Government : The Driscoll Dispatch

We have officially started the 2021 legislative session, and it has been a very busy week. Although this is my first year at the Capitol, returning members had to adjust to new changes due to the pandemic to try to keep everyone in the building safe but still conduct our work and give the public access to their elected officials.

The first week is busy with a number of traditions organizing a new Senate and a new session. Eight new members were sworn in, including seven new members to the Republican caucus, one of whom was me. I am positive that we will all be great additions to the Senate and I look forward to hearing about their ideas for the challenges and issues we will be dealing with this session.

There were many firsts for me throughout the week. Monday, I was sworn in as the State Senator for District 38. This was a memorable experience and I was blessed to be surrounded by my family and colleagues on this special day. Since then, I have attended many meetings with my fellow senators and representatives. Along with adjusting to my duties as a senator, I have become accustomed to living in Des Moines for the majority of the week. I have gotten all settled in and have taken some time to explore what I will call "home" for the next couple of months. It is amazing to experience the city life but I will forever love the feeling of being at home on the farm.

This week, I attended Governor Reynolds' Condition of the State Address. She spoke of the determination of Iowans to meet every challenge the state faced this past year and undoubtedly come out stronger. A year ago, our unemployment rate was one of the lowest in the country and our economy was strong. Then, it felt like everything was halted in an instant - we had to learn how to protect our livelihoods during a pandemic and pick up after the derecho swept across our state.

These challenges the state has faced does not mean we will be complacent at the Capitol. Our unemployment rate is getting lower and our GDP is growing again. Yet, we still have work to do to make Iowa even stronger.

I am encouraged by the initiatives Governor Reynolds has laid out for this legislative session and I look forward to working with the House of Representatives to send strong legislation to her desk. We have the opportunity to work together to improve our state's access to high-speed broadband and get Iowa back to work. We will also work towards the goal of continuing to support programs to provide the education or training needed to fill job openings in Iowa.

Reflecting back on the week, it has been amazing, stress-inducing, and most importantly inspiring. The friendly Iowa welcome and dedication I have seen from my colleagues gives me confidence that we will accomplish many good things this session.

2021 Senate Agenda

Every year the first day of the legislative session features opening remarks from the President of the Senate, the Majority Leader and Minority Leader. Many things are different during the 2021 legislative session, but this tradition remained.

These speeches lay out the vision and broad themes of the agenda for the upcoming session. Senator Jack Whitver has been Majority Leader since 2018. He focused on rebuilding the economy in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic:

"This year we are focused on putting our state back on a path of success and prosperity after all these challenges. To paraphrase Ronald Reagan: the best recovery plan is a job. This recovery plan means sticking to those same principles guiding us for the last several years. It means freedom to work. It means continuing our work on tax reform, and putting more money back into the pockets of Iowans. It means ensuring the best education for Iowa students, in the classroom, where they learn best."