Iowa has many attractive qualities in making it a great place to live. If policymakers want to grow our population, the best way to encourage growth is by lowering tax rates so our state is more competitive. Population trends show that states with low tax rates are gaining new residents, while an exodus is underway in high tax states. […]
This case is another example of our cultural decline. Since the mid-20th century the United States has been on a steady course of secularization. The Supreme Court will decide if a Bladensburg, Maryland memorial cross dedicated to soldiers who died in World War 1 is a violation of the First Amendment’s Establishment Clause. In 1925 the American Legion established […]
The freest economies operate with minimal government interference, relying instead on personal choice and free markets. Learn more about the Economic Freedom work that has been done by our partners at the Fraser Institute and see how Iowa measures up with the rest of the United States.
Would a four percent increase in income next year help your household budget? For most families it would. Four percent isn’t enough for the city of North Liberty according to their city administrator and they want to increase the property tax rate another 1.2 percent. In recent years the city’s taxable valuation growth has increased between seven and 14 percent […]
Certificate of Need laws not only prevent competition but work to limit health care services and increase medical costs for Iowans. The purpose of a Certificate of Need (CON) law is to regulate (limit) health care supply unless a need is determined by a state government agency or board. When CON laws were introduced in the 1970s, it was hoped […]
There are renewed calls for a cigarette tax increase, despite evidence that sin taxes fall short in revenue generation and in their attempt at social engineering. Once again anti-smoking advocates are calling for a tax increase in Iowa, this time to the tune of $1.50 more on each pack of cigarettes. A cigarette tax is a sin tax; sin taxes are […]