It was an eventful first year in the Iowa Legislature for Decorah State Representative Michael Bergan

In 2016, the Iowa Legislature passed a total of 34 bills.  This year, it passed 167 bills.

Decorah State Representative Michael Bergan says his first legislative session was intense all the way from beginning to end.  That was in part because lower-than-expected state revenues forced the legislature to make an immediate $1.18 million state spending cut and later forced another $131 million in reductions.

But Bergan says because Republicans held majorities in both the Iowa House and Iowa Senate, the session this year was marked by discussions of policy bills having to do with numerous rights--the right to vote, the right to carry arms, the right to life, etc.

Other pieces of legislation affected workers, such as changing collective bargaining rights of public employees and making changes in the workers compensation program.  He said he was uneasy with the original legislation covering state employees' collective bargaining rights, but leaders made several modifications and he voted in favor of the final bill.

Bergan says he learned the value of patience while working in the state legislature.  He says in order to get a bill passed, you have to publicize the idea, work together and get buy-in from many groups.  Normally that process takes several years, he says.

He also says he valued constituent feedback.  When the legislature proposed eliminating funding for the Iowa Flood Center at the University of Iowa, he got lots of constituent comment about that, which helped to change the recommendation.

Bergan says he was impressed with the quality and caliber of the state legislators he interacted with.  He says they were knowledgeable on many topics and put in long hours while in Des Moines.