Democrats will push for 'green' jobs next session
By Fred Love, Journal Des Moines Bureau | Posted: Thursday, September 25, 2008
DES MOINES -- Iowa Democrats aim to expand environmentally friendly green jobs and crack down on employers who exploit children or illegal immigrants during the next legislative session, Democratic leaders said Wednesday.
House Speaker Pat Murphy, D-Dubuque, detailed economic priorities he said would benefit middle-class families and small businesses during a press conference at the State Capitol with other Democratic leaders.
"We're looking forward to really focusing on mainstream, bread-and-butter issues that the average, ordinary Iowan cares about," Murphy said. "We think that our mainstream objective this coming session is to really help out middle-class Iowans."
He said Democrats will push for incentives to attract more green jobs to the state and bolster Iowa's renewable energy industry with a heavy emphasis on increased construction of wind energy equipment and facilities. He vowed to work with the federal government to bring more renewable energy development funding to the state and spark new opportunities for the development of cutting edge technology and methods.
House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, D-Des Moines, said cracking down on employers who knowingly hire underage workers or illegal immigrants will protect Iowa businesses that follow the law.
McCarthy said strengthening penalties for such infractions could help law enforcement get a handle on violators. He noted that the more than 9,000 counts of alleged child labor violations filed this month against officials at the Agriprocessors meatpacking plant in Postville are all simple misdemeanors.
"We'd like to have felony-level penalties for corporate CEOs who skirt immigration laws," McCarthy said. "That would allow people like Attorney General (Tom) Miller much more leverage, many more tools in the toolbox to crack down."
The Democratic leaders outlined their economic agenda ahead of Nov. 4 elections that will determine the makeup of the Legislature, which has been controlled by Democrats since after the 2006 elections. The Legislature will begin its next session in January.
House Minority Leader Christopher Rants, R-Sioux City, said the Democrats are now promoting ideas that they've voted against in the past when Republicans proposed similar measures.
Rants said Democratic control of the Legislature the past two years has produced little in the way of help for small businesses. "Small business folks are finding out that the Democrats have raised taxes on them repeatedly," he said.
Rants accused Democrats of trying to mask their voting record by pushing for the priorities outlined Wednesday. He said Republicans have also supported immigration reform and have encouraged green job growth in the state, but he said GOP lawmakers stand a better chance of getting results on those issues. "It's ironic Democrats are now campaigning for things that they've voted against for the last two years," Rants said.
Fred Love can be reached at (515) 243-0138 or fred.love@lee.net.
House Speaker Pat Murphy, D-Dubuque, detailed economic priorities he said would benefit middle-class families and small businesses during a press conference at the State Capitol with other Democratic leaders.
"We're looking forward to really focusing on mainstream, bread-and-butter issues that the average, ordinary Iowan cares about," Murphy said. "We think that our mainstream objective this coming session is to really help out middle-class Iowans."
He said Democrats will push for incentives to attract more green jobs to the state and bolster Iowa's renewable energy industry with a heavy emphasis on increased construction of wind energy equipment and facilities. He vowed to work with the federal government to bring more renewable energy development funding to the state and spark new opportunities for the development of cutting edge technology and methods.
House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, D-Des Moines, said cracking down on employers who knowingly hire underage workers or illegal immigrants will protect Iowa businesses that follow the law.
McCarthy said strengthening penalties for such infractions could help law enforcement get a handle on violators. He noted that the more than 9,000 counts of alleged child labor violations filed this month against officials at the Agriprocessors meatpacking plant in Postville are all simple misdemeanors.
"We'd like to have felony-level penalties for corporate CEOs who skirt immigration laws," McCarthy said. "That would allow people like Attorney General (Tom) Miller much more leverage, many more tools in the toolbox to crack down."
The Democratic leaders outlined their economic agenda ahead of Nov. 4 elections that will determine the makeup of the Legislature, which has been controlled by Democrats since after the 2006 elections. The Legislature will begin its next session in January.
House Minority Leader Christopher Rants, R-Sioux City, said the Democrats are now promoting ideas that they've voted against in the past when Republicans proposed similar measures.
Rants said Democratic control of the Legislature the past two years has produced little in the way of help for small businesses. "Small business folks are finding out that the Democrats have raised taxes on them repeatedly," he said.
Rants accused Democrats of trying to mask their voting record by pushing for the priorities outlined Wednesday. He said Republicans have also supported immigration reform and have encouraged green job growth in the state, but he said GOP lawmakers stand a better chance of getting results on those issues. "It's ironic Democrats are now campaigning for things that they've voted against for the last two years," Rants said.
Fred Love can be reached at (515) 243-0138 or fred.love@lee.net.
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BlueBlood wrote on Sep 25, 2008 10:44 AM:
The Cubs always said wait until next year. For the Cubs that might be now.
For the Democrats.....????? "
ER wrote on Sep 25, 2008 9:53 AM: