Expanding Iowa’s Middle Class
The best way to grow Iowa’s middle class is to help Main Street businesses and other employers grow. We’re working on a commercial property tax cut aimed at doing just that. This “Main Street Tax Cut”...
View ArticleOrascom #1: Tax credits sometimes make sense. The Orascom deal did not.
Prepared remarks by Senator Joe Bolkcom of Iowa City, chair of the Senate Ways and Means Committee We all want to help create jobs here in Iowa. And everyone in this chamber believes tax credits and...
View ArticleFirst law of session helps families, small business, farmers
Tax cuts should focus first on helping Iowa families, farmers and small businesses. We kept that focus with the first bill to pass the House and Senate and be signed into law by the Governor this...
View ArticleSkilled workers grow Iowa economy, expand middle class
Iowa businesses need skilled workers to compete and grow. Studies show that in the next five years, 62 percent of all Iowa jobs—that’s 1.1 million jobs—will require education and training beyond high...
View ArticleLocal officials, businesses favor Senate’s “Main Street Tax Cut”
Every commercial property owner in the state will get a tax cut under a plan we’re working on in the Senate. Iowa commercial property owners currently pay taxes on 100 percent of assessed value, about...
View ArticleMeasures to grow Iowa’s middle class advance
The following measures to grow Iowa’s middle class all survived the first 2013 legislative funnel. Improving Iowa schools by boosting teacher quality, increasing student achievement and supporting...
View ArticleCreating Local Jobs By Buying American
Whenever our tax dollars are spent, they should create jobs here, not overseas. Many of Iowa’s roads, bridges, schools, water and sewage systems, and other critical infrastructure need to be repaired....
View ArticleSenate Democrats offer compromise on affordable health care
Iowa Senate Democrats offer a compromise in order to insure tens of thousands of Iowans. To address Governor Branstad’s concerns that the federal government will not keep its promises, Democrats...
View ArticlePutting Iowa Businesses First
We all do better when Iowa businesses do better. So if it makes sense, we should put Iowa companies first when spending your state and local tax dollars on the goods and services government needs to...
View ArticleExpanding Iowa’s middle class drives job measures in Iowa Senate
March 28, 2013 (Des Moines) Beginning on January 14th, the 2013 session of the Iowa Senate has focused on expanding Iowa’s middle class. That focus is pushing a diverse and comprehensive set of...
View ArticleGrowing Iowa’s Middle Class through Smart Jobs Legislation
Iowa’s financial outlook is bright, according to the state’s nonpartisan Revenue Estimating Committee. The continued rise in state revenues shows that our response to the national recession is working....
View ArticleNew investments in economic development budget will help expand Iowa’s middle...
On Wednesday, April 3, the Iowa Senate voted to approve Senate File 430, the economic development budget. This legislation invests $78.5 million next year in helping grow Iowa’s economy in variety of...
View ArticleExpanding Middle Class by Helping Iowans Fill Skilled Job Openings
Our community colleges give thousands of Iowans the opportunity to improve their skills and build a better life for their families. They’re also helping to solve one of the biggest problems facing...
View ArticleBudgeting for a Stronger Iowa Economy
This legislative session is all about expanding the middle class. That means working for policies and budgets that put Iowans back to work, help businesses create jobs and improve Iowa’s economy. The...
View ArticleMain Street Program Provides Great Returns to Communities
Iowa’s main streets are the heart of our small towns and urban neighborhoods. For almost three decades, “Main Street Iowa” has helped communities revitalize their local economies by capitalizing on...
View ArticleSenate Approves Main Street Tax Cut
A $250 million commercial property tax cut won bipartisan support in the Senate on April 15. Senate File 295 cuts commercial property taxes for every Iowa business, starting from the bottom up. That...
View ArticleCommunity College Investment is Key to Iowa Economic Growth
Iowa’s lack of skilled workers is our biggest challenge when it comes to jobs. Fortunately, Iowa’s community colleges are nationally recognized as leaders at helping families get ahead. The problem is...
View ArticleNew Businesses are Creating Jobs for Iowans
Iowa start-ups have created 600 new jobs with the help of a state economic development program, a new study shows. The “Iowa Demonstration Fund” helps small and medium-sized Iowa companies in advanced...
View ArticleHelping small business with health care costs for employees
Small businesses want to expand Iowa’s middle class by attracting and retaining the best workers. Providing good health care benefits is one way to do that. Unfortunately, health care is the...
View ArticleSession won’t end until the people’s work is finished
While I hope the 2013 legislative session wraps up soon, I won’t vote to adjourn until Iowa has a balanced state budget that will help strengthen and grow our middle class. We can do that in a fiscally...
View Article