Senators and representatives in Washington have been focusing a lot of attention on improving the economy of the United States since Congress resumed last week.

The mood in Washington is friendly, yet business-oriented, said representatives for Iowa congressmen.

“I think right now folks are getting back to work and rolling their sleeves up,” said Bill Burton, spokesman for Sen. Tom Harkin, (D-Iowa).

James Carstensen, press secretary for Rep. Tom Latham (R-Iowa), said there was a friendly atmosphere on Capitol Hill as new senators and representatives were being sworn in and returning members were getting settled in.

The House of Representatives has 435 members with 21 new Democrats and 33 new Republicans. The 100-member Senate welcomed nine Republicans and two Democrats.

Carstensen said Latham wants to help the country’s economy.

“His priority is policies that will strengthen the economy and assist Iowa workers,” Carstensen said. He said strengthening the economy seems to be a top priority for many members of Congress right now.

Burton said Harkin has placed Bush’s economic stimulus plan as a top priority. Also topping his agenda will be the farm bill implementation, Iowa’s Medicaid reimbursement, education funding and national security.

Peter Orazem, professor of economics at Iowa State, said depending on the objective, Bush’s economic stimulus plan may or may not be effective. He said it may help Bush to get re-elected because most people favor lowering taxes.

“People will pay lower taxes so that’s a benefit,” he said. “But the cost is we’re already running a deficit so the government is going to be borrowing more money.”

Orazem said he questions the plan’s ability to improve the state of our economy.

“Is [the economic stimulus plan] going to stimulate the economy?” he said “Probably not.”

Steffen Schmidt, university professor of political science, said Congress will focus on two issues this session: foreign policies (with North Korea and Venezuela) and the economic stimulus plan.

“I think what you’re going to see in the next month is a huge battle between the Republicans and the Democrats over what to pass to help stimulate the economy,” Schmidt said.

Representatives for Harkin and Latham said both candidates have set national security and the situation in Iraq as priorities.

Schmidt said he is concerned about the possibility of war. “I’m afraid Saddam Hussein is not going to behave himself,” he said.

Schmidt said criticism toward Bush will diminish if a state of war arises for our country.

“If combat breaks out then the atmosphere in Washington will change a lot,” Schmidt said.