Senate Journal: Page 47: Tuesday, January 14, 1997

  2nd Day TUESDAY, JANUARY 14, 1997 47
  And so today, I recommend we reduce personal income tax rates
  across-the-board by
  15 percent over the next two years. This will keep millions of hard-earned
  dollars in the pockets of hard-working Iowans.

  The plan I am putting forth will unquestionably improve our competitiveness.
  It is
  fair and will benefit all Iowans by reducing their taxes while maintaining
  the current progressivity of our tax system. And most of all, it is
  realistic and sustainable
  for the long term. We have taken into account commitments already made to
  education and infrastructure.

  Another commitment we have made is to property tax relief. This year alone,
  the
  state will be adding another $17 million of property tax relief for mental
  health -- increasing our annual commitment to $95 million.

  The Competitiveness Task Force also identified residential property taxes as
  an
  impediment to growth. Iowa homeowners pay too much in property taxes. I am
  recommending an additional $20 million in property tax relief directly
  delivered to
  homeowners by increasing the homestead tax credit.
  Property taxes have long been a burden on our family farmers. To preserve
  and
  strengthen our family farms, we need to eliminate property taxes on
  agricultural buildings which are located on the family farm homestead. This
  is a bold move
  designed to give a competitive advantage to the family farmer, who embodies
  the true character and strength of our state.

  In addition to property taxes, there is another tax which is unfair to
  farmers as well
  as small business owners, homeowners, andretirees. Our state inheritance tax
  punishes a family when they lose a loved one. Too many Iowa families have
  been
  forced to go into debt or sell their possessions to pay death taxes. Not
  only is that unfair, but it is contrary to our Iowa values. We should el
  iminate the inheritance tax
  for family members without delay.
  To protect the safety of Iowa workers and improve our competitiveness, we
  must
  strengthen our workplace drug-testing law. We have the weakest law in the
  Midwest. From factory floor to construction site, Iowa workers are
  needlessly placed at
  risk. Employees and passengers in the trucking, railroad, and airline
  industries have had this protection for many years, and Iowa workers deserve
  the same.

  Cutting income and property taxes; eliminating the inheritance tax for
  family
  members; strengthening our workplace drug-testing law. These are critical
  elements of our plan to make Iowa a global competitor for safe, quality
  jobs. They
  require bold action this year.
  The quality of our schools has always been one of our best qualities. From
  the one-
  room schoolhouse of the 1800's to the unlimited learning possibilities of
  the Internet, Iowans have always put education first. Just last year, we
  made a $150
  million commitment to school improvement and technology. Several years ago,
  we had the foresight to envision what the Information Age could do for
  education, so we
  created the Iowa Communications Network.

Iowa General Assembly

Index: Senate Journal (77th General Assembly: Session 1)

© 1997 Cornell College and League of Women Voters of Iowa

Comments? sjourn@legis.iowa.gov.

Last update: Wed Jan 22 13:01:06 CST 1997
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