Governor Kim Reynolds Placing Students First

Governor Kim Reynolds in her Condition of the State Address proposed the Students First Act, a bold comprehensive education reform plan, which places Iowa students first by removing barriers to educational opportunity. The goal is to ensure that socioeconomic status and zip codes do not limit the ability of parents to provide the best education for their children.   The COVID-19 pandemic […]

Property Taxes are Wealth Taxes

For many Iowans property taxes represent a significant financial burden. A recent independent poll commissioned by TEF Iowa found that close to 50 percent of Iowans surveyed support making property tax relief a priority. Did you know property taxes are a form of wealth tax?  It’s true! For example, if the value of a home increased by 10 percent, it […]

Tax Reform’s Potential to Boost Iowa’s Economy

In 2018, Governor Kim Reynolds and the legislature passed pro-growth tax reform that lowered income tax rates and broadened the sales tax base. Reducing tax rates, along with practicing fiscally responsible spending policies, is making Iowa more competitive and economically strong. However, the annual report, Rich States, Poor States, describes how states across America continue to advance policies that help […]

Governor Reynolds Focuses on Moving Iowa Forward

Governor Kim Reynolds, in her Condition of the State address, outlined a pro-growth policy agenda that will continue to strengthen Iowa’s economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, she also proposed a bold education reform package that will create more opportunities for parents and children across Iowa. As the legislature begins to formulate policy, it is imperative that they […]

Eliminate Barriers to Open Enrollment

The COVID-19 pandemic is changing the discussion over education delivery in Iowa. Many Iowa parents are struggling with their children learning from home or balancing a hybrid system of in-school and online learning. In addition, many children are being impacted by the “COVID slide” and are falling behind academically. This has led to a growing call for more parental choice […]

Conservative Budgeting is the Best Path Forward

The Revenue Estimating Conference (REC), which is tasked with the difficult job of projecting state revenues, held their December meeting and is estimating Iowa will collect $8.2 billion in revenue for Fiscal Year (FY) 2022. The REC also increased the current FY 2021 estimate to $7.9 billion, which is a $65 million increase from their previous projection. The REC will […]