DES MOINES — Gov. Terry Branstad’s call to shrink state government while reinvigorating education are good ideas that will take hard work to implement, Secretary of State Matt Schultz said.
“It’s not going to be easy,” said Schultz, a Council Bluffs resident who took office last week.
“There are some tough decisions the governor and Legislature are going to have to make,” he said.
State Sen. Mike Gronstal, D-Council Bluffs, said Democratic lawmakers are ready to look for common ground with the Republican governor.
“We look forward to working with him,” Gronstal said.
Branstad’s return for a fifth term followed a 12-year hiatus. He served his first four terms from 1983 to 1999.
In Friday’s inaugural address, he called for “a new covenant between the state and its people” and said removing the “lead boots” of big government would let Iowa thrive in a new economy.
“Our old ways of doing government business must be radically altered to do the people’s business,” Branstad said.
He cited remarks by State Auditor David Vaudt, who has said that state spending must be reduced by 15 percent to balance Iowa’s books.
“I aim to see that we do it, and that we do it now,” Branstad said.
Estimates differ on the size of the state’s looming budget shortfall, but Republican legislators put the figure at $700 million.
Branstad did not offer a detailed budget plan during his speech, instead focusing on larger themes.
But he should find allies in the Legislature, where Republicans control the House by a 60-40 majority. Democrats have a slim 26-23 majority in the Senate with the final seat being filled in a special election next week.
Branstad laid out five principles for his new approach:
>> Iowa has too much government at all levels — state, county, city, school, local.
>> Government should serve the people, not the other way around.
>> There should be more transparency in government.
>> Iowa needs a renewed commitment to education.
>> The state’s tax system should be overhauled to reward job creation.
Along with balancing the books, Branstad said he wants to focus on improving education. He plans a summit with education leaders and said the state needs ways to “get rid of teachers whose students consistently do not learn enough.”
“Sadly, where once Iowa’s education system was the envy of the world, today it is in the middle of the pack,” he said. “It is time to put in place reforms that are the hallmarks of high-performing school systems — starting with assuring there is a first-rate teacher in every classroom.”
Rep. John Wittneben, D-Estherville, said he was heartened by the governor’s words.
“I was encouraged when Gov. Branstad said education was a cornerstone of his commitment. So I hope the majority party will follow the lead of the governor and keep education a key component,” Wittneben said.
However, Wittneben said he is concerned that Republicans might be too severe in cutting government programs.
“We don’t want to spend (money) needlessly, but we don’t want to see cuts to programs that are creating jobs and helping children,” he said.
Rep. Matt Windschitl, R-Missouri Valley, said Branstad’s remarks touched on the same issues that “House Republicans have been talking about since we hit the campaign trail last year.”
GOP lawmakers will seek input from Democratic lawmakers and everyday Iowans in trying to meet their goals, Windschitl said.
“It’s not going to be easy,” he said. “At the end of the day, not everybody is going to be happy with what we accomplish.”
Gronstal, the Senate’s majority leader, complimented Branstad’s speech. “He can advocate strongly for what he believes in. We will advocate strongly for what we believe in. And we will work together to find common ground,” Gronstal said.
Shortly after being sworn in, Branstad signed executive orders rescinding two actions of his immediate predecessors, Democratic Govs. Chet Culver and Tom Vilsack.
Branstad halted use of “project labor agreements” that gave preference to contractors who spelled out workers’ pay and benefits in state projects totaling $25 million or more. Critics said the agreements favored contractors who used union labor over nonunion contractors and drove up costs.
The governor also rescinded an order that automatically restored felons’ voting rights after they serve their sentences. Schultz earlier this week had urged Branstad to return to the previous procedure of requiring former inmates to petition the governor to regain their voting rights.
Branstad already was Iowa’s longest-serving governor, and his fifth term only adds to that tenure. After stepping down in 1999, Branstad became president of a large medical school in Des Moines.
The day of receptions and meetings was capped by an inaugural ball Friday night.
Acknowledging the state’s difficult economy, Branstad scaled back inauguration activities and raised private funds for them. He said any surplus will go for scholarships for needy students.
This report includes material from the Associated Press.
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