Sen. Tom Rielly’s Dec. 16 column‏

Iowa Senator Tom Rielly (D)

Thanks to everyone who shared their concerns, ideas and hopes with me in 2011. Your input helps shape what happens in the Legislature.

Last session, the bipartisan effort to provide every Iowa four-year-old with high-quality early education was at risk of being shut down. When Iowans got involved, they made it clear that Iowa’s preschools should stay open.

Iowans also told us that job skills and economic opportunity for workers and businesses was their top priority. In the Senate, we responded by approving a variety of jobs measures, including help for the small businesses that create jobs. Some of those bipartisan ideas became law. Others are still on the front burner for the 2012 session, which begins January 9.

Creating jobs and a strong economy means providing quality public education at every level. That’s how Iowa wins the jobs of the future—jobs in renewable energy and in the global economy.

As I prepare for the next session, it’s clear that the economy is what matters most to the people I represent. While unemployment in Iowa is lower than most other states, it’s still too high.

Fortunately, Iowa’s state government is in good shape. We’ve got more than a half-billion dollars in our rainy day funds, and last year’s budget ended $400 million in the black. That means we’re in a great position to invest in job creation and improving education.

Thanks again to those who take an active part in making our state a better place to live, work and raise a family. If you didn’t contact me this year to put in your two cents, I hope you will in 2012.

Creating jobs with a small business tax cut

Tough times mean Iowa’s small businesses aren’t able to create the jobs Iowa communities need. One smart way to help small businesses grow is to cut their property taxes.

A Senate proposal to cut commercial property taxes was approved during the 2011 session by a bipartisan vote of 46-4. While the Senate plan gives every business a commercial property tax cut, it focuses on helping small businesses the most. In fact, the Senate plan slashes commercial property taxes for four out of five businesses by 45 percent.

One reason commercial property tax reform has been stalled for years is that property taxes provide stable support for local services, such as schools, roads, police, fire, libraries and economic growth. Under the bipartisan Senate proposal, these services are protected by a dollar-for-dollar state-funded tax credit. Unlike competing proposals, there is no shift of the tax burden onto residential property taxpayers. This has made our Senate proposal popular among property taxpayers, as well as business, school and community leaders.

To start creating jobs again, Iowa’s small businesses need help. The Senate’s plan to cut commercial property taxes provides that help without giving millions in tax breaks to huge out-of-state corporations.

I’ll be working this spring to convince the Iowa House and Governor Branstad to join the Senate’s bipartisan effort to cut taxes for our small businesses.