Senators reach agreement on power share

Democrats and republican leaders have reached a tentative deal on how to share power after the election left the Senate split 25-25 for each party. Senate democratic leader Mike Gronstal says he’s willing to accept the proposal put forward by republicans last week that calls for co-chairs of committees, co-floor leaders and rotating the Senate presidency each year. Gronstal says the parties should flip a coin to see which one elects the first president. He says that seems to make the most sense, but they both have to convince their party caucus members. Gronstal, who’s from Council Bluffs, says he’ll urge fellow democrats not to try and take advantage of the one-vote edge they hold over republicans while Senator Chuck Larson is serving in Iraq. Gronstal admits some members of the party would like to exploit that edge.He says members and non-members of the Senate would like to do that, but he says it might make them feel good on opening day, but he says it would undermine attempts to get anything done. Senate Republican leader Stewart Iverson of Dows agrees that taking advantage of Larson’s abscence would set the wrong tone. Iverson says democrats would then be fair game if one of their members is absent. He says they wouldn’t know what would happen then if Larsen gets back. And then if Senator Warnstadt, a democrat from Sioux City got activated, then the republicans would have an advantage. Warnstadt serves in the Iowa National Guard. Leaders from both parties say now it’s better to work together on legislation rather than try to take advantage of any sudden abscences.