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Economy

QC Chamber Lobbies in Des Moines

QC Chamber of Commerce

Transportation, access to broadband, and workforce readiness were the main topics this week for the Quad Cities Chamber of Commerce, during its annual lobby trip to Des Moines. 

President and ceo, Tara Barney, says their goal each year is to tell legislators about the chamber's priorities, and find out how it can help get them approved. To repair Iowa's aging roads and bridges, the chamber supports raising the gas tax. 
For example, Alcoa says double the number of trucks are now leaving the plant in Riverdale every day - Barney says that's good for the economy, but it also means double the impact on our roads.

Barney, says their goal for broadband is to make sure it's un-interrupted, high capacity, and available at a reasonable cost.

TBAR1.mp3
Worried that state regulations could scare away investors.

Each year, the chamber sponsors 3 lobby trips - to Des Moines, Springfield, and Washington DC. 

A native of Detroit, Herb Trix began his radio career as a country-western disc jockey in Roswell, New Mexico (“KRSY, your superkicker in the Pecos Valley”), in 1978. After a stint at an oldies station in Topeka, Kansas (imagine getting paid to play “Louie Louie” and “Great Balls of Fire”), he wormed his way into news, first in Topeka, and then in Freeport Illinois.