(Radio Iowa) - Republicans on an Iowa House Subcommittee have voted to require that Deere and Company return half of the lucrative state tax credit it received for reearch activities in 2024 -- due to what the bill describes as "mass layoffs."
Republican Representative Derek Wulf of Hudson calls it an "America First" proposal -- suggesting it goes along with President Trump's threat to slap tariffs on John Deere products if the company moves more production to Mexico. About 17-hundred workers at Deere plants in Iowa were laid off in 2024.
Stacey Pellet, a lobbyist for Deere and Company, says the bill sends a concerning message to industries, companies and individuals who invest in research in Iowa. She says layoffs are a last resort and not uncommon at Deere during market downturns.