Strong Economy

Iowa has the third highest commercial property taxes in the nation and the 16^th highest residential property taxes in the nation. Iowans were very clear that want property tax reform and relief this year at the statehouse.

The Legislature passed tax relief and reform that:

• Includes property tax relief for all classifications of property.
• Is meaningful, inclusive and reliable reform so taxpayers can count on relief from year to year.
• Limits assessment growth from 4 percent to 3 percent on ag and residential taxpayers
• Includes a 10 percent rollback on taxable value for commercial and industrial property.
• Is approximately $560 million in property tax relief once fully implemented.
• Ensures residential taxpayers receive as much relief as commercial taxpayers.
• Develops a permanent mechanism for the taxpayer trust fund tax credit, giving the overpayment back to taxpayers.

*Additional legislation making Iowa’s ECONOMY STRONG*
For the first time in a decade the Homestead Tax Credit is fully funded.  House Republicans led the way for the passage of a tax credit helping beginning farmers succeed.  Finally, House Republicans invested resources in jobs and economic development initiatives aimed at getting Iowans back to work and improving Iowa’s economy.

Strong Budget Leadership

Three years ago, Iowa faced a $900 million budget shortfall.  As the 2013 session ends, Iowa is spending less than it collects for the third consecutive year, our budget reserves remain full and the ending balance is projected to be $600 million.  This is a significant departure from how government operated in the past when legislators and governors spent more than the state collected.

The Legislature stuck to the core budgeting principles of:

• Do not spend more money than the state takes in.
• Do not use one-time money to pay for on-going expenses.
• Do not intentionally underfund entitlement programs to balance the state’s budget.
• Return unused tax dollars to Iowa’s taxpayers.

The bipartisan budgets passed this session:

• Result in 3 percent growth over fiscal year 2013 which is less than the 3.5 percent projected revenue growth.
• Spend merely 88 percent of what the state is allowed to spend.
• Fully-fund property tax credits for the first time since 2002.
• Fund the regents universities to a level where student tuition is frozen for the 2013-2014 school year.

*Additional legislation displaying STRONG BUDGET LEADERSHIP*
House Republicans led the way on debt reduction by using a portion of the ending balance to pay off $114 million in commitments earlier than required while also fulfilling our obligations in regards to pension funds.  Additionally House Republicans made substantial investments in water quality and one-time infrastructure projects at the regents universities.

The Republican-led Debt Reduction bill:

• Pays off $114 million in state debt years earlier than required.
• Fulfills a promise made by previous legislatures to the Judicial Retirement System and the Peace Officer’s Retirement System by making a $110.2 million payment to bring both pension funds to the obligated 80 percent threshold.
• Makes an investment of $34.1 million to one-time infrastructure projects at Iowa State University, the University of Iowa and the University of Northern Iowa.
• Invests $20 million into water quality initiatives through the Iowa Department of Agriculture.

Strong Schools and Communities

House Republicans are committed to improving the quality and rigor of the education our children are receiving.  Students must possess the skills necessary to succeed in college or in the workforce.

The Legislature passed education reform that:

• Offers flexibility for school districts, innovation for teachers, accountability for parents and protection for taxpayers.
• Brings new approaches and measureable results to the system.
• Includes choice for parents and strengthens the role of the parent, not the government.
• Adds modern evaluation and accountability measures to ensure Iowa students are receiving  first-rate instruction.

*Additional legislation passed to help build STRONG SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITIES*
House Republicans strengthened the state’s commitment to our private colleges through the tuition grant program.  Public and private schools were targeted for additional support through the education reform plan and school tuition organizations.  Building on previous commitments, House Republicans continued our collaboration with community colleges on workforce training and job creation.  In the final days of the session House Republicans crafted a bipartisan health care plan that focuses on making Iowans healthier without bowing to federal pressure to expand Medicaid.  Since the plan focuses on health, wellness and prevention, costs can be controlled at the state level saving taxpayers money.

