Iowans for Tax Relief

IPERS and Health Benefit Reform for Legislators

Two bills have been introduced in the House that would place limitations on the retirement and health benefits Iowa Legislators currently receive.  HF 2117, if enacted, would no longer allow Legislators’ per diem allowances to be considered as wages when calculating pension benefits under the Iowa Public Employees Retirement System (IPERS).  HF 2118 would do the same as HF 2117, but would also require legislators to contribute at least $100 a month towards their health insurance premium if they are enrolled in a state plan. 

House Bill to Increase Gas Tax 

HSB 547, the House version of a bill to increase the gas tax has been introduced and assigned to sub-committee.  The bill would increase the registration fee for new vehicles from 5% to 6% of the vehicle price, add $50 in annual registration fees to hybrid and mixed-fuel vehicles, add $100 in annual registration fees to alternative fuel, fuel cell, and plug-in electric vehicles and increase the gas tax by eight cents per gallon by May 1, 2014.  

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This legislative session has started with talk of a possible gas tax increase.  Currently, there is no bill in the House or Senate that proposes a gas tax increase, but it has been named as a priority by legislators in both chambers. 

Iowans for Tax Relief is urging the Iowa Legislature not to raise the gas tax on Iowans at a time when gasoline prices are predicted to spike.  ITR believes this is the wrong time to consider an increase when Iowans will already be spending a larger portion of their family budgets on transportation. 

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