A new Iowans for Tax Relief Foundation (ITRF) poll of likely general election voters in Iowa reveals overwhelming and consistent support for taxpayer safeguards, including constitutional amendments to protect against income tax hikes, and limits on property tax increases. The survey, conducted from September 22 to September 23, 2025, found that 71% of Iowans support requiring a two-thirds superma...
Describing his policy objectives, Senator Whitver has said, “In one sentence, here’s the plan: cut taxes, control spending, reform government, and let Iowans be great.” In 2024, Governing magazine honored Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds as “Public Official of the Year” for her numerous policy achievements — including historic tax reform, parental choice in education, state government reform, and defend...
In 2024, Governing magazine honored Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds as “Public Official of the Year” for her numerous policy achievements — including historic tax reform, parental choice in education, state government reform, and defending traditional values. For two years, the CATO Institute honored Governor Reynolds as the most fiscally conservative governor in the nation. Perhaps her most-significan...
Economic development departments are often celebrated as promoters of prosperity and local employment. Each year, local governments spend tens of billions of dollars on economic development incentives—tax abatements, fee waivers, and direct subsidies—intended to lure private investment. Cities across the nation tout their ability to entice marquee employers, generate buzz with ribbon-cuttings, and...
Progress Made, But Work Remains: Iowa’s new draft social studies standards show improvement—but still leave too much flexibility with “may include” language that weakens their effectiveness. Risks of Weak Standards: Reliance on inquiry-based learning and action civics prompts risks sidelining essential content and shifting focus from knowledge-building to political activity, leaving students witho...
He referred to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) as the “infernal revenue agency,” and he argued that citizens across the nation were being “taxed to death.” He told his audiences “the government is unable to control its appetite.” only in government is slowing the growth of spending viewed as a cut. “A cut to them doesn’t mean the same thing that it does to you. In government, it means that you ...
In his speeches, Stanley spoke not only with authority and a thorough understanding of fiscal policy, but also with humor and flair. He referred to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) as the “infernal revenue agency,” and he argued that citizens across the nation were being “taxed to death.” He told his audiences “the government is unable to control its appetite.” Only in government is slowing the ...
With the newest round of property tax payments due this month, too many Iowans are staring at their bills and wondering how long they can keep up with the rising costs. While most of us can feel the strain year after year, once factors like valuations, rollbacks, and “growth” are considered, it can be difficult to know exactly how much property tax pain we’re experiencing.
Iowa taxpayers are being asked to carry more each year, with little say in how much heavier the load becomes. Rising property taxes are not the result of some mysterious formula—they stem from local government budgets that grow faster than family budgets.
The Instructional Support Levy (ISL) is one of the main tools available to Iowa school districts to supplement state funding for educational programs. While the state sets limits on how much can be spent per student, the ISL provides districts with a way to go beyond that cap—funding additional staff, classroom resources, and other instructional needs. Because the levy can significantly affect loc...
Conservatives of the 1920s viewed the Constitution as the enduring foundation of American liberty, emphasizing limited government, federalism, and the need to preserve timeless principles rather than treat the document as obsolete. They rejected the progressive notion of a “living Constitution,” instead describing it as an anchor—flexible through amendment, but grounded in unchanging truths and ro...
Last month, I attended the State Policy Network’s annual meeting, where a panel of state leaders discussed their efforts to disentangle their states from federal government control. Among them, my state’s House Speaker Cameron Sexton discussed how the Tennessee legislature recently created a task force to study the strings attached to federal education funding. After the panel, Iowa Gov. Kim Reyno...
Recently, I had the honor of signing a coalition letter recommending President Donald Trump award the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Patrick J. Buchanan. The call to honor Mr. Buchanan with this high honor is not new but accelerated when Representative Riley M. Moore (R-WV) sent a letter to President Trump urging him to honor Buchanan with the Presidential Medal of Freedom. This effort is also b...
The results are in: every public measure on September 9, 2025, ballot passed across the state. That is notable, but the real headline should be the persistently low voter turnout in these September special elections—and whether it’s time to eliminate them altogether. On September 9, seven public measures appeared statewide. Three renewed the Physical Plant and Equipment Property Tax Levy (PPEL) fo...
Iowa has been rated as one of the most fiscally prudent states for several years running, due to sound tax and spending policies. Yet thanks in part to a recent downturn in the agricultural economy, economic growth in the state has slowed. Additionally, the state has been losing residents to other states every year since 2013 and has one of the highest outflows of young residents with bachelor’s ...
Property taxes in Iowa are unpredictable and burdensome, driven by many layers of government that often leave homeowners frustrated as bills rise faster than their ability to pay. Effective property tax rates vary widely across the state, with homeowners in places like Eldridge and Le Mars paying under 1.3%, while residents in Waterloo and Keokuk face rates above 2%. Without meaningful reform to ...
Iowans for Tax Relief Foundation (ITRF) is honored to announce that our work on the ITR Report Card was recognized with the Bob Williams Award for Most Influential Research at the State Policy Network’s Annual Meeting in New Orleans on August 27. The Bob Williams Awards celebrate state-based think tanks that achieve exceptional results advancing free-market policy reforms. Named after Bob William...
Gov. Kim Reynolds is a conservative leader who knows what she believes and has the courage to defend her values and convictions. “One of the great debates of our time is about how much of your money should be spent by the State and how much you should keep to spend on your family. Let us never forget this fundamental truth: the State has no source of money other than money which people earn themse...
As summer winds down and classrooms fill again, “back to school” season is in full swing. For many families, this time of year brings new routines, fresh goals, and—whether you’re a student, parent, or taxpayer—a renewed focus on the importance of education. That’s why this issue of our magazine includes a special section dedicated to schooling in Iowa, with three articles that explore the quality...