2013 End of Session Report

*Note:  All information is current as of May 22, 2013

A sincere thank you to the members of the eighty-fifth general assembly, and in particular, House Republicans  – I appreciate the hard work, commitment and honest debates we had at the state capitol this year.  Thanks also to your families who deal with hectic schedules and our absences all so we can serve the good people of this state.

Thank you specifically to my wife, Cathy, and our children for your continued support, understanding and sharing in the sacrifice of our time together.

I want to thank a great leadership team that I am honored to work with – Reps. Windschitl, Hagenow, Rogers, Smith and Fry – I appreciate your leadership and dedication to the Republican caucus.   To Speaker Pro Tem Steve Olson, thanks for your input, advice and the guidance you provide.

Majority Leader Linda Upmeyer – I appreciate, and House Republicans value, the work that you do. Your service and vision are vital to our efforts and have not only made our caucus more determined, but made the state better.

I’d also like to recognize Leader McCarthy and the minority party.  Thank you for your efforts this year and for continuing to work in a bipartisan manner when you could and keeping your opposition civil when you could not.

Once again, thank you to the leadership staff:  Doug, Terri, Josie, Angie, and Tony.  And, in my opinion, the best caucus staff in the building – the House Republican Caucus staff: Jeff, Lew, Brad, Jason, Kristi, Carrie, Colin, Amanda, Louis and Dustin. Thank you for your hard work and the timely and reliable information you provide year in and year out.

Chief Clerk Boal, thank you to you and your staff, the work you all do right here in front me and behind the scenes make this chamber operate efficiently.

A special thanks to LSA for all of your hard work, much of what you do is not seen but it does not go unnoticed.

I also want to recognize and thank the gentleman to my right, the Speaker’s page, Keith Paulsen.  Keith and I go way back.  Thanks for taking care of me this year, Keith.  Having you by my side these few months has made this one of the most special and memorable sessions I’ve had serving in the legislature.

And finally, a special thank you to Governor Terry Branstad and Lieutenant Governor Kim Reynolds and their team for their resolve and unwavering leadership.

At the start of the 2013 session, I outlined an action plan to promote a strong Iowa – one that encompasses a strong economy, strong budget leadership and strong schools and communities.  As we close the session, I believe we have fulfilled this commitment to Iowans.

Iowa has the third highest commercial property taxes and the 16^th highest residential property taxes in the nation.  I pointed out at the beginning of session if nothing was done to address this problem, the hardworking taxpayers of Iowa were staring down the barrel of a $2.6 billion property tax increase over the next 10 years, with the majority of that falling to homeowners.  Homeowners have been and would continue to be shouldering much of the burden as the rollback turns into the roll up.

Iowans have been very clear that they want property tax reform and relief and we were able to deliver for them in a way that has never been done before.  For over a decade, the legislature has wrestled with this issue without success.

We passed bipartisan tax relief and reform that:

• Includes property tax relief for all classifications of property.
• Is meaningful, inclusive and reliable reform so taxpayers can count on relief from year to year.
• Ensures residential taxpayers receive as much relief as commercial taxpayers.
• Limits assessment growth from 4 percent to 3 percent on ag and residential taxpayers.
• Includes a 10 percent rollback on taxable value for commercial and industrial property.
• Is $560 million in property tax relief, once fully implemented.
• Additionally, this bill enacts a permanent mechanism for the taxpayer trust fund tax credit, giving any overpayment back to taxpayers.

This absolutely will make a difference for every Iowan.

We also fulfilled our commitment to provide strong budget leadership.  Three years ago, Iowa faced a $900 million budget shortfall, behaving much like they do in Washington, D.C.  This was unacceptable and Iowans demanded a change.  In response, House Republicans outlined budgeting principles that have guided our decisions for the last three sessions.  They are:

• Aligning ongoing spending with ongoing revenue.
• Resisting spending one-time money on ongoing expenses.
• Preventing the intentional underfunding of entitlement programs.
• Returning unused tax dollars to Iowa taxpayers.

