Ragan Report

Revitalizing communities in North Iowa
     I’m proud to represent communities in North Iowa. With the 2017 session underway, I am eager to get to work building an economy that helps all Iowans.
     We’ve faced some big challenges in recent years though, with more than 70 counties in the State of Iowa losing population since 2010. Iowans need higher wages. Businesses need skilled workers and more customers. With bipartisan support, we can help create jobs and economic prosperity across our state. We need the kinds of investments that make people proud to call Iowa home.
     Here are a few ideas I’ll be working on this year to turn things around:
     • Making sure all communities get their share of state resources for education, job training and economic development efforts that help them capitalize on their strengths and invest in themselves.
     • Guaranteeing everyone in Iowa no matter where they live have access to quality health care and mental health services, including quick response times in emergencies.
     • Improving water quality. Many communities struggle to provide safe drinking water to local residents. That’s why I’ve supported additional funding for water quality efforts in recent years. This year, we’re ready to bolster monitoring and bring together stakeholders—industry, cities and landowners. That way we can make real progress toward our long-term clean water goals.
     • Encouraging more production and use of renewable energy, like solar, wind and biofuels. Between 2012 and 2016, Iowa’s solar energy tax credit led to more than 2,500 solar energy projects that created more than 700 jobs and investment of more than $130 million.
     • Strengthening our economy with a skilled workforce that can compete against other states and countries by making K-12 schools our No. 1 priority and keeping down the cost of college and job training.
     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 amanda.ragan@legis.iowa.gov.