Some Iowans rush to buy groceries before a major winter storm, while Chris and John instead take to the microphones to discuss regulatory reform. Why does reducing government regulation really matter? Was is the impact on freedom and opportunity of a burdensome regulatory climate? Chris cracks open a cold Dr. Pepper Zero while John provides some answers.
Iowa's property tax system is not only expensive, it is incredibly complicated as well. Assessments, millage rates, equalization, rollbacks, and the ag-tie - what does it all mean? Chris, John and Sarah are here to help makes some sense out of how we calculate property taxes in Iowa. More importantly, how does this inform the conversation about how to reform Iowa property taxes? Should the system be simplified or changed, and is that enough? Regular listeners can probably guess at our main concl...
Chris and John are back to take a look at where conservatives are winning. In Washington DC the jury is still out on the deal struck between the freedom caucus holdouts and new House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. Is simply defunding the new IRS agents enough to satisfy? In Iowa, conservatives have racked up win after win, and there is almost certainly more to come. What's in store for this legislative session? We also return to our regular segment on John's new purchases, with a very interesting new b...
After a holiday break, it's a new year and ITR Live is back to work. Unfortunately, Congress is struggling to to do anything at all. Chris, John and Victoria bring their red-hot takes on Kevin McCarthy and the elusive Speaker's gavel. Thankfully, it doesn't work like this in Iowa. The 90th Iowa General Assembly convenes on Monday and lawmakers are ready to hit the ground running. What is the first week of the legislature like in Iowa, and what can taxpayers look forward to in the coming session?...
With a healthy state budget, lower income and corporate tax rates, the elimination of retirement income tax, and the legislature eyeing property tax reform, 2023 should be a great year for taxpayers. As big a year as 2023 will be for Iowa taxpayers, it should only be the start of a groundbreaking decade! John Hendrickson has details on all of the tax changes that will be going into effect on January 1st for Iowa Taxpayers. You can read John's report here: https://itrfoundation.org/2023-will-be-a...
No stockings have been hung over the fireplace, but this episode is the ITR Live attempt to get ready for Christmas. This episode brings a gift for Iowa policymakers: the new ITR Foundation Property Tax Toolkit . This report has a history of property taxes in the state of Iowa has a series of policy ideas to reform Iowa's overall property tax system. You can read the full ITR Foundation Property Tax Toolkit here: https://itrfoundation.org/solutions-to-iowas-growing-property-tax-problem/...
On this episode of ITR Live we discuss the recent forecast of the State Revenue Estimating Conference (REC). The REC projects that the state will continue to collect far more in tax revenue that is needed for the state budget. The REC estimate also reveals that the 2023 income tax cut is having less of an impact on state revenue collections than originally expected. The most recent REC numbers are evidence that not only were the 2023 tax cuts responsible, there may be the opportunity to go even ...
This fun-filled, action-packed episode of ITR Live is a free-wheeling trip that begins with current conflicts in European monarchies, travels to the end of an election contest in Davenport, Iowa and finishes with the battle between President Biden and Santa Claus.
The Democratic National Committee recent set its 2024 calendar for their presidential nominating process. The DNC removed Iowa from the early part of the schedule, and putting Iowa's first-in-the-nation status in peril. ITR Live takes a look at the recent history of the Iowa caucuses and what led to this decision. Will this make the overall process of electing our President better? Is this change good for the state of Iowa and what does it mean for the Iowa Democratic Party? Looking ahead, what ...
ITR Live is back following the Thanksgiving holiday to discuss the final disposition of the office apple pie. John has completed part of his collection with another century-old presidential campaign poster. The crew spends time exploring the question if whether or not Iowa's economy is in a recession, and if so, why? What are the strengths and challenges of Iowa's economy, and what might that hold for the future of tax reform initiatives? You can read more from John Hendrickson at the ITR Founda...
ITR Live is ready for a big Thanksgiving and we have a free-wheeling, action-packed episode to help you get ready too. The American Farm Bureau Federation released their annual Thanksgiving Dinner Cost Survey, which shows a nearly 20% increase from last year in the cost of your thanksgiving dinner. To make ends meet, maybe it's time for American families to finally get rid of green bean casserole and cranberries. There are still a few remaining recounts happening in Iowa legislative races, but t...
ITR Live is back with a free-wheeling, fun-filled episode of tax policy, politics and World Cup Soccer. John has has the first-ever ITR Live book review, "Taxes Have Consequences" by Art Laffer, Brian Domitrovic, and Jeanne Cairns Sinquefield. What historical lessons can be learned from a look at the last 100 years of tax policy in America? Congratulations are in order to Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds on her new role as Chair of the Republican Governor's Association. Governor Reynolds will have an ...
Following last week’s elections, ITR Live continues to look at what we have learned from the results. Among the many questions that are being posed around the country, we look at where the conservative movement should go from here. Fiscal conservatism clearly works in Iowa and in several other states across the country, and conservative governors in these states were handed convincing re-election victories. Should conservatively run states like Iowa continue on the same path, or should they chan...
How can Iowa count votes so quickly and accurately, but in other states it takes weeks? ITR takes one more look at election 2022, what is left to be decided in Iowa and across the country. The ITR Foundation Poll had the most consistent and most accurate data in the 2022 Election. In five of our polls over the course of the last year, we knew what was coming. In every race we tested, we nailed it. Governor Reynolds’ 19-point margin of victory was nearly identical to what was measured in the fina...
What time did you go to bed on election night? The ITR Live crew stayed up way past their bedtimes to watch the election results roll in. On little sleep, Chris, Victoria and John get together to discuss what have we learned so far from the results of Election 2022 in Iowa. Who won, who lost, and what is still left to be decided. Did anyone's crazy predictions come to pass? While the national results were not what many of us expected, the election here in Iowa was a different story. Today's epis...
Join ITR Live host Chris Hagenow, John Hendrickson and Victoria Sinclair for a breakdown of Election 2022, specifically what