Chris Hagenow and John Hendrickson are back in the Hendrickson Library for a wide-ranging episode — and opposition to the constitutional amendment is starting to emerge, which means it's time to sharpen the arguments. Chris leads with the amendment, because voices on the left are now claiming that protecting income taxes from a simple majority vote will somehow cause other taxes to go up. Chris a...
One of the arguments made for legalizing marijuana has little to do with marijuana itself. Instead, it is presented as another potential source of tax revenue. That approach misses a much larger point, though. Governments are almost always searching for additional money to support additional spending. Whether the proposed tax is on marijuana, gambling, vaping, or something else, the promise is oft...
The big news: ITR officially launched its campaign yesterday. The website is live at MakeTaxHikesHarder.com. The mission is straightforward — make sure Iowans know the constitutional amendment is on the ballot this fall, and know to vote yes. Chris walks through what the amendment does and why it matters.
Nearly three-quarters of Iowa voters (73.8%) support an amendment to Iowa’s constitution requiring a supermajority vote to raise taxes. Seventy-one percent of voters support this constitutional safeguard, with only 12% opposed. Support is strong across party lines, including 75% of Independents. The amendment will be on the ballot this fall. In the governor's race, State Auditor Rob Sand leads Zac...
For years, Iowa property taxpayers have watched their tax bills climb higher while relief remained elusive. Recently though, Iowa lawmakers and Governor Kim Reynolds changed that trajectory with one of the most significant property tax reform bills in state history. The new law, SF 2472, puts taxpayers first, which is a simple but important accomplishment. Previous reforms largely focused on asses...
Iowa’s economy is becoming more competitive because of the flat tax. It is imperative that the flat tax is protected through conservative budgeting and that policymakers continue to look for avenues to further lower the rate. Lower taxes produce prosperity over time, and Iowa is benefiting from Gov. Reynolds’s strong reforms.
Last week, Iowa legislators passed a property tax reform bill aimed at limiting the out-of-control increases of property tax bills. On KCCI’s Close Up, Amanda Rooker, KCCI Chief Political Reporter, sat down with Chris Hagenow, ITR President, to discuss the new legislation’s impact on Iowans. Here is their conversation.
Iowa lawmakers passed a comprehensive property tax reform bill featuring a 2% cap on city and county property tax growth, marking a meaningful step toward slowing long-term tax increases. While the cap is significant, some exemptions and uncapped levies remain, meaning continued vigilance is needed as some local governments may seek to work around the limits. The bill includes several additional r...
As Iowa’s legislature pushes toward adjournment, the focus is on finalizing the state budget and negotiations over property tax relief. The budget appears close to resolution, but property taxes remain the major sticking point. The Iowa Senate approved an amended property tax reform bill (SF 2472) 41–4 on April 8. This week, the House took up the Senate’s bill, replaced it with its own language, a...