Federal bucks boost Iowa’s budget

In Iowa, the nice thing to do is to give people credit for a job well done.

John Hendrickson, policy director for a Republican-leaning foundation, seems to have forgotten that lesson (“Conservative budgeting works in Iowa,” Oct. 25, The Gazette) with his opinions about Iowa’s budget situation.

The truth is that Iowa’s economy is in much better position because of the hard work of President Joe Biden and Congresswoman Cindy Axne. Federal COVID-19 relief funds injected into our economy have helped Iowans and helped moved our economy forward.

Truth in Accounting, which has recently released their Financial State of the States 2021 report ranks Iowa in the top 10 of fiscally stable states. The Truth In Accounting report clearly states that the positive ranking is due largely to federal funds: “Iowa’s overall financial condition improved by almost 25 percent largely due to COVID-related grants, which equaled the state’s reported surplus ($2 billion).”

President Biden and congressional Democrats provided much needed help to Iowa families and businesses — more than $9 billion — through the American Rescue Plan, and by leading the fight against the pandemic.

Gov. Kim Reynolds has made it abundantly clear that she wasn’t happy with the American Rescue Plan’s pandemic relief legislation. But she happily takes credit for the federal dollars that are used in much needed investments in Iowa. It’s been announced that federal dollars are being invested into programs that the governor and Republican legislators have neglected for years. Federal investments include:

• $200 million for much needed broadband investment in Iowa.

• $100 million for investment in affordable housing needs across the state, something that has been needed for a long time.

• $30 million investment in manufacturing workforce shortage. Our workforce shortage has been the number one issue for employers in Iowa for years.

All of these investments are made possible because of American Rescue Plan. These dollars help Iowa Build Back Better. So, let’s say a big “thank you” to President Biden and Rep. Axne for helping our state get back on its feet.

State Sen. Pam Jochum is a Democrat from Dubuque. State Sen. Joe Bolkcom is a Democrat from Iowa City.