June flooding and other economic setbacks wiped out late-spring gains in Iowa nonfarm jobs, contributing to an already sluggish job performance for Iowa in 2008. News release 7/18/08

Farm buildings and farmland need to be assessed and taxed separately as a first step toward a more understandable and fair system of assessing Iowa farm property. The current system is outdated and doesn’t reflect the productivity of modern agricultural operations, say authors of a new Iowa Fiscal Partnership report. Report, executive summary (4 pg), news release 7/17/08

Saving money on energy means more is available for other things — and that’s a boost to the Iowa economy. When the state is in a rebuilding mode, are business leaders and policy makers paying attention? Report, news release 7/16/08

Iowa retailers receive a 7-cent fee on every Food Stamp purchase — unlike other electronic transactions, and unlike any other state. Like many generous Iowa business subsidies, its public benefits are not evident. Backgrounder, news release 6/9/08

Enhancing Iowa’s leadership in energy efficiency while promoting better-paying “clean” jobs can help Iowa respond to the challenge of climate change. News release 6/9/08

Gov. Culver OK'd a radical departure from Iowa tax policy, so cities can divert local-option sales-tax money without approval of voters or other jurisdictions that could have expected the funds. Neither the governor nor legislators said why. News release 5/21/08

Almost 100,000 Iowa children would benefit from House-passed improvements in the federal Child Tax Credit if adopted in legislation to keep expiring tax breaks in place. IFP news release 7/3/08

These are tough times for many Iowans. A proposal in Congress might seem to offer help with a property tax credit -- but it would deny help to Iowans facing the most difficult financial challenges from floods, tornadoes and mortgage foreclosures. Iowa Fiscal Partnership Perspective (one-pager) 6/24/08

An estimated 82,000 Iowans will benefit from two key Food Stamp improvements in the newly approved Farm Bill. News release 5/14/08 Letter in The Des Moines Register 5/22/08

Capital-gains and dividend tax cuts heavily benefit the wealthiest Iowans, a new Citizens for Tax Justice report shows. Middle-income Iowans couldn't buy a tank of gas for what they would receive. News release 5/13/08

On the heels of the latest job report of an 80,000-U.S. nonfarm job loss in March, stimulus efforts may intensify in Congress. What is the best approach, for the U.S. and Iowa? Backgrounder 4/7/08

Public policy has made a difference in the growing development of renewable energy. IPP's David Osterberg explains why in this short documentary by the University of Iowa's Soheil Rezayazdi.

Energy Efficiency: Iowa Can Strive to Lead Nationally
Iowa falls short on its energy efficiency goals, and its potential. Full report, executive summary and news release

Read 'Pulling Apart'