Iowa lawmakers edge toward final 2004 budget plan
Des Moines lawmakers push a 4.52 billion fiscal 2004 budget above the current year by about 10 million and well under Gov. Vilsack's request. The measure funds a 2 percent pay hike for state workers, phases out part of the educational excellence program, reshapes finances, and seeks to balance next year with reinvention savings and one time funding.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Rod Boshart
Gazette
Des Moines
Tom Vilsack
Bob Dvorsky
Coralville
Senate Appropriations Committee
Senate
House
Iowa
Lamberti
Iowa House Passes Gambling Tax Deal To Stabilize Revenue
The Iowa House approved HF 696 93 to 3 to settle a two tiered gaming tax dispute. Casinos and race tracks would pay about 210 million dollars annually, with tracks receiving tax credits to drop their rate to 20 percent. The plan preserves revenue and avoids potential cuts, pending Senate action.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Gazette
Des Moines
Iowa House
House
Iowa Supreme Court
U.S. Supreme Court
Iowa Policy Project questions cigarette tax hike and tax cuts
The Iowa Policy Project warned lawmakers raising sales and cigarette taxes to fund income tax relief would likely worsen tax fairness. It questions whether an income tax cut spurs development and suggests using a cigarette tax increase and credits to offset regressive effects, funding up to $550 million in bonding for economic development.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Policy Project
Gazette Des Moines
Iowa
Iowa Policy Project
Capitol
Senate
Peter Fisher
University of Iowa
Mount Vernon
Session ends as Iowa tax and growth package stalls
Iowa lawmakers grapple with competing plans for an 810 million economic growth fund funded by bonds versus a 350 million pay go plan funded by a 36 cent cigarette tax. Senate talks shift toward a 500 million Values Fund with tax tweaks and online sales tax, while income tax cuts face possible reduction. Governor Vilsack pushes for a deal to protect future jobs amid late-session pressure.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
House
GOP
Senate
Mike Gronstal
Council Bluffs
Stewart Iverson
Iowa moves to curb pork packer ownership in livestock
Legislation SF 341 cleared the Iowa House 89-5 and Senate 49-0 to curb vertical integration in pork, aiming to ban direct or indirect ownership of hog production by processors. Critics fear economic impact and jeopardizing farm contracts while co-ops face a June 30, 2007 deadline to exit contracting.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
James Q. Lynch
Gazette
Des Moines
Iowa
Senate
House
Jack Drake
R-Lewis
Drake
Gene Manternach
R-Cascade
Manternach
Towa
Packers
Coopera
Bill Lets Clerks of Court Serve Four Counties
Iowa lawmakers sent Gov. Vilsack a bill allowing a clerk of court to serve up to four contiguous counties in the same judicial district. The measure removes residency requirements, calls for district reviews every 10 years starting 2012, and lets the chief justice hold vacancies up to 180 days for budget reasons, though the latter provision ends July 1, 2006.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Gazette
Des Moines
Tom Vilsack
Judicial Branch
Iowa
Also Mentioned on This Page
Jeff Lamberti
R-Ankeny
Christopher Rants
Sioux City
Representatives
Senate Republicans
Vilsack
Infi
Sen
Jef Lamberti
House OK
Supreme Court
Environment First Fund
Rants
Brad Hansen
Hansen
Ed Fallon
D-Des Moines
Iona
Statehouse
Dick Myers
Lown City
Iowapolicyproject
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