New leader wants legislators to mix

A newly-elected leader of House Republicans plans to have rural legislatorsspend time in cities — and force urban lawmakers to spend time on the farm.Representative Christopher Rants, a republican from Sioux City, was votedHouse Majority Leader-elect this past Thursday. He says it is important forlegislators to hear all points of view.Rants wants republicans to develop a “strategic plan.”Rants will take over as House Majority Leader at the end of the 1999legislative session. House Speaker Ron Corbett’s leaving, and BrentSiegrist of Council Bluffs has been selected to take Corbett’s job.