Helping grow the economy, and helping working Iowa families, means the Senate and House must continue to expand Iowa’s clean energy economy, a source of good wages and economic advantage ….now and into the future.

Helping grow the economy and helping working Iowa families means taking steps to protect our quality of life. This includes ensuring that EVERY Iowa child has access to early childhood education and to affordable health care coverage. We will not fail to fund Iowa’s future on our watch.

Helping grow the economy and helping working Iowa families means continuing to reform, downsize and streamline state government. We took giant steps during the 2010 session. Those steps made it possible to balance the state budget without raising taxes. We will do more in 2011.

This is a bold agenda ….but it can be accomplished if Democrats and Republicans listen to their constituents and work together for the next four months.

Colleagues, I assure you that Iowans, especially Iowa’s small business owners and employers, are paying attention. That’s why I’m asking every Senator and Representative, Democrat and Republican, newcomers and veteran legislators alike, to join me in making a pledge to all of Iowa’s small business owners and their employees:

We, the members of the Iowa Legislature, pledge to work with ANYONE who has a good idea for helping Iowans recover from the recession and we commit ourselves to staying focused on doing everything possible to help Iowa recover and prosper once again.”

As the leader of the Iowa Senate, that’s my pledge to you, to all Iowans and especially to Iowa’s small business owners and employees.