Budget Hawks v. Tax Cutters: The Republican Dilemma
The American Spectator
Iowa’s property tax crisis: Focus on spending
Originally Published In: The root cause of these rising taxes isn’t increasing property values; it’s excessive government spending. Local governments have expanded their budgets without considering taxpayers’ ability to pay. Property taxes are crushing taxpayers nationwide, and Iowa is no exception. In the past two decades, Iowa’s property taxes have surged by more than 110%, with local governments collecting over $7 […]
The Most Difficult Policy is the Most Important Policy: Conservative Budgeting in Iowa
By prioritizing taxpayer interests and limiting government expansion, Iowa has created an environment where economic freedom and opportunity can flourish. Fiscal restraint is essential to ensuring long-term fiscal health. Executive Summary Iowa’s steadfast commitment to conservative budgeting demonstrates how fiscally responsible governance benefits all, fostering an environment of economic prosperity and opportunity. By prioritizing disciplined spending over government expansion, Governor […]
A 2 Percent Property Tax Cap – A Necessary Step for Iowa
Had the 24 cities and counties examined in this report followed a 2 percent cap over the last decade, Iowans in those communities alone would have $160 million more in their wallets to satisfy their desires, including investing in the future, saving for a rainy day, and attaining their American Dream. OVERVIEW The Problem: Unchecked Property Tax Growth Lessons from […]
Improving Iowa’s Future with Conservative Budgeting and Tax Cuts
This article was published in The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier, Telegraph Herald, and The Gazette. Unsustainable increases in spending can lead to severe consequences. Iowa’s success in maintaining fiscal discipline is a testament to its effectiveness. Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds and the Republican-led Legislature have emphasized conservative budgeting as a central priority. Such prudence in budgeting is the cornerstone of fiscal […]
The Troubling Proliferation of Universal Basic Income Programs
This article was published in Governing. Iowa policymakers did the right thing in prohibiting localities from creating UBI programs that would not only fail to resolve poverty but also create a fiscal nightmare for taxpayers. The idea of a universal basic income (UBI), whereby a government provides everyone with a certain monthly amount to spend as they wish, is nothing new. […]
The 2025 Conservative Iowa Budget: A Plan for Continued Progress
The core principle is that an effective limit should reflect the average taxpayer’s ability to pay for the budget. Introduction The rewards of Iowa’s leadership in fiscal conservatism become more evident every year. Using a sustainable budgeting approach, the state has put its burdensome personal income taxes on a steady path of rate cuts. This proven pro-growth approach has worked over the […]
Iowa Is Proof that Fiscal Conservatism Works
By cutting taxes and state spending, Governor Kim Reynolds has put the state on the path to a robust economy.
Iowa’s fiscal foundation remains strong despite national economic uncertainty because of the state’s fiscal conservatism and prudent budgeting.
Governor Kim Reynolds has made Iowa a leader in conservative fiscal policy. This approach has already left more money in taxpayers’ pockets, and set the state on course to implement a low, flat income tax by 2026.
The 2024 Conservative Iowa Budget
Iowa’s taxpayers deserve better constitutional protections against the unquenchable appetite for government spending. Stronger limits can ensure spending remains under control, especially when fiscally conservative policymakers are absent. Introduction Going into the 2023 legislative session, Iowa’s fiscal foundation is strong. The Revenue Estimating Conference (REC), which is a three-person collaboration between the governor’s office and the Legislative Services Agency, is […]
A History Lesson for President Joe Biden
A nation emerging from a significant pandemic and an economic downturn awaited President Joe Biden in early 2021. President Warren G. Harding inherited a similar situation after winning the 1920 election in a landslide. But Harding overcame it by getting government out of the way. The economy recovered quickly—whereas Biden enacted bad progressive policies that have resulted in a double-dip recession with 40-year high inflation.
The Tax Increase Hidden in Plain Sight
Americans have less money than they had last year—though taxes haven’t been raised. So what’s the problem? Inflation, which has increased at a 40-year high annual pace of 7.9%. It acts as a hidden tax because we don’t see it listed on our tax bills, but we sure see less money on our bank accounts.
Learning from the Champions of Fiscal Conservatism
Government spending is at the heart of sound public policy. But out-of-control spending for decades has created substantial economic destruction and ongoing threats that must be remedied before things get worse. Fortunately, we have examples of how fiscal rules can solve this problem. We must put these rules into place before our economy gets any worse.
The 2023 Conservative Iowa Budget
The Conservative Iowa Budget helps limit government spending so that there are more opportunities for tax relief and for widespread prosperity for Iowans now and for generations to come.
