Murphy shares 'aversion' to recession tax hike

Iowa House Speaker Pat Murphy says he shared Democratic Gov. Chet Culver's “aversion” to raising taxes in a recession.

So his focus in the 2010 legislative session will be to find efficiencies and targeted spending reductions, the Dubuque Democrat said in his newsletter Tuesday. Already some committees are meeting to make suggestions.

During the session, which legislative leaders have shortened from 100 to 80 days to save money, Murphy said, he will work with Culver and representatives from both parties to make budget adjustments needed to protect public safety and essential services.

In particular, Murphy said, he'll call on Rep. Todd Taylor, D-Cedar Rapids, the chair of the Justice Budget Subcommittee, and Rep. Lisa Heddens, D-Ames, chairwoman of the Health and Human Services Budget Subcommittee, “where public health and public safety programs are particularly vulnerable and will likely receive extra attention.”

Murphy went on to say there is some good news, too. Iowa has retained a AAA bond rating and despite the economy, state officials a reported $1 million increase in economic impact from tourism.

The Iowa Department of Economic Development just announced it will cut tourism advertising as a result of Culver's 10 percent across-the-board spending cut.