Iowans for Tax Relief: Articles

ITR Urges Legislators to Oppose Gas Tax Increase

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 15:30:00 +0000

Muscatine, IA. -- Iowans for Tax Relief today urged the Iowa Legislature, “Do not raise the gas tax on Iowans at a time when gasoline prices are predicted to spike.”

Rob Solt, ITR President, said, “ITR supports the Governor and Legislators who plan to ask the Department of Transportation to find efficiencies to help pay for road repair, rather than a blanket gas tax increase that would harm Iowans’ wallets.”

“More research needs to be done before Legislators even bring up the idea of a gas tax increase. Iowans have been told up to 20% of gas tax revenue would come from visitors traveling through Iowa, but we have not found any research on how Iowa’s border communities would be affected by higher gas taxes.

“ITR believes a study of border communities would find that significant numbers of non-Iowans, who come to Iowa weekly to buy gas, groceries, etc, would rethink those trips and stay home if Iowa had a higher gas tax. Before considering any gas tax hike, the Legislature needs to take a hard, close look at the overall consequences.”

Solt added, “Economists are predicting gas prices this summer may be at all-time highs. This is the wrong time to consider an increase when Iowans will already be paying a larger portion of their family budgets for transportation.”

“We encourage the Governor and Legislators to require thorough research on the gas tax with a dynamic model that helps them see clearly all the positives and negatives,” Solt concluded.

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ITR Urges Strong Limits on Property Taxes

Fri, 17 Jun 2011 11:30:00 +0000

Des Moines, IA. -- Iowans for Tax Relief today “strongly urged the Legislature to listen to the great majority of Iowans who want real property tax relief, and reject the whining of politicians and lobbyists who oppose responsible limits on property taxes.”

Dr. Don Racheter, ITR Government Relations Director, said, “ITR supports the House-passed bill (HF 697) which will protect property taxpayers in three important ways: (1) It will reduce the unfair tax burden on business property and help attract job-creating construction. (2) It will limit the total amount of most city and county property taxes and allow increases only to match inflation, unless the voters approve higher taxes. (3) It will tighten the limit on annual increases of taxable value of Iowa homes and farms, reducing the current 4% limit to 2%.”

“City and county governments should be grateful for these generous limits. They are not asked to take a cut. They can increase their property taxes every year to match the inflation rate (Midwest consumer price index). If even more is needed, the local voters can approve a larger tax increase for up to two years. Local politicians should trust their voters.”

“The Iowa House of Representatives and Governor Branstad are leading our state government to limit spending and taxes, and clean up Iowa’s overspending mess. Iowa families are tightening their belts in hard times, cutting their spending. It’s time for city and county governments to join the rest of Iowa and accept these responsible limits on property taxes.”

Racheter asked, “How many Iowa workers get annual raises to match the rate of inflation? Many Iowa families have taken pay cuts or lost their jobs. And now they hear some politicians and lobbyists complaining their annual property tax increases are too small!”

“HF 697 places a common-sense limit on how fast property taxes can grow. It follows our Founders’ wisdom that constitutional government is limited government.”

Racheter said, “In the Senate Ways and Means Committee’s so-called “Listen and Learn” session on property tax reform, I was not allowed to speak as a taxpayer, citizen, or representative of Iowans for Tax Relief. The speakers were hand-picked tax-eaters who whined about the possibility that their gravy train might be slowed.”

“Senate Democrats would learn a lot more if they would listen to Iowa taxpayers who pay the bills and whose families are doing more with less. Listen to them, not to politicians who want to spend other people’s money.”

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Rob Solt is New President of Iowans for Tax Relief

Wed, 08 Jun 2011 12:30:00 +0000

Muscatine, IA. -- David M. Stanley, Chairman and CEO of Iowans for Tax Relief, announced that Robert H. (Rob) Solt is ITR’s new President and Chief Operating Officer, elected today by the Board of Directors.

Solt has served for 20 years in ITR staff and volunteer roles, including Lobbyist, Treasurer, Vice President, and as Vice Chairman until today. He continues as a member of the Board of Directors. He has served for five years as CEO of Pearl Mutual Funds.

Stanley said, "Rob Solt has the experience, leadership, and vision to help Iowans for Tax Relief win our goals of limited government, lower taxes, and reducing government debt and spending. I have worked closely with Rob since he came to Iowans for Tax Relief in 1991 and he has my total trust and confidence."

