Paul McKinley for Iowa

Senate Republicans Announce Ambitious Grow Iowa - Not Government Jobs Creation Initiative

DES MOINES, IA  - Senate Republican leader Paul McKinley (R-Chariton) today unveiled an ambitious three component job creation initiative designed to provide an immediate jolt to Iowa’s economy through job creation, ensure job sustainability and work toward developing future employment while cutting taxes and stopping the growth of government.

 

The “Grow Iowa Not Government” jobs creation initiative designed to offer an immediate shot of adrenaline to Iowa’s economy and provide incentives to Iowa employers in order to help the 80,000 unemployed Iowans get back to work.

 

The plan is aimed at re-establishing the tradition of free market capitalism as the engine of economic growth in Iowa and move away from the mentality of state government serving as the arbiter of economic development by allowing bureaucrats to pick winners and losers. During the past decade, Iowa has drifted away from supporting existing and potential employers that dot the landscape of Iowa and has instead focused on chasing a few elite and already established mega corporations.

 

“Throughout Iowa’s history, there have many wonderful examples of employers, businesses, inventors, entrepreneurs and manufacturers who have taken a dream and vision and built a legacy that has shaped our communities and touched generations of Iowans.” said Senate Republican Leader Paul McKinley. “Many of these successful individuals have created wonderful opportunities for many fellow Iowans but they did not get their start by first coming to the capitol with a glossy brochure to see what kind of deal they could get – they started because they found local investment and worked hard to build the business into a success from the bottom up. We must not forget that every big business once started as a small business.”

 

The three point initiative seeks to provide immediate and substantial tax credit incentives to Iowa’s job creators and then lay in place two other components that will lead to sustainable job growth in the future.

 

PART ONE – Immediate Economic Adrenaline

• Provides for a tax credit for every new job created at the level of 50 percent of the annual salary .

• This is a bold, limited time tax credit that can be used once per job for 5 percent more jobs or 50 new jobs, whichever is greater.

PART TWO – Job & Employment Sustainability

• Create the position of small business ombudsman. Many surrounding states, like Nebraska, have a similar position and have utilized it with success and this would be paid fro through existing money available through the Grow Iowa Values Fund.
• This ombudsman would serve as a watchdog and investigate any and all complaints made by job creators against state government.
• There are plenty of lobbyists here looking out for one interest or business or group but we need a person who will be looking to provide root counsel and suggestions to root out the onerous hurdles, regulations and roadblocks that are standing in the way of  job creation.

• The ombudsman would create the Solutions to Minimize Unreasonable Government (S.M.U.G.) commission and they will review any and all rules and regulations that currently exist or that could exist in the future.
• S.M.U.G. must comprise nine (9) volunteer members who come from unique backgrounds whose sole motivation will be to improve our communities, put more Iowans to work and provide suggestions that will be to the betterment of Iowa’s future. They will meet monthly without compensation or reimbursement.

• The goal is to provide suggestions and counsel to elected officials and bureaucrats about what aspects of Iowa’s code and administrative rules are serving as barriers and roadblocks to creating jobs and growing Iowa’s economy.

 

PART THREE – The Future

• State and federal government already have many programs in place to assist job creators once that entrepreneur has acquired funding or has a product ready for market. In other words, government seems to be ready to help most when it is needed the least.

• We must create an 11 member task force that will head out into our communities to cultivate ideas and look for entrepreneurial Iowans who may not have the knowledge or tools to go about starting a business. In addition, many Iowans may not understand what current programs exist, how they can be utilized or where to for help if they have a good idea.

• Notification, marketing and promotion of the “idea nights” would work in coordination with local chambers of commerce, banks, credit unions, auditors, accountants, trade associations and other small business and community associations.

A recent study reported by US News & World Report noted that Iowa is second to last in attractiveness to businesses and employers because of high taxation, high regulatory burdens, and excessive and unreasonable government interference. The current anti-jobs legislation and bonding proposals being pushed by Governor Culver and legislative Democrats will not reduce this startling trend and would instead make the state even less competitive and attractive. The governor continues to ask Iowans to put another $700 million dollars on the state’s credit card through bonding to pay for infrastructure projects but that project will only create work – not jobs.

 

“Iowans need to understand that there is a big difference between the Senate Republican plan and the governor and legislative Democrats’ anti-jobs agenda,” said McKinley. “Senate Republicans believe we need to provide an immediate jolt to the economy and refocus our approach to economic development so that we are helping everyone – not just the elite select few. On the other side, Democrats only want to erect more barriers to job creation and spend more money on more government programs that create work but not jobs.”

 

Unfortunately, the Democrats are only interested in debating bicycle bills and trying to figure out ways to make Iowa voters irrelevant in future presidential elections while Republicans will continue to put forth common sense solutions that will create Iowa jobs and get this economy moving forward again.

 

“Senate Republicans remain optimistic that Iowa will weather this current economic storm because there is a strong foundation to build upon,” said McKinley. “Common sense, hard work and ingenuity have come to define this state and we need to keep Iowa open for business and remember that two out of every three jobs created in Iowa are created by small employers.”