Legislative Accomplishments

Jamie serves on the following committees:

• Chair, Ways & Means

• Economic Development Committees

• Commerce Committee

To find out more about what is happening on these committees, please click here.

Taxes
  Under Rep. Jamie Van Fossen's leadership as House Ways and Means Committee Chair, the trend of reducing the tax burden on Iowa families and businesses continues.

  The Iowa House of Representatives considered two separate tax cuts in the 1999 Legislative session.  One was a $42 million package of property tax relief, which Governor Vilsack approved.  The other was a $73 million income tax cut targeted towards families and older Iowans, increasing the personal and dependent credits from $40 to $70.  Jamie also spearheaded efforts to increase the pension exemption to $6000 for single filers and $12,000 for married filers.  This provision would mean that retiring residents of the Quad Cities would not feel as compelled to leave Iowa for Illinois as they do under the current system.  Governor Vilsack vetoed both the income and pension tax cuts.  

Economic Growth and Development
  Since Jamie Van Fossen  and the Republican leadership created the Rebuild Iowa Infrastructure Fund six years ago, $590 million has been dedicated to on-time projects and building needs.  These projects are ones that could not have even been considered during the state's fiscal crisis in 1992.

  A Community Attractions and Tourism Fund has been created within this fund to partner with communities and private business in developing tourist attractions like a NASCAR track, rainforest or zoo.  Communities will develop their ideas and enter a competitive bidding process for these funds.  Coupled with the recreational and culture grand programs for our local community needs, we hope to make some noticeable improvements in the quality of life in our state.  We want Iowa to be a destination state that our neighbors will want to visit and that our children and grandchildren will want to call home for years to come. 

Education
  Rep. Jamie Van Fossen has always considered education a top priority.  Declining reading skills among younger elementary school students is a particular concern.  There has been an alarming trend of lower scores on the Iowa Test of Basic Skills reading test as "new and improved" teaching methods replace the basics - such as phonics.

  Republican leadership in the Iowa House worked hard to pass a $150 million package of grants to allow school districts to address their individual reading program needs.  Part of the plan also provides for reducing class size in grades K-3.  Another component of the plan extends the state's commitment to technology in the classrooms for the long term.

  Working with his colleagues, Jamie has worked hard to ensure the quality of teachers that are in the classrooms with our kids.  Steps taken include testing programs to weed out poor teachers before they are certified to teach, and upgrading teacher preparation programs.

  Rep. Van Fossen believes that Iowa has a talented corps of teachers in place, and must make these moves to ensure that our state remains first in the nation in education.

Crime and Drug Use
  It is not secret that Iowa is in the grasp of a growing methamphetamine epidemic.  No amount of legislation can eradicate illegal drugs.  However, Jamie strongly supports stronger penalties, including a 99 year prison term for people who make or sell meth to a minor.  He also supported establishing a new meth strike force to shake down the labs where this deadly drug is made.  He also supports a comprehensive approach to reducing drug use including education and treatment programs.

For some of the latest news stories about Jamie and 
his favorite links, click here.

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