• Home
  • News
    • Politics & Government
    • Business & Economy
    • Crime / Courts
    • Health / Medicine
  • Sports
    • High School Sports
    • Radio Iowa Poll
  • Affiliates
    • Affiliate Support Page
  • Contact Us
    • Reporters

Radio Iowa

Iowa's Radio News Network

You are here: Home / Politics / Govt / Legislators see tax increase request coming

Legislators see tax increase request coming

January 13, 2004 By admin

Governor Tom Vilsack will deliver his “condition of the state” message to legislators today. During an interview last week with Radio Iowa, Vilsack said he’d use today’s speech to paint a positive picture. Vilsack said “progress is being made; our state is being transformed.” He says while some of the state’s recent economic development efforts are now beginning to bear fruit, there are challenges ahead in transforming the Iowa economy. Vilsack sent lawmakers a letter yesterday, offering a pretty dour picture of the state budget if taxes aren’t raised. Vilsack says “after three consecutive years of cuts in services critical to Iowans,” a budget without some sort of tax increase “will sacrifice Iowa’s national standing in education and Iowa’s distinction as the best place to raise a child.” During last week’s interview, Vilsack wouldn’t offer details — he said he doesn’t want the media to “filter” the message he’ll deliver in person today — but the governor did say the budget outline he’ll present lawmakers will concentrate resources on education, public safety and health care. Vilsack said he wants to assure Iowans he has a plan that will protect those priorities.Vilsack said he’s offering a “practical approach” that is fair, Republican’s control the Legislature’s debate agenda, and Senate President-elect Jeff Lamberti, a republican from Ankeny, says Vilsack’s off-base in hinting at the need for tax increases.Lamberti says he’s “a little disappointed with the lack of optimism” from Vilsack. Lamberti says it’s not as if the state is in “crisis mode.” Lamberti says Vilsack’s letter focused on all the state’s problems.Lamberti says it was short on solutions. Lamberti says “simply saying the sky is going to fall is not a whole lot of leadership.” Lamberti says the state can get through this, without tax increases.

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Filed Under: Politics / Govt Tagged With: Legislature, Republican Party, Tom Vilsack

Featured Stories

Iowans 65+ now eligible in next phase of Covid vaccinations

Bill would remove transfer limits in five Iowa school districts

Former Iowa sports talk host sentenced to federal prison for ticket scams

Feenstra only member of Iowa delegation not at Biden’s inauguration

Congresswoman Axne favors Biden pandemic relief plan, Hinson not ruling out a ‘yes’

TwitterFacebook
Tweets by RadioIowa

UNI adds two nonconference games to basketball schedule

Iowa State-Kansas postponed

Iowa-Michigan State postponed

Fire damage to Riverfront Stadium electrical system will cost Waterloo thousands

Iowa State at Kansas State postponed

More Sports

eNews and Updates

Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner

Archives

Copyright © 2021 ยท Learfield News & Ag, LLC