Budget, job creation top legislative agenda

One thing Republican state Sen. Sandra Greiner and Democratic state Rep. Curt Hanson can agree on is the focus of the upcoming legislative session: jobs and the budget.

?I anticipate the bulk of our time will be spent trying to resolve budget issues,? Greiner said.

Despite optimistic news from the Revenue Estimating Conference ? which estimated the state will collect $34 million more in taxes this current budget year and $85 million more during the budget year beginning in July ? Greiner said Iowa still has a number of gaps in its budget. The Associated Press has reported an estimated deficit as great as $700 million.

Greiner said cuts need to be made in several areas of state spending.

Hanson hopes the Legislature will stay focused on creating jobs and balancing the budget because those are the critical issues to Iowans. He said constituents are always asking what can be done to curb unemployment, especially here in southeast Iowa where the unemployment rate is ?unacceptably high.?

Although economic indicators are looking more positive, Hanson said there?s still hard work ahead.

To see the full story, read the Dec. 30, 2010, printed edition of The Fairfield Ledger.