February 16, 2026

The Cost of an Unforgiving Compliance System

What is often labeled “de-banking” is largely the result of an outdated and rigid federal regulatory framework rooted in the 1970s Bank Secrecy Act that incentivizes banks to over-comply to avoid severe penalties. Political signaling by regulators, combined with strict confidentiality rules around Suspicious Activity Reports, leaves banks cautious and opaque, fueling public frustration and perceptions of ideological targeting. Meaningful reform must occur at the federal level by modernizing compliance standards and disclosure rules; state-by-state approaches risk creating confusion without fixing the underlying problem.

Chris Ingstad Taxes, Spending, & Budget
December 23, 2025

Affordability Isn’t a Mystery—It’s a Spending Problem

Affordability challenges stem from rising local government spending, not an elusive formula of tax incentives and abatements, and property taxes remain high because spending continues to outpace taxpayers’ ability to pay. Targeted tax abatements and business incentives have failed to deliver broad affordability, instead shifting tax burdens onto other residents while benefiting a narrow group of property owners or employers, often for a limited amount of time. True affordability requires fiscal restraint and broad-based tax relief, not expanded incentive programs or policy tweaks that avoid confronting the underlying spending problem.

Chris Ingstad Taxes, Spending, & Budget
October 20, 2025

Bond supporters say they ‘won’t raise taxes,’ but the claim doesn’t add up

Across Iowa, local officials are asking voters to approve more than $1 billion in new bond debt this November — often with the soothing assurance that these projects “won’t raise your taxes.” But that promise deserves scrutiny. It’s like paying off your car loan, immediately financing the purchase of a new one, and insisting it doesn’t cost more — just because the monthly payment stayed the same. What about the savings you could have enjoyed if you hadn’t taken on new debt at all?

Chris Ingstad Elections
October 19, 2025

Bond supporters say they ‘won’t raise taxes,’ but the claim doesn’t add up

Across Iowa, local officials are asking voters to approve more than $1 billion in new bond debt this November — often with the soothing assurance that these projects “won’t raise your taxes.” But that promise deserves scrutiny. It’s like paying off your car loan, immediately financing the purchase of a new one, and insisting it doesn’t cost more — just because the monthly payment stayed the same. What about the savings you could have enjoyed if you hadn’t taken on new debt at all?

Chris Ingstad Editorials
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 Taxes, Spending, & Budget
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 Taxes, Spending, & Budget
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 Taxes, Spending, & Budget
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Let’s be honest, big government is big bureaucracy, and common sense tells us big bureaucracy is ineffective. That’s why ITR Foundation works to:

  • Research principled solutions
  • Educate Iowans about our solutions
  • Activate Iowans in support of our solutions

By applying the principles of limited government, free enterprise, and the rule of law to public policy, we can ensure all Iowans will have the opportunity to succeed.

ITR Foundation set the policy groundwork for many recent taxpayer victories in Iowa:

  • Increased property tax transparency and spending restraint
  • A 3.8% flat individual income tax rate
  • Elimination of income taxes on retirement income
  • Elimination of inheritance tax
  • Creating a path to reduce corporate income tax to 5.5%
  • Phasing-out special tax incentives in the corporate tax code
  • Banning local universal basic income programs