Des Moines is rightly excited about plans to build multiple new sports facilities. But Iowa taxpayers ought to be concerned about the city’s request for $57 million in state subsidies to underwrite real estate developers’ profits. Cronyism of this sort has been a consistent problem across America, but there’s hope on the horizon. States have been locked in a perpetual […]
Coretha lost her husband sixteen years ago. Twelve years later, she lost her daughter, Da’Onna. After this tragedy, Coretha is raising her three grandchildren by herself. Although she was happy with the local public school, she quickly found that her grandchildren were being bullied. She began looking for an alternative option, but she quickly realized she could not afford it on […]
“Educations savings account would make it possible for my kids to attend the school that best fits them.” “I’m raising my three grandkids after my youngest daughter, Da’Onna, passed away four years ago.” “Da’Onna became sick and I moved in with her to help out with the kids. Four years ago, this month, she went in for a procedure […]
President Joe Biden and Democrats in Congress are pushing for a $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package. Congress has already approved $4 trillion in pandemic relief and stimulus measures and billions of that money has yet to be spent. Congress is also considering a $6.1 trillion budget and the $28 trillion national debt continues to escalate. Federal policymakers should avoid another […]
Tax rates matter, and they play a significant role in how competitive a state economy is in relation to other states. Higher tax rates penalize hard-working individuals, families, and businesses and deter economic growth, making a state less competitive. To make Iowa more economically competitive, Governor Kim Reynolds has made tax reform a priority. Taxes on income, which include both […]
Iowa’s high property taxes are a growing concern. The Tax Foundation examined the “effective tax rates on owner-occupied housing” across the United States. Iowa ranked 12th highest in the nation. At the heart of high property taxes is local government spending. Unless spending is controlled, any property tax relief will be limited. Iowa’s property tax system is complex, and more transparency is needed. […]
By offering a customized and unique curriculum, Joshua Christian Academy in Des Moines offers its students hope and opportunity they would not otherwise have had in traditional public schools.
“Educations savings account would make it possible for my kids to attend the school that best fits them.” “We moved here from Raleigh, North Carolina and live on an acreage just outside the city limits of Glenwood, Iowa. We drive down three miles of gravel road to get to our house.” “I got a job offer in Omaha, but […]
“Putting dollars behind the child with education savings accounts… would give many more families the ability to choose the education that fits their values and child’s needs.” “I was born and raised here in Waterloo, Iowa. I’ve always been very Waterloo-proud. When I went to college, I wanted to get some experience to bring back to this area – […]
Our government has changed drastically since the American Founding. The implied powers of Article 1, Section 8 of the Constitution have expanded greatly and almost all aspects of American life is impacted on some level by government. How did we go from a government that was designed by the Constitution to be limited to a government that has become a […]
Reforming a state tax code in order to provide relief, economic growth, and create a more competitive economic climate is straightforward in terms of economics, but difficult in the world of politics. A major reason for this difficulty is tax rate reductions are in direct conflict with numerous policy interests that demand new or additional spending. Iowa, alongside the vast […]
“…parents must have to be able to give their child an education that isn’t at odds with what they’re teaching at home.” “Back in 2008, Mrs. Chris Hurley and myself began talking to each other about the importance of having a Christian school in the urban area, in Des Moines – one that would also be affordable for the […]
In 2018, Governor Kim Reynolds and the Iowa legislature passed a comprehensive tax reform measure that lowers both the individual and corporate income tax rates as well as broadens the sales tax base. Although the 2018 reform was historic, Iowa will still have high income tax rates. Iowa’s top individual income tax rate will be 6.5 percent and the […]
“Education savings accounts would mean a huge deal to parents in our community and elsewhere, looking for an alternative that would meet their child’s unique needs.” “We have graduates this year that would not have graduated without in-person classes. We have students that, if not for our Christ-centered mission and student-centered learning environment at Joshua Christian Academy, would not be […]
In the 20th century, President Calvin Coolidge represents the best example of American conservatism. Whether in his political philosophy or temperament, Calvin Coolidge can serve as a guide for today’s conservatives. Conservatives during the 1920s placed the American Founding and the Constitution as their philosophical center as a “veritable cult of Constitution worship flourished.” As President, Coolidge was a champion […]
From my experience traveling across Iowa and visiting with parents and teachers, I am convinced that having more choice in education is vital. Real-life stories of change from parents and private school leaders illustrate the importance of choice in education. A small private school principal in eastern Iowa shared, “We’ve increased our numbers this past year because of COVID-19. Parents […]
The Kirkwood Institute and the Tax Education Foundation of Iowa (TEF Iowa) released a special investigation into the Des Moines Public Schools and open enrollment. The report details documents, not previously released publicly, that show how the DMPS denies open enrollment requests from families who cite harassment, bullying, and even sexual assault.
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 […]
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 […]
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 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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
The Tax Foundation ranks Iowa as one of the top ten worst states for business climate. Iowa’s high tax rates not only discourage economic growth, but they make our state less competitive. South Dakota has no state income tax and Iowa is losing ground to our neighbor because they have a more competitive tax climate. It will be difficult for […]
Sales taxes, or taxes on consumption, are considered the least harmful in comparison to income and corporate taxes. This does not mean a state should have a high sales tax, because this too would be harmful for economic growth. States should work to establish a tax code that has low rates combined with simplicity and transparency. This would in turn […]