Legislation in Iowa Bans Universal Basic Income Programs Amidst National Debate

A version of this article appeared in Real Clear Markets. The solution for reducing poverty does not reside in UBI programs. The best path to reduced welfare is the ready availability of jobs. Persuaded that universal basic income (UBI) programs would do more harm than good, the Iowa Legislature has passed a bill to ban such initiatives at the local […]

Setting the Stage for the 2024 Legislative Session: Iowa’s Fiscal Foundation is Strong

Revenue is falling more slowly than initial estimates, and there is still room for more tax cuts. Heading into the 2024 legislative session, Iowa is in a strong financial position. This was the message from the Revenue Estimating Conference (REC), which is tasked with the difficult job of predicting state tax revenue. Even with phased-in tax reductions, Iowa revenue remains […]

The Latest Assault on our Constitution and the States

Once again it appears that policymakers in Washington, D.C. are trying to further centralize power and squeeze the sovereignty of the states. Federalism, which refers to the division of power between the federal government and the states, is a pillar of American constitutionalism.  The United States House of Representatives Judiciary Committee has a bill before them that would set a dangerous precedent regarding tax policy if enacted.  It’s called the STAMP Act which stands for ‘Stop Taxes Against Menstrual Products Act of 2022’. It would tell states and local governments that they cannot levy a sales tax on the retail sale of menstrual products.