Letter: Time to focus on making our state better

Caucuses are over and now it is time to concentrate on making our state better.

We need good public schools. Extend the state school tax many years at full support. Use the ever growing rainy day fund for school repairs and helping with busing or after school programs.

We need better health care. Reduce administrative costs created by multiple insurance companies with their different rules and forms. Stop making everyone pay for indigent care in ERs by entering more people into the Federal Medicaid system, not pay for another layer of private bureaucracy.

We need clean water and air. Voluntary is not working so legislate with penalties. Use the expertise of those who are doing a good job in our state.

We need safe food. Increase inspectors and give them the power to demand best practices.

We need tax revenue. Increase the number of people working in the state tax department. Review all forms of tax credits to determine if any are still needed. Allocate more funds to towns for infrastructure. We do not need a Flint problem with our aging pipes.

We have the resources to be the first clean energy run state. Make wind turbines as major an export as soybeans.

Iowa can then be at the top of all the best places lists.

Judy Pfohl

Iowa City