Recent evidence continues to demonstrate that UBI programs do not work as intended. Universal Basic Income (UBI) programs are gaining popularity across the nation. Some policymakers view UBI as a solution that solves poverty and provides greater economic security through wealth redistribution. Here in Iowa, Polk County joined with other Des Moines-area cities and nonprofit organizations to launch Uplift, a […]
Voter turnout for city and county measures was 10.5%, while school measures drew only 8.5%. On September 10, 2024, twenty-one local governments held special elections with property tax measures on the ballot. Unofficial results show most of the measures passed, adding up to nearly $14 million in property tax costs. Ten of the 13 participating school districts succeeded with their […]
Twenty-one local governments are seeking property tax hikes on top of already-elevated assessments. On September 10, 2024, 13 school districts, two counties, and five cities will place property tax questions before voters in a special election. Eleven school districts are requesting a renewal or an increase in physical plant and equipment levies (PPELs), which generate local property tax dollars for […]
Making the TCJA permanent would ensure continued financial stability and enable families like mine to focus on what truly matters—raising happy, healthy children in a secure environment. On August 16, 2024, I had the honor of testifying before the U.S. House of Representatives Ways and Means Committee at a field hearing in Des Moines, Iowa, on the impact of the […]
Washington, D.C. sets up a game of chicken between Iowa taxpayers and the sunset of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (TCJA) delivered significant tax relief to Iowans, from individuals to small business owners. However, key provisions of the TCJA are set to expire in 2025, leading to tax increases across Iowa, […]
This article was published in the Des Moines Register. I am grateful for the leadership of Governor Reynolds, who upholds the values that my family once saw in the DFL but now finds in Iowa. Watching the changes in my native Minnesota has been difficult, but it also makes me thankful to now call Iowa home. I grew up in […]
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