Iowa has one of the lowest unemployment rates in the country at 2.8 percent, but that doesn’t mean everybody has the job they want or the income they need to make ends meet. We must ensure every Iowa community has the tools to thrive—especially our small towns and rural areas.
In a recent Iowa Poll, Iowans shared what they see as the biggest issues facing our state. The majority of Iowans surveyed think Iowa has major problems with:
· Mental-health services (73 percent)
· Child welfare (58 percent)
· Student debt (60 percent)
· University tuition (55 percent)
· The state budget (51 percent)
Unfortunately, cuts that passed the Iowa Senate on February 8 could hurt those priority areas even more. SF 2117 immediately slashes funding for critical services provided by the Department of Human Services, and significantly cuts our investment in community colleges and state universities. That will lead to more out-of-pocket expenses and fewer opportunities for working families.
I am eager to get to work on proposals that Put Iowans First. It’s time to get back to the basics—to help improve Iowans’ everyday lives and provide more opportunities. That means focusing on our shared values, including better-paying jobs, great education and affordable health care.
11 thoughts on “Senator Ragan: “We must spur growth in every Iowa community””
Spur all you want, it’s al bout jobs! Decent paying jobs! No matter what else is done, no matter what amenities you provide, growth only occurs from the addition of good jobs! Just look to our northeast, the town we’re becoming a suburb of, Rochester!
I am curious about Amanda’s poll. Where did this poll come from? The Iowa democratic representatives. The Iowa teachers union.
The state legislators are nothing but a waste of time and taxpayer money. They don’t have much to change so they all sit around and think about what new law or program they create. It is time for Iowa to go to an every other year legislative session like Texas does. It would save Iowans a lot of money and cause less damage to us as well.
More hog lots MORE HOG LOTS $$$$$$$$$$$$
Accept responsibility for yourself and most of those problems go away. A lot of the mental health problems are due to bad parenting by liberals.
It’s the alt-right 1% who bail their brats out of every jam who are doing the bad parenting. They never have consequences so they never learn anything.
Yea right, they are the ones walking up and down the street selling their meth and pot, and when they can’t sell it they will steal anything not tied down. Yep, that has to be rich kids, you idiot.
Here’s a idea, she can raise taxes and give the money to someone that doesn’t work. That has always worked in the past.
Yeh right, it is the rich kids walking and riding their bikes up and down the streets because they lost their licence. They are the ones making, using and selling meth and weed all over town. Damn, you really are that stupid.
Quit making everything about conservative or liberal‘s. There are bad parents and good parents on both sides of the political spectrum. You make yourself look very foolish when all you do is concentrate on politics… Get a life
There is more to life than bashing the other party. People like you are a big part of the problem in America today… Like I said get a life
Then tell Bodacious. She’s the one who likes to call people who disagree with her names, e. g. Trumpanzee, dumbass, nutcase, moron, etc. But of course she’s the only one qualified to tell others how to live their lives.