Governor Branstad Talks Jobs And Distinguished Guests

Governor Branstad stopped in Oskaloosa Tuesday afternoon to discuss, “The State’s burdensome property taxes, and his solution to stave off the $2.3 billion property tax increase that looms for Iowa in the next 8 years.”

Oskaloosa, Iowa – Governor Branstad was in Oskaloosa on Tuesday afternoon where he was discussing, “The State’s burdensome property taxes, and his solution to stave off the $2.3 billion property tax increase that looms for Iowa in the next 8 years.”

After his town hall-style meeting, we had a moment to talk with the Governor about the recent visit from the Chinese Vice President Xi, and how it benefited Iowa. “What an honor for us to be chosen to host the next President of China. I met with him back in September of last year in Beijing and he said, I was in your office of the state capitol of the 26th day of April 1985.”

Governor Branstad told of how the Vice President, “how much he enjoyed the friendliness and hospitality of Iowa, so that’s where we came up with the idea of inviting him here for a reunion, and we not only had a great reunion down in Muscatine, we also had the state dinner.”

Iowa Lt Gov Kim Reynolds was also in attendance, and helped to answer questions presented by those in attendance. (photo by Don Hubbard)

Iowa sold 4.3 billion dollars worth of soybeans in the process of this visit, “There’s a lot of other opportunities for Chinese investments to create jobs in Iowa.” Branstad also pointed out being able to “market corn, pork and soybeans in the Chinese market. I think the opportunity is tremendous.”

I turned towards finding out what other goals the Governor would like to see get accomplished during the rest of this legislative session. “The big items are, jobs agenda… and education reform, those are the two major focuses.”

Oskaloosa’s Senator Tom Rielly (D- Oskaloosa) has been a major player in the gas tax debate so far this year, and I asked the Governor his thoughts on how far this possible tax increase going, especially now with the sharp increase in the cost of fuel. “I think this is not the time to raise the gas tax. I do have a plan to reduce the cost of [inaudible] and administration by over 50 million dollars and have that money go into the road use tax fund. I think this year we’re going to be OK. In the future we’re going to have to look at what we can do for the users to pay more to improve our roads, but I think with the amount of people unemployed, and with the high gas prices, I don’t think this is the right time to do it.”

Oskaloosa's very own Super Bowl Champ Tyler Sash stopped by to meet Governor Branstad and Lt Gov Kim Reynolds. Sash presented a hat to the Governor. (photo by Don Hubbard)

Turning towards unemployment, I asked Governor Branstad what we are doing to help lower the unemployment rate and get people back to work beyond lowering corporate tax rates to attract new business. “There are several things, the ESOP proposal, which is the employee stock option plan, to provide a exemption from capitol gains for a business that sells their business to the employees.”

“In addition to the employee stock option plan, the 25 million dollars we have in the quality jobs initiative is designed to find incentives to help us attract more companies”, Branstad explained pointing towards a new cement company in Lee County.