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Government Affairs - State Issues
2009 Priority Issues
The Iowa Chamber Alliance has released its 2009 Legislative Agenda. DavenportOne is an active member of the Alliance, a non-partisan coalition of 16 urban chambers of commerce and economic development organizations dedicated to economic and community growth.
Expansion of Rail Service Endorsed
Passenger rail is a significant addition to the Alliance agenda this year. With passenger rail service between Chicago and the Quad Cites likely to become a reality in the next 24-36 months, Iowa communities and business leaders are rallying to extend service from Moline to Iowa City, and, ultimately, Des Moines. Amtrak currently runs through southern Iowa; there are no routes through the center of the state.
The Iowa Department of Transportation is requesting funding from the legislature this session so that Iowa can capitalize on the opportunities associated with the Quad City/Chicago link and leverage significant federal dollars. An Amtrak feasibility study completed in January 2008 determined that over 110,000 passengers would use the Quad Cities to Chicago service annually. Extending the route to Iowa City would add another 80,000 passengers to that figure.
Chamber leaders acknowledge that Quad-City legislators are in a unique position to lead a coalition of legislators from communities along I-80, including Iowa City/Cedar Rapids, Grinnell and Des Moines, that can push for state support of rail this session.
“Quad-City legislators understand that passenger rail from Chicago to the Quad Cities is a growth strategy that can foster business growth, increase tourism, facilitate leisure travel and assist with workforce attraction and retention in our region. We’re hopeful our state delegation will stir up support among their colleagues to position Iowa for rail service to Iowa City and points west as soon as possible,” said Tara Barney, DavenportOne president and CEO.
Card Check Bill Targeted
While primarily a federal issue, the Alliance and DavenportOne support maintaining the right of employees to cast secret ballots when organizing unions. Secret ballots provide some measure of assurance that such elections are fair and free of pressure or coercion from unions or employers. The Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA), more commonly called the Card Check Bill, would deny employees this right and chip away at Iowa’s Right-to-Work Law. The ICA typically opposes legislation that would negatively impact Iowa’s Right-To-Work status.
“Legislation that tinkers with Iowa’s strong business foundation could significantly impact the state’s ability to attract a skilled workforce and impair business expansion and job creation in the state,” said Barney.
Entrepreneurship and Workforce
Iowa’s leaders support creating cultures of entrepreneurship in Iowa by nurturing entrepreneurial talent and generating venture capital. DavenportOne and the Alliance recommend continuing financial support for research parks and regional business accelerators, extending the existing Seed Capital Fund Investment Tax Credit, which expired in 2008, replenishing those tax credits, and maintaining Research and Development (R&D) Tax Credits. DavenportOne’s NewVentures Entrepreneurial Center is a regional business accelerator.
The Alliance also supports implementation of 21st century learning skills by setting statewide outcome-based standards in addition to strengthening workforce training, retention and recruitment to meet future workforce needs. Projections show that by 2012 the state could have as many as 200,000 more jobs than workers to fill them.
The Alliance members include the chambers in Ames, Bettendorf, Burlington/West Burlington, Cedar Falls/Waterloo, Cedar Rapids, Council Bluffs, Davenport, Des Moines, Dubuque, Fort Dodge, Iowa City, Marshalltown, Mason City, Muscatine and Sioux City.
Members can stay up to date on these issues and other legislative activity in Des Moines by logging onto the website at www.legis.state.ia.us.
Click here to view a PDF of the ICA 2009 priority issues.
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