The bipartisan budget passed this session results in three percent growth over fiscal year 2013 and spends merely 88 percent of what the state is allowed to spend.  Culture change in large, entrenched institutions is extremely difficult to accomplish, yet it happened.  This is not something to be taken lightly.  We have charted a new course for future legislatures, one that puts hardworking Iowa taxpayers first, not the government.

We also took charge in regards to the ending balance.  Our debt relief bill pays off $114 million in commitments earlier than required, fulfills our obligations in regards to pension funds, makes an investment on one-time infrastructure projects at the regents universities and in water quality.

We came together to make Iowa’s schools and communities stronger by moving education reform that offers flexibility for school districts, innovation for teachers, accountability for parents and protection for taxpayers.  Instead of continually throwing money at a less-than-perfect system, we met the challenge to bring about real reform that will provide measurable results.  We were also able to strengthen the role of Iowa parents, not the government.

And finally, House Republicans crafted a bipartisan health care plan that focuses on making Iowans healthier without bowing to federal pressure to expand Medicaid.  The federal government attempted to force Iowa and other states into expanding a broken and outdated system.  Instead of taking the easy way out, House Republicans, led by the Majority Leader and Rep. Rogers, knuckled-down and created an Iowa solution to our own health care needs.  This solution improves the quality of care, lowers costs and makes Iowans healthier.

This has been a remarkable session—we set very high expectations and the 150 of us, working together, met them all.    As I said in my opening day speech, we are not Washington, D.C.  We do not offer ultimatums, push things off until they are nearing a cliff, or wait for a crisis to react.  We’re Iowans and I believe once again this General Assembly has proved that we can come together on behalf of Iowans to accomplish serious and meaningful work.  Our leaders in the federal government, Congress and the Administration, both Republicans and Democrats, should take notice of our process and results.  If Washington operated more like Iowa, America would be much better off.

Again, thank you for your efforts.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

A little over two years ago the House Republican caucus set out on a mission.  We wanted to address the fundamental problems in the budget process.

For too long, and at the hands of Democrats and Republicans alike, the state’s budget resembled a roller coaster. One with steep inclines that inevitably led to even steeper declines.

We spent every dollar we had and were only limited by the maximum the law allowed for.  This meant we were ill prepared to handle a downturn in the economy.

It meant that government grew, without regard for the income of Iowans. It meant that we had to borrow money. It meant fees had to be increased to raise revenue.  It meant that the state made commitments and it did not keep them.

I am proud to serve as the Leader of a caucus who committed to change course. We committed to being limited by common sense, not the minimum standards of the law.  We committed to putting the hardworking taxpayers of Iowa first.  We committed to retiring debt, not accumulating it.

We have done this by adhering to some common sense budgeting principles.

• We will not spend more than we take in.
• We will not intentionally underfund obligations to balance the budget.
• We will not use one-time funds for ongoing expenses.
• We will return the over collection of taxes to the taxpayers.

Now I know you all have heard those before, but if you subscribe to the “rule of 7” from the advertising world, those principles are just about ready to sink in!

I admire my caucus for sticking to these principles. It certainly is not the easy thing to do.  Not when the siren song of “more spending” can be heard coming from all directions inside and outside the Capitol.  Like most things in life however, the right thing to do is also difficult.

It is remarkable that we have been able to reach a bipartisan agreement on a budget that grows at a very responsible rate of 3 percent.  While the law allows us to spend 99% of all funds available, that would equal 18 percent growth in one year and would unsustainably build ongoing expenses into the baseline. Instead, we are spending 99 percent of ongoing revenue. That amounts to 88 percent of all available funds and ensures a strong financial position for our state.

Two years ago, we came together and established the Taxpayer Trust Fund.  This was set up to capture unused revenue and send it back to the taxpayers.  Today we move forward by establishing the mechanism by which that money is sent back to the taxpayer.

