Below is the Governor¹s Press Release of today setting the date and
priorities for a Special Session on November 8. You can see that he
maintains his priorities of K-12 education and law enforcement, and does not
hold harmless the things we are most concerned about.

More later.

I thought you would want to receive this as soon as possible.

Lyle

------ Forwarded Message
From: Elisabeth Buck <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Mon, 22 Oct 2001 11:15:25 -0500
Subject: FW: Vilsack, Pederson set priorities for special legislative sess
ion 10.22.01

>  <<special session priorties 10.22.01.doc>>
> 
> For immediate release                            For
> more information:
> Monday, October 22, 2001        Joe Shannahan, 515-281-0173
> 
> Vilsack, Pederson set priorities for special legislative session
> 
> DES MOINES - Governor Tom Vilsack announced today that he will call the
> Iowa Legislature back into session on November 8 to restore funding to the
> key priorities of public safety, public defense, and K - 12 education.
> Vilsack also announced today the 4.3 percent across-the-board budget cut
> will become effective on November 1.
> 
> "In the wake of September 11 and the need for Iowans to feel secure, I
> will insist that lawmakers restore funding to public safety and public
> defense during the special session," Vilsack said.  "I am also confident
> that we can work in a bipartisan effort to restore as much funding as
> possible to Iowa's local K - 12 schools.  Restoring funds to local schools
> will help maintain stability in children's lives."
> 
> Earlier this month, the state's economic forecasting panel projected a
> $158 million shortfall in the state's revenue for the current year's
> budget.  Vilsack responded immediately by announcing his intention to
> order a 4.3 percent across-the-board budget cut to save approximately $200
> million.  Because Iowa law does not grant the governor the power to make
> selective cuts to help balance the budget, Vilsack is calling lawmakers
> back into a special legislative session to restore funding to key
> priorities. 
> 
> Vilsack noted that it would take roughly $3 million to restore funds to
> public safety and public defense.  Vilsack was hopeful that lawmakers
> would agree with him to restore additional funding to local schools.
> 
> "While working to keep the state's budget in balance, we have consistently
> worked to protect the priorities of Iowans," Vilsack said.  "We know that
> budget constraints will make it difficult to adequately fund local schools
> but we should make every effort to preserve this priority."
> 
> "I am hopeful that lawmakers will work with us in a bipartisan manner to
> meet the needs of Iowans," Vilsack said.  "During these difficult times,
> we need to cooperate and unite to ensure Iowa's budget and priorities are
> balanced."
> 
> 
> ####
------ End of Forwarded Message