Stanley, ITR’s founder, added, "Iowans for Tax Relief began in 1978 with 12 members and has grown to 54,900 members, making ITR the largest pro-taxpayer state organization, per capita, in the country. Rob has had a key role in the growing effectiveness of ITR and knows how to win even more victories for Iowa taxpayers in future years."

The ITR Board of Directors also elected Dr. Donald P. Racheter, a 30-year Board member, as the new Vice Chairman. Daniel G. Steele, Vice President, was elected to the Board of Directors.

The Chairman, Vice Chairman, and Directors are unpaid volunteers.

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Significant Tax Relief Options Item-Vetoed by Governor Branstad

Thu, 21 Apr 2011 19:17:00 +0000

Iowans for Tax Relief, 2610 Park Avenue, Muscatine, IA 52761

Contact: Katie Koberg, (563) 288-3600 or kkoberg@taxrelief.org

For Immediate Release: April 21, 2011

MUSCATINE, IA—Today Governor Branstad item-vetoed two significant tax relief portions of Senate File 209, the tax and spending compromise bill.

Iowans for Tax Relief President Ed Failor, Jr. issued the following statement:

“It is discouraging to see Governor Branstad’s item- vetoes which remove significant tax relief options in place to help Iowa job creators and Iowa families. A bi-partisan group of Legislators have worked for over six weeks on the compromise bill, and it is built with the best intentions for the taxpayers of Iowa.”

The veto message included the removal of two parts which are important to Iowans.

First, the Governor is discouraging Iowa job creators from further investing in their business. The item-veto of the Bonus Depreciation provision is unfair – Iowa’s small businesses should be encouraged to increase business investment, not be penalized by the Governor. Government needs to get out of the way of Iowa’s businesses, both small and large, and taking away this tax relief provision could end up slowing Iowa job creation.

Second, Governor Branstad took away important tax relief specifically targeted at low-income Iowa families with his veto pen. The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) would have helped Iowa working families make ends meet through a tax credit which would pay for important needs, like child care and groceries.

Iowa lawmakers have been working to find common ground on Senate File 209 since March 9, 2011. The majority of the bill which was signed by Governor Branstad was supplemental spending, however, one other key provision which was signed into law was the creation of a Tax Relief Fund (renamed the Taxpayers Trust Fund) which will capture excess state tax collections (up to $60 million) and return it to Iowa taxpayers in the form of tax relief.

“We applaud the work of Iowa lawmakers to find common ground. We look forward to finding additional options to provide tax relief to Iowans,” continued Failor.

The 2011 Legislative Session is scheduled to end by April 29, 2011, which is the scheduled 110^th day of work. If the Legislators are not adjourned by this date, the session will continue and by law they will not be paid for their extra days of work.

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Proposed Twenty Percent Income Tax Cut is Good for Iowa Taxpayers

Tue, 15 Feb 2011 17:00:00 +0000

Iowans for Tax Relief, 2610 Park Avenue, Muscatine, IA 52761

Contact: Katie Koberg, (563) 288-3600 or kkoberg@taxrelief.org

For Immediate Release: Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Proposed Twenty Percent Income Tax Cut is Good for Iowa Taxpayers

MUSCATINE, IA – Tomorrow, the Iowa House of Representatives is slated to debate House File 194, which is an across the board income tax cut of 20%.

Iowans for Tax Relief President, Ed Failor, Jr. issued the following statement:

"House File 194 is a bold move and an excellent start to help all Iowa income taxpayers by cutting the personal income tax by twenty percent across the board.

Lowering the tax burden on all Iowans will help spur growth, investment, and jobs in our great state. Reducing the Iowa personal income tax rates by twenty percent will directly put Iowans hard-earned money back into their hands,” said Failor.

It has been more than a decade since Iowa taxpayers have seen any kind of income tax reduction, the last time Iowans have seen a personal income tax reduction was in 1998, when the rates were lowered by ten percent. Then Governor Terry Branstad signed the bill into Law in 1997 with the support of a Republican controlled House and Senate.

Failor continued, “Since the 1998 income tax cut, net state tax collections from personal income tax have grown from $1.845 billion in State Fiscal Year 1997 (the year prior to the tax cut taking place) to $2.749 billion in State Fiscal Year 2010. This growth shows income tax cuts truly spark the economy. There could not be a better time for an income tax cut in our state.

