Archive for April, 2012

Iowa has a balanced budget with the largest surplus in decades. It’s time to invest adequately in education, job creation and health care. This is the infrastructure of opportunity that will fuel tomorrow’s growth and prosperity. I was proud to lead the effort that helped Iowa weather the economic recession and natural disasters of 2008. [...]

I’m proud to have sponsored legislation that would help our volunteer firefighters and EMS professionals around the state receive an income tax credit for their service and sacrifice. Thanks to Colleen O’Shaughnessy for covering good news happening in our state. Check it out here: http://www.kwwl.com/story/17900093/new-tax-law-helps-volunteer-firefighters-across-the-state

The University of Northern Iowa’s Graduate Program in Counseling is featured on the new Iowa Department of Education website. UNI counseling alumni and faculty have been instrumental in creating the Iowa School Counseling Framework, serving on the transitional development team and providing state leadership to the Iowa School Counselor Association. Check out the website at [...]

As the 2012 session begins to wrap up, the biggest remaining differences between the Iowa Senate and House involve investments in education. This includes proposals to improve early reading skills, reduce Iowa’s shortage of skilled workers and ensure college is affordable for Iowa families.  Last year, the longest session in recent memory, ended relatively quickly [...]

Doing more to create jobs for Iowans and grow our state’s economy is 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 [...]

Iowa’s small businesses are the driving force of employment and economic growth. Ensuring they have access to the resources they need is a must if we want to continue to create jobs and boost our economy. Legislation in the U.S. Senate (S.2231) would help create 2,000 jobs in Iowa and inject $198 million into our [...]

Which tax incentives do the most to help create jobs and grow the economy? Iowa is a national leader when it comes to evaluating the effectiveness of state tax incentives, according to a Pew Center study of all 50 states. During the 2010 session, the Legislature created a “Legislative Tax Expenditure Committee.” Composed of Democratic [...]

The Iowa Senate has voted to increase accountability and transparency when your tax dollars are spent for local economic development. I support Tax Incremental Financing — better known as TIF — because it is an important economic development tool for cities and counties. After a TIF district is created, the property tax income generated from [...]

To work well, democracy requires that citizens know what government is doing and why. In 2007, work began on fundamental reforms of Iowa’s open records and open meetings laws. The goal was to make the proceedings and records of state and local government open and accessible to citizens. The Legislature has now approved Senate File [...]

Iowans in need of prosthetics and orthotics will be assured of top-quality products and services thanks to legislation signed into law on April 27. This is good news for Iowans who’ve lost a limb in a tragic accident, including our combat soldiers returning from war. By establishing and enforcing high standards, we can help make [...]