Iowa Senate Democrats were blocked once again as they tried to pass a measure aimed at reducing taxes for lower paid workers despite an earlier compromise with Republicans and Branstad’s staff.  Branstad vetoed the call for an increase in the earned income tax credit, which is meant to help out lower-paid workers.

Iowa’s unemployment rate remains well below the national average and Democrats want to keep it that way by maintaining resources that help businesses find employees and help individuals find the right job for them.

In the legislature, Democrats blocked Governor Branstad and Republican attempts to close 39 of the 55 workforce development offices.  This would leave only 16 offices open for use, preventing many unemployed Iowans from getting the help they need to find work.  Democrats also protected over 100 people who would see their job cut as a result of these closures.

Also, rather than only protecting the large businesses and corporations as the Republicans were trying to do, Democrats want to give Iowa’s small businesses a break through a tax credit that would lower taxes for most small business property to the residential rate.  This would help grow Iowa’s local economic structure and actually keep profits in Iowa instead of sending them out of state which is seen with big business.

In another effort to help create jobs for Iowans, Democrats passed a bill that would team community colleges with local organizations to train low-skill, unemployed, low-income and dislocated workers, helping them land a good-paying job.

During this legislative season, Democrats were able to balance the state budget without raising taxes and kept the state savings accounts full with over $600 million, despite the repeated claims by Republicans who said Democrats are spending more than what’s coming in.