This is not a one-time deal.  This is a permanent mechanism that will kick in anytime the state collects more in taxes than it needs.  This is another sign that the mindset is changing when it comes to the budget. We must spend wisely and we must continue to put the hardworking taxpayers of Iowa first.

As a result of a strong economy and sound budgeting practices, we have found ourselves in a position to do things that seemed impossible a few short years ago. Rather than accumulating debt, we are retiring it.

We are using available funds to pay off bonds and shore up our pension systems.  This is another example of employing a common sense approach, just like Iowans do at home.

This session is truly historic thanks to the incredible bipartisan work that has been done.  When we opened this session, I asked that we set an example of the best in public service.  Washington D.C.’s divisive politics have no place here.  This session we have shown that there is a better way.

Working together towards common goals means we can achieve great things.  It means in one session we can pass education reform, healthcare reform and historic property tax relief.  All the while, adhering to sound budgeting principles that started as reforms but are now the new standard practice of the legislature.

Iowans can be proud of the progress that has been made here this year, and confident that the state is in a strong position for the days ahead.

Ladies and gentlemen of the House, thank you for your hard work. Thank you for your contribution on behalf of the good people of your districts.  It is truly an honor to serve with you.

To those that keep this building running and always beautiful, thank you.

I want to thank everyone in LSA and the Chief Clerk’s office.  Your hard work and expertise elevates the work we do here.

Thank you to Minority Leader McCarthy, the House Democrat caucus and your staff for your hard work and dedication.

Thank you to Governor Branstad, Lieutenant Governor Reynolds and your team for your dedication to the great state of Iowa.

Thank you to our staff: Jeff, Brad, Jason, Amanda, Carrie, Colin, Kristi, Lew, Dustin, Louis, Terri, Josie, Doug, Tony and Angie. You guys are the best at what you do!

To my caucus, thank you for your steadfast focus and your hard work. The state is better for it.  To the leadership team: Steve, Chris, Matt, Jeff, Joel and Walt, thank you for your support and counsel.

Mr. Speaker, thank you for your friendship and your leadership.

• House File 215 – Education Reform
• House File 489 – Insurance Division
  
• House File 620 – IEDA Tax Credit Cap
• House File 648 – Debt Reducion, Pension Obligations, and One-Time Appropriations
• Senate File 295 – Property Tax
• Senate File 446 – Health & Human Services Budget (Conference Committee Report)

To see the full House Debate Calendar, click here.

How Maryland overhauled schools while Iowa fell back

Principal: Maryland sets ‘very clear expectations’ for faculty, students. ‘There’s no room for excuses.’

By Mary Stegmeir

BALTIMORE — It’s 8:45 a.m. — just after the morning bell — and the youngsters in Noelle Hickok’s Liberty Elementary School class are hard at work.

The 4- and 5-year-olds take turns reciting alphabet letters and their phonetic pronunciations as Hickok nods approvingly.

“Perfect. My friends are ready to read,” she says.

The claim would have seemed unlikely just two decades ago.

At that time, Iowa students led the nation in reading proficiency. Maryland children performed below the national average, and students from inner-city Baltimore schools, like Liberty, posted abysmal scores on state tests.

Today, the tables have turned. After more than 20 years of statewide education reform, elementary and middle school students in Maryland outperform their Iowa counterparts in reading and math.

“Iowa is one of the sad stories of the nation,” said Eric Hanu­shek, an education researcher at Stanford University in California. “Your state had a long tradition of paying attention to schools. It was out in front. Then it sort of all just slipped away.”

Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad has pushed for wide-ranging K-12 education reforms to reverse the slide. But as the General Assembly heads toward likely adjournment this week, legislation remains stalled.

Iowa Education Director Jason Glass and other reform supporters point to Maryland as a possible model for how Iowa can overhaul its system to boost student achievement.

“They put the right reforms in place, stuck with them and then worked to continually improve, never being satisfied with the results,” said Linda Fandel, a Branstad education adviser.

