September 14, 2023

Don’t Let a Bad Policy Idea Take Root

Believe it or not, the focus in the Iowa presidential caucus is starting to shift from the personalities of the candidates to their actual policies.  August delivered a plethora of campaign swings throughout Iowa including the State Fair, which provided a platform for candidates to discuss issues. The first Republican debate, although light on tax policy, allowed the candidates to start engaging on a number of issues.  For Iowans, there is an important intersection of tax policy we should be paying closer attention to: federal estate tax laws and the capital gains tax.  More specifically, Iowans must be wary of any changes to how the cost basis of inherited assets is calculated or our farm families could end up paying a steep price.

Chris Ingstad Federal
February 14, 2023

Controlling Spending Key to Property Tax Reforms

This article was published in the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier. Despite numerous changes, lasting relief has not been delivered and Iowa currently has the 10th-highest property tax burden in the nation. If you have lived in Iowa for any length of time, then you know property taxes are, without a doubt, the most despised tax in the state. That’s why numerous […]

Chris Ingstad Editorial
November 2, 2022

C’MON MAN: Are Our Costs Really Going Down?

President Biden’s claim of lowering our everyday costs doesn’t hold up when measured against prices at the pump; a gallon of gas now costs nearly 80% more than it did two years ago. President Joe Biden took the stage at a recent  Democratic National Committee Event to proclaim “Democrats are lowering your everyday costs like prescription drugs, healthcare premiums, energy bills, and gas […]

Chris Ingstad Economy
August 11, 2022

Inflation Reduction Act? Not Likely

After multiple rounds of negotiations, the United States Senate recently passed the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) by a strictly partisan margin of 51-50, with Vice President Kamala Harris casting the deciding vote in favor of the bill.  As the name implies, the purported aim of this effort, which the House of Representatives will soon consider, is to slow down the historic levels of inflation America is experiencing.  Only in Washington, D.C. could someone refer to a $750 billion bill as “anti-inflationary” with a straight face.

Chris Ingstad Federal