What Are Small Business Owners Seeking from the 2017 Iowa Legislative Session?

Date: January 17, 2017

List includes tax reform, an end to minimum wage’s slippery slope.

Two words: tax reform.

That’s small business owners’ main wish for the 2017 Iowa legislative session that began Jan. 9, according to NFIB State Public Policy Director Tim Goodrich.

“I know it will be difficult given the outlook with the state budget, but [even though] they talk a lot about wanting to help small business, they only really deal with corporate tax cuts,” he said.

“Most of our members are ‘pass through’ companies, which means they pay the personal income tax rate for their business. Substantial personal income tax reform is needed.”

Another issue that worries small business owners is the possibility of a patchwork of different labor laws across the state.

“We are also hoping for some pre-emption language for counties,” says Goodrich. “This last year, we saw a number of counties pass a local minimum wage increases. We see this as a slippery slope where counties could start adding paid sick leave and other anti-business reform on a local level. We feel the state should be the authority to dictate these types of issues for uniformity’s sake.”

Now that Iowa Republicans control both the state House and Senate, it’s possible they can turn these wishes into reality.

“We’re going to move the things that our entire caucus thinks is important, and not just this agenda where everyone wants to get a little piece of the pie,” state Sen. Dan Zumbach, (R-Ryan), told the Des Moines Register. “So I see us really trying to say, ‘These are our priorities, let’s get these things done.’”

Senate President Jack Whitver (R-Ankeny) said Senate Republicans plan to introduce legislation reducing income taxes, the Register reported.

“If you look around the country, the states that are growing the fastest are the ones that have reduced or no income tax,” said Whitver. “I’m not sitting here today saying we’re going to eliminate the income tax. But I will say that we will have a bill to address individual income tax this year.” 

Related Content: Small Business News | Economy | Iowa | Tax Relief | Taxes

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