10/21/2026
Today’s WFSA gathering was all about the future of our beloved Iowa, and making sure that we have one.
Heather Sievers, candidate for House District 40, had a really interesting report from “the doors” as she campaigns throughout her district. Voters want to be heard by elected officials and they believe that their government exists to serve them. The privatized Medicaid system has been serving no one.
Did you know that there is a proposed constitutional amendment on your ballot this year? It’s kind of a “wolf-in-sheep’s clothing” kind of an issue and Kylie Spies of Common Good Iowa took off the fleece and showed us the wolf.
It’s presented as a provision that makes it harder to raise taxes because such a bill will require a 2/3 majority in the legislature. Not so. It only makes it harder to raise personal and corporate income taxes. There are other types of taxes and fees which can still be raised by a simple majority vote of the legislature. The sales tax, which makes up almost half of state revenue, would be the most obvious place to start.
Why should we be worried about a tax increase? Because in each of the last two legislative sessions, the state needed over a billion dollars from its reserves in order to balance its budget. Iowa will need to do the same in 2027. That fund will be depleted in the near future. (State revenues are down because of the flat tax.
The flat tax was, of course, a gift to the wealthiest Iowans and this amendment locks in that “gift.”
As noted, other taxes can be raised with a majority vote. Sales taxes? What kind of sales tax will be required to fix a billion dollar shortfall? 9%, 10%? Small businesses in border towns should expect their customers to cross the river to shop where the sales taxes are lower.
This amendment will make it much more difficult to avoid cutting services, like healthcare, education and addressing water quality.
