OTHER STATES: Iowa

There are some important lessons for us to learn as we move to a part-time legislature. Among them is the need to create firm rules on the timing of the legislative session so that it isn't abused, as is happening in Iowa:

Republican leaders' problem lies in the makeup of their average member. Many of them just want to go home. They are traditional conservatives and mossbacks who believe in minimalist government, and they come to Des Moines intending to do just that — not much. When the daily expense money runs out, they're hot to leave, especially the farmer-members who have spring farm work to do.

Democratic members understand that. Many of them have no other jobs besides the so-called part-time Legislature. At the end of a session, they often get what they want by going into the basketball equivalent of a stall as they simply try to wait out Republicans, who want to adjourn.

Soon, GOP members grow tired of sitting around and cave in. That's particularly true when tax revenues are improving. Republicans eventually say, "Oh, what the heck. Give 'em the money. I want to get out of here." It's one reason state spending continues to grow.

So Republicans need to hunker down. While raises are needed to attract and keep teachers, our schools aren't going to be fixed with just more money, and they know it.