As reckless policies continue to flourish in Washington, D.C., Iowans and their families face constant uncertainty, especially when it comes to the grocery store and gas pump. Just this week it was reported inflation hit a record 8.5 percent, with everything from meat and fish to dairy and produce rising in price. These rising prices are hard for Iowa families and cause problems when it comes to the household budget, making planning and saving more and more difficult. What can make budgeting and planning even more difficult, is unpredictable and irresponsible tax policies.
This week, the Senate passed Senate Joint Resolution 2006. It is a proposal for a constitutional amendment requiring a supermajority to implement new taxes or increasing the income tax rate for Iowans.
The requirement for a supermajority would mean any bill to raise income tax rates on Iowans would likely require bipartisan support and show a compelling need for such an increase. For years, we have been tackling tax relief at the Capitol, passing a series of measures over the years to make Iowa more competitive and bring down high rates for Iowans, with the most recent being the historic income tax cut passed this year.
Implementing a 3.9 percent flat tax for Iowans was a transformative moment for our state and its future. The requirements in SJR 2006 would protect measures like it, preventing reckless politicians from undoing that work in the future, and provide more certainty and predictability for Iowans and their families. Raising taxes on Iowans should not be easy. It should be more difficult to raise taxes than it is to cut taxes. Every day families must budget responsibly, and the government should not act any differently. It should be hard to take more money from Iowa taxpayers and their families.
Constitutional amendments are required to pass two consecutive general assemblies. If passed by the House this year, this bill would need to pass with the same language again in the next general assembly in order to go to the people of Iowa for a vote.
