House Journal: Page 33: Tuesday, January 13, 1998

networking among producers.  The state should become a reliable
partner for those entrepreneurs who need help getting off to a
good start in agriculture.
We need to expand the innovative Beginning Farmer Loan Program
that works with bankers to help new, young farmers get started. 
The average age of borrowers from this program is 32, the
average age of an Iowa farmer is well over 50.  It is vital to
get more young people into farming.   
I am also recommending the creation of the Agrifutures Fund - a
$25 million revolving loan guarantee program - as well as
expanded use of the Link Deposit Program to support the
development of value-added agriculture activities.
One of the fastest growing areas in agriculture is organic
farming.  This year, 62,000 acres are in organic production - a
significant number, but not nearly enough to meet the growing
demands.  We need to establish a state Organic Agriculture
Certification Program to provide a valuable marketing tool that
will add credibility and stability for the organic farmer to
become competitive in the global marketplace.
A study by Iowa State University identified livestock production
as the single most efficient way to add value to grain.  Jobs
related to the livestock industry employ more people than live
in Council Bluffs, Dubuque and Iowa City combined.
Three years ago, we adopted one of the nation's strongest laws
regulating the livestock industry.  Our approach is based on
strict, stable, scientifically-based, statewide standards.  
This year, we must expand the State's ability to deal with
chronic violators by enabling the Department of Natural
Resources to deny new permits and revoke the existing ones of
those who repeatedly break our environmental laws.   
Good stewardship of the land has always been central to the Iowa
character.  We cannot allow the loud voices of a small minority
to drown out the need for good, solid Iowa common sense
policies.  Balancing strong statewide standards with an enhanced
ability to stop those who do not live by the rules will provide
the valuable environmental protection Iowans expect.
Succeeding in the global economy of the 21st century demands
that our work to improve Iowa's competitiveness never cease.  
The actions we took last year on income and inheritance taxes
were significant steps forward, but we can do more - and we
should. 
Retirees add so much to the vibrancy of our communities and we
can no longer afford to lose so many of them.  It is all too
common to hear of long-time Iowa residents moving to Illinois or
South Dakota upon retirement.  This year, we should double the
pension tax exemption.  I am also recommending we direct all
revenues above expectations toward eliminating the tax on
pensions altogether.
Iowa taxpayers deserve constitutional protection from high taxes
and excessive government spending.  We should adopt the
Taxpayers Rights Amendment and give them that protection.
The State of Iowa should encourage, not discourage, its people
to have access to the information superhighway.  That's why I am
recommending we eliminate the sales tax on Internet services. 
Our elimination of the inheritance tax for family members will
allow hundreds 

Iowa General Assembly

Index: House Journal (77th General Assembly: Session 2)

© 1998 Cornell College and League of Women Voters of Iowa

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