Application being accepted for Workforce Housing Tax Credits
The Iowa Economic Development Authority is now taking applications for the Workforce Housing Tax Credit Program approved by the Legislature last year. The program makes state tax incentives available...
View ArticleIowa needs more skilled workers to expand middle class
Iowa has a shortage of skilled workers. Employers say it’s the No. 1 obstacle to growing our economy. A new report from the Iowa Student Aid Commission highlights the need for training and education...
View ArticleUNI program is leader in innovation and job training
One of the most important jobs of the Legislature is to invest in long-range economic development to ensure future growth across Iowa. When we invest in our state universities, we’re fueling an engine...
View ArticlePreparing skilled workers is a key to expanding middle class
Iowa must focus more attention on training skilled workers if we are going to expand our middle class and help working families recover from the national recession. A skilled workforce is an incentive...
View ArticleEnsuring more Iowans can get to their jobs
In communities both urban and rural, many Iowans have no way to get to work. Maybe their job is a couple towns away from where they live, or perhaps they work third shift in a town with no late-night...
View ArticleIowans must get paid for their work
This week, the Senate Labor & Business Relations Committee approved Senate File 39, which is designed to strengthen Iowa’s wage theft laws. All Iowans deserve to get paid for the work they do....
View ArticleBoost to minimum wage will strengthen Iowa economy
It’s been seven years since Iowans have seen an increase to our state’s minimum wage. No other state has lingered at $7.25 per hour longer than Iowa. Five out of six states surrounding Iowa have a...
View ArticleLet’s increase the pay for 181,000 low-wage Iowans
We were proud to vote last week to increase the wages of Iowa’s lowest-paid workers. According to the Iowa Policy Project, 181,000 Iowans will benefit from an increase to the minimum wage. Here are...
View ArticleSTEM is preparing Iowans for skilled jobs
The Legislature has worked hard to bolster efforts to position Iowa’s young people and the state’s economy for growth in high-skill jobs and industries. This includes efforts to support what is known...
View ArticleQuality child care for working families
Most young children in Iowa grow up in homes with working parents. In fact, Iowa has the highest percentage of households with children under age six who have all available parents in the labor force–...
View ArticleEnsuring Iowans get paid for their work
The Senate passed Senate File 270, a bill to ensure all Iowans get paid for their work. Sadly, $600 million in wages are stolen from Iowa workers each year. Wage theft can occur in many forms. One...
View ArticlePayroll debit cards must be fair for Iowa workers
Imagine it’s payday, and you get your pay for the week. It’s on a payroll card (similar to a debit card) instead of a check or direct deposit. You didn’t have a choice in receiving your pay this way....
View ArticleGood initiatives for working families move forward
Many pieces of priority legislation to help Iowa’s working families continue to move forward this session. Here are a few important efforts approved by the Senate to expand Iowa’s middle class:...
View ArticlePayroll debit cards must be fair for Iowa workers
This week, the Senate approved legislation aimed at clarifying the law regarding payroll cards. A payroll card — which is similar to a debit card — is an increasingly popular way to pay employees....
View ArticleFederal investigation confirms bias at Workforce Development
Last year, Senator Bill Dotzler of Waterloo sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) expressing concerns about Iowa Workforce Development and its director, Teresa Wahlert. The letter was...
View ArticleTaking steps to strengthen middle class
Iowa is doing the right thing to strengthen our middle class after the devastation of the national recession. One of the reasons Iowa has weathered the economic downturn better than other states is...
View ArticleEconomic development budget is good for Iowa workers
Senate Study Bill 1281 contains an Economic Development Budget that will expand Iowa’s middle class and move our economy forward. The state’s Economic Development Budget funds Small Business...
View ArticleSimplifying the work permit process for teens
Recently the Legislature approved HF 397, which streamlines the process for teens to get a permit to work in Iowa. The current process of getting a teen work permit is cumbersome, requiring parents and...
View ArticleIndividual development accounts help Iowans succeed
Iowa’s Individual Development Account (IDA) program is a successful public-private partnership. An IDA supplements the savings of low-income Iowans with matching funds drawn from private and public...
View Article2015 Session Highlights
Download a PDF of our 2015 highlights. This year, Senate Democrats fought to provide greater economic security for Iowa families by standing up for workers and investing in skills training, job...
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