Iowa businesses, vets focus of recent bills

The new legislative session started with a call for bipartisanship in the Iowa House. During speeches delivered in the chamber on opening day, Democratic and Republican leaders said we must work together in 2012. I agree.

After week two, I am further encouraged that bipartisanship is more than a passing fad under the golden dome. Legislators on both sides of the aisle agree, we must prevent some in the majority party from using this session to push their narrow social agenda. Their efforts early last session forced a partisan divide that clouded the entire session.

Does bipartisanship mean we will always agree? No. It means we must stay focused on the same goals. We must work together to grow our economy and strengthen our schools. We must craft a balanced budget, as required by law, while meeting the critical needs of Iowans.

Our job efforts should start with helping small businesses grow by reducing their property taxes and offering more technical and financial support. Main Street retailers and service providers deserve our attention, rather than large, out-of-state corporations as the governor suggests. To help ease the burdens of the middle class and working families, we should put small and mid-sized businesses in a position to grow.

To these efforts, I am crafting a bill to provide micro-loans to entrepreneurs and Main Street businesses in rural communities. For too long, the economic development debate has centered on incentives verses tax cuts. I believe it is time for a new approach to enter the discussion. Low-interest, micro-loans can help a very small business with a limited number of employees to buy equipment, hire needed help and map growth strategies, leading to better jobs and more of them.

Micro-loans are not money down the drain, as some incentive programs have proven to be. I am proposing a strategy which will grow jobs and bring low-interest loan repayments back to the state coffers. If Iowa establishes a successful micro-loan program, we will put more Iowans back to work while creating a revenue source allowing us to lower taxes while meeting the needs of Iowans.

A level playing field is necessary for Iowa businesses to win contracts over competitors in other states. This week, I co-sponsored a bill reducing the sales tax requirements of environmental testing services. Surrounding states have already done so, and their strategy puts Iowa’s environmental testing services at a serious disadvantage. If this bill passes, and becomes law, it will help our local Keystone Laboratories. Gov. Branstad stated during a visit to Newton last year that he would sign this bill if it hits his desk. I pursued it last year only to have the house majority decide, late in the extended session, that all sales-tax reduction bills were off the table. Hopefully, our new-found bipartisanship will help get this bill to Branstad for his signature. It has bipartisan sponsorship.