>> this is "the steele report. >> ron: this week on the "the steele report." we'll see what is ahead for the iowa legislature following the big elections recently and we'll talk cedar falls and the cedar christmas coming up with the boys & girls club featuring the waterloo-cedar falls symphony or now. >> from kwwl, this is "the steele report." >> ron: and welcome to this week's edition of "the steele report." my guests is a gentleman who just won his fourth term in the iowa senate. democratic jeff danielson of cedar falls, he's a firefighter and a member of key committees in the legislature. this is going to be a interesting time because now the republicans control the governor in office, they have control of

surprised they've taken control of your senate. >> jeff: i'm not surprised they -- i'm surprised at the margin, they are to be commended. they ran a good campaign. they have a supermajority which we've been in that position, myself, i've been tied, majority, supermajorities and now in the minority, the dynamics are different but the issues are the same. iowa usually has approach how to solve them. >> ron: this election cycle was the most bizarre, you ran a positive commercial, not going after your opponent at all, like we saw in some local races. why did you take that approach rather than following the consultant model which is attack ad, attack ad. >> jeff: i believe in a positive vision and that's the first

statement of we have to do better running our campaigns and communicating with our voters. this consultant-driven campaign framework, i don't think is positive in the long run. >> ron: were you shocked and i guess a lot of people were shocked at the defeat of a gentleman who many people thought kind of ran with an iron fist and i assume that was the case. what did you feel about that -- other democrats around the state? >> jeff: well, we'd better learn to communicate to the voters that are there. not the ones we wish were there. and nobody is safe. you better continue that conversation and -- in an or fannic grassroots way or you'll lose them and this is -- organic grassroots way or you'll lose them. mike was a capable leadership.

he didn't rule with an airplane fist, and he understood people and he was effective at that. but that's different inside of the capitol and going back to the district and communicating with voters. you know as well as i do a lot of stuff gets done behind the scenes. i've learned a few things along the years and remember, in '08, we ended up surviving a 22-vote race. >> ron: that was the one your postpone won. walt rogers won -- and you ended up winning. >> jeff: 2012. i will say that i'm incredibly surprised and thankful for the support we've gotten in this race. i had no idea there was a victory margin like we achieved begin ever given the history in my district. but it speaks to i'm one of the few that managed my own race.

communicate directly to my voters in a way i knew, because i grew up here and i think we need to get back to that style of campaigning. >> ron: walt rogers is scheduled to be on the program next week. he also won reelection and we'll have him on our next program. as you look ahead to the democratic party we saw what happened on the national scene where a lot of people thought it was going to be a democratic president but turned out not to be the case. thinking about the way it moves forward on the national level and here in iowa. >> jeff: i hope there's soul searching and i hope as a navy guy there's lessons learned that the democrats apply to the current cycle. it's almost as if the campaigns are run completely differently and we did not adjust and we have to. it always must go back to the fact that the voters want us to be their representatives and we

in the campaign better. think about what their concerned about and speak to it in a meaningful way instead of the cookie cut ads ann. >> ron: in january, it will be different for you, you're in the minority so you understand things a little bit different. but what's your top priority as we look ahead a couple months when the legislative session gets underway again. lesson. the campaign, working families want support for schools and for childcare and quality opportunities in a community and a job they can raise a family on. republicans and democrat, remember, in iowa, the number one registration is independent. no party. they're not enamored with either one. we have to understand inside of the capitol. i'm proud of my work across the

the issue of being less partisan. even during the campaign i spoke about it when everybody is saying how -- parties are a beginning, not an end and i think the voters spoke loud and clear on that. think about this, ron, two parties had major candidates who are not even traditional party members. bernie on one side as a independent and donald trump, that should say that voters want us to focus on them, not the party. >> ron: we did an interview this week for the news program and said you would not seek leadership position in the democratic party. i thought that was strange for you to say that, why did you tell us that and what is behind that right now. >> jeff: i will not seek for accept a leadership position

party. that's how it's done, everybody has the leadership elections in part because i'm not sure what i've tried to communicate has actually been listened to. in part because i think the cedar valley needs to be my sole focus, the well-being of my voter, good jobs and schools and affordability and healthcare and kind of watch and see what happens. some learnes don't and i want to make sure that my district is taken care of. >> ron: are you concerned that will hurt you at all in the iowa legislature or has it been that way before? >> jeff: not concerned at all. really. only, what happens -- honestly what happens in the capitol is interesting but every senator and representative ought to be paying attention to what is

