January 20, 2022

Removing Regulatory Roadblocks to Home-Based Businesses

A Des Moines Register headline from September 2020 posed a question that is already being answered in the affirmative: As working from home becomes routine, will others follow? It’s not just large corporations in Iowa’s biggest city that have shifted where their employees work, but employers of all sizes in every corner of the state have developed flexible and remote work options. Just three years ago, 13 percent of Americans were working from home. At the height of the coronavirus pandemic in 2020, that number had grown to nearly one third of Americans. It is natural to assume that out of necessity or opportunity, a similar trend has occurred among entrepreneurs.

ITR Foundation Regulations
January 17, 2022

Creating Opportunity by Removing Barriers

The ability for Iowans, as well as those who relocate to Iowa, to earn a living will be greatly improved due to 2020’s historic occupational licensing reforms passed by the legislature and signed into law by Governor Kim Reynolds. Those reforms allow for universal recognition of out-of-state licenses, waive licensing fees for low-income individuals, and establish a standard for a fairer review process if a license is denied based on past criminal convictions. Reforming occupational licensing expands liberty and makes Iowa a more competitive state.

ITR Foundation Regulations
January 14, 2022

Reducing Regulatory Burden Spurs Economic Growth

“Regulations influence behavior. When we want less of something, we regulate it. For the sake of our families, young people, and low-income workers, we must not regulate jobs out of existence,” stated Rea Hederman, Executive Director of the Economic Research Center and Vice President of Policy at Ohio’s Buckeye Institute for Public Policy. Reducing the regulatory burden on an economy will also spur economic growth, as President Trump demonstrated when his administration combined tax cuts with eliminating unnecessary regulation. That type of free market reform would be particularly powerful in Iowa, since we are home to some of the highest levels of state regulation in the Midwest and across the country.

ITR Foundation Regulations
January 13, 2022

A Solution Benefitting All Property Taxpayers

Income taxes aren’t the only piece of Iowa’s tax climate that impedes economic growth; our heavy property tax burden is harmful, too. Iowans are increasingly frustrated about their property taxes, likely because their local governments send them a bill that continues to grow each and every year. Thankfully, a solution exists that will benefit all property taxpayers in Iowa. Utah’s direct notification Truth-in-Taxation law has brought real property tax relief to Utah, and more states are starting to pass this pro-taxpayer reform.

ITR Foundation Property Taxes
January 11, 2022

Embracing Free-Market Principles

As 2022’s legislative session kicked off this week, Iowans for Tax Relief Foundation offers a blueprint to free-market solutions that will grow our economy. For several years now, states across the nation have been demonstrating two remarkably different approaches to economic policy. One set of states seems to believe that high taxes, rapid spending growth, and lots of regulation are the key […]

ITR Foundation Newsletter
January 10, 2022

Improving Iowa’s Income Tax Climate

“Today’s legislation ushers in a new era of growth and opportunity in Iowa,” said Governor Kim Reynolds when signing the 2021 tax reform bill into law. “But we are not done yet. Next year, I’ll be proposing additional income tax cuts as we continue to make Iowa the most attractive place in America to open a business, raise a family, and start a career,” stated Governor Reynolds. Iowa was one of 15 states that passed tax reform bills in 2021, continuing the work to improve Iowa’s tax climate that began in 2018. As Governor Reynolds has said, however, that work will need to continue.

ITR Foundation Income Taxes
January 5, 2022

Make an Impact Event

Do you want to play a role in the policy decisions that affect your community?  Do you want to learn how you can have a say in shaping your state’s future?  ITR Foundation has teamed up with Iowans for Tax Relief and Americans for Prosperity to host a free workshop on how to impact your lawmakers. These organizations bring years […]

ITR Foundation Taxes
December 20, 2021

Progress

Today is the start of a busy week. Whether you’re spending this week at the office, on the road, or hosting family and friends at your place, we hope you will be able to enjoy the Christmas holiday. Since you might be getting pulled in a lot of directions, we’ll keep our takes short and to the point today. But […]

ITR Foundation Newsletter
December 1, 2021

1.8 Billion Reasons for Tax Relief

Iowa is going to have 1.8 billion reasons for tax relief and President Biden might end up planting a kiss on Senator Joe Manchin. Keep reading to learn why… Did you know the state of Iowa has a fund called the Taxpayer Relief Fund? It’s true, that’s the actual name. While we are fans of almost everything with “tax relief” […]

