The Rozenboom Report – May 14, 2015

Sen Ken Rozenboom talks about budgets and tax reform during this years Egg’s and Issues. (file photo)

by Ken Rozenboom

Recap of the 87th General Assembly

When Republicans took control of the Senate after the 2016 election, we promised to advance an agenda that would grow Iowa’s economy, and limit the cost and burden of government. We promised to change the way the state does business and move this state in a different direction. I believe we have kept our promises. As we look forward to another election this fall, a review of the work of the 87th General Assembly is in order.

In one of the last votes we passed historic tax reform for Iowa taxpayers and families. Iowa has the fourth highest top individual tax rate, and that top rate is effective at just over $70,000 of adjusted income. Iowa’s corporate rate is the highest in the country. The non-partisan Tax Foundation ranked Iowa 40th in business tax climate. US News and World Report ranked Iowa 46th in overall business environment. This state needed serious tax relief and Senate Republicans answered with SF 2417.

This tax reform package prioritizes Iowa’s middle-class families and reduces rates for taxpayers. It dramatically simplifies Iowa’s complicated tax code and protects budget sustainability for future years. In 2019, this plan will provide $398 million in income tax relief for Iowans. Immediately, this bill reduces the amount of taxes paid by Iowans across the economic spectrum by an average of 10 percent. By 2023, the plan will reduce the number of individual income brackets from nine to four, with a top rate of 6.5 percent, and the top corporate rate will be lowered to 9.8 percent.

Additionally, our plan will reduce the number of individual income tax brackets, automatically couple with most federal tax laws and provide a comprehensive review of Iowa’s tax credits. It will reduce taxes on small business owners and farmers, encouraging them to grow, and to expand career opportunities for Iowans.

Tax reform for Iowa has been a goal of ours for many years. After much research and hard work, this plan is the tax relief Iowa families deserve, while also maintaining budget sustainability, simplifying our tax code, and making our state attractive for growing businesses. The critics complain that we’re not adequately funding state government. Our 2019 budget is $7.48 billion compared to the $7.25 billion budget for FY18. That represents a 3.1% increase over last year. To spend more would be irresponsible.

Affirming Life

On May 2, 2018 the Iowa legislature affirmed the humanity of the unborn child, and the beauty of motherhood. Senate File 359 makes two clear statements. First, that “a person shall not knowingly acquire, provide, receive, otherwise transfer, or use a fetal body part in this state, regardless of whether the acquisition, provision, receipt, transfer, or use is for valuable consideration.”

Second, that “except in the case of a medical emergency or when the abortion is medically necessary, a physician shall not perform an abortion unless the physician has first complied with the prerequisites of chapter 146A and has tested the pregnant woman as specified in this subsection, to determine if a fetal heartbeat is detectable.” The legislation does make exceptions for rape and incest. Also, there is an exception if the physician certifies that the unborn baby has “an abnormality that is incompatible with life.”

This is a difficult matter that has been passionately debated for over 45 years. There are no words that I can put on paper that will change many minds. But my often-stated commitment has always been to honor life and to protect the most innocent and vulnerable, the unborn baby. I will continue to do so.

Consider these words from Mother Teresa in a brief submitted in 1994 in the unsuccessful U.S. Supreme Court appeal of Alexander Loce vs. New Jersey: “America needs no words from me to see how your decision in Roe v. Wade has deformed a great nation. The so-called right to abortion has pitted mothers against their children, and women against men. It has sown violence and discord at the heart of the most intimate human relationships. Human rights are not a privilege conferred by the government. They are every human being’s entitlement by virtue of his humanity. The right to life does not depend, and must not be declared contingent, on the pleasure of anyone else, not even a parent or a sovereign.”

Other Significant Legislation

Last year we passed legislation expanding Iowan’s Second Amendment rights, a common-sense voter ID law, a joint resolution to let the citizens of Iowa vote on putting a 99 percent expenditure limit amendment in the state’s constitution, changed laws to reward our state’s best teachers, and gave our school districts more control and flexibility. We made changes to reduce the regulatory burden on Iowa’s job creators and improve career opportunities for every Iowan.

This year, one of our very first votes on the Senate floor was to supply our schools with additional funding for the year and help level the playing field between urban and rural districts. We passed a bill to address water quality in Iowa, policy to expand online education for our state’s students, and an energy policy that reduced a secret tax on utility bills and eliminated the secrecy around that program.

Iowans voted Republicans into the Senate majority for a reason. That reason is to find solutions. And we did. The legislature passed, and the governor signed, bills to address the collapse of the individual health insurance market and the rising cost of premiums in Iowa. These pieces of legislation gave Iowans options for their health care so they can choose what is right for them and their family.

We proudly supported the governor’s initiative to educate and expand Iowa’s workforce. The goal of Future Ready Iowa is for 70 percent of Iowans to have education or training beyond high school by 2025, and to expand opportunities for apprenticeship and internship programs.

The last two years have been great for Iowa and our hard-working citizens. We have invigorated our state’s small businesses and communities. It has been monumental for our state’s growth and economy. Iowans are reaping the benefits of these policies. The state’s unemployment rate is 2.8 percent, wage growth is in the top ten in the country, and US News and World Report ranked Iowa the #1 state in the country. It is a great time to be an Iowan.

Thank you for the honor of representing you in the Iowa Senate. And thank you for participating in the process by way of your phone calls and emails. Together we will sustain an Iowa that we’re all proud to call home!