Iowa has tried education reforms in fits and starts over the past two decades. Policymakers tinkered with teacher pay, funneled money into professional development and lowered class sizes. The moves have largely failed to improve student test scores, education leaders acknowledge today.

“They weren’t systemic (changes),” Glass said. “As soon as the political will or the money ran out, those programs vanished.”

Iowa and Maryland statistics: Click to see more

From 1992 to 2011, Maryland recorded the fastest rate of improvement in math, reading and science when compared with 40 other states in a Harvard University report published in July. The study included states that have participated in a set of rigorous national tests since 1992.

Iowa finished last.

The policies governing school performance in each state can help explain the results, said Hanushek, one of the study’s authors.

“Iowa has long resisted accountability,” Hanushek said. “There’s been an attempt in recent years to make some changes that are productive, but over the long run, Iowa’s been slow to make any changes in its schools.”

Maryland’s requirements ‘put schools on notice’

Maryland was one of the first states in the country to demand better performance from teachers and students, adopting a law in 1972 that required students to demonstrate minimal proficiency in math, reading and writing to graduate from high school.

Statewide assessments were rolled out in 1993, and results of each school were reported to the public. Iowa wouldn’t follow suit until 2002-03, when the federal No Child Left Behind Act required all states to measure student performance in math and reading.

By that time, Maryland had closely monitored performance of its schools for nearly a decade. In 2000 and again in 2006, the state took over a handful of consistently low-performing schools — something Iowa has never done.

“We put schools on notice,” said Nancy Grasmick, Maryland’s state superintendent from 1991 to 2011. “We stopped letting children be the victims of underperforming schools, period.”

Later legislation linked student progress to increased funding and spending flexibility. By 2007, Maryland students were required to pass exams in English, algebra, biology and civics to graduate, an idea Iowa lawmakers explored last year but ultimately dismissed.

“There are very clear expectations for teachers and for students and for principals,” said Jason McCoy, who leads Cradlerock Elementary School in Columbia, Md. “The focus is always on improving. There’s no room for excuses.”

Teachers’ union challenges accountability reforms

Maryland’s climb to the top was not without its challenges.

Although reform initiatives have enjoyed largely bipartisan support, state leaders at times confronted political impasses similar to the ones tying up Iowa lawmakers this session.

Iowa’s Kids: View stories, videos and photos from a yearlong Register project about the unprecedented challenges facing the state’s children

The Baltimore teachers’ union challenged the state’s ability to restructure struggling schools — a case that made its way to Maryland’s highest court, where the practice was ruled legal. Exit exams for high school students also were initially a tough sell to both parents and lawmakers.

Yet Maryland’s multiyear school improvement plan has continued to receive support and increased funding over the past decade under both Democratic and Republican leadership.

“As a people, we made the decision that education was the most important economic development investment we could make,” said Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley, a Democrat who served as mayor of Baltimore from 1999 to 2007.

Early successes paved the way for continued state funding, he said.

At the local level, many school leaders received autonomy over their budgets, staffing and schedules. Their only objective: Raise achievement for all students.

McCoy, the Cradlerock principal, used that authority last year to rearrange his school’s schedule after 2010-11 test scores indicated students weren’t meeting state goals for growth in reading or math.

“We were bleeding red,” he said.

Physical education and music teachers at the suburban school now take responsibility for early morning duties, such as supervising the school cafeteria. That has allowed teachers in core academic areas an hour to collaborate, planning math, reading and science lessons.

Today, dry-erase boards in the school’s “war room” chart the progress of Cradlerock’s 499 students. A watch list tracks children receiving extra instruction in math or reading.

In 2011-12, Cradlerock students posted double-digit test score gains in both subjects.

Forty percent of Cradlerock students qualify for free or reduced-price meals, matching Iowa’s statewide rate. Iowa’s stagnating test scores over the past 20 years have coincided with increases in child poverty.

