April 13, 2018
The governor signed a number of bills this week. One of these was Senate File 481, regarding the enforcement of immigration laws in Iowa. It requires an Iowa police or sheriff’s department having custody of a person subject to an immigration detainer request to fully comply with any instruction and legal document provided by a federal agency. It also would prohibit a local entity from taking any action discouraging the enforcement of immigration laws, including adopting or enforcing a policy. The signing of this bill an important step to keep our communities safe and simply ensure the rule of law is enforced in our state.
Another bill Governor Reynolds signed was Senate File 2177. This an important bill for consumers and Iowans who have been affected by security breaches. This bill removes the ability for consumer reporting agencies to charge a fee to freeze someone’s credit, to temporarily unfreeze their credit, and to permanently unfreeze their credit. These companies now have to provide this service for free to Iowans. Additionally, the bill updates the code to reflect changes in technology so companies will now be required to allow consumers to ask for a freeze by mail, telephone, email, or through a secure online connection. With the governor’s signature, it is effective immediately.
Governor Reynolds also signed Senate File 2347 regarding the amount of alcohol an individual can bring into the state. The bill will increase the amount of alcohol that can be imported to Iowa by an individual. This common-sense reform enhances consumer choice and ends the current prohibition on purchasing and bringing into the state small quantities of alcohol for personal and private use.
The Senate passed a resolution on Thursday to celebrate and recognize the accomplishments of Dr. Peggy Whitson. She is from Mount Ayr and has spent more time living and working in space than any other American. She has spent more than 665 days over three different missions aboard the International Space Station. Having her visit us in the Senate was an honor and we are grateful we could recognize her in this way.
We continue our work in the Legislature on behalf of Iowans. Much of our work this week happened off the Senate floor as we work on bigger issues, such as tax reform and the budget for the next fiscal year. We had some floor debate, but we are mainly focused on what we can do to finish this legislative session. As we work through these issues, please keep in touch about the issues important to you and any questions you may have.
Tax relief matters – Work continued this week on tax relief for Iowans and the state budget. Important progress was made in the effort to lower some of the highest tax rates in the country. Iowa has the fourth highest personal income tax in the country and the second highest corporate income tax in the country. These rates discourage work and investment, and make it more difficult for entrepreneurship and creativity to thrive.
The goals of tax reform are simple: provide relief to Iowans with lower tax rates, create a fairer tax structure, increase the simplicity of the tax code, and create an incentive to work and invest. Work and investment raise wages and improve career opportunities.
Improving career opportunities has been a central goal for Senate Republicans. Throughout this session and the last, we continually work on bills to create a better environment for job creation in our state. Data repeatedly show the fastest growing states in the country are also the states with the lowest or no state income tax. Federal tax cuts have created a significant amount of economic growth at across the country.
According to a recent US News and World Report analysis, Iowa is the #1 state in the country. The publication gave Iowa high rankings in education, infrastructure, and health care. Those rankings position the state to capitalize on the many domestic investments occurring as a result of tax reform. However, our relatively low rankings on business environment and tax rates must be addressed in order to see growth in this state improve.
Our state is a leader in a number of areas and we want to continue being a model for the rest of the nation. As we continue our work on health care, growing our workforce and encouraging our state’s entrepreneurs, it is essential we also find ways to encourage growth and keep the Iowa taxpayer at the forefront of our minds.
It has been 20 years since the Iowa Legislature last passed income tax relief. Now is time to provide relief to Iowa income taxpayers.
As always, I want to hear from you. My Senate number is (515) 281-3371 and my home number is (515) 432-7327 or write me at: State Capitol, Des Moines, IA 50319 or at my home address: 1313 Quill Avenue, Boone, IA 50036 or email me at jerry.behn@legis.iowa.gov
