Many of the “Contract with America” conservative policies and reforms remain the foundation of the Republican party today. On September 27, 1994, Republican members of the House of Representatives stood on the steps of the Capitol building and signed the Contract with America. Led by Representatives Newt Gingrich and Dick Armey, the Contract with America outlined a series of conservative […]
Defending the Constitution will be impossible if the American people fail to realize the importance and sacredness of the document. Writing in The Wall Street Journal, Jonathan Turley, a law professor at George Washington University, wrote about “the Left’s assault on the Constitution.” Turley argues that the progressive attack on the Constitution goes beyond proposals to “pack” the Supreme Court, but also includes efforts to […]
Recent evidence continues to demonstrate that UBI programs do not work as intended. Universal Basic Income (UBI) programs are gaining popularity across the nation. Some policymakers view UBI as a solution that solves poverty and provides greater economic security through wealth redistribution. Here in Iowa, Polk County joined with other Des Moines-area cities and nonprofit organizations to launch Uplift, a […]
This article was published in the Des Moines Register. I am grateful for the leadership of Governor Reynolds, who upholds the values that my family once saw in the DFL but now finds in Iowa. Watching the changes in my native Minnesota has been difficult, but it also makes me thankful to now call Iowa home. I grew up in […]
Harris’s “opportunity economy,” with its price controls, tax increases, and expanded government spending, is likely to exacerbate inflation and lead to economic disaster. The adage, “Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it,” is applicable to the tax and economic policies Vice President Kamala Harris has outlined for her presidential campaign. Harris’s proposals, rooted in past […]
Whether they are farmers, factory workers, or small business owners, grassroots Iowans understand that Trump is not only standing up to China but also trying to rebalance trade and prioritize American interests. John Deere, founded in 1837, is an iconic American brand, particularly in Iowa, where its machinery is ubiquitous in fields, yards, and construction sites. The brand’s leaping deer […]
This article was published in Townhall. Under the leadership of Governor Walz and a Democrat-Farmer-Labor (DFL) legislature, Minnesota is being transformed into a California-style socialist state. The nation is learning more about the progressive and even socialist record of Minnesota Governor Tim Walz. Governor Walz’s progressive-socialist record is not a surprise for Iowans. Under the leadership of Governor Walz and […]
This article was published in The Gazette. Restoring manufacturing and preventing further outsourcing will require a combination of policies including protective tariffs, pro-growth tax reforms, reducing the regulatory burden, and ending the radical environmental agenda that is preventing energy independence and mining. The Republican Party is becoming a more pro-worker party, which is a direct result of President Donald Trump’s […]
We must defend American institutions and the Constitution against these so-called reforms and tell President Biden, Hands off the Supreme Court. President Joe Biden recently proposed a series of reforms to the United States Supreme Court. The President and Democrats are furious over not only recent decisions rendered, but also by the conservative direction the Court has taken. As a […]
It is our responsibility to make a serious and informed decision while voting and to realize that our vote does count and that voting as well as not voting brings consequences. In 1924, the nation elected President Calvin Coolidge in a landslide. Coolidge had assumed the presidency when President Warren G. Harding had suddenly died in office. Americans were supportive […]
Regulations, just as with high tax rates, deter economic growth and create roadblocks for an individual’s right to earn a living or for an entrepreneur to start a business. Governments have the instinct of a vegetable, according to President Herbert Hoover. Iowa’s own Oval Office resident explained that “they keep spreading and growing.” This is an accurate description, especially as […]
The benefits of a flat tax go beyond tax relief and economic growth. It makes the tax code simpler, more transparent, and more neutral, reducing both the burden of citizenship and the affliction of social division. On January 1, 2025, Iowa will transition to a 3.8 percent single-rate flat tax. Not only will this historic change provide tax relief for […]
The Republican Party is not breaking up with conservatives. It’s actually starting a reformation back to an older conservative tradition. This week, the Republican Party officially nominated former President Donald Trump and Ohio Senator J.D. Vance for President and Vice President. The Republican National Convention was the most unified and inspirational conventions in recent years. The Trump-Vance ticket is also […]
Midwest icon John Deere is the latest company to demonstrate the downside of “free trade” and tax credits. John Deere, established in 1837, is an iconic brand and a symbol of the American heartland. This is especially true in Iowa. John Deere machinery can be seen in fields, yards, and construction sites across the state, and their famous leaping deer […]
The Register poll should be a lesson for policymakers that Iowans understand that inflation is directly caused by government spending. As regular ITR Live listeners and viewers know, our own John Hendrickson has opinions. Most of these opinions cover topics within the ITR Foundation issue set, but some do not. We believe John’s thoughts need to be shared with a […]
Understanding what policies deserve credit for Iowa’s success allows the state to continue along its successful path. Success has many fathers, according to an old saying, but failure is always an orphan. The secure foundation of Iowa’s fiscal house proves the adage, with both fiscal conservatives and big-government advocates crediting their respective policies. The former claim Iowa’s fiscal health is […]
This article was published in the Des Moines Register. Whether it is fiscal conservatism, reforming state government, fighting against the radical woke cultural Marxism, or fighting to protect American soil, Governor Reynolds is leading Iowa as a strong conservative. “Safe-Sane-Steady” was one of the campaign slogans used by President Calvin Coolidge during the 1924 presidential campaign. “Safe-Sane-Steady” reflected Coolidge’s policies […]
This article was published in National Review. The flat tax will now start a year earlier, and at a slightly lower rate, than originally planned. “The headline of this session is simple: Iowa’s income-tax rate will be the 6th lowest in the country,” stated Iowa senate majority leader Jack Whitver. Going into the legislative session, Governor Kim Reynolds and legislative leaders had […]
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