“If you look at best practices for (working with) kids in poverty, it’s just good teaching. It’s meeting kids where they need to be met,” said teacher Connie Conroy. “It’s a shift in how you think about what you’re doing.”

Former official: No school satisfied with status quo

In Maryland, even top-performing schools file an annual improvement plan with the state, former state superintendent Grasmick said.

“There is no system in Maryland where they don’t understand what needs to be happening, and where they are not ratcheting up efforts to achieve it,” she said. “No one wants to stand still. Everyone wants to push forward.”

Fandel said Maryland’s 20-year turnaround includes “a lot of lessons” for Iowa.

“Maryland is ahead of Iowa in every aspect of education reform,” she said.

Hanushek and others point to Maryland’s accountability as the lynchpin of its success. But Fandel said concurrent reforms that aligned the state’s curriculum, assessments and teaching standards were also key.

Iowa policymakers are just now beginning to develop a voluntary statewide curriculum, redesign student tests and improve measures of teachers — showing just how far Iowa has to go before it can reclaim its crown as an education leader, Fandel said.

Whether you agree with all the methods Maryland has used to improve its schools, Gov. O’Malley said, it’s hard to argue with the results.

Iowa and Maryland serve similar percentages of students who live in poverty and who are learning English as a second language.

“Public education in America doesn’t have to be one of those things where you throw your hands up and say: ‘This is way too complex to deal with’,” O’Malley said. “Yes, it’s hard and it’s not cheap; but it can be done.”

After decades of work, Maryland’s schools are enjoying accolades.

Education Week, the nation’s education newspaper of record, has ranked Maryland as the top provider of K-12 education in the U.S. for each of the past five years.

The state’s focus on college-readiness, in particular, has drawn national interest.

Nearly 28 percent of all Maryland seniors in the class of 2011 passed an Advanced Placement exam, showing mastery of college-level work. Only 9.7 percent of Iowa seniors achieved the same feat.

Maryland’s leaders acknowledge there’s plenty of work left to do. Large achievement gaps remain. Yet scores for all student groups have improved since the state began holding schools responsible for student scores.

From racial minorities to children living in poverty, all but one of Maryland’s student groups matched or outscored their Iowa counterparts on national math and reading tests. The only exception occurred on the eighth-grade math test, where low-income Iowa students performed better than their Maryland peers.

And unlike Iowa, Maryland has extra money to spend on reducing gaps between students. It won $250 million in federal funding awarded to states addressing issues such as improved teacher effectiveness. Iowa got shut out.

Maryland’s latest wave of school reform efforts focuses, in part, on reducing disparities between student groups and turning around struggling schools.

Maryland has pledged to cut in half the number of students scoring below grade level by 2017. Early results are positive.

Some of the highest-scoring schools in 2012 served populations where more than three-quarters of students qualify for free or reduced-price meals.

“Kids are capable of overcoming all sorts of barriers, if we’re willing to support them,” O’Malley said. “Maryland’s story shows that if you make better choices, you get better results.”

Gaps between poor students and their peers, for example, triggered a statewide mandate in 2002 that schools provide preschool instruction for children from low-income families.

Hickok and her colleagues at Baltimore’s Liberty Elementary School see the program’s value every day.

In 2003, 34.2 percent of the school’s third-graders read at grade level. Last year, 87.5 percent of third-graders passed the state reading exam.

After reciting their ABCs on a recent morning, Hickok’s preschool students moved on to more sophisticated fare — combining sounds to make words like “cat,” “hen” and “pen.”

With a little coaching, the children then wrote simple sentences.

“Look at you; you’re so smart,” enthused Hickok, earning smiles from her young charges. “You’re ready to go.”

In an effort to make Iowan’s lives easier, House Republicans passed House File 355, which gives individuals the opportunity to renew their Iowa Drivers License online, 24/7.