capitol. >> ron: can we learn -- >> jeff: so it's manufactured, the most of it, the conflict we share, it's interesting but it's our common goal and so no matter which party you show up at the capitol as or leadership position or fancy titles, it does not matter unless you're trying to solve real-world problems for voters. >> ron: there seems to be a feelin t goes into this with i'm going to win no matter what. and the constituents back home, wait, that's not what is best for us and the state. it's a win at all costs and you seem to go against that. >> jeff: i'm happy to do that. i'm proud of the work with no labels that we can be republicans and democrats and we need more of it. it's not all roses for the

they have supermajorities from local government all the way to the white house. >> chuck: right. >> jeff: they have to constrain their own desires to do things they may not even campaigned on. i have a test. does it work, can you prove it and is it what the people wanted you to work on. did you talk about it in your campaign. not a bunch of other stuff, that you're trying to settle old scores and party politics. >> chuck: tell our viewers -- over $750 million, and another account $95 million. boy, that sounds like a lot of money but you said you were looking at a tight, tough budget this year. >> jeff: yeah, there we need to be realistic, there's a lot of changes within our healthcare program. medicaid and our line items for healthcare costs have always been increasing, regardless of the program. we're in a place where we have a

less margin for error in what we estimate and make as priorities. for example, we have about $700 million in rainy day funds our ending balance is now less than $100 million. in previous years we worked with $300 million, $400 million, depending on where it was at. there's less margin for error so it will be a challenge the republicans to balance the priorities and still have the >> ron: what do you think the ideal number this year would be for school budget. >> jeff: first, we ought to do a two-year window for them. no matter the number, at least give them a two-year window to plan in. i think it's realistic to do a couple percent, i don't think it's realistic to go do much more. and we need to be frank because of the budget situation and also find a way that there may be things they can do locally that

past, free up regulations and things that would make them more efficient and maybe not be to fancy with the new and special programs, maybe focus on the allowable growth formula and think about the early reader program and the teacher quality program that were expensive but then take away from your base level resources. we may have to get back to the basics and focus on that investment and then have a conversation about the the other things we would want to >> ron: iowa could get help from donald trump because we have the worst bridges in the country and, hopefully, he'll pursue that and get the infrastructure going but there's another issue, water quality. a lot of chemicals that go into our streams and whichever e rivers and that's something that will come to the forefront. i believe that the water quality is the sleeper issue, if you like fantasy sports.

in a good way. the stakeholders who fought themselves at the table, finger pointing and blame placing, have recognized we need a long term solution and they're starting to support things together. in the past, they've opposed them and i think we have a real chance to say to iowans, we have one of the most valuable precious natural resources in the country. obviously, soil is the first one. protect that natural resource into the future and i think you're seeing a window of opportunity in politics in iowa today where that can be a possibility in 2178. >> ron: the bakken pipeline, a lot of controversy and protests. >> jeff: i don't believe it should have had eminent domain v authority. i believe we need a divorce

and guess what security means? a diverse source of all of your energy and i think we need to consider all of thousand resources and if we can be a exporter, we ought to think about that too. in iowa, solar can potentially be an exporter of energy for the rest of country. i think iowans think about that differently than in the past. >> ron: you're against the pipeline? j of energy of the interesting thing about that, there was a lot of focus on the wind line, right, the powerline that would get the wind, and people tended to support one or the other based on the source of the energy and i think we need to stop that, we need to think about a diverse mix and if it's in our interest to have a energy source that's cheap safe and secure. >> ron: i would say,

it's always a pleasure to have you on the show.

>> ron: we've thank changed into a more festive look, i have my christmas tie on so, obviously, talking about holiday hoopla coming up and carol lilly is here, the executive director of the main street cedar falls.

day after thanksgiving. >> carol: friday, november 26th in downtown cedar falls, at 6:00 in the evening and we'll have a great series of musicians and great activities going on. >> ron: it's a great annual event and capped off by the secret arrival of santa claus and i've not been told how this is going to unfold, but you'll probably not reveal it here today. >> carol: that would be breaking news, but that today. >> ron: wonder if there will be any breaking news that night. >> carol: i don't know. >> ron: you'll have several thousand people in the heart of downtown cedar falls. and that's what main street is about. >> carol: to see what the community has to offer and holiday hoopla and bringing santa to the community is one way. >> ron: i was reading that main

volunteer-driven, nonprofit organization to foster economic vitality and promote and preserve the downtown. what a downtown you have. my wife often says, wow! what an amazing downtown. >> carol: because of community support and volunteers, we've been decorating for the holidays and in the last few days, 45 people helping with that. >> ron: friday night, black friday at night, what time would arriving and where would they park? >> carol: after 5:00, is when the streets are closed. park near -- at -- over at gateway park is a good way because after stan santa arrives, he does a magical marv march down main and

gateway park. >> ron: it's quite a scene, people owe it to themselves 20 come down conference the kickoff is just what it, a series of event, thursday and friday, we have special things going on so join us often. >> ron: carol lilly, executive director of main street cedar falls. you have a great organization organization, wish you the best and have a great holiday hoopla this friday night conference thyo

