Tue, Dec 02 2008
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Published September 24, 2008 12:34 pm - Top Democrats unveil 2009 agenda By DUANE NOLLEN The Oskaloosa Herald OSKALOOSA — Iowa House Democrats traveled through south-central Iowa Tuesday touting their three-part agenda for the upcoming legislative session.
House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy and Rep. Eric Palmer stopped in at The Herald’s office to outline the party’s agenda of making Iowa a “green” state, helping working families make ends meet and improving education. The Democrats want to build on the fact that, for the past two years, Iowa has had a balanced budget. Also, the state has $624 million in its “Rainy Day” fund — the largest surplus in state history, McCarthy said. The first plank in the Democratic agenda is to make Iowa an energy-independent, “green” state. McCarthy said the Democrats will continue to ramp up energy independence bills to encourage the creation of high-tech “green” jobs. “Per capita, we’re the leaders of wind energy in the nation,” Palmer said. “We’re in the forefront of alternative fuels. … We intend to stay there.” In the Democratic plan, there would be more incentives for companies to develop renewable energy and create more jobs, and provide incentives for businesses and families to become more energy efficient. Palmer also was active this past year in the second plank of the Democratic agenda, to help working families. He was instrumental in passing an anti-illegal immigration bill. The bill imposes penalties on employers who knowingly hire illegal immigrants, McCarthy said. In the aftermath of the federal round up of illegal immigrants at the kosher meat packing facility in Postville, the Iowa attorney general filed 9,000 criminal charges, including child labor violations, McCarthy said. “We’re concerned about worker safety. We’re concerned about kids,” Palmer said. This upcoming session, Democrats also want expand on the legislation to impose prison time on CEOs who knowingly hire illegal immigrants, McCarthy said. The Democrats’ plans also call for expanded job-training opportunities, give home buyers access to financial counseling to avoid foreclosures and cut commercial property taxes without shifting the burden to homes and farms. In the area of education, McCarthy said Democrats are proud of the fact that lawmakers raised teacher salaries so that Iowa climbed from 42nd in the nation to 25th in the nation with regards to teacher pay. Also, Palmer said that tuition increased at Iowa’s regent universities only at the rate of inflation, which makes a college education more affordable for people. The Democrats want to offer affordable, quality preschool, ensure children have access to affordable health care and make sure all Iowa students graduate with the skills to compete in a global economy. 
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