The Iowa House is now advancing a proposed constitutional amendment, which would create a requirement that income tax increases receive a two-thirds vote in both chambers of the legislature. The proposed amendment has already passed the Senate and if it passes the full House this spring, it will appear on the ballot for voter approval during November’s election.
Property tax reform is a national issue: while Tennessee’s effort failed due to local government opposition, Iowa still has a strong chance to pass meaningful limits this session. Double-digit property tax increases in both states are being driven by spending choices, not a lack of resources, with local governments often prioritizing discretionary projects over restraint. Warnings about cuts to es...
The most practical way to view the Center for Intellectual Freedom at the University of Iowa is that it allows a broader range of ideas to flourish on campus. Reasonable people can disagree, and the center offers students an opportunity to engage more deeply with the nation’s history while participating in thoughtful, open discussion of important issues. That is, after all, a key tenet of higher e...
From a public policy standpoint, Iowa has become a national leader in conservative reform. On taxes, budgeting, regulation, school choice, and protections for life and civil liberties, the state stands in sharp contrast to neighbors such as Minnesota and Illinois. But policy alone does not fully explain why so many people love Iowa. “What happened this year went beyond Iowa nice. You showed a huma...
Property tax frustration is growing nationwide, and taxpayers are increasingly rejecting higher taxes while calling for stronger protections. Massachusetts’ Proposition 2½ shows how effective guardrails can work, as voters in South Hadley rejected major tax increases that could have raised bills by up to 50%. The message is clear: taxpayers expect governments to control spending and prioritize bud...
Federal spending and the national debt are on an unsustainable path, with rising deficits and interest costs forcing cuts that are already beginning to impact states. The states, including Iowa, are highly exposed, relying on billions in federal funds that can be reduced, restricted, or eliminated with little warning. Lawmakers can prepare by increasing transparency, oversight, and long-term plann...
Property tax reform can feel like fighting a war on a thousand fronts. Should the focus be on assessments, levy rates, or rollback? Or on Tax Increment Financing (TIF), targeted credits, and exemptions? School funding adds yet another layer. While all these factors influence property taxes, they often distract from the core issue that has undermined past reform efforts. That issue is government sp...
Iowans for Tax Relief Foundation was invited to a national conference of economists and policy experts, where John Hendrickson served as a panelist on communicating complex economic ideas to the public. The discussion emphasized that effective policy communication requires translating technical issues, like property tax reform, into clear, relatable language focused on real-world impact. The panel...
Graduation rates are a useful, but incomplete, measure: They show whether students are finishing school and provide public accountability, but they don’t fully capture academic readiness or learning outcomes. Iowa results are mixed: From 2024–2025, graduation rates rose slightly statewide (+0.5%) with more districts increasing than decreasing, but over five years, rates declined overall (-1.4%). C...
Federal deficit spending has reached unsustainable levels, with the national debt surpassing $39 trillion, driven by decades of expanding government involvement in the economy. Even small, well-intentioned programs, like federal grants to support young commercial fishermen, contribute to a broader pattern where nearly every challenge is met with new spending. When government spending replaces the ...
Legislators have taken the first step. Last week, the Iowa Senate approved an amended property tax reform bill on a vote of 41–4. The House Republicans’ version was passed by the House Ways and Means Committee on March 18 and is expected to move forward in the next few weeks. These proposals share common goals but take different approaches, including caps on local government revenue growth, change...
House Study Bill 764 would require greater legislative oversight of federal funds so Iowa fully understands the costs, conditions, and long-term obligations before accepting them. Concerns about the effort being “time consuming” highlight the core problem—too often, key details aren’t known when funding decisions are made. Lawmakers are open to refining the bill to make it workable, but its centr...
Government shutdowns—like the recent DHS lapse—aren’t just political fights in Washington; they create real disruptions for everyday Americans, from airport delays to potential security risks. These shutdowns often stem from using the budget as leverage in policy disputes, leaving taxpayers and unpaid government workers to bear the consequences. A better approach exists: budget continuation laws, ...
Spending drives property taxes: While factors like TIF, rollback, and exemptions matter, the primary driver of rising property taxes is local government spending—making spending restraint central to meaningful reform. National trend toward caps: States across the country—both red and blue—are adopting property tax caps (like Kansas’s protest petition system and Montana’s proposed 2% cap) to slow t...
More than 200 attendees filled ITR Foundation’s eighth annual Tax Day Luncheon, highlighting its role as a signature gathering for advancing taxpayer-focused policy and celebrating Iowa’s recent fiscal reforms under Governor Reynolds’ leadership. Governor Reynolds emphasized Iowa’s progress—from a 3.8% flat income tax to regulatory and government reforms—and underscored that the next major priorit...