>> chuck: welcome back. keeping our festive look with christmas and the holidays coming on and we're hebe here to talk about a great event, with jason weinberger. jason, the well known ceo and conduct didder and artistic director of the waterloo-cedar falls symphony. 15 years. and joins us as the executive director of the boys & girls club. and chuck, tell us about it, cedar valley christmas. >> chuck: it's a lot of fun, the mentality of it is to try to forget about the holiday shopping and the craziness of having your family over for

after thanksgiving so people can come in and forget about that stuff and just have an old time family you know christmas sing-along where they come into the gallagher and hear tons of talent and get to sing. >> ron: you have local choirs and individuals singing and the waterloo-cedar falls symphony is involved again this year. and jason >> jason: it's something that chuck approached me about two, three years ago and started small and grown every year. we're bringing our whole brass section in. we've had string players involved and i've been able to get on stage with you and emcee, wonderful holiday music from across the ages. and that opposite the concert and sets the stage, so the atmosphere should be really festive from the minute people

get into the concert hall and sing along. >> ron: tickets. >> jason: on our website. >> ron: the waterloo-cedar falls 7:30. >> jason: the brass players start at 6:30 and playing carols and baroque music and then the brass players will join us to do sp audience. >> chuck: make sure you get for the 6:30 concert as well as. >> ron: be there at least 5:00, 6:30, plenty of parking. you will have some recent concerts and tell us more about that, what do you have coming on. how many concerts a year. nine or 10. >> jason: yeah, nine or 10 and all of the stuff in the schools and what's neat about this program we've been discussing,

have warmed up here on the 19th, we're goings to do brass pieces and stuff with organs together. to kick off the holidays and bring them over to the gallagher for cedar valley christmas. >> ron: you and your wife have two boys and chuck, you and your wife have twins, you've been here 15 years and going back a way. when joe was here. i remember talking to him a he said that some of these orchestras would challenge him and see if he knew his stuff. do you find the same thing. >> chuck: no question, the folks here, the musicians are so kind and very accommodating, when you're on the road, you have to be on top of your game. it's challenging and exciting, it's a great experience to work here and be part of the community and have opportunity

here to other orchestras, kind of emulating joe in that regard. >> ron: he's had a great run in des moines. your current board president of the symphony, she kind of suggested we have a show like this at some point. talking about the state-of-the-art here in the cedar valley. how would you describe the state of the orchestra right now? we'll get into the other some time, but how do you thi thriving. >> jason: i think we've got a fabulous group of musician, we've got a wonderful board and those who devote time and energy to the orchestra. we're trying to get out the message that this is a symphony for everyone. we're joining with the boys & girls club and for us, it's a make people understand this isn't a exclusive thing only for a now folks. it's for everyone and that's the message we want to focus on

and closer to our 100th anniversary, about 12, 13 years away. >> ron: between your two organizations, both are critical to the success of the cedar valley as far as quality of life. >> chuck: the neat thing about this we have two totally different nonprofits who found a way to intersect and i know they focus on the symphony and we, the kids, teach kids how to play music and learn about the importance of music in their lives and the money raised from this, actually goes toward the youth programs that both of us do. for instance, we have music lessons, 30, 40 kids that we give music lesson, every semester, we do dance programs there. but then i know that jason has programming like the -- programs

educated. >> ron: that's fantastic, if you get kids involved early, i think i started to play the trumpet or cornet, i misses that as much as sports, it was a huge part of my life. >> chuck: i actually brought a trumpet with me. >> ron: well, that -- we're trying to attract people to the concert, not send them an important part, youth programs and a symphony to get them involved and understand music. >> jason: chuck and i feel the same way, these experience are transformative for young people. you said it yourself, you remember that experience when you were younger. we see it makes a difference in the kids we work with and our own kids and i feel fortunate a huge part of my work is to be able to bring this music to young people and change their

encounters and we know that being involved in the arts is a great compliment to academics and other areas of kids' lives and all of us feel extremely lucky to be to be able to do this in our community. >> ron: both organizations are fantastic. monday, for 28th at the gallagher blue torn. >> jason: and fo lap children are free. >> ron: wow. the concert is only $5. >> chuck: only $5. throughout the evening we'll have eight different choirs from the community, local high schools and local churches are all going to sing songs and we'll have songs that the entire group can sing -- join us with. >> ron: it's a great event. a week from monday, the 28th.

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