From Rep. Sharon Steckman –
Lawmakers are pledging cooperation to grow Iowa’s economy and strengthen the middle class when the 2013 legislative session begins on Monday, January 14.
Legislators have outlined key priorities this year to create jobs, build a highly-skilled workforce, and reduce commercial property taxes without shifting the burden to homeowners and farmers. The Governor is also encouraging legislators to address education reforms to make sure every student graduates with the skills necessary to land a good-paying job.
Legislators agree cooperation and finding common ground will be the key to making progress this year. Other issues likely to be discussed include worker training at community colleges, affordable college tuition, increasing the production and use of renewable energy, supporting Iowa small businesses with Made in Iowa legislation, and continuing reform of Iowa’s mental health system.
When the 2013 session begins, Iowa lawmakers have a strong economy. Due to budgeting practices in 2008 and ’09 the surplus for 2010 was $757.5 million and has been steadily increasing, with a state budget surplus for 2014 of over $1.5 billion. Iowa also has the lowest unemployment rate since 2008 at 4.9%.
To: Bodacious
From: Retired Mercy
Sorry, Bodacious, but my name will not be on a ballot. My golf game, bridge game, and spending time with my grandchildren are my priorities these days. And, yes, I believe that receptionists and file clerks are not qualified to understand business economics, at least not as well as a successful professional.
These are the exact same goals that Iowa Legislators (both Republican and Democrats) touted 20 or 25 years ago. If we have been working on these for over a generation now why are they still goals today? Maybe the problem is too much government? Is it time to think about a unicameral legislature that meets only in odd years? This is not to be offensive of Rep. Steckman, but we have too many elected officials who love their egos stroked with the opportunity to party in Des Moines three months out of the year. Yes, some are genuine and do work hard, but there are many both Republicans and Democrats who just like to waste time and money.
Your right our local politicians don’t know budgets or business too bad its true. Gary Blodgett has probably forgot more then Steckman and Ragan between them two ever knew economicly.
Mason City Resident asked me about Mrs. Ragan’s jobs before she was elected: She was a receptionist/file clerk for a local chiropractor, who shall remain nameless here. I know this because my late wife was active in the Democratic party here in town. Blogger Harold is correct in saying that our last MC state legislator who understood busines is Dr. Blodgett. Our city has not been as well served legislatively since Gary relinquished the seat to Schickel.
Do you see something wrong with being a receptionist? Or a file clerk? If you feel so strongly about her lack of qualificaitons, then I would expect to see your name on the ballot in the next election.
I agree. If politicians knew how to run a business they would be doing it or would have already done it and became successful and rich. Steckman, Ragan and for that matter Bookmeyer never ran anything. Yet they all act like they know how to.
@southsider-Bookmeyer was even worse. He was a Executive Recruiter. Anyone who ever had the misfortune to use one of those guys knows you never, never, never trust those guys. They will tell you or say anything to get their commission.
How much commission do you suppose the Chamber pay ole Bookmeier?
Believe it or not some people don’t have the same warped idea of success. Personally I don’t want to open my own business and become fabulously wealthy. I would rather spend all the time that would be devoted to that business with my family, and making certain that my son doesn’t grow up to be a uneducated bully who thinks the only priority anyone should have is making money. If I die a poor man with a incredibly happy son who has nothing bad to say about his childhood… that is success.
Teachers is the worse kind to elect all they think about is spend spend, spend. If Amana Reagan and Steckman is so smart why arent they rich. OK. Our country is going down hill fast and MC is ahead the curve yes.
So only smart people are rich? Einstein was a millionaire.
@ Pee Wee, teachers are important to show us how to use proper spelling and grammar and how to put a sentence together.
If smart people aren’t rich, then it follows that Pee Wee must be a billionaire. I think he’s a troll.
And Jake is a trillionaire……He thinks Einstein wasn’t very smart. LOL!
Most of that 10% Culver cut from education is wasted anyways. Retired Mercy is right about these two sorry excuses for legislators. But what do you expect, from Mason City these days? Seems like half the town is on welfare of some sort. Last time Mason sent anybody down to Des Moines that signed the front of paychecks from a real business was when Gary Blodgett represented us.
Tell me, when does a retired teacher know anything about creating jobs? Same goes for Ragan, who runs a welfare soup kitchen, and before that, she filed papers and answered the phone in an office. MC is represented in Des Moines by two economic know-nothings. Both are professional Democrats, 24/7.
@Retired Mercy…I’m curious as to what Ragan’s office job was? I had no idea. So, really, she doesn’t have any relevant business experience.
I’ve been at a few “functions” where she has spoken or attended, and I think she has her nose in the air. Not impressed.
Most politicians don’t know business or how to create jobs. They just know how to convince those who care enough to vote that they do. They’re like salesmen that have sell themselves to get you to buy into their pitch. Most politicians are ordinary folk with big dreams and small minds.
So her budgeting practices from 2008 and 2009 got us where we are today? On October 8th of 2009 Steckman and her Governor cut education by 10%. This is after teacher contracts had already been signed. Do you know how difficult that is for school districts to lose 10% of their planned revenue when they have contractual obligations to uphold? Hopefully, we can find someone here in MC to run against her in 2014. She is all smoke and mirrors, I have yet to see her help grow our city economically.
I am somewhat confused here. While these are all good goals I really do not see how you can do it all. If you spend money on training for jobs and give incentives to company’s to move to Iowa how are you going to reduce commercial property taxes? Someone has to pay for these programs and if you reduce taxes at the state level you will have to increase them on the local level. Someone must pay. They want to fix roads, give teachers raises and of course the unions want their piece of the pie. I predict it just won’t happen and they will waste a lot of our money debating it.