Legislation would require Iowa to ensure taxpayer dollars are spent on American-made products instead of rewarding companies that move jobs overseas.
(DES MOINES) – The Iowa Senate voted Monday, March 12, to make sure state taxpayer dollars support job creation here at home. The “Buy American Act” (Senate File 2287) would ensure that most publicly funded projects use American-made goods.
“Whenever our tax dollars are spent, they should create jobs here, not overseas,” said Amanda Ragan of Mason City. “Many of Iowa’s roads, bridges, schools, water and sewage systems, and other infrastructure need repaired. As we get those jobs done, Iowa and American companies should have the first crack at public construction contracts.”
The legislation would require contracts for public improvements to use U.S.-produced iron, steel and manufactured goods. The requirement may be waived if it is not in the public interest, if American products are not available in sufficient quantities, or if the cost of the contract would increase by more than 5 percent. The legislation now goes to the Iowa House.
“This is a common-sense approach that is long overdue,” said Ragan. “The ‘Buy American’ approach has been used at the federal level for more than 80 years. President Reagan significantly expanded it to cover transportation projects. I hope Iowa will join other states that are putting American jobs first when it comes to tax-dollar supported projects.”
According to recent polling, Buy American policies are supported by broad, bipartisan majorities of voters, including 94% of Democratic voters, 90% of Republican voters, 88% of Independent voters, and even 89% of Tea Party supporters.
“I don’t believe our tax dollars should reward companies who move jobs to foreign countries,” said Ragan. “Iowa law should have a clear, reasonable, common-sense preference for American-made products when they are available and cost-competitive.”
Sen. Ragan is a member of the Iowa Senate. It was the Iowa House democrats who walked out. Not saying she is a great NRA supporter, just bothers me when the facts aren’t straight.
For those who comment on what a straight Democrat she is, it is odd when so many of her strongest supporters are Republican. As one of those Republican supporters, I will say that she is a conservative fiscally but is more liberal on certain social issues. I am sure her view is formed partially based on what she sees as the Director of the Community Kitchen.
Get rid of the NAFTA agreement too.
Didn’t she walk out with the other democrats during the gun rights issue?? They wanted to change the law from “duty to retreat” to “stand your ground” I sure wish the rest of us could walk off from our job when the day isn’t going our way…
She also refuses to sign her name to a discharge petition, so another pro gun bill can moved out of committee. Yet the funny thing is she gets at least an “A” rating from the NRA. Let’s see….I’ll take your campaign contributions, but to hell with what my constituents want.
Good call BOB-She should resign
How come no one holds these people accountable? Seems like state reps and sens get a free pass?
She votes for this because it would be political suicide not to but then votes for anything that reduces our personel freedom by adding taxes. She is pure democratic. Says one thing and then does another. She takes lessons from the biggest lier of all, Obama.
Long over due.
Easy to vote for a law that everyone supports. Huh?
Now vote for the laws that help make this a better world like
FREE ENTERPRISE!!!
Amen to that. Why not lower taxes and remove obstacles so that businesses are able to do business here in the USA and show a profit. Then your “America First” plan will work!!
Humbug, pure humbug. This is a start, but to be honest, has not the water already gone over the dam? Where was this in 1960? 1970? 1980?
Besides, this will not sway the American Consumer. They alone are responsible for the jobs lost. They alone are to blame for entire industries leaving the States.
The idea of taxes being a roadblock is not accurate. We have free enterprise, but it only works up to our borders. How do you think the entire Television industry collapsed in the U.S.? Because governments like Japan targeted products exported to the U.S. to make them cheaper than the raw materials themselves. No amount of tax cuts could, or would have stopped what happened.
In addition, the standard of living overseas was far poorer than what we had here. What the American Consumer has done, is to lower our standard of living by purchasing the cheap products from overseas. They wanted cheap, now they have it.