Senate Republicans remove Wieck from leadership
By Fred Love, Journal Des Moines Bureau | Posted: Wednesday, November 19, 2008
DES MOINES -- Republicans in the Iowa Senate changed their leadership during a caucus on Tuesday after losing seats in the Nov. 4 election.
Sen. Paul McKinley, R-Chariton, took the minority leader spot from Sen. Ron Wieck, R-Sioux City, during a closed-door vote at the State Capitol.
Wieck became minority leader in 2007 after Mary Lundby, a former state senator from Marion, relinquished the position. McKinley also sought the leadership spot after Lundby stepped down last year.
Wieck didn't return a phone call Tuesday after the caucus.
The leadership vote comes on the heels of an election in which Democrats strengthened their holds on both chambers of the Legislature. The most recent tallies show Democrats picking up two seats in the Senate, stretching their majority to 32-18.
But a Senate race in Black Hawk County is heading toward a recount after certified results showed Democratic incumbent Jeff Danielson of Cedar Falls with a slim lead over Republican challenger Walt Rogers.
McKinley, a businessman and manufacturer who was first elected to the Senate in 2000, said during a press conference on Tuesday that his business experience has positioned him to lead the party on economic issues and job creation.
"I believe that Iowa is facing a situation now, and many Iowans are facing that situation, that I as a young businessman 30 years ago faced," he said. He listed high gas prices and a stagnant economy as obstacles that hamper job growth today that he said he has dealt with as a business owner. McKinley said the last two years in the Legislature have brought "runaway spending," and said Senate Republicans will push for a fiscally sound budget in anticipation of slowing revenues.
Senate Republicans also chose Steve Kettering of Lake View as minority whip. Assistant minority leaders are David Johnson of Ocheyedan, Pat Ward of West Des Moines, Brad Zaun of Urbandale and Nancy Boettger of Harlan.
Ward said McKinley's business experience will strengthen the party's grasp of economic issues, and she stressed party unity after the caucus vote. "We came together as a team and decided we needed some new energy," she said.
Republicans in the Iowa House also reshuffled their leadership earlier this month after taking electoral losses. They voted to replace former leader, Rep. Christopher Rants of Sioux City, with Rep. Kraig Paulsen of Hiawatha.
Democrats control a 56-44 majority in the House, with recounts pending in two races.
Democrats in both chambers have voted to keep their leadership the same for the upcoming session.
Fred Love can be reached at (515) 243-0138 or fred.love@lee.net.
Sen. Paul McKinley, R-Chariton, took the minority leader spot from Sen. Ron Wieck, R-Sioux City, during a closed-door vote at the State Capitol.
Wieck became minority leader in 2007 after Mary Lundby, a former state senator from Marion, relinquished the position. McKinley also sought the leadership spot after Lundby stepped down last year.
Wieck didn't return a phone call Tuesday after the caucus.
The leadership vote comes on the heels of an election in which Democrats strengthened their holds on both chambers of the Legislature. The most recent tallies show Democrats picking up two seats in the Senate, stretching their majority to 32-18.
But a Senate race in Black Hawk County is heading toward a recount after certified results showed Democratic incumbent Jeff Danielson of Cedar Falls with a slim lead over Republican challenger Walt Rogers.
McKinley, a businessman and manufacturer who was first elected to the Senate in 2000, said during a press conference on Tuesday that his business experience has positioned him to lead the party on economic issues and job creation.
"I believe that Iowa is facing a situation now, and many Iowans are facing that situation, that I as a young businessman 30 years ago faced," he said. He listed high gas prices and a stagnant economy as obstacles that hamper job growth today that he said he has dealt with as a business owner. McKinley said the last two years in the Legislature have brought "runaway spending," and said Senate Republicans will push for a fiscally sound budget in anticipation of slowing revenues.
Senate Republicans also chose Steve Kettering of Lake View as minority whip. Assistant minority leaders are David Johnson of Ocheyedan, Pat Ward of West Des Moines, Brad Zaun of Urbandale and Nancy Boettger of Harlan.
Ward said McKinley's business experience will strengthen the party's grasp of economic issues, and she stressed party unity after the caucus vote. "We came together as a team and decided we needed some new energy," she said.
Republicans in the Iowa House also reshuffled their leadership earlier this month after taking electoral losses. They voted to replace former leader, Rep. Christopher Rants of Sioux City, with Rep. Kraig Paulsen of Hiawatha.
Democrats control a 56-44 majority in the House, with recounts pending in two races.
Democrats in both chambers have voted to keep their leadership the same for the upcoming session.
Fred Love can be reached at (515) 243-0138 or fred.love@lee.net.
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IowaBoy wrote on Nov 19, 2008 10:50 AM: