From Senator Amanda Ragan –
As we end the summer with a celebration of the progress of working families, we have a few new victories to be excited about. This year, the Legislature approved initiatives that will help expand Iowa’s middle class and grow our economy by:
1. Reducing Iowa’s skilled worker shortage: We invested $34.3 million in worker training to help Iowans qualify for job openings at local businesses. This will allow Iowans who want to do more for their families to move up to in-demand careers, while providing the skilled workers Iowa employers need. A pilot project has shown this approach works. By expanding worker training initiatives to community colleges statewide, more Iowans will be able to get their GED, learn basic skills, and earn industry-recognized certificates in welding, health care, technology and other areas.
2. Ensuring Iowans get paid for their work: Legislation expanded theft investigations at Iowa Workforce Development. Workers should always be paid what they are owed. Unfortunately, there are a few bad employers in Iowa who cheat employees out of their pay, pocket unauthorized deductions, and confiscate tips. It is not fair to the workers or to honest employers that play by the rules.
3. Cutting Taxes for Low-income Working Iowa Families: The Senate increased the state’s Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) from 7 percent to 15 percent of the federal credit. A boost in our state EITC is helping 210,000 Iowans, parents to almost 40 percent of Iowa kids, work their way out of poverty. These Iowans pay the highest percentage of their income in state and local taxes, even though they are among our lowest-paid workers. The EITC also helps invigorate our economy when the extra income is spent locally on food, gas, car repairs, medical bills and other necessities.
Why this hatred for the poor? Are you jealous or something, get you own life and stop crying over your lot in life.
If they did, why haven’t I seen any of it?
I have seen the evidence of their work, every time I drive by Monroe park I see dozens of them sitting on the picnic tables swapping little baggies for money.
So you gave more to low income and did programs to help train workers. As a middle income family would you explain how in the hell this has helped my ever shrinking pay check as more is continually taken out to pay for your democratic party dead beat voters. You should be burying your head in a toilet rather than patting your self on the back.