Marshalltown Area Chamber of Commerce 2009/2010 Legislative Priorities
STATE FINANCES
It is critical that the State of Iowa continue to balance the state budget each year. The private sector has had to make very difficult choices to address the impact of the economic downturn. State government must make those same difficult decisions in order to address the projected revenue and expense gap that is projected by the Legislative Services Agency. Our ability to grow the economy of Iowa demands that our State leaders aggressively address this budget dilemma and return this State to sound government financial and regulatory policies.
ECONOMIC GROWTH
If Iowa’s economy is to grow we must preserve our business foundation. We will:
- Support Right-to-work
- Oppose employee choice of doctor
- Oppose prevailing wage
- Oppose open-scope bargaining
- Oppose increasing health insurance coverage mandates
The passage of any or all of these anti-business issues would represent a significant erosion of Iowa’s business climate.
PROPERTY TAX
The residential property tax rollback is based on an outdated system of linking residential values to agricultural productivity, rather than taxing based on true market values. Since the rollback system was implemented, there has been a gradual shift of the property tax burden to commercial and industrial property. We support a complete reform of the property tax system. During the time a property tax reform plan is being developed, we support for the residential property tax rollback at its current level.
INCOME TAX
We support a simplified income tax system. If eliminating federal deductibility is included in the simplification plan, then it must be revenue neutral.
ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Research and Development tax credits have proven to be very effective in generating and retaining high paying technical positions. The state’s investments have resulted in private sector investments totaling nearly $1 billion. We support maintaining these tax credits as a key economic development incentive.
WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
We support the establishment of 21st Century learning skills by setting statewide, outcome-based standards that provide all students with rigorous and measurable learning opportunities.
Implement the Iowa Core Curriculum as soon as possible and align it with comprehensive student assessments.
Education and business must intensify their partnership so that the education sector knows what skills are needed in the workforce and business knows what skills are being taught.
We believe that Iowa should lead the nation in adopting a plan that lengthens either the school day or the school year, and moves to year-round school calendar.
We support the continuation of job training incentives because today’s competitive environment requires that our workforce be trained or retrained with the skills that are required in today’s economy.
TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE
Highway infrastructure is essential to Iowa’s ability to grow its economy. It has been well documented that costs to maintain and expand our highway system, roads and streets have increased significantly, while at the same time gas tax revenues have decreased. Iowa’s gas tax rate has not changed since 1989, and therefore we support a reasonable gas tax increase using the current Time 21 funding formula that allocates 60% of the revenues collected to the primary highway system.
© Copyright 2009 Marshalltown Area Chamber of Commerce
