Rushed tax bill moving quickly through Senate

     Wednesday morning, Feb. 21, the Senate Republicans unveiled their tax bill. I look forward to working on this bill in a bipartisan way that is fair to all Iowans, reigns in corporate tax credits that don’t work, makes our tax code more transparent, and is fiscally responsible. Legislative Republicans have yet to balance this current year’s state budget, and have no plan to balance next year’s. This complex bill deserves ample time to be discussed, analyzed and amended so that it is fair to all Iowans, while setting the state up for a brighter economic future.

     The 130-page bill had its subcommittee hearing at 8 a.m. the day after its release, and was passed by the full Ways and Means committee just hours later. The bill is up for debate by the full Senate as early as Monday.

     This rushed schedule bothers me because it not only leaves little time for public input; it leaves little time for any analysis and debate at all. A fiscal note, or non-partisan Legislative Services Agency analysis of the total cost of the bill, would take much longer to prepare. I need to know what the experts believe will be the effect of this bill in years to come. Iowa’s tax code is too important to our economy to get it wrong. The tax bill is perhaps the most consequential piece of legislation this body will pass this year. We need to work together to make sure we take our time, do our homework and get this right.