Sen. Tom Rielly’s April 27 Column
Iowa Senator Tom Rielly (D)
Still time to do more for job creation
Doing more to create jobs for Iowans and grow our state’s economy is still my top priority as the 2012 session winds down.
The Iowa Senate is working to invest $62 million in job creation and economic growth. The Republican-controlled Iowa House, however, is only willing to invest about half that much.
The Senate also agreed that Iowa should help businesses create jobs through targeted incentives. The House does not.
The Senate wants Iowa’s three state universities to keep working with businesses on technology commercialization, marketing, entrepreneurship and technical assistance for businesses.
The House budget, on the other hand, would cut advertising for Iowa tourism and close Small Business Development Centers and Workforce field offices. If the House gets its way, it will be more difficult for Iowans to looking for work and for Iowa businesses to get started, expand and find the employees they need.
I hope we can agree to put job creation first as the 2012 session wraps up. Other efforts to boost our economy that I’m pushing for include:
** Fixing Iowa’s skilled worker shortage. It’s the best thing we can do for our economy, according to business leaders. Partnerships between community colleges and local businesses are a proven way to help Iowans gain the skills needed for hard-to-fill job openings that are locally available right now.
** Cutting commercial property taxes for every Iowa business—especially for small and Main Street businesses—without increasing residential property taxes.
** Requiring more effort to buy American and buy Iowan first when your state and local tax dollars are spent.
** Reducing health insurance costs for 60,000 Iowa small businesses with a state tax credit on employee coverage.
** Boosting alternative energy investment through consumer rebates for residential and business solar and wind projects that save money and are environmentally friendly.
