Iowa Organizations Push Investment Agenda to Candidates

Several Iowa organizations are saying they want political candidates to adopt an agenda that encourages investment in renewable energy, education, and health care.

Officials from the Center for Energy and Environmental Education at the University of Northern Iowa, the National Catholic Rural Life Conference, Iowans for Sensible Priorities, Nationwide Insurance and the Des Moines Education Association said they want state elected officials and candidates in November’s election to adopt their Invest in Iowa’s Future agenda.

The groups said their grassroots effort will pressure candidates to lift some of the tax cuts for the richest taxpayers and use the money for priorities that many Iowans support.

“The people running the country have their priorities upside down. Congress has been cutting education and health care to shower tax handouts on millionaires and big corporations,” said Phillip Cryan, Program Director of Iowa Citizen Action Network, one of the groups proposing the agenda. “It is time for a new direction for Iowa and our entire country.”

The groups say the plan will pay for itself and help cut the federal deficit by undoing tax handouts to special interests and people making over $200,000 a year.

It also will include “new measures that hold government accountable to the people and fight corrupt and wasteful contracts for the well connected.”

The priorities include establishing a 20 percent renewable energy standard by 2020 and cutting government support for fossil fuels.