Branstad says he'll continue focus on tax relief, education reform

DES MOINES - Gov. Terry Branstad told reporters Monday he will “never give up” on efforts to cut commercial property taxes and to limit the growth of taxes for residential and agricultural property owners.

The governor also said he believed belt-tightening efforts that he and the Legislature undertook during the past two sessions will make it possible for the state to cut taxes and raise teacher pay as part of an aggressive education overhaul next year.

“I think we can do both,” Branstad said his weekly news conference. “I think we can reform and improve education and I think we can also reduce the tax burden and make Iowa more competitive.”

He credited the split-control Legislature for taking small, modest steps in reforming Iowa's education system. Those include moving to annual teacher evaluations; competency tests for new teacher applicants; and bolstering reading programs in the early grades. The latter offers the possibility of retaining students who are lagging in reading skills, if their parents choose to hold them back rather than enrolling them in a special summer enrichment program.

For the 2013 legislative session, Branstad said he will have task forces formulating a bold agenda that will be funded by a mix of new money and an effort to redirect existing resources more effectively.

“I'm disappointed they didn't do something more bold,” Branstad said. “We accept the modest first step that's been made, but we want to do a lot more and we believe that Iowans are ready to do a lot more. We just think the General Assembly is listening to those who fear change too much.”

Overall, the governor gave the 2012 Legislature high marks for a productive session, but he lambasted lawmakers - especially Democrats who lead the Senate - for failing to address the No. 1 priority of providing property tax relief and reform.

“I'm not satisfied the Legislature failed to deliver property tax relief. I've made it clear that I view this to be unacceptable,” he said. “I have a message to the property owners of Iowa: We will never give up on this issue. We understand your taxes are too high and unsustainable and that politicians have promised but failed to deliver for decades. We're committed to fixing this problem. You deserve nothing less.”