DES MOINES ñ On Tuesday, March 15, State Senator Amanda Ragan of Mason City helped the Iowa Senate pass several pieces of legislation which will create jobs in Iowa. |DES MOINES ñ On Tuesday, March 15, State Senator Amanda Ragan of Mason City helped the Iowa Senate pass several pieces of legislation which will create jobs in Iowa.
“The people in my district want the Legislature to focus on jobs, jobs, jobs,” said Ragan. “A majority in the Iowa Senate agrees. Today we voted to make it easier for small businesses to hire new employees, and easier for Iowans to earn specialized skills to fill local job openings. We also removed a penalty imposed on some businesses when they move to Iowa.”
The jobs legislation approved Tuesday by the Senate includes the Save Our Small Business Fund ( Senate File 301 ). This fund was created last year to ease the credit crunch on small businesses by providing low-interest job creation loans to businesses with 35 or fewer employees. This year’s expansion makes more small businesses eligible and makes first six months interest-free. (Vote: 26-24)
The Senate also approved Senate File 328, also known as Ed Jobs, which takes a successful community college pilot program statewide. Working Iowans will receive help and financial aid so they can earn industry recognized certificates at Iowa’s community colleges in welding, nursing and a host of other fields. Traditional financial aid does not cover these sorts of programs. The community colleges will administer the programs and work with local businesses to address local skill shortages. (Vote: 26-24)
Lastly, the Senate approved Senate File 260. This legislation ends a special “transfer tax” that was imposed on insurance companies who wanted to move their organizational home to Iowa. (Vote: 50-0)
“Improving Iowa’s economy should be at the top of the Legislature’s agenda every day,” said Ragan. “If the Iowa House and the Governor agree, it will be easier for small businesses to expand, easier for Iowans to gain the skills local employers need, and easier for businesses to move to Iowa.”
Ragan continues to work on several other job measures moving through the Senate, including a small business employee health insurance tax credit, a job creation tax cut, a consumer rebate for small scale renewable energy, a small business red tape elmination commission, and help for communities seeking to revitalize business districts.
