the country, many of our communities are plagued with the threat of violence, drugs, and pedophiles. Keeping our communities safe is a top priority. I believe it is important to go back to the way neighborhoods were when I was growing up. To help make neighborhoods safe, it is important that people do three things:

1. form or join neighborhood associations.
2. strengthen relationships with local law enforcement agencies, and
3. get to know your neighbors.

Children /Youth
Because Iowa is one of the top states where both parents have to work, many children are left home alone after school. Providing a safe place for children before and after school hours is critical. I believe it is important that children are involved in structured activities before and after school hours. During the 2002 session, I introduced legislation that would enable programs that not only keep kids safe, but would also engage children in enriching opportunities. Research and program evaluations have shown that well-designed, quality afterschool programs not only keep children safe and help working families, but also improve learning, academic performance, and social skills of youth.

Education
The words of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. ring true, “education is the key out of poverty”. The development of a child should begin early on, before entering kindergarten. During the 2005 session, early childhood education was funded at $20 million - this is a start. All children should have access to preschool to better equip them for learning in k-12. It is critical to make sure Iowa's public schools and universities receive the funding they need to keep education top-notch in this state. As our economy grows, available funds should be used to fund our public schools and our universities. It’s the responsibility of our state to provide a quality education by ensuring reduced class sizes, access to technology, quality afterschool programs and a positive, healthy, learning environment for every Iowa child.

Economic Development
While programs such as the Grow Iowa Values Fund and Vision Iowa helped our state to compete for new businesses, we need to continue to think ahead when it comes to business growth. We also need to provide incentives to businesses to locate in communities that are depressed economically and need a development boost, but we also need skilled workers. Training programs that help ready new employees for work at local companies such as John Deere, Omega Cabinets, Rockwell Automation, Viking Pump, etc., keep our workforce active and our economy viable. As Iowa becomes more diverse, we also need to train employers to better understand Iowa’s changing demographics.

Jobs
When we have an illiterate workforce we have increased employment costs. It is critical that Iowa has a workforce that is well-educated. This means lower start up and training costs, fewer on the job accidents, and workers who are motivated and who take pride in the contribution they make to the company.

Health Insurance
In Iowa, 329,000 Iowans have no health insurance. There are two areas we must focus on: first, it is important to assist businesses through our economic assistance programs, and those companies that the state does business with, to provide health insurance for their employees; second, we must provide health care for those who are not able to provide for themselves. IowaCare is a Medicaid expansion program that provides hospital and physician services for people with limited incomes who are not eligible for Medicaid. Since July 2005, 8,000 Iowans have applied to IowaCare. This plan provides those Iowans with a sense of security when it comes to having medical coverage.

Energy
We have all been affected by higher energy costs. When I go to the gas pump, it is obvious that gas prices continue to rise. However, these prices have risen disproportionately in comparison to the price increases per barrel of oil. A recent study affirms that huge profits are being made at our - the consumer’s - expense. Recent skyrocketing prices can not be solely, or even mostly, attributed to Hurricane Katrina. The bottom line is that we must become independent of foreign oil. We must find new and cheaper alternative forms of energy. Fortunately, Iowa is on the cutting edge with ethanol and in developing alternative fuels such as solar energy, wind energy, etc. Since “Iowa” is synonymous to “agriculture”, it only makes sense to require gasoline in Iowa be blended with ethanol.