I commend House Speaker Paulsen, House Majority Leader Upmeyer, Ways and Means Chairman Sands, and House Majority Whip Helland the floor manager of the bill, for making the Iowa taxpayer the top priority at the Statehouse.”

The bill is up for debate tomorrow, so please call your Representatives and urge them to support the income tax cut House File 194. Use our “Legislator Lookup” feature to find your elected officials at www.taxrelief.org.

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Release: It’s a good start, but Governor Branstad there is more work to be done

Thu, 27 Jan 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Iowans for Tax Relief, 2610 Park Avenue, Muscatine, IA 52761

Contact: Katie Koberg, (563) 288-3600 or kkoberg@taxrelief.org

For Immediate Release: Thursday, January 27, 2010

It's a good start, but Governor Branstad there is more work to be done

The practice of government picking winners and losers still exists in the governor's first budget

MUSCATINE, IA - Today Governor Branstad released his budget to Iowans, and we applaud a number of his points; the two year budget, no property tax increases, no more one-time money spent for on-going expenses, and reducing taxes by nearly $200 million. We commend Governor Branstad's commitment to put a stop to the bad budgeting practices, which Iowans saw with the previous governor. However, some improvement is still necessary.

Iowans for Tax Relief President, Ed Failor, Jr., said today,

"This budget is a good start, but Governor Branstad there is more work to be done. Continuing to fund the Iowa Values Fund, where government is picking winners and losers, limits the growth of Iowa. The $25 million committed for two budget years is better invested by Iowa taxpayers, not by our government choosing to award it to a limited few recipients."

Last week the Iowa House of Representatives approved House File 45, which eliminates the support for taxpayer funded giveaway programs such as the Iowa Values Fund. Iowans for Tax Relief strongly supports this bill, and urges the Iowa Senate to move it forward quickly, and to Governor Branstad's desk for approval.

Failor continued,

"This budget proposal gets the Iowa budget back to working more like the family budget, and this is a step in the right direction. Yet, eliminating programs which continue to allow the government the upper hand over taxpayers needs to be removed from the budget."

To read Governor Branstad's proposed budget click here.

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Release: Congresswoman Michele Bachmann to speak at Iowans for Tax Relief PAC Reception

Fri, 07 Jan 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Iowans for Tax Relief PAC, 2610 Park Avenue, Muscatine, IA 52761

Contact: Katie Koberg, (563) 288-3600 or kkoberg@taxrelief.org

For Immediate Release: January 7, 2011

Congresswoman Michele Bachmann to speak at Iowans for Tax Relief PAC Reception

MUSCATINE, IA- Iowans for Tax Relief PAC will host a Taxpayers' Watchdog Reception featuring special guest Congresswoman Michele Bachmann. Bachmann represents Minnesota's 6^th district and currently sits on the Financial Services Committee.

Friday, January 21^st, 2011

5:30 PM to 7:30 PM

Marriott Downtown, 700 Grand Avenue, Des Moines, Iowa

Contribution Options:

$1000 Host

$250 Watchdog

$25 per person or $40 per couple.

To RSVP call Toll Free at 1-866-218-4124 or click this link to make your reservations today.

Click here to learn more about Congresswoman Michele Bachmann.

The press is invited to attend, please contact Katie Koberg at (563) 288-3509 or kkoberg@taxrelief.org.

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News the Watchdog is Watching…Iowans for Tax Relief budget savings measures included in Iowa House budget cutting bill.

Tue, 04 Jan 2011 00:00:00 +0000

On Monday, January 10^th, the 2011 Session of the Iowa Legislature will convene with new leadership in the Iowa House. The House Republicans, the new majority party in the Iowa House, released the first bill which will be debated; a substantial budget cutting bill titled The Taxpayers First Act. The bill draft, which is available online, is expected to save Iowa taxpayers $481 million over the next three years.

The Taxpayers First Act incorporates budget savings measures, which Iowans for Tax Relief President, Ed Failor, Jr. proposed prior to the 2010 Legislative Session as part of series of opinion articles on how to trim the state budget. The ITR budget savings measures which are in The Taxpayers First Act are:

Charge all state employees a monthly fee for health insurance.
Combine state information technology systems.
End state benefits to adult illegal immigrants.
Combine the administrative functions at the Regent Universities.
Eliminate the Iowa Power Fund and the Grow Iowa Values Fund.
End taxpayer funded lobbying.

