I’m Afraid Our Governor Doesn’t Get It

Iowa Governor Chet Culver laid his plans for the 2008 legislature this week and unfortunately it seems Mr. Culver is too busy to read a newspaper or watch the news. His proposals amount to individual and corporate tax and fee increases in excess of $100 million. Not exactly an economic stimulus for a state still burdened by the botched handling of Maytag’s exit and recent news of a closure at the Story City Pella window plant. We have been bombarded with statistics on the brain and youth drain from this state and asked to wash that down with go-nowhere solutions and hallow assurances of incentives for folks to stay in the state after college.

The best way to keep individuals and corporations here is to provide tangible incentives. Closing a loophole that will cost out-of-state corporations nearly $75 million and discourage growth and relocation of new business, as well as taxing recycled bottles 2 cents for green initiatives and an increase redemption fees to 8 cents certainly does nothing but fill state coffers when we need to be thinking about heating homes and paying tuition. All of this coming to light as Fed Chair Bernanke is testifying before congressional committee about the marked inflation numbers, sliding dollar valuation and the recession that cannot be spoken. I’m willing to spend $1.50 and drop off a Wall Street Journal at the governor’s residence, maybe that would help.