Branstad’s economic plan cuts bureaucracy

Recently, Terry Branstad unveiled a fresh approach to economic development in Iowa. He has called for scrapping the scandal-ridden Iowa Department of Economic Development and replacing it with a public-private entity that is led by economic development professionals.

The Iowa Partnership for Economic Progress would be led by a CEO with a record of real-world economic development success, governed by an independent board of directors and chaired by the lieutenant governor.

This entity would benefit from a significant amount of flexibility and would allow economic development efforts the synergy of public-private cooperation.

We also need to incorporate all state entities into the job creation mission. Too often, departments do not consider ways to help this mission.

Redundancies and road blocks put up by excessive regulation need to be eliminated. Too often we have seen projects lost or stalled by a maze of bureaucracy.

Iowa's system is not Web friendly, and many of our programs need a thorough cost-benefit analysis to expand what is working and eliminate what is not. An independent board would do this needed house cleaning.

State Rep. Steve

Lukan

District 32