The bill, which was signed by Governor Branstad on May 15, allows drivers between the ages of 18 and 70 the option to renew their drivers license online and extends the expiration date on the license from 5 years to 8 years.  The $4 renewal fee will still be required but the transaction will be possible online as well.  Individuals with vision or physical deficiencies will be required to renew their licenses every two years , which is already the current practice, at a DOT office.

The bill is estimated to save the Iowa Department of Transportation $1.2 million and many hours of waiting in lines for Iowans.  It is also estimated that HF 355 will save Iowans nearly $3 million in fuel cost savings and lost wages as they will no longer have to drive to a DOT office and stand in line to renew their license.

To check if you are eligible to renew your drivers license online, visit the Iowa DOT’s website.

House File 355 Bill Analysis

The Legislature remains in the final stages of negotiations after making significant progress on a number of issues this week.  Among the bills passed by both the House and Senate was HF 604, the Education Appropriations bill.

In addition to appropriating funding for our community colleges, public universities, and other educational entities, HF 604 also creates the new Iowa Skilled Worker and Job Creation Fund.  This fund is a collection of programs geared toward training and retraining Iowans to develop technical skills, create jobs, and return Iowans to the workforce.

We’re consistently hearing from Iowa employers that they need more highly-trained workers to meet the demands of the workplace.  The Iowa Skilled Worker and Job Creation Fund consolidates various job creation and worker training programs into a single source and dedicates a stream of funding that will help create a stronger economic future for Iowa.

Some of the programs in the fund include:

• High Quality Jobs Program- provides low-interest and forgivable loans to businesses seeking to locate or expand a current operation in the state. The program has strict requirements requiring capital investments by the business and the creation or retention of high-paying jobs.
• Skilled Workforce Shortage Tuition Grant- Provides assistance to students enrolled in specific vocational-technical or career option programs at Iowa community colleges. Students must be Iowa residents enrolled in at least three credit hours (or 12 weeks) of a qualified program of study in an identified workforce shortage area.
• Pathways for Academic Career & Employment (PACE)- provides employment training to eligible individuals.
• GAP Tuition Assistance Fund- provides needs-based tuition assistance for continuing education for in-demand occupations.
• Regents Innovation Fund- used for capacity building infrastructure in areas related to technology commercialization, marketing and business development efforts in areas related to technology commercialization, entrepreneurship and business growth, and infrastructure projects and programs needed to assist in the implementation of innovative activities.
• Iowa State University- funds Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs)- a resource for small business owner or someone interested in creating a small business to receive technical assistance and guidance.
• University of Northern Iowa- funds economic development programs at University of Northern Iowa including the Metal Casting Institute, the MyEntreNet Internet Application, and the Institute for Decision Making.
• University of Iowa Entrepreneurship and Economic Growth- funds curriculum development to prepare a new generation of entrepreneurial leaders, innovation consulting and laboratories to accelerate new company formation, enhances Iowa’s ecosystem for retaining and attracting talent, and forges partnerships to leverage assets and programs.

I’d like to take this opportunity to thank our fallen soldiers who have courageously fought to preserve and defend all we enjoy today.  On this upcoming Memorial Day, please take a moment to remember our military men and women who selflessly and steadfastly protect our freedom and liberties.   We are eternally grateful for their sacrifice.

As always, I appreciate hearing your thoughts and concerns.  If you have any feedback, please don’t hesitate to contact me at linda.upmeyer@legis.iowa.gov or 515-281-4618.

“Freedom of association and speech are among the most foundational rights of our republic, and the politically-motivated targeting of Americans by the IRS is a blatant betrayal of the public trust. Attempts by an overreaching federal government to silence voices of dissent are not only un-American, they must not be tolerated and those responsible must be held to account,” said Baltimore. “As investigators continue probing the IRS misconduct, I urge any targeted Iowan or Iowa organization to come forward and make their voice heard.”

Baltimore said that he will work with any targeted Iowan to ensure they are connected with appropriate congressional oversight investigators to ensure any facts pertaining to the IRS scandal are heard.