West Virginia is only the latest state to take the step of eliminating restrictive barriers to health care, and Iowa should be the next. Policymakers in Iowa can increase access to health care and improve affordability by eliminating excessive restrictions on the expansion and introduction of facilities. Specifically, Iowa’s Certificate of Need (CON) laws limit patient access and provider competition. […]
Further protection for the taxpayer can be good policy, but lawmakers must ensure there are no unintended consequences along the way. The Iowa Legislature is considering a joint resolution that would establish protections for Iowa taxpayers in the state constitution. Senate Study Bill 1207 and House Study Bill 232 propose two amendments. The first would require two-thirds of both chambers […]
Iowa’s future has never looked brighter. When crafting the budget, policymakers must remain focused on limiting spending so our state can continue on the path to prosperity. The March Revenue Estimating Conference (REC) recently confirmed that revenue projections continue to be strong, demonstrating the resilience of Iowa’s economy. The REC is responsible for estimating state revenue, which is challenging when […]
Retirees provide countless hours of volunteer service and contribute to the culture of Iowa. Eliminating their retirement income taxes will encourage them to remain in the state. Last year, the Iowa Legislature passed an historic tax reform measure covering a variety of income sources. This legislation was not only the largest tax cut in Iowa history, but also the most […]
While some proposals want to fund more spending, a bill has been introduced in the Senate to utilize the Taxpayer Relief Fund to phase-out the income tax altogether. “Keep your eye on one thing and one thing only: how much government is spending, because that’s the true tax,” the late economist Milton Friedman once stated. Paying out public dollars is the […]
This article was published in the Des Moines Register, Cedar Rapids Gazette, and the Telegraph Herald. Iowa has 37 executive branch cabinet agencies — more than all neighboring states. The governor’s proposal is to reduce the number of executive-level agencies to 16, making government more efficient while saving taxpayer dollars. Since assuming office, Governor Kim Reynolds has placed a priority […]
A spending limitation would deliver lasting property tax relief by taking a head on approach to addressing runaway local government spending. Property taxes are a concern for taxpayers across the nation and it seems Iowa is not the only place where lawmakers are attempting to deliver much needed relief from the burden of local government spending. The Montana Legislature is […]
Senator Dawson introduced a bill (SSB1126) that calls to speed up the individual income tax reductions and reduce the overall rate to 2.5 percent by 2028 while eventually eliminating the income tax altogether. The Iowa Senate kicked off February with a bang by introducing a measure to lower both individual and corporate tax rates, before placing the individual income tax […]
Governor Reynolds has issued an executive order that places a moratorium on new regulations and requires a review of existing rules. These are the exact reforms Iowans for Tax Relief Foundation have offered in the past. A reduction of the barriers of “red tape” will add to and amplify other reforms, moving Iowa toward a more-competitive economic climate.
Governor Kim Reynolds, after winning reelection in a landslide, delivered her sixth Condition of the State address where she continued to outline a conservative policy agenda. Governor Reynolds has led the state through natural disasters, the COVID pandemic, and through our current uncertain national economy. Since assuming office, Governor Reynolds has been a champion of conservative policies that place the taxpayer first and protect and defend traditional values. As a result, Iowa’s economy is strong, the tax code is more competitive, and as Governor Reynolds stated the state is “a beacon for freedom and opportunity.”
David Pietrusza is both a gifted historian and storyteller. He is also the “Dean” of American presidential election history. His previous books focus on the elections of 1920, 1932, 1948, and 1960. All provide a rich narrative that explores the individuals, candidates and political environment that shaped these important presidential elections, which have lasting impact on both the nation and […]
Iowa taxpayers will start seeing income tax relief next week as a result of the historic tax reform the Legislature passed and Gov. Kim Reynolds signed into law in 2022.
With a healthy state budget, lower income and corporate tax rates, the elimination of retirement income tax, and the legislature eyeing property tax reform, 2023 should be a great year for taxpayers. Iowa taxpayers will start seeing income tax relief in just a few weeks as a result of the historic tax reform the legislature passed and Governor Kim Reynolds […]
Although Iowa’s economy will not be immune to a national recession or other outside pressures, the fiscal condition of the state is solid. The national economy is on the verge of recession. Inflation is at a 40-year high and continues to be a major concern for the economy. Out-of-control spending, which is a leading cause of inflation, has been […]
Iowa’s tax climate is improving, and more work is needed to lower income and property taxes, but our state has made substantial progress. Once Iowa’s tax reform is fully implemented, it is estimated that Iowa will have the 13th-best tax ranking in the nation. The Tax Foundation has released the 2023 State Business Tax Climate Index, which ranks the states […]
Increasing an existing tax or creating new ones rarely provides tax relief. The government tends to benefit more than the taxpayer. When cities sent local option sales tax (LOST) increases to the ballot, they told residents half of the new revenue would be directed toward property tax relief. To the contrary, as one frustrated Iowan in the Des Moines metro […]
A flat tax revolution is sweeping the states. Iowa, Mississippi, Georgia, Arizona, and Idaho have all enacted legislation to move toward a flat income tax rate. “In more than a century of state income taxes, [until these recent changes,] only four states have ever transitioned from a graduated-rate income tax to a flat tax,” notes Jared Walczak, Vice President for State Projects at the Tax Foundation.
Governor Kim Reynolds announced that Iowa’s budget will end Fiscal Year 2022 with a $1.91 billion surplus, which follows Fiscal Year 2021’s $1.24 billion surplus. Iowa’s financial position is due to prudent budgeting and fiscally conservative policies. Governor Reynolds and the legislature are demonstrating that their fiscal policies work to create a healthy economy and a strong financial foundation.
Kraig Paulsen, who serves as the Director of both the Departments of Management and Revenue, stated that “Iowa’s strong financial status again proves that we continue to over collect from Iowa taxpayers.” As a result, Governor Reynolds and the legislature have made it a priority to return the money back to taxpayers.
In recent years, Iowa has led the nation in conservative policy reforms. Governor Kim Reynolds rightly deserves a great deal of credit for her leadership in implementing pro-growth tax reforms, championing a student-first approach to education, fighting against the woke cultural Marxist agenda and leading Iowa responsibility through the pandemic. Nevertheless, Governor Reynolds has been able to achieve many of these great accomplishments because of a conservative legislature. Iowa Senate Majority Leader Jack Whitver is a “quiet conservative” who is not only an ally of the Governor but is a crucial leader who is advancing a conservative policy agenda.