Comment on New house speaker optimistic about budget talks

DES MOINES — Linda Upmeyer says she is optimistic about the state budget negotiations that will take place during next year’s legislative session, her first as speaker of the Iowa House, despite the many challenges.The Clear Lake Republican was elected speaker of the House in August after Kraig Paulsen, R-Hiawatha, announced he would step down from the post and resign from the Legislature after the 2016 session.Once sworn in when the session starts in January, Upmeyer, 63, will become the first woman to be speaker of the Iowa House.Crafting the state budget next year will involve several hurdles:• State revenue gains have not increased over last year, when budget negotiations stalled, extending the legislative session for weeks.• Gov.