A northeast Iowa Republican is pushing senators to recite the Pledge of Allegiance as the senate opens for business every week day. Senate Rules call for saying the Pledge on the first day of every week the senate is in session.

Senator Bill Dix, a Republican from Shell Rock, used to be a member of the Iowa House. “Seems as though it’s been a custom in the past, at least where I have served in the past, that we say the pledge every day and I’m interested as to why we (are) not saying the pledge here,” Dix said.

 Dix made his comments this morning, just after senators opened their session with a prayer. The senate president told Dix the matter would be referred to the committee that deals with senate operations.

“I would ask that we say it every day.” Dix replied. “We are Americans every day and that’s important to me.” Dix is starting his first term in the state senate. He served 10 years in the Iowa House before an unsuccessful bid for congress in 2006.