One Iowa lawmaker finished his first week as a newly elected state senator.

District 24 Senator Jesse Green says the first week was filled with lots of speeches, and it started with being sworn-in.

“I’ll never forget that feeling of standing up there with the new Bible that they give each legislator, and looking up in the gallery and seeing farm friends, family, and former Bible students. It was just such a sweet moment.” 

Green also heard the governor’s Condition of the State Address and thought it was odd to see all of the legislator chairs separated for social distancing, as well as not seeing many Democrats in person, due to COVID-19 concerns or some kind of silent protest. 

Another speech was given by the Iowa National Guard Adjutant Major General Ben Corell as he mentioned that over 200 Iowa National Guard troops would be sent to Washington, D.C. for the inauguration of President-Elect Joe Biden, which was an increase from the original 60 troops, due to the incident that happened at the Capitol building earlier this month. Green shares his thoughts on that incident.

“We have a truth problem in our society and that’s the biggest problem that a society can have. When you don’t know where you can go for the truth and a reliable source of information, when you have leaders that purposefully manipulate their constituents, or try to drum up emotion and stir the pot, we need to be more responsible as leaders and set an example.”  

To hear more from Green, listen to today’s Community State Bank in Paton Let’s Talk Greene County program.