"Iowa 2010" Group Pushes for Progress

The leaders of “Iowa 2010” — the group making recommendations for “growing” Iowa — say they’ll continue to lobby for change despite a June 30th end to their task force. Governor Tom Vilsack hopes a private, non-profit group sprouts up to advocate for changing Iowa so it’ll grow and prosper. David Oman, chairman of the Governor’s Strategic Planning Council, isn’t sure how they’d be able to finance that kind of a follow-up group. Welcoming more immigrants to Iowa, raising the minimum wage and consolidating school districts are among the ideas advanced by the “Iowa 2010” council. Betsy Brandsgard of Davenport, the co-chair of the Council, says Iowans expect action on those and other ideas. The “Iowa 2010” group meets next Friday to approve a final draft of recommendations which may include a call for drastic changes in Iowa’s tax system.