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Aisle 17, the corporate welfare section

March 01, 2010

This is how the tax law gets to be awful:

Iowa grocers would have a new incentive for stocking Iowa grown foods under a bill filed by a Democratic lawmaker from Iowa City. Senator Joe Bolckom’s bill would enact a tax credit for stores which buy local fruits, vegetables, dairy products and meats. Bolckom says grocers want to support small local producers but it’s not always easy to do so.

Sen. Bolckom is a scourge of big-company corporate welfare, but he's just fine with it when his pet causes benefit. Maybe we could try another tack: let groceries decide what to stock without any input from the legislators. If they think there is a locavore market that needs to be met, they'll find a way, tax credits or not.

Tags: Economic development.Iowa tax policy.Joe Bolckom.Pat Curtis.