After the record debt and spending increases approved by the Iowa Legislature over the past four years, The Taxpayers First Act is a welcome change for Iowa taxpayers.

Click here to read "Opinion: Charge for state employee health insurance" by Ed Failor, Jr., President of Iowans for Tax Relief.

Read "Opinion: Time to Change and Consolidate State Government" by Ed Failor, Jr., President of Iowans for Tax Relief here.

Click here to read "Opinion: Curb illegal immigration; curb state spending" by Ed Failor, Jr., President of Iowans for Tax Relief.

Read "Opinion: Combine Iowa Regent Universities" by Ed Failor, Jr., President of Iowans for Tax Relief here.

Click here to read "Opinion: We have a unique opportunity to make Iowa an even better state" by Ed Failor, Jr., President of Iowans for Tax Relief.

Click here to read "Opinion: How to slow government growth? End taxpayer-funded lobbying" by Ed Failor, Jr., President of Iowans for Tax Relief.

Read The Des Moines Register article, "House GOP rolls out savings ideas for Iowa" here.

News the Watchdog is Watching…State tax collections increasing.

Thu, 30 Dec 2010 00:00:00 +0000

This week, the non-partisan Legislative Services Agency reported the twelve-month total tax collections for the State of Iowa. The memo, which is available online here, states the following:

"During the 12-month period ending November 2010, net revenue from all taxes deposited to State funds totaled $6.283 billion, an increase of $115.9 million (1.9%) compared to the prior 12 months."

The Iowa Sales and Use Tax collections have grown by $58.3 million, equaling a 2.8% increase over the previous twelve months. According to the report, the annual rate of growth in net Sales and Use Tax collections has not been this high since January 2009.

For the Iowa Individual Income Tax, state collections increased by $35.4 million over the prior twelve months. Iowa taxpayers should be wary of this increase. A jump in state tax collections means Iowans are sending more money to government.

Read the full memorandum, "Twelve-moth Total Net Tax Receipts Through November 30, 2010" here.

Iowa Department of Revenue releases the 2010 Annual Report.

Mon, 27 Dec 2010 00:00:00 +0000

For each State Fiscal Year, the Iowa Department of Revenue produces an annual report on the tax collections and other revenue sources which are administered by the Department. For State Fiscal Year 2010, the Iowa Department of Revenue collected $6,667,024,678 from Iowa taxpayers.

The $6.667 billion collected by the State of Iowa was paid by Iowa taxpayers through:

Income Taxes: $2,987,476,137

Sales and Use Taxes: $2,830,366,699

Consumption Taxes: $661,394,040

Inheritance Tax: $65,875,543

Miscellaneous Taxes: $121,912,259

While close to seven billion dollars is collected from Iowa taxpayers by the Iowa Department of Revenue, this does not include the $4,229,772,657 which was levied in local property taxes. Although the Iowa Department of Revenue does not collect any property taxes, the Department reports how much is levied by each taxing authority; this is available on page 12 of the 2010 Annual Report.

Read the complete Iowa Department of Revenue 2010 Annual Report online here.

To view the Summary of the 2010 Annual Report, click here.

News the Watchdog is Watching…Monthly Iowa unemployment figures released.

Mon, 20 Dec 2010 00:00:00 +0000

The Iowa Department of Workforce Development has released the Iowa Employment Situation figures for the month of November 2010. The Iowa unemployment rate dropped slightly during the month of November, increasing the number of Iowans in the workforce to 1,564,100. The Iowa unemployment rate fell one-tenth of a percent to 6.6%, meaning there are 110,500 Iowans who are out of work. The October 2010 unemployment rate was 6.7% with 111,800 unemployed Iowans.

While unemployment inched down last month, when compared to last year at this time, the number of unemployed Iowans today is still larger than last year. In November 2009, there were 108,800 unemployed Iowans.

Read the Radio Iowa story, "Iowa's unemployment rate dips in November" here.

View the "Current Iowa Employment Situation News," here.

News the Watchdog is Watching…State and local government debt climbing higher in Iowa.

