How can we make Iowa No. 1 again?

Ragan Report: Put Iowans first
We recently learned that Iowa is no longer the “best state” in the nation. We dropped from No. 1 last year in U.S. News & World Report’s annual rankings to No. 14 this year.
The rankings evaluate all 50 states on a variety of criteria, including economy, infrastruc-ture and environment. Iowa is especially struggling with slow economic growth, maintaining our roads, expanding Internet access, and poor air and water quality.
Since the Great Recession 10 years ago, many hard-working Iowans find them-selves falling farther behind. Rising income inequality, stu-dent debt and health care costs have been compounded over the last decade as “companies have shown a remarkably high reluctance to raise wages even when they can't find people.”
We can conquer these chal-lenges. I support a plan to Put Iowans First, which will help address the very issues that are currently holding us back. For example, our plan calls for greater investment in infrastruc-ture improvements statewide—something we need more than ever after a harsh winter and record flooding.
I am pleased to see local projects on Iowa’s new five-year Transportation Improve-ment Program, including U.S. 65 in Cerro Gordo County. These safety, maintenance and modernization initiatives can make a real difference for Iowa, now and into the future. Infra-structure work creates good jobs, boosts local spending during the project, and brings long-term growth by ensuring efficient movement of Iowa products and people.
Let's do more. Let's put Iowans first and make our state No. 1 again.
Sen. Amanda Ragan (D-Mason City) serves Franklin, Butler and Cerro Gordo counties in Senate District 27. She can be reached at 515-281-3371 or 641-424-0874. Email her at aman-da.ragan@legis.iowa.gov.