The Economics of Stalling
The Economics of Stalling
Year after year, Iowa ranks as one of the least friendly states in the nation to conduct business in, according to the Small Business Survival Index. While Iowa’s business climate seemed to improve in 2010, Iowa still ranked at the very low end of the list. Only nine other states and the District of Columbia were found to have a worse business climate.
And while Iowa scores some points for having a low number of health insurance mandates (6th lowest), low crime rate (10th), low electric utility costs (11th), and low gas tax rate (18th), Iowa doesn’t fare so well when it comes to corporate income tax rates, corporate capital gains tax rates, and adjusted unemployment tax rates.
Iowa ranks 49th for corporate income tax rates and 49th for corporate capital gains tax rates. Only the District of Columbia and the state of Pennsylvania have higher rates!
In figuring adjusted unemployment taxes, the index takes the maximum state tax rate and applies it to the state wage base and then takes that as a share of state average pay. In this category, Iowa ranks 48th, beating out only Minnesota, Utah, and North Dakota.
The reason I bring up all this dismal data is to tell you again what I told you in my campaign – I won’t vote for new taxes, and I know that improving Iowa’s business climate is crucial to attracting and growing businesses in this state and putting Iowans back to work.
But one man in the senate won’t let us do that.
You see, Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal has the power of controlling the committees that new legislation must go through. As such, he can either have a committee kill that legislation or bring it to the floor for a vote. There are a lot of good bills that have been introduced this session that are aimed directly at getting Iowa back on track.
But Gronstal stalls.
And he can do it, too. You know why? Because he decided right after the start of the legislative session that he’d change the 40 year old senate rules to remove the language that allows a senator like me to force legislation to the floor.
I bet you can imagine how I feel about that.
I call it tyranny, plain and simple.
Improving Iowa’s business climate is crucial to attracting and growing businesses in the state and putting Iowans back to work. I remain dedicated to helping reform our tax structure and identifying and removing unnecessary government rules and regulations to improve Iowa’s business climate and begin putting Iowans back to work.
If Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal doesn’t like what you have to say, he can stop it dead in its tracks.
So stay tuned for further updates. Our jobs and our economy are at the top of the list in everyone’s minds right now, and I pledge to remain steadfast in my stance on these issues.
As I’ve said before, I’m honored to be your Senator.
Sincerely,
Senator Kent Sorenson
Sorenson sworn in as State Senator of District 37!
Its my pleasure and sincerest honor to announce that today I took an oath to represent the people of district 37 as their Senator in the Iowa Senate!
To those of you who put your trust in me to do this job, I’d like to thank you. I’m honored to serve as your senator, and I promise to make good on everything I talked about during the campaign season. Once again, for honoring me and putting your trust in me to represent you, I thank you.
Sorenson’s Straight Talk
STRAIGHT TALK by Representative Kent Sorenson
August 30, 2010
Final Veterans Mental Health Task Force Report
The Iowa Veterans Mental Health Task Force issued its final report last week.
The final report included 9 recommendations, three of which will likely require legislative action.
Recommendation: Enhance the existing veteran’s database by capturing veteran’s information through existing state data collection systems. Identifying veterans across the state has proven to be a barrier to providing full support to Iowa’s veterans. Coming up with a way to maintain an accurate database of veterans in the state will help officials provide outreach by getting out current information as it relates to veterans benefits.
Recommendation: Initiate process to create a jail diversion program for veterans in Iowa. With rates of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) being high in soldiers returning to civilian life after tours of duty, some are finding themselves in the jail system due to their mental health conditions. Jail diversion programs are becoming increasingly implemented across the United States, with studies showing lower rates of recidivism. Federal money is available for such programs through Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and a pilot program could be established without legislative action.
Recommendation: Establish a state fee basis program for behavioral health services to serve veterans in their local communities. Veterans in Iowa often face the challenge of distance and location when they need access to mental health services, especially in rural areas. Adding to this problem, rural areas in Iowa are facing a shortage of mental health professionals. A state fee basis program would allow veterans to use their VA benefits to access a local behavioral health provider of their choice. This would give veterans much greater access to help in their local communities without requiring those who are elderly or disabled to travel great distances.
Other Recommendations: Other recommendations in the report include providing mental health first aid training to first responders and veteran stakeholder groups so they will be aware of what to watch for in situations dealing with veterans; developing an outreach strategy and social marketing campaign to promote awareness of mental health issues veterans may be facing; encouraging law enforcement training to include crisis intervention training especially focusing on veteran issues; creating a community based peer support pilot program for veterans and their families; securing a mobile outreach vehicle to help bring information and support to Iowa’s veterans in both rural and urban areas; and developing a veterans screening process that will enable non-VA service providers a framework to reference in identifying and appropriately referring veterans with mental health issues. The full report can be read at: http://www.iowahouserepublicans.com/wp-content/uploads/Veterans-Final-Report-2010-7-22.pdf
Please feel free to contact me if you have any issues or concerns you would like to discuss.
Representative Kent Sorenson
515-962-2192
Kent@kentsorenson.com
Sorenson Endorsed By Iowa Association of Business and Industry
Job Creators Endorse Kent Sorenson
Representative Kent Sorenson of Indianola, has been named a “Friend of Iowa Business” by the Iowa Industry PAC, the political action committee of the Iowa Association of Business and Industry. Representative Kent Sorenson is seeking election to the Iowa Senate in District 37 that includes all of Warren and Madison counties and four townships in southern Dallas County.
The Iowa Industry PAC evaluates candidates based on their ability to help create jobs in Iowa by supporting a competitive business climate. Criteria used to make the designations include the candidates’ positions on issues of importance to job creators in Iowa.
“Representative Sorenson has demonstrated a commitment to improve Iowa’s business climate so that employers can create more jobs and grow the economy,” said Michael Ralston, President of the Iowa Association of Business and Industry.
The Iowa Association of Business and Industry (ABI) is comprised of approximately 1,400 companies employing more than 300,000 Iowans. As “The Voice of Iowa Business Since 1903“, ABI works to enhance the Iowa business climate to foster growth and prosperity for Iowans. The Iowa Industry PAC is non-partisan and endorses both Republican and Democratic candidates for legislative offices. The committee encourages voters to consider the endorsements when evaluating which candidates will help bring jobs to Iowa when voting in the November 2nd general election.
Sorenson Receives Governor Huckabee And Huck PAC Endorsement!
GOVERNOR MIKE HUCKABEE AND HUCK PAC ENDORSE KENT SORENSON FOR IOWA STATE SENATE DISTRICT 37
Huckabee Releases Statement About Sorenson’s Bid In Iowa
August 17, 2010
Little Rock, AR – Governor Mike Huckabee issued the following statement about Kent Sorenson:
“Huck PAC and I are proud to endorse Kent Sorenson for Iowa State Senate District 37. Kent was first elected to the Iowa House in 2008, winning a race that many thought was unwinnable. Kent isn’t afraid of fight, especially when you have something worth fighting for.
Kent shares our values, is unequivocally pro-life and supports the traditional definition of marriage – as being between one man and one woman. Kent is an avid outdoorsman and will continue working hard to keep and preserve your 2nd Amendment rights.
Please join me in supporting Kent Sorenson for Iowa State Senate District 37.”