DES MOINES, Iowa – Iowa House Majority Leader Matt Windschitl, R-Missouri Valley, gave remarks after the Iowa House of Representatives gaveled in for the 2021 legislative session of the 89th General Assembly.
Before he gave his prepared remarks, he addressed what Iowa House Minority Leader Todd Pritchard, D-Charles City, said during his opening remarks about the violence at the U.S. Capitol building last week. Windschitl said regardless of ideology whether it was the riots this summer or the riot at the Capitol, violence is not ok.
You can watch his remarks above or read the transcript of his remarks, as prepared for delivery, below:
Ladies and gentlemen of the 89th General Assembly, congratulations on your successful elections and welcome to the Iowa House. Running for elected office is not always an easy decision, and as we all know getting elected can be even more difficult. Thank you for your willingness to serve the people of Iowa and thank you also to your support teams back home. I for one know I could not do this job without the support of my wife Ivelisse or our daughters Anna and Addy. Thank you, ladies, for all you do to allow me to serve. I would also like to thank my constituents back home for giving me the privilege to be their voice in this building. I would also like to thank the House Republican caucus for trusting this knuckle dragging Marine to be their Majority Leader. It is an honor to serve all of you.
Our great country and state are going through extremely unprecedented times right now, and it is incumbent on all of us, as leaders throughout our state, to come together and embrace our shared values. We must lead by example and show Iowans that despite political differences we can work together for the betterment of those we serve. We have all witnessed the dysfunction that often comes out of Washington D.C., let us endeavor to not fall into the same partisan gridlock. When we see injustices let us all call them out together, put partisan ideologies aside, and move forward towards a solution.
We have a great deal of work ahead of us and I look forward to working with all of you to accomplish good public policy for all Iowans. Over the past ten years House Republicans have demonstrated to Iowans that we know how to responsibly budget and govern, this year will be no different. We have worked through many challenging issues over the years, some more difficult than others, including a global pandemic. At the end of the day we have proven that we know how to improvise, adapt, and overcome.
This last November, Iowans sent a clear and resounding message to their elected officials. They want less government, not more. They want more freedom and less restrictions. They want their tax dollars to work for them, not against them. As we move forward this session let us strive to advance policies and budgets that restore Iowan’s freedoms and gets government off of their backs. The election proves that Iowans believe in the policies that House Republicans have pushed forward. Policies like lowering taxes, providing resources to our educational institutions, restoring Second Amendment freedoms, protecting the unborn, balancing the budget, and so much more. House Republicans have received the message loud and clear and we will continue to provide Iowans with the governance they deserve.
Speaker Grassley, Leader Prichard, I look forward to working with you both. House Republicans stand ready, willing and able to advance Iowans priorities. May God guide us in all that we do for the people of Iowa.
The work is before us, let us get to it. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Video Credit: Iowa PBS
