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Some Iowans might be familiar with Amendment 1 - but most likely they aren't. And that's dangerous when it comes to Iowa's future.
So, here are the basics. Amendment 1 would tie the hands of future lawmakers when it comes to the state budget. It would amend the Iowa Constitution to require future increases to the state income or corporate taxes to gain supermajority approval in order to pass. That's a tall order that calls for a two-thirds majority vote-or 67 of the 100 members of the Iowa House and 34 of the 50 state senators.
Remember all of the tax breaks the Republican trifecta in charge of our state government doled out to the wealthy and big corporations in recent years? The ones that gave the richest Iowans a $67,000 a year average tax cut and have helped fuel a more than $1 billion state budget deficit in Iowa's budget, while doing little to benefit everyday Iowans? Amendment 1 would pretty much cement them.
If Iowa faces any kind of economic crisis, we'll have to find new ways to raise money or cut services. We already have a gapping budget deficit because of the Republican tax breaks. How will we fix the hole they dug if they break the shovel with Amendment 1? The answer, if Amendment 1 passes, would be the continued shift of any tax burden onto the shoulders of us - working class Iowans.
Amendment 1 poses another serious threat to Iowa's public schools that would result in less money and fewer services for our students.
Our public schools are already in crisis due to years of inadequate funding that has left their budgets cut to the bone-districts slashed more than $50 million in the last year alone. Since Gov. Kim Reynolds took office a decade ago, our schools have been shorted $3.3 billion in state funding. Meanwhile, we have flooded private schools with $1 billion in taxpayer dollars over the past four years.
Amendment 1 poses yet another serious threat to Iowa schools and students-our youth and future. Another intended consequence of Amendment 1? It will effectively shift the tax burden onto working class Iowans and change how Iowa raises its tax revenues.
The special interests pulling the strings behind the scenes think we will blindly follow and support the amendment because who doesn't like keeping the tax rate down? But this amendment is about keeping them down for just the wealthy and corporations. Iowans want lower taxes. But they also believe everyone should pay their fair share.
If their hands are tied with Amendment 1, lawmakers would be forced to look at raising taxes and fees elsewhere, including the state's sales tax, which has already increased from 3% in 1980 to 7% today. The thing about the sales tax is less noticeable, but the cost piles up over time. And, once again, it's everyday Iowans who will bear the financial brunt. Heck, just look at the top income tax rate in Iowa. It has been cut by more than 70% since 1980.
This amendment, if passed, is not something easily undone. We need options to protect our schools and communities. Amendment 1 would just put a lid on the Republicans' jar of tax cuts and further micromanage local governments. Iowans deserve better. And that's why we must vote NO on Amendment 1 come November. We don't need the Iowa Constitution amended.
Barb Kalbach is a fourth generation family farmer, retired registered nurse, and board member of Iowa CCI Action. She can be reached at barbnealkalbach@gmail.com.