More trouble looming ahead
In your feature story (“More Cuts,” Jan. 7), as with seemingly all legislative previews, all we are hearing about are budget cuts. It is imperative that our legislators aren’t just cutting vital services out of the budget, but also working to build our state revenue in a sustainable and fair way. The Iowa legislature needs to close a huge tax loophole by passing a Combined Corporate Reporting bill requiring out-of-state corporations to combine their reporting of profits and pay their fair share of taxes on income they generate here in Iowa. This would not only ensure Iowa-based businesses have a level playing field with huge out-of-state corporations, it would add needed revenue to help in balancing our state’s budget.
Corporate greed is what crashed our state’s budget in the first place; it’s high time our legislators show us whose side they are on and put that power in check.
Katie Bryan
Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement, Des Moines
Culver’s job keeps stinking
The budget is a big issue (“More Cuts,” Jan. 7), but we can’t let Gov. Culver and our legislators get off the hook. Local control of factory farm sitting is an issue that Gov. Culver campaigned on and one that many Iowans considered in their vote to put him into office. Nevertheless, he’s failed to deliver. Since Culver was elected, we’ve had more than 50 manure spills, and the number of polluted waters in the state has jumped substantially, from 279 to 439. And now we hear DNR Director Leopold, part of Culver’s administration, wants to postpone action on the Water Protection Rule for another year. He might not be around in another year.
With the 2010 elections right around the corner, Gov. Culver and our elected officials need to show us whose side they’re on — the average Iowa citizen or big-money, corporate interest?
Pat Bowen
Winerset
[Correction: In the recent “Centerstage” column (Jan. 7) we mistakenly listed free admission for “Danny and the Deep Blue Sea” at the Des Moines Social Club. Tickets are $10 in advance, $12 at the door and available through Iowa Tix.]
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