Friends, it’s been quite a year.

In January, we watched President Barack Obama take the oath of office and start a new chapter in American history.

Since taking that historic oath, President Obama has worked with Congressional Democrats — like Iowa’s Congressmen Boswell, Braley and Loebsack — to advance an agenda of fairness and implement policies that aim to end the recession caused by eight years of the Bush Administration.

Democrats lost a great leader when Senator Ted Kennedy passed away. But, Iowa’s Senator Tom Harkin stepped up to take the chairmanship of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions committee in the Senate and has been working diligently with the President to provide all Americans accessible and affordable healthcare.

In Iowa, Governor Chet Culver has made tough decisions to help Iowa recover from the national recession.

For the past year Governor Culver has chosen to build for out future and help Iowans get back to work with I-JOBS. In January, as the legislature convenes, Governor Culver will work with Democratic majority to balance the budget and make our state stronger.

And here at the Iowa Democratic Party, we are looking forward 2010. We’ll start with the Saturday caucuses this January and end our year with the the re-election of Governor Chet Culver and Democrats across the state.

May you and all of your fellow Iowans have a happy and safe holiday season this year, and I’ll see you out on the campaign trail next year.

All the best,

Michael Kiernan