Pubdate: Mon, 11 Jan 1999 Source: Omaha World-Herald (NE) Contact: http://www.omaha.com/ Forum: http://chat.omaha.com/ Copyright: 1999 Omaha World-Herald Company. LEGISLATORS' PRIORITY IS EDUCATION TAX CUTS AND ANTI-DRUG MEASURES Iowa lawmakers will face new dynamics today as the 78th General Assembly opens with an agenda expected to center on reforming education, cutting taxes and fighting methamphetamine. Education will be the hot button of the legislative session. Republicans, who control the Legislature, and Democrats, who now hold the governor's seat, agree that legislators will grapple with education proposals while seeking some tax relief as well. "Education, by and large, is going to be done in a bipartisan manner," said House Majority Leader Brent Siegrist, R-Council Bluffs. Over the past 16 years, legislators have filled the opening day with ceremony and procedure as they awaited agenda-setting material from the Condition of the State speech given by Gov. Terry Branstad. But Branstad's speech Tuesday morning is expected to be little more than a fond farewell as he steps aside for Gov.-elect Tom Vilsack, who will be inaugurated Friday. Last year's Legislature was disappointing in that the "Year of Education" turned into an election-year battle that ended with a Branstad veto of a series of education initiatives that he didn't think was strong enough. This year's session isn't expected to have that kind of political posturing, though the Republican-led Legislature now must work with Iowa's first Democratic governor since 1968. Democrats now hold every statewide office except state auditor, while Republicans hold a 56-44 majority in the Iowa House, and carry a 30-19 advantage in the Senate. Republicans picked up two House seats from last year, as well as two in the Senate. A special election on Tuesday in south-central Iowa will fill the seat vacated by Patty Judge, a Democrat who was sworn in last week as agriculture secretary. With a $896 million budget surplus, Republicans want to push a $200 million tax cut. House Speaker Ron Corbett, R-Cedar Rapids, has proposed cuts in property and inheritance taxes. He also has unveiled a plan to simplify the tax code. "We'll have to work with Gov. Vilsack and see if we can get to him something he can sign," Siegrist said. "You may see more disagreement on taxes because we want to cut taxes more than he wants it." Vilsack's campaign centered on a series of education initiatives such as reducing class sizes, rebuilding school infrastructure and increasing teacher pay that would offset any tax cut plans. Vilsack would like to see a more modest proposal for property tax cuts that would reduce the tax load about $100million. "I don't think taxes will be the hot button of the past sessions," Vilsack spokesman Ron Parker said. Republicans and Democrats expect to place strong emphasis on the growing problem of methamphetamine use and production in the state. Law enforcement officials throughout Iowa have been faced with methamphetamine labs, and the drug also flows freely on Iowa's Interstates. Vilsack has proposed life sentences for anyone selling meth to a minor, and both parties have suggested that more money must go toward education and treatment programs as well. With everything on the table, it would seem legislators need to rush into work to finish by mid-May. Much of this week, however, is ceremonial, with speeches from Branstad, Chief Justice Arthur McGiverin's Condition of the Judiciary address and Vilsack's inauguration. "There's not a lot of real action that takes place, but it's always kind of exciting," said Senate Minority Leader Michael Gronstal, D-Council Bluffs. - --- MAP posted-by: Rich O'Grady