Cedar Rapids, IA - Current Cedar Rapids Mayor and former Speaker of the Iowa House of Representatives Ron Corbett today announced the formation of a new conservative Iowa think tank to be called "Engage Iowa".
"For too long liberal think tanks have dominated Iowa's public policy debate.  This creates the mistaken impression that liberals are the only group with new ideas," Corbett said.  It's time for another voice in the choir of good ideas in Iowa."
Engage Iowa will craft research based, pragmatic, common sense solutions that will move our state forward by bringing rural and urban Iowans together to modernize the tax code, build great schools and protect our environment.
"Iowa is on the right track," Corbett said, but we need to get on the fast track."  "A strong, research and Iowa-based idea organization can help propel Iowa forward to a new era of growth, development and an unmatched quality of life," Corbett remarked.
Corbett added, "Engage Iowa will do just that.  We will engage Iowans throughout the State in a series of conversations to help find solutions to the challenges facing Iowa."
Liberals in Iowa, and across the nation, have continued to repackage and roll out the same Big Government schemes that have been failing us for decades.  It is time for some fresh new ideas in Iowa.
Corbett said that the think tank will be overseen and funded by Iowans committed to making the state better.  Corbett will lead it and direct the research.  He indicated that $1.5 million had already been raised and pledged by Iowans to make sure this conservative think tank is successful.
The first policy report dealing with our tax system and the environment is expected to be released this fall.

About Engage Iowa:
Engage Iowa is led by former Speaker of the Iowa House Ron Corbett, an innovative entrepreneur and business leader who, as Mayor, led Cedar Rapids' recovery from one of the worst natural disasters in Iowa's history.  More information can be found at www.EngageIowa.org.