Thu, 16 Dec 2010 00:00:00 +0000

A recent report released by the Treasurer of the State of Iowa shows combined state and local government debt in Iowa has increased to a total of $12.9 billion, which is an 11.24% increase from last year.

While Iowa cities have the largest amount of outstanding debt at $4.6 billion, the largest debt increase was incurred by state government agencies over a one-year period. From Fiscal Year 2009 to Fiscal Year 2010, state government agencies debt increased from $219 million to $818 million, which is a staggering 273% increase.

Read the Iowa Treasurer of State Outstanding Obligations Report here.

Click here to read the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier story, "Governmental debt in Iowa jumps 11 percent."

News the Watchdog is Watching…Smaller state government in Iowa expected.

Mon, 13 Dec 2010 00:00:00 +0000

As the start of the 2011 Legislative Session nears, Statehouse Leaders continue to outline priority issues. This week House Speaker-elect, Kraig Paulsen (R-Hiawatha) addressed shrinking the state budget. Among the state spending reductions, Speaker-elect Paulsen anticipates ending the Iowa Power Fund and the Grow Iowa Values Fund, as well as trimming the number of state government agencies.

Both the Iowa Power Fund and the Grow Iowa Values Fund are taxpayer-funded giveaway programs. Last fall, Iowans for Tax Relief President, Ed Failor, Jr. suggested the elimination of both as part of a series of opinion articles.

With the record debt and spending Iowans have been subjected to over the past four years, making reductions in the state budget is a welcome change.

Read The Quad City Times story, "Iowa Republicans expect to shrink government" here.

Read the Eastern Iowa Government article, "Paulsen predicts fewer state agencies, programs" here.

Click here to read "Opinion: We have a unique opportunity to make Iowa an even better state" by Ed Failor, Jr., President of Iowans for Tax Relief.

News the Watchdog is Watching…Panel estimates Iowa tax collections to increase; state spending reductions expected.

Tue, 07 Dec 2010 00:00:00 +0000

The Revenue Estimating Conference (REC), a three-member state panel which predicts the estimated amount of tax collections which will be received by the State of Iowa, met Monday, December 6. The panel estimates state coffers will collect $5,791.6 billion, which is an increase of $34.1 million for the current budget, Fiscal Year 2011.

The budget panel also increased the expected tax collections for State Fiscal Year 2012, by $85.5 million, estimating the State of Iowa will collect $6,031.3 billion. The estimate for Fiscal Year 2012 is important because it is the figure Iowa lawmakers will use to craft the state budget during the 2011 Legislative Session.

New leadership in the Iowa House and in the Governor's Office has produced a welcome reaction from lawmakers; trim state spending. While over the past several years Iowans have seen massive increases in state government spending, the message from the incoming Statehouse Leaders is a commitment of more responsible state spending.

Read the Sioux City Journal story, "Iowa legislators: Revenue up, but tough decisions ahead" here.

Read The Des Moines Register story, "Iowa has another $120 million to spend" here.

News the Watchdog is Watching…State employee pay agreement needs revisions.

Wed, 01 Dec 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Last month, Governor Culver hastily committed Iowa taxpayers to a new two-year pay agreement with the state's largest employee union. The agreement will allow for pay increases up to fifteen-percent for state government workers over the next two years and will cost Iowans as much as $200 million. This week, Governor-elect Branstad has stated when he takes office in January he would like to reopen the union negotiations on this contract to make revisions, including a possible pay freeze.

When the salary increase was announced in November, Iowans for Tax Relief President, Ed Failor, Jr. said:

"In a last ditch effort, Governor Culver stuck his finger in the eye of all Iowa taxpayers. One month ago, days before the election, Governor Culver proposed returning a projected tax surplus to the taxpayers. Yet after his devastating loss, he turned back on his word and spent taxpayers' hard earned dollars on government employee salaries. Yet again Governor Culver's decisions leave taxpayers holding a bigger bill for government."

Read The Cedar Rapids Gazette story, "Branstad wants more contract talks with state workers that include pay freeze" here.

Read The Des Moines Register article, "Obradovich: Branstad wants to reopen pay deal by Culver, union" here.

Click here to read the Iowans for Tax Relief Press Release, "Governor Culver gives 'OK' to the proposed 15-percent Union salary increase."