This week’s newsletter from Peter Cownie provides some insight into some of his goals as a legislator. Helping keep young people in Iowa after they graduate from high school and/or college has been a challenge in recent decades. Reasons for the large numbers of youth leaving the state range from financial opportunity to entertainment to lifestyle. Ultimately, jobs are key, and attracting young people means attracting companies. Peter also looks at ways to promote staying in Iowa for college education.

The best question a citizen can ask a person seeking public office is: why are you doing this? Every candidate should have a passion for what he/she is trying to accomplish and remember that passion each time he/she makes a decision. I was asked this question more than any other during the campaign. My answer is simple: I want to see more young people in Iowa. I grew up in Iowa and I want to [...]

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Tags: 2009 Iowa General Assembly, Bob Brownell, Chris Hagenow, Jobs, Keeping Iowa Youth In Iowa, Pat Ward, Peter Cownie

Monday January 12 will be the opening session of the 2009 General Assembly. This year’s session timetable is here. As was the case the pass two years, both the House and the Senate have Democratic majorities.

We urge you, as the session progresses, to take the time to communicate with your elected representatives. Go to this link, and find your representative’s name, click on it, and you’ll get phone numbers, email addresses, information about committee assignments and links to bill sponsorships. I will be in contact with Peter Cownie and Pat Ward, the House and Senate members who represent me here in West Des Moines.

I exchanged emails with Peter last week. This is his freshman years in the Statehouse, and he managed to get assigned to Appropriations, Economic Growth, Educatio nand Labor committees, and on Appropriations, he is the ranking member of the Economic Development subcommittee. He told me that this year is pretty much all about the Budget.

Which leads me [...]