Iowans deserve a tax system that works for all of us.
Unfortunately, many Iowans believe the current system is rigged against them. The proposed tax changes floated in the Condition of the State …
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Iowans deserve a tax system that works for all of us.
Unfortunately, many Iowans believe the current system is rigged against them. The proposed tax changes floated in the Condition of the State Address are a good example of why.
That plan is a tax shift that will have a big impact on the pocketbooks of Iowa families.
Three in four Iowans likely will see a tax increase. Low-income Iowans and those on a fixed income will be the hardest hit.
Iowa’s current tax system already places a higher burden on lower-income Iowans. The governor’s proposal makes the situation worse.
I assure you that I’ll assess any tax bill that comes before me this session on four key principles:
• Tax reform must be fair. According to the Iowa Policy Project, when all state and local taxes are accounted for, Iowa’s lowest income earners pay the largest portion of their income in taxes.
Changes to Iowa’s tax system should address this situation, not make the problem worse.
• Tax reform must simplify Iowa’s tax code to highlight our state’s true competitiveness. Iowa’s tax code is a confusing collection of credits, deductions and exemptions that do not accurately reflect the cost of living and doing business in Iowa.
Our tax rates appear to be among the highest in the nation, but according to the Tax Foundation, taxes paid by Iowans rank our state in the middle of the pack.
• Tax reform must fit our budget situation. The Legislature has not approved enough funding for state government to meet the needs of Iowans.
Let’s not repeat the mistakes of states such as Kansas, which passed massive tax cuts that have resulted in an ongoing budget crisis and cuts to essential services.
• Tax reform must examine corporate tax credits. The state has slashed funding for vital programs that serve some of our most vulnerable Iowans, while corporate tax credits have been exempt from cuts.
We must determine if corporate tax credits offer a good return on investment and benefit Iowans, not just the few businesses that receive them.
