Vilsack blasts Iraq policy during final ‘State’ speech
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By Todd Dorman | Wednesday, January 10, 2007 |
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Gov. Tom Vilsack delivers his final Condition of the State address before a joint session of the Iowa Legislature on Tuesday at the Statehouse in Des Moines. The address was Vilsack’s final speech on the condition of the state as Chet Culver will be sworn into office on Friday.
DES MOINES — Gov. Tom Vilsack veered into the red-hot debate over the Iraq war during his final Condition of the State speech Tuesday, drawing cheers from his fellow Democrats while striking a nerve with Republican lawmakers.
The roughly 40-minute speech underwent a transformation not unlike that of its author. Vilsack entered the House chamber as a governor determined to tout his achievements and departed as a presidential candidate intent on staking out his opposition to an unpopular war.
Although much of the speech was focused on state issues, Vilsack departed from his prepared text near its conclusion to assail President Bush’s plan to send more troops into the conflict. He called on the Iowa House and Senate to approve resolutions opposing the strategy.
“This war has cost us a lot,” Vilsack said. “It has hollowed out our military. It has, in my view, weakened our National Guard, and it puts our nation at risk.
“Now the president and Congress are poised to make a big mistake even bigger,” Vilsack said. “As governor and as the commander in chief, I have an obligation to speak out and to urge the president and Congress not to put more Iowans and Americans in harm’s way in Iraq.”
Vilsack also argued that sectarian violence in Iraq has its roots in intolerance based on “blood and belief.” He then urged lawmakers to stand up to intolerance at home by passing legislation requiring schools to protect students, including gays and lesbians, from bullying.
Passage, he argued, would also honor the sacrifice of U.S. troops.
“We can honor their sacrifice by promoting tolerance, understanding and compassion for those who are different from us,” Vilsack said. “The current strife in Iraq stems from a failure to accept diversity of blood and belief.”
Reactions to Vilsack’s foray into foreign policy split largely along partisan lines. Most Democrats stood and cheered while most Republicans sat in stone-faced silence. Democrats took control of the General Assembly this week.
“I wish he’d campaign on his own time, not the people’s time,” said Rep. Jamie Van Fossen, R-Davenport. “He’s here as the governor of Iowa. Leave that campaigning for when he’s done in a week.”
House Minority Leader Christopher Rants, R-Sioux City, took issue with Vilsack’s latest call for an anti-bullying bill. The GOP blocked the bill in recent years.
“The thing I thought was inappropriate was trying to tie the memory of our fallen soldiers to this notion of providing special rights to gays and lesbians in our schools,” Rants said. “I don’t think that’s how our soldiers necessarily want their sacrifice to be remembered.”
Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal, D-Council Bluffs, disagreed.
“I don’t think anybody in this state should be subject to getting beat up because somebody doesn’t like what they’re doing,” Gronstal said. “I think that’s wrong.”
Democrats are expected to approve anti-bullying legislation, and Governor-elect Chet Culver has said he would sign it.
Democratic leaders, however, did not commit to opening up a legislative debate on the Iraq war. Four years ago, Republicans who controlled the Legislature sparked a long, contentious debate by pushing resolutions in support of the war.
“I think that’s something we’ll have to go to caucus and discuss,” said House Speaker Pat Murphy, D-Dubuque. “This is one of the biggest issues facing Americans today.”
Rants predicted a lengthy debate if the resolution comes to the House floor.
“That will be a very large debate,” Rants said. “It’s designed to embarrass the president.”
A day before giving his speech, Vilsack acknowledged the occasion would give him a high-profile chance to air his views in a state where precinct caucuses start the race for the White House in 2008.
“We have to win here,” Vilsack said in an interview. “There’s no question about that, and everybody knows it.”
But before striking a nerve, Vilsack spent much of his speech trying to strike a chord of cooperation and accomplishment. He spent 13 minutes, for example, thanking leaders on both sides of the partisan aisle and his wife, Christie.
He also argued that Iowa is better off than it was eight years ago when he took office.
Vilsack said Iowa’s environment, its schools and its economy have improved during his two terms in office. He contends the state is leading an “energy revolution” through its commitment to the development of renewable energy sources.
He argued his administration’s efforts to welcome newcomers made Iowa a more tolerant place. And programs such as Vision Iowa and the Iowa Values Fund have fueled new economic optimism in communities where local attractions and jobs were created with state financial help.
“Frankly, our team did a hell of a job, and I’m proud of it,” Vilsack told reporters during a briefing before his speech.
Todd Dorman can be contacted at (515) 243-0138 or at todd.dorman@lee.net.
AREA COMMENTS
Rep. Jim Lykam, D-Davenport: “I’ve been impressed with the governor’s eight years ... and we have a lot of work to do, but I think he gave us a great foundation to work from.”
Rep. Jamie Van Fossen, R-Davenport: “I wish he’d campaign on his own time, not the people’s time. He’s here as the governor of Iowa. Leave that campaigning for when he’s done in a week. What does the governor of a very small state have to say about the war except maybe that we’ve got some National Guard troops going over there? That’s part of the agreement with the federal government that helps fund the National Guard.”
Unfinished work
Gov. Tom Vilsack said Iowa’s new leaders face big challenges as he leaves office:
* Education — Vilsack applauded calls for higher teacher salaries but insists lawmakers must also change the way teachers are paid. He also said more progress must be made in making college more affordable and in cutting high school dropout rates of minority students.
* Health care — Vilsack said Iowa’s new leaders have a chance to provide every Iowan access to health insurance. “We’re about there. Let’s get the job done,” Vilsack told reporters Tuesday. He also asked lawmakers to take steps to curb teen smoking and lift the ban he signed outlawing some types of stem cell research using nuclear transplants.
* The economy — Vilsack urged Statehouse leaders to continue funding for the Great Places program and to focus the Iowa Values Fund on energy-related development projects.
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