Iowa Senate Republicans will caucus on Wednesday to decide who will replace former Senate Majority Leader Bill Dix (R-Shell Rock) who resigned on Monday after Iowa Starting Line, a liberal blog, published a video showing Dix kissing a female lobbyist at a local bar.
While State Senator Charles Schneider (R-West Des Moines), the current Majority Whip, or State Senator Jerry Behn (R-Boone), the Senate President Pro Tempore, are likely the current favorites to replace Dix and they are both good men. However, I believe there is a better choice considering the mess the new majority leader will inherit.
Obviously, I don’t get a vote, and neither does any Iowan outside of the Senate Republican Caucus, but this position impacts everyday Iowans by controlling what legislation receives a vote on the Senate floor and what bills don’t. We can all remember the influence that former Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal (D-Council Bluffs) had on legislation and how he used it.
It is vitally important that they choose the best person for this role at this time.
I have not talked to her about this, and I assume that she is probably not interested, but I think State Senator Amy Sinclair (R-Allerton) would be perfect for the job.
Sinclair currently serves on leadership as one of the Assistant Majority Leaders. She is the chair of the Iowa Senate Education Committee and serves as the vice-chair for the Iowa Senate Government Oversight Committee. She also serves on the Commerce, Judiciary, Legislative Council, Rules and Administration committees.
She is currently serving her second term joining the Iowa Senate in 2013 representing Iowa Senate District 14. Before that, she served two terms on the Wayne County Board of Supervisors.
I have been impressed with Sinclair as a State Senator. She is smart. She has valuable experience. She is tough. She is a proven leader. She is also a proven conservative having floor managed the two major pro-life bills that passed the Iowa Senate during this current General Assembly. She has also been a fighter for local control as the Senate Education Committee Chair.
Regarding the mess from the sexual harassment lawsuit, I believe she can be trusted to implement the changes needed and move the Iowa Senate Republican caucus forward.
So I hope that she would be willing to serve in such a capacity and that her colleagues would make her as the next Iowa Senate Majority Leader.