The Greater Des Moines Partnership unveiled its 2013 State Legislative Agenda at its annual luncheon today at the Renaissance Des Moines Savery Hotel.

For the last several months, the Partnership met with its investors, chamber affiliates, and various other organizations it works with to gain perspective on what its agenda should include, said Matt Hinch, the group’s senior vice president of government relations and public policy. 

“We started with our 2012 priorities and identified the things we were unable to accomplish,” he said.  

Here’s a quick look at what the economic development group has deemed its top priorities.

• Reduce corporate and income taxes – The Partnership supports efforts to simplify and reduce Iowa’s corporate and personal income tax rates to strengthen the state’s economic competiveness. Businesses and individuals should be allowed to either deduct federal income taxes or to forgo those deductions in exchange for a significantly reduced state income tax rate.
• Increase development tax incentives – The Partnership wants to preserve and strengthen economic development incentives and tax credits in order to create and maintain high-quality jobs.
• Reform education – Bold, innovative solutions to improve Iowa’s education system will support the workforce needs of Iowa’s new economy.
• Commercial property tax reform – The Partnership supports meaningful commercial and industrial property tax relief that is linked with targeted alternative revenue streams for local governments.