Senate Journal: Page 50: Tuesday, January 10, 1995

         Second, we must attract better paying jobs to Iowa.

         Iowa is one of the few states in the Midwest to tax investment in
    machinery and equipment that is needed for high-paying manufacturing
    jobs.  We must begin eliminate the property tax on all machinery and
    equipment this year.  The plan I am recommending will eliminate the tax
    over the next six years, reimbursing local governments for any  lost
    revenue.

         We need to give small businesses the advantages of the
    single-factor formula and  modify the sales tax on printing supplies to
    make us more competitive.  These changes will lead to additional
    progress and opportunity and will have a lasting effect on the economic
    development of our state.

         Our new tourism slogan, Iowa, You Make Me Smile, captures our pride
    in Iowa. By sharing  Iowa's treasures, we have made tourism into our
    third largest industry.

         Just a week ago, the Des Moines Register declared 1995 to be the
    Year of Iowa.  With our sesquicentennial just around the corner in 1996,
    our state parks rating their 75th anniversary this year, and the soon to
    be released movie, The Bridges of Madison County, we have a golden
    opportunity to showcase our state and really show the world what Iowa
    has to offer.

         The strength of many of our communities depends on our farmers'
    success.  The passage of NAFTA  and GATT present unparalleled
    opportunities for Iowa farmers.  But Iowa farmers also face major
    challenges.  The livestock industry is changing  rapidly  and  we  must
    help our family farmers compete.  Last year alone, Iowa lost 18% of its
    swine breeding stock.  We cannot, we must not, we will not lose the
    livestock industry in Iowa.  We must act responsibly this year to make
    sure of that.

         I am recommending an ambitious livestock incentive, which will
    provide a property tax credit targeted to help our family farms.  Our
    livestock initiative is designed to help our farmers modernize and to
    make them more competitive while protecting the environment.

         Value-added products are the future of Iowa agriculture and we need
    to recognize  that greater world trade opportunities lie in the sale of
    finished products.  Iowa Quality Meats and exciting new products made
    from corn and soybeans are being shipped to all parts of the world.  By
    developing new markets and uses for our agricultural products, we are
    strengthening the future of family farmers.

         Third, we must make Iowa safer.  Over the past few years the
    specter of violent crimes has frightened and touched too many Iowans.
    The heinous crimes we all heard about over the past year must stop.
    Although our crime rate is one of the lowest in the country, every
    tragic crime sends a ripple through this state -- a shockwave of
    uncertainty.  We must act now to make certain that the seeds of violent
    crime that have been sown throughout the country do not take root here
    in Iowa.  Iowa must be a safe place.

Iowa General Assembly

Index: Senate Journal (76th General Assembly: Session 1)

© 1995 Cornell College and League of Women Voters of Iowa

Comments? sjourn@legis.iowa.gov.

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