DES MOINES - A state senator from Waverly is worried the view from the Iowa Senate's lofty gallery might cause Iowans to look down on their legislators.

Sen. Bill Heckroth, D-Waverly, was in the gallery above the Senate this week with visiting family members. What he saw from his high perch prompted him to give his colleagues some gentle advice.

Turn off your video games, especially during floor debate.

"The whole gallery was full of kids. I could hear them chit-chatting. I said to my sister, 'What are they saying?' They're talking about everybody playing games on their computers," Heckroth said. He rose on the Senate floor to make his point Thursday.

"I looked down and there were a lot of people, clerks as well as senators, with solitaire, stuff like that. I just got to thinking that just doesn't look real professional," said Heckroth, who owns a financial consulting business.

Every senator and each of their clerks use state-issued laptop computers. Theoretically, the computers are used for tracking legislation and keeping in touch with constituents via e-mail.

But when things get slow and floor debate drags on and on, computer games are a popular way to pass the time.

But how does that look to visitors peering down from above?

"As a new senator, it just didn't make me feel real good to think that that's our image," said Heckroth, who was first elected last November. "You hear enough bad things about being a politician."

Statehouse veterans are less surprised.

This time of year, with adjournment looming, lawmakers spend a lot of time waiting for amendments to be drafted and for deals to be struck.

Much of that work is done by a core group of legislative leaders. Other lawmakers and their clerks often have time on their hands. Sometimes, those idle hands crave a good game of solitaire.

Senate Minority Leader Mary Lundby, R-Marion, a 21-year Statehouse veteran and occasional video gamer, shrugged off Heckroth's advice.

"Freshmen are always shocked by what goes on. Next year he won't even mention it. He'll probably be playing games," Lundby said.

Contact Todd Dorman at (515) 243-0138 or todd.dorman@lee.net.