After six months of work at the Statehouse, we finally finished up the 2011 session just in time to avoid a government shutdown. |(From Senator Amanda Ragan)
After six months of work at the Statehouse, we finally finished up the 2011 session just in time to avoid a government shutdown.
With Iowans still recovering from the national recession, I wanted this session to focus on job creation and growing Iowa’s small businesses. Unfortunately, the fight over cuts to education pushed many pro-job ideas to the side.
Even though our reserve funds are full at $600 million and the current budget is ending with a $400 million surplus, the House and Governor insisted on slashing funding for education. This included a two-year freeze in state support for local schools, the elimination of Iowa’s popular preschool program, and deep cuts that would force double-digit tuition increases at our community colleges and universities.
Fortunately, Iowans spoke out and helped bring legislators to a compromise. In the end, we were able to protect our preschools, get more state support for local schools, reverse cuts to community colleges and substantially reduce cuts to our public universities.
In the coming months, my plan is to reemphasize economic growth. We can start by taking another look at the many job creation and small business initiatives approved in the Senate this year, often with bipartisan support. These include:
** Cutting commercial property taxes by $200 million in a way that provides the greatest benefit to Iowa’s small businessesóand doesn’t raise taxes on homeowners.
** Helping our small businesses fill positions for skilled jobs and working Iowans receive help earning industry-recognized certificates in welding, nursing, and other in-demand fields.
** Cutting health care costs for small businesses, which pay 18 percent more than large businesses for the same health care coverage. A refundable tax credit would benefit 60,000 Iowa businesses with 10 or fewer employees to help pay for health insurance.
** Rebates to help jump start small wind and small solar projects at homes and businesses. That means jobs for local construction firms, plumbers, and electrical, heating, and air conditioning contractors, as well as lower utility bills for families, farmers and businesses.
Next year, I hope we won’t have to revisit cuts to education. Instead, we should complete the work the Senate started this year: growing Iowa’s small business and creating more jobs for Iowans.
Thank you to all who contacted me during this difficult session. Your suggestions and support helped us end on a positive note.
