Iowa Senate Republicans pick Jerry Behn as leader

Iowa?s Senate Republicans picked Boone Sen. Jerry Behn as their new floor leader on Thursday after a heated leadership fight.

Behn told reporters afterward that he supports a conservative, pro-business agenda, and that despite the contest for the minority leader position, Republican lawmakers are united in their goals.

?We?re coming out of a united caucus,? Behn said. ?We?re all going to move in the same direction and we?re all going to work for a pro-growth agenda.?

Behn defeated Sen. Bill Dix of Shell Rock in secret balloting during a three-hour private meeting. Republican leaders did not disclose the final vote, and Dix did not meet with the media. The contest did not offer sharp choices in philosophy, as both Dix and Behn are conservative, rural lawmakers.

Behn replaces Senate Minority Leader Paul McKinley of Chariton, who resigned as leader and announced he wouldn?t run for another term next year.

Gov. Terry Branstad congratulated Behn, describing him as a neighbor and a friend in Boone County.

?One of the first things I did when I moved to Boone was have a fundraiser for Jerry,? Branstad said. He predicted Behn would lead the way to Republican gains in the next election.

?I think we can pick up five or six seats,? Branstad said. ?With changes in reapportionment there are some open seats.?

Democrats control the Senate on a 26-24 margin after winning a special election on Tuesday.

?We have a tough row to hoe and we need to work expeditiously to unify our caucus and enact meaningful legislation that will grow jobs and the economy,? Behn said.

Behn, who has been in the state Senate since 1996, said Senate Republicans want to rein in government.

?As simple as it sounds I know we can accomplish this during the 2012 legislative session,? Behn said.

That conservative agenda is in line with what voters are saying, he argued.

?With these simple ingredients, I know we can take back the majority in 2012,? said Behn.

During the session, Sen. Brad Zaun, R-Urbandale, was elected as the GOP whip and five people were elected as assistant leaders. They were Sen. Tim Kapucian, R-Keyston; Sen. Merlin Bartz, R-Grafton; Sen. Roby Smith, R-Davenport; Sen. Pat Ward, R-West Des Moines; and Sen. David Johnson, R-Ocheyedan.

Senate Majority Leader Michael Gronstal, D-Council Bluffs, has not been challenged for his position as Democratic leader in the Senate.

House Speaker Kraig Paulsen, R-Hiawatha, issued a statement welcoming Behn to the leadership team and vowing to focus on ?meaningful legislation? aimed at creating jobs. Republicans run the House on a 60-40 margin.