SOUTH SIOUX CITY, Neb (KTIV) -
Lunch may have been served at the annual legislative forum in South Sioux City but "job growth" was the issue on everyone's plate.
In order to increase jobs, state and local leaders say next year's legislative session has to focus on key issues. One of them is taxes. Congressman Adrian Smith says now is not the time to raise individual income taxes, and believes corporate taxes should be lowered to promote business growth.
"It will allow our domestic U.S. Companies, to be more competitive in the world. We've got U-S Companies that are establishing a presence overseas to meet the markets overseas, and yet if they bring those profits back to the U-S they are virtually penalized for doing so," Congressman Smith said.
Nebraska State Senator Dave Bloomfield says, lowering taxes would also entice more businesses to come here.
He also calls for less government regulation to spur economic growth.
"My big thing would be if we can, get the government the heck out of people's way, not only state government, federal government," State Senator Bloomfield said.
Meanwhile, his opponent, State Senate Candidate Van Phillips says lower tax rates may draw people to Nebraska, but it's important to keep quality education a priority to produce a highly skilled workforce to retain businesses.
"Education is vital to any economic development to any growth to the state to anything that involves people, because people involves kids," State Senate Candidate Van Phillips said.
