Legislature opens session looking for ways to handle budget

The Iowa Legislature is in session. The gavels fell in the House and Senate at 10 o’clock this morning. House Republican Leader Christopher Rants of Sioux City joked about the weather, saying he’s not sure if it’s a good or bad omen that Des Moines had its first snowfall today. He says it’s going to be a “stormy enough session.” Legislators face a challenging year, as the state budget is tight, and some programs must be cut. House Speaker Brent Siegrist is a republican from Council Bluffs. He says the governor hasn’t rolled out a bunch of expensive programs and should be commended for that.Senate Republican Leader Stewart Iverson of Dows says legislators will try to grow the state’s economy, not the state budget. Senate President Mary Kramer, a republican from West Des Moines, says priorities become far more important when resources are scarce. Kramer says they know the size of the pie, now the game is how big to cut the pieces of the pie.