Newton Manufacturing, Newton, Iowa, hosted governor of Iowa Terry Branstad and state lawmakers as part of the governor’s Re-Open Iowa for Business Rules and Regulations tour.
“It was a very positive event,” said Lee Cochran, Newton Manufacturing’s president. “Our political leaders took the time listen to constituents to better understand situations related to their interactions with government.”
The event drew a crowd of 75 business leaders and media from central Iowa. Discussions included inconsistencies between federal and state laws, particularly those in labor and environmental regulations. Several business owners explained that just the amount of paperwork involved in these instances impeded their ability to operate their businesses effectively.
The Re-Open Iowa for Business tour is a series of 10 open forums organized by state lawmakers that are being held across the state of Iowa. Its purpose is to allow Iowa business owners to voice their concerns about rules and regulations that they feel hurt business development and job creation in Iowa. State lawmakers, including Gov. Branstad, are holding these forums to solicit input from Iowa business owners and to understand how government rules and regulations are impeding business.
