| Mission “To maintain and strengthen high quality public services and structures that promote thriving communities and prosperity for all Iowans.” Principles We have come together to promote the shared prosperity of all Iowans – For a Better Iowa. Despite unprecedented economic challenges, we have an obligation to maintain and strengthen public investments that lay the foundation for a better and more prosperous state. Iowa needs quality education, health care, safe communities and a sustainable environment, as well as qualified individuals at the state and local level to provide those services. It is a basic Iowa value that our state and local government efficiently deliver essential, quality services so that all Iowans – children, families, business owners, residential taxpayers, senior citizens, and others – benefit from this necessary infrastructure.Now is the time to build upon past successes with new and strategic public investments in the structures, services and natural resources that make our state a desirable place to live and that will help us weather the economic storm. By focusing our collective attention on smart investments, we can ensure that opportunities for economic prosperity, good health, and personal fulfillment can be achieved by all. To this end, Coalition members will work in support of the following principles: 1. We can afford to protect vital services and must invest in our state’s future.
Now more than ever is the time for long-term strategies and lasting solutions. We must address current challenges, but at the same time, ensure we position our state for a prosperous and competitive future. We must maintain strategic public investments in education, health care, transportation, natural resources and human services that make our state a desirable place to live and create a healthy climate for economic growth. 2. We must address the current fiscal shortfall with a balanced approach. Cutting alone is not only an insufficient solution to balancing our budget, but it would also jeopardize our past investments, current recovery and future prosperity. The balanced way to address our current fiscal crisis is to make wise spending choices, while at the same time modernizing our antiquated revenue system. Painful cuts have already been made, substantially reducing general state spending. Despite these cuts, the state continues to experience a shortfall. Long-term revenue solutions must be considered instead of relying only on cuts to services. A balanced approach will improve efficiency, promote accountability, protect families and pave a faster and more sustainable path to prosperity. 3. We must have adequate and stable revenue that reflects our 21st century economy. Iowa needs revenue system reforms that ensure adequate resources to meet current needs and position our state for future growth. A fair and stable taxation structure will ensure all individuals and businesses pay based on their resources and provide sustainable, accountable revenue for critical government infrastructure – in good times and in bad. |
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