Local legislators and lobbyists gave hints about “Surviving the 2002 Legislative Session,” concentrating on the roles of women and children.

Sen. Johnie Hammond, D-Ames, joined Charlotte Nelson, executive director of the Commission on the Status of Women, and professional lobbyist Judie Hoffman to speak to a small crowd Thursday night in the Sun Room of the Memorial Union.

The Legislature’s priorities for the 2002 session include increasing teacher pay, prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and amending a chapter of the Iowa Code’s definition of domestic violence to include dating relationships, Nelson said.

“We are hopeful the Legislature and governor will take action on some of the issues we are concerned about,” she said.

Hammond also addressed several issues, including women on the Senate floor.

“One of the things happening in the senate this year that has me really stirred up is that the number of women in the Legislature is shrinking,” she said.

Hammond, the self-proclaimed “birth mother” of the Iowa work study program, said she hopes to see it resurrected to help students.

“The governor is beginning to restore the work study program, which was wiped out last year,” she said.

Hoffman spoke about the tight budget Iowa faces this year and how it will affect women and children.

“I’m particularly interested in the cuts that will occur to low-income people,” she said. “Women and children make up the bulk of the low-income category.”

Justin Boehm, freshman in pre-landscape architecture, said the forum was beneficial.

“I thought it would be interesting to hear from the different perspectives here,” he said.

“I was looking for a sampling of what the political scene around Ames was all about.”