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Iowa gets most of its income in the form of three types of taxes: income taxes, property taxes and sales taxes along with federal funds. Iowa has had a graduated, progressive tax rate system since 1934. The graduated tax rate system that Iowa had for nearly 90 years was designed so that the richer you are, the higher tax bracket you are in so that the tax burden gets equalized based on your income. Meaning rich folks, who can afford it, pay more taxes from their income than the working poor pay.
In 2022, the Republican legislature along with the Republican governor passed a law to eliminate the graduated tax system with a flat income tax. This was done during the first year that the Republicans had a supermajority in the Iowa House and Iowa Senate. Iowa’s new Education Savings Accounts was also passed in 2022, beginning in 2023, with a cap on the parents’ income. The cap on parents’ income was eliminated for the 2025-2026 school year. In 2026, the median family income for families applying for private school enrollment is $128,500 while the median family income with children in the household is $97,941. This shows that most children who are enrolled in private schools are in families that can afford private schools. Meanwhile, open enrollment to other public schools has increased to now more students (44,500) than are enrolled in private schools (42,000).
Now comes an amendment on our ballot this election that is asking us to amend our constitution to require a supermajority of the legislature to pass any increase in the state’s income tax. Since the vast majority of Iowa’s legislature is Republican, this virtually guarantees that the current flat, regressive, income tax can never be replaced with the progressive tax that we had for nearly 90 years and it also virtually guarantees that the flat tax rate can never be increased.
For the rich folks who have school-age children, they keep their saved tax money and also collect the $8,158 that is paid into their Education Savings Account for each of their children. That’s a pretty sweet deal that the Republican party has schemed to get for them. And to ensure that they keep that sweet deal going, we have this supermajority ballot initiative on our ballots this November.
The State of Iowa has had budget deficits for the last three years. 2025 had a deficit of $26.5 million. 2026 had a deficit of somewhere between $900 million and $1 billion. 2027 is estimated to be a deficit of $1.2 billion. That’s a lot of red zeros.
If this amendment is passed, and when our state runs out of its savings account, the only way to increase our state’s revenue is to increase property taxes and/or sales taxes. There’s been a lot of discussion about property taxes lately so a hefty increase in property taxes would not be likely. The legislature would be forced to increase the sales tax. Sales taxes are the most regressive type of tax as it affects low-income folks much more than upper-income folks.
Can you see the Republican Party has rigged our tax system since they’ve had a supermajority in the legislature along with a Republican governor? Vote NO on this amendment.
Marcia Brighton-Brebner, Newell
I am writing to suggest that the city of Storm Lake build a year-round family recreation center featuring an indoor swimming pool, a swim lesson program, fitness center and community meeting rooms. What Storm Lake really needs to stay strong is a facility that serves local citizens all twelve months of the year, rather than just focusing on resources for out-of-town visitors during the summer and holidays.
While the resort by the lake was built to turn Storm Lake into a Midwestern vacation destination, the daily wellness, therapy and physical fitness needs of the actual residents were left behind. The community lost two vital resources when Buena Vista University closed its indoor pool and the old outdoor pool was shut down.
Storm Lake is the closest thing to my hometown that I have. My mother left after high school to join the Navy and I have lived all over the world, but all my life I always went back to my grandfather’s, and then my aunt‘s house to visit. My aunt still lives in town. I want to move back to take care of her as she ages, but I cannot do that right now because I need a pool for physical therapy and I want to teach swimming for as many years as I can.
Currently, there is absolutely no lap swimming or swim lessons available in town during the winter. King’s Pointe offers a great recreational indoor waterpark for tourists, but it operates on restricted seasonal hours and lacks the infrastructure needed for structured exercise or continuous winter swim instruction. A dedicated community center would promote a healthier Storm Lake by providing true year-round exercise, swimming instruction and public meeting places.
I see that the town of Newell is currently planning to build a similar activity style pool. I would recommend to them that they include an additional lap pool into their plans and a small warm water teaching pool so that all aquatic needs for residence including aqua fitness classes, and water walking are also included. People can’t live on waterslides and lazy rivers alone when it comes to appropriating the aquatic environment for health purposes.
Colleen Jennings, Storm Lake
John Cullen,
Thank you so much for your very easy to understand lesson on socialism versus communism in your Sept. 18 column. The Storm Lake opinion page offers a collective group of skilled writers. I look forward each week for your thoughts on the rural United States and our global challenges.
Between brother Art, Steve Corbin, Joan Zwagerman, Randy Evans and Rick Morain, you folks are unmatched. Your Sept. 18 column should be the topic of discussion in high school civics classes across the country. Keep up your tireless work in Northwest Iowa. I hope to pop in the Storm Lake Times Pilot office some day to meet the Cullen brothers. Keep fighting the good fight.
Bob Kliebenstein, Tomah, Wis.
For the first time in 20 years, Iowa will select a new governor who is not already in the office. The campaign for governor is in full swing and Iowans are starting to size the candidates up. It is the time for choosing the candidate to lead our beloved state for the next four years.
I am a Republican and have been my entire adult life. I have been honored to serve my party as state chairman and run for Congress as a Republican years ago. I voted in the GOP primary in June of this year.
This year I am going to vote for Rob Sand for governor, not because of his party affiliation but because I believe he is the person who can and should head our state for the next four years.
I have known Rob for over a decade. We have had many conversations about Iowa and national politics and public policy. I can tell you that Rob has been consistent in his views about our political system and is saying the same things while running for governor that he has been saying since I first met him.
Rob does not believe that our two political parties should have a monopoly as to who gets to run for office. He has consistently fought for the rights of third parties, specifically the libertarian party, to have access to the ballot. He does not believe that one party has all the answers to the challenges Iowa faces as we move into the second quarter of the 21st century. The hyper partisanship that grips our country and state is not only polarizing it is also paralyzing.
If you have an opportunity to go to one of Rob’s town halls, I urge you to do so. Rob will listen to all Iowans.
Mike Mahaffey, Montezuma
I am supporting Chris Jones who is running for Iowa Secretary of Agriculture. This is a race that usually flies below the radar, but in my opinion is one of the most important elections in my lifetime.
Chris has a plan to clean up the water in Iowa and at the same time to improve outcomes for Iowa farmers and start rebuilding Iowa’s rural communities.
The term “public servant” gets used a lot by present day politicians, but it seems that too many are really serving themselves.
One of the first things I like to tell people about Chris is that he’s not really a politician. He would much rather be fishing in northeast Iowa than running for office. But he knows that he has a particular expertise in water, agriculture and the environment that Iowa needs right now if we are going to improve our water quality and reduce cancer rates.
If water quality is important to you, I encourage you to get to know Chris by visiting his website at: chrisjonesforiowa.com/chris-jones-platform/ and read his plan to improve Iowa for everyone.
If you want to hear him speak about what needs to be done, you can visit: chrisjonesforiowa.com/selected-media/
If you do, I’m sure you will see the the common sense approach Chris has developed to clean our water and make Iowa a place we want to live and our children and grandchildren will want to stay.
Rich Gradoville, Johnston
We’ve had a White House for 233 years and no President has been assassinated there and any attempts to enter have been stopped. Why would the Orange Bully be so afraid there? Could it be because he’s an Orange Bully?
He has to be the most untrustworthy and hated President ever. He cheats both enemies and friends alike. If his lips are moving, he’s lying. He’s of the philosophy that if you tell a lie enough, people will believe it. If you think donors are paying for the White House, then look up gullible in the dictionary. And now he’s building a monument to himself.
Remember “Waste, Fraud and Abuse?” Whatever the Orange Bully accuses someone of, it’s actually what he is doing. The national debt keeps rising and so do his profits. I feel sorry for young people as this crypto bubble will burst and this world will be unlike any other.
There will be no democracy after November unless voters put enough Democrats in Congress to control Trump. This is exactly why our wise forefathers designed the government like they did. Rethuglicans in Congress only care about keeping their jobs, not doing what the people want. If you think being Republican will make you rich, forget it. There never has been, nor will there be a trickle down effect. Rich people only clutch money tighter. I compare it to having a cigarette, all it does is make you want another one.
The rich are never satisfied and their morals go out the window in their quest for more. The real division in this country is the “Haves” and the “Have Nots.” Listen “have not,” you have the right to vote the “Haves” out and get in someone who can relate and listen to you. And Trump’s $5,000 bribe is another illegal lie. Just like prices down on day one, no war and the Big Lie Jan 6.
“One of the most cowardly things ordinary people do is shut their eyes to the facts.” — CS Lewis
Dave Haynes, Duncombe
Christian Evangelicals have stayed up on the mountain top way too long this time. If they ever come down, if they ever rediscover those tablets with the commandments on them, if they ever stop being complicit with Trump’s immoral behavior, they won’t find just one golden idol, a golden calf.
Oh no. In their moral absence, Trump and his Trumpers have raised up thousands of golden idols and are dancing gleefully around them, avarice, corruption and deceit shining in their sweaty, white faces. Thou shalt have no other Gods before me?
Barbara Paulding, Russell
I think we may have to reevaluate our consumption model. Those who put our politicians in place and guide their policies have no interest in sustainability of our culture or the future of our children. Greed was once considered a sin in Western Civilization. Certainly, Iowa pioneers did not waste anything Mother Nature provided. During the Great Depression humanity got another lesson about wastefulness. Now, we are dealing with piles of stuff we have accumulated. The smartest psychologists told us what to buy through the “new” media of the post-depression era of economic expansion. Energy seemed almost free. It boiled out of holes in the ground.
Now, the party is over for the oil dependent United States. And, our leaders have turned against renewables (sustainables). Too cheap, I guess.
We ruin soil, pollute water to grow corn for fuel while stifling renewables. Not China! We have to ban their EVs to save our auto industry. Much of Eastern Europe still has efficient electric urban transportation. Western Europe and Japanese rail are fantastic. Can’t have that in the United States! Cuts into oil company profits.
What to do? Stop watching attack ads. Elect some smart, moral politicians who care about our kid’s future and start to make the gradual changes necessary to insure a better future for U.S. citizens.
Iowa could lead the way. We have the resources, the people, the values and the candidates.
Mike Delaney, Windsor Heights
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