ITR Foundation Newsletter
November 24, 2021

Ask the Economist

  ITR Foundation Deputy Director Walt Rogers recently interviewed Dr. Ernie Goss, a professor of economics at Creighton University Heider College of Business. They covered many topics facing our economy today. Among them were: Supply chain: We do a monthly survey at Creighton University of supply managers and manufacturers, and we’ve been doing it for 25 years. This is the […]

ITR Foundation Economy
November 5, 2021

Gov. Reynolds Stands With Parents and Educational Freedom

“School choice shouldn’t be limited to those who have the financial means… So, let us make choice an option for everyone.” -Governor Kim Reynolds Recently, Governor Reynolds became the first governor in the nation to sign the Education Freedom Pledge. The American Federation for Children sponsors the pledge. The pledge states: “I pledge to support policies that promote parental rights in education and […]

ITR Foundation Newsletter
October 29, 2021

Squeeze Until the Taxpayer Cries Uncle

Before President Biden left for a trip to Europe on Thursday, which will include climate talks and a meeting with Pope Francis, he was negotiating a new tax and spend plan with members of his own party in Washington.  Apparently, Iowans weren’t the only ones opposed to his $3.5 trillion Build Back Better plan, as the President was trying to […]

ITR Foundation Federal
October 27, 2021

ITR Foundation Poll Shows Strong Support for Cutting Taxes and School Choice

Iowans for Tax Relief Foundation released our inaugural poll last week.  After learning which lawmakers Iowans favor, it is no surprise to learn how they feel about policy issues.  The results show that Iowans want lower taxes, less spending, and more choice in education.  Here are some of the highlights…   Our Lawmakers: Governor Kim Reynolds has the highest (+21%) favorability rating […]

ITR Foundation ITR Foundation Poll
October 20, 2021

Videos

School Choice: Fighting Fear with FactsMarch 14, 2022Opponents of school choice want you to believe that school choice will hurt our public schools and that public money should not be used for private institutions. ITR Foundation Deputy Director Walt Rogers sat down … Parents Look to Take Back Local SchoolsOctober 12, 2021Parents are fed up with mask and vaccine mandates, […]

ITR Foundation Resources
October 20, 2021

Biden’s Spending Will Hurt Iowans

Our friends in Texas have published a new report entitled Reversing the Recovery, that details how the proposed Build Back Better spending plan could affect our national economy, including how it would impact each individual state. Their conclusion? Iowa would be responsible for shouldering $43 Billion in new debt and lose 51,000 jobs. From the report: “This plan includes heavy […]

ITR Foundation Economy
October 12, 2021

Parents Look to Take Back Local Schools – copy

u003cpu003eParents are fed up with mask and vaccine mandates, gender and race issues in our local schools.  Citizens across Iowa are stepping up and running for their local school boards to take them back.u003c/pu003enu003cpu003eRecently, TEF Iowa Deputy Director Walt Rogers spoke with Jeff Angelo on how these frustrations have sparked a movement to get involved in local schools.u003c/pu003en

ITR Foundation Taxes
October 12, 2021

Parents Look to Take Back Local Schools

Parents are fed up with mask and vaccine mandates, gender and race issues in our local schools.  Citizens across Iowa are stepping up and running for their local school boards to take them back. Recently, TEF Iowa Deputy Director Walt Rogers spoke with Jeff Angelo on how these frustrations have sparked a movement to get involved in local schools.

ITR Foundation Education
September 28, 2021

Taxing Times in Washington: What Every State Legislator Needs to Know

By Jonathan Williams and Lee Schalk | ALEC In our Nation’s Capital, there are unprecedented attempts are underway to remake America, with countless dangerous policy ideas being discussed. Unfortunately, many have not learned from the mistakes of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), where infamously, Speaker Nancy Pelosi told members of Congress they have to pass the bill to know what’s […]

ITR Foundation Income Taxes
September 22, 2021

Iowa Needs School Choice

Mask mandates are the latest controversy in a series of events that has parents up in arms over what is best for their children. Recently, TEF Iowa Deputy Director Walt Rogers spoke with Jeff Angelo on what is going on in our public schools and how school choice is the solution for families to choose the education and environment best […]

ITR Foundation Education
June 14, 2021

Governor Reynolds’ Vision for Education: Placing Students and Families First

Photo: @IAGovernor In a recent editorial The Des Moines Register criticized Governor Kim Reynolds’ vision for education in Iowa. During the legislative session, Governor Reynolds made students a priority and she led the nation in requiring Iowa schools to offer the option of 100 percent in-person learning. By advancing more parental choice in education, Governor Reynolds is placing families first. […]

ITR Foundation Editorial