New from the IPP
New Report! Iowa EITC Boost Could Lift Thousands from Poverty
Report: Long-Term Benefits to Iowa from EITC Expansion

Expanding Iowa's Earned Income Tax Credit could lift more than 3,000 families out of poverty while improving tax fairness and lessening demands on public services.
Full report, including executive summary (PDF, 17 pg) 6/30/09
Executive summary (PDF, 1 pg)
News release (PDF, 2 pg)

Climate Policy: Protection for Households
Proposals in Congress Do Provide for Relief to Consumers

Cap-and-trade policy being crafted in Congress to respond to global climate change does include features to protect households budgets. Good policy will assure direct relief to low-income households and not rely on utilities to deliver the benefits.
Backgrounder (PDF, 2 pg) 6/25/09
News release (PDF, 2 pg) Consumers deserve a more accurate and more complete discussion of the elements of the legislation on the table than they're getting from utility executives. Independent analysts at the Congressional Budget Office and Environmental Protection Agency illustrate how relief provisions can help consumers.

Consumer-Friendly Energy Conservation
Electric Rate Reform Could Spur Energy Savings, Help Low-Income Iowans

Electricity rates can be better structured to encourage conservation while at the same time help low-income Iowans more easily afford their home energy bills.
Full report (PDF, 8 pg) 6/17/09
Executive summary (PDF, 3 pg)
News release (PDF, 2 pg) HTML

Iowa Jobless Rate Spikes in May
Graph: Nonfarm Jobs month by month: declines in 8 of 9
5.8 Percent Rate is Highest Since 1987 — Payroll Jobs Sink

Iowa’s unemployment rate reached an almost 22-year high at 5.8 percent in May, while nonfarm jobs fell to their lowest point in almost four years.
News release (PDF, 1 pg) 6/19/09

Key Points from May Jobs Report for Iowa
• Unemployment Rate: May 5.8 percent. (5.1 percent in April, 4.0 percent May 2008)
• Nonfarm Job Change: Down 3,400 from April, 43,100 from May 2008.
• Biggest Changes: Manufacturing down 5,100, Prof./business services up 1,600.
• Notable Trend: Nonfarm jobs have dropped in eight of the last nine months.
Providing a Healthier Labor Market for Iowa
Medicaid Expansions: Opportunity for Making Work Pay and Work Choices

Increasing health-coverage access by expanding Medicaid eligibility can expand workers’ options for employment while improving income and long-term economic opportunity for low-income families.
Full report (PDF, 23 pg) 6/10/09
Executive summary (PDF, 4 pg)
News release (PDF, 1 pg) HTML

Education Pays in Iowa
The State's Return on Investment in Workforce Education
Iowa could boost its economy and budget, help low-income workers and better prepare for the future if the state were to invest more in workforce education. 5/28/09
Full report (PDF, 31 pg)
Executive summary (PDF, 4 pg)
News release (PDF, 2 pg)
SPOTLIGHT TOPIC
Count IPP work in
"What's going right"

IPP's honor for co-founder Mark Smith earned a "Homer" in a weekly editorial feature in the Cedar Rapids Gazette

See Iowa Policy Points for Christine Ralston's blog post on IPP's open house

Smart Energy Use: Stimulus Funds Can Help

Federal Boost Offers Iowa an Opportunity for Now and Future
Iowa stands to gain about $170 million in energy-related funds through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, with big boosts for weatherization and other energy-efficiency strategies. How best to use it?
Full report (PDF, 11 pg) Revised 5/21/09
Executive summary (PDF, 2 pg) Revised
News release (PDF)
IPP in the Media
IPP's Peter Fisher quoted in Wall Street Journal

Debate over Philadelphia's lavish tax abatement program for economic development caught the attention of The Wall Street Journal, which included IPP Research Director Peter Fisher in the discussion. See the story. 5/18/09

Post-Session: Understanding the 2009 Tax Reform Plan
Even in the wake of the 2009 legislative session, misinformation remains about the tax-reform plan that recently failed to reach a floor debate in the Iowa General Assembly. Despite claims of the big-business lobby and anti-tax lobby, the vast majority of all Iowa taxpayers particularly at low and moderate incomes, and the vast majority of small-business owners in Iowa, would pay less or see no tax change if the plan were adopted. See several Iowa Fiscal Partnership analysis pieces on facets of the legislation.
Beyond 2010, Tax Cuts at Low, Moderate Incomes Would Continue
Backgrounder (2 pg). (PDF) 4/16/09
Like Most Iowans, Small-Business Owners on Average Would See Benefits
Backgrounder (2 pg). (PDF) 4/14/09
EITC Expansion Would Make Work Pay Better for Iowa Families
Backgrounder (PDF, 2 pg) District-by-district fact sheet. (PDF, 2pg) 4/24/09
Steps Toward Competitiveness, Fairness — Analysis Shows Most Iowans Would Benefit

All Iowans' tax rates would drop, revenues would no longer be tied to federal tax policy, and small businesses, farmers, students and moderate-income households would benefit under proposed tax reforms.
Policy brief (4 pg) (PDF). 4/9/09
Backgrounder on individual tax scenarios (2 pg) (PDF). 4/9/09
Backgrounder showing tax-rate cuts by income (1 pg) (PDF). 4/21/09
News release. 4/9/09
Peter Fisher's op-ed in the Iowa City Press-Citizen. 4/9/09
Policy brief (3 pg) (PDF). 3/27/09
Beth Pearson's testimony (1 pg) for House hearing (PDF). 3/31/09
"Focus on Facts" David Osterberg on IowaPolicyPoints.org. 4/2/09

Clean Energy in Iowa
Iowa Among World Leaders in Wind Energy Production
Analysis Shows Electricity Generation in State Now Up to 15 Percent

Right before Iowans’ eyes, green-power generation already has reached levels only dreamed about 10 years ago, thanks to the growing use of wind power. Estimates by the Iowa Utilities Board now indicate wind fuels about 15 percent of the electricity generated in Iowa — up from the 5 percent level estimated in 2006. Full Report (4 pg). (PDF) News Release. (PDF) 4/13/09

Facing Iowa's Economic Challenges

Improving Child Care Helps Families, Futures

Iowa Can Take Steps to Improve Quality Standards

Iowa should strengthen child care regulations and enforcement to assure better quality care.
Backgrounder (PDF, 2 pg) 4/14/09

Child Care Assistance: Smart Investment in Tough Times
Steps to expand child care assistance to more working families and assure both quality care and long-lasting returns to Iowa.
Full Report (35 pg), executive summary (5 pg), news release. (PDFs) 3/25/09