1/30 Survey: Do State Income Tax Cuts Benefit All Iowans?

Under Governor Reynolds in 2022, Iowa experienced what has been called "the largest tax cut in state history." It was a sweeping action, creating a single income tax bracket (3.9%), lowering the corporate tax rate, eliminating taxes on retirement income and reducing some corporate tax exemptions. The nonpartisan Legislative Services Agency (LSA) estimated the bill would result in a reduction of $1.9 billion per year in state tax revenues. (For comparison, the total budget proposed by Governor Reynolds in 2024 is $8.9B)

This is taking place in a state in which social needs are painfully apparent and on the rise. Selecting just one issue, food insecurity, here's the summary from Axios in 2023: 

An average of almost 9% of Iowa households were food insecure between 2020-2022, based on a new USDA report. Food insecurity means that at times during the year, a given household couldn't get enough food for at least one of its members because they didn't have enough money or resources. Inflation and the disappearance of pandemic-era benefits are linked with increasing needs, Axios' Emily Peck and Kavya Beheraj report.

Metro-area food banks have set "staggering" records in recent months. And groups like Primary Health Care say requests for free or reduced medical assistance are also up.

All of which brings us to today's very simple question: Do you believe the recent tax cuts in Iowa have benefited a diverse range of residents, including those most vulnerable? Pick the emoji that best describes your reaction.

Thanks for sharing your opinion and being a part of the Continuous Caucus project from Let the People Speak!

When you're here it's your ideas that matter, not a financial contribution. Join the conversation in the comments below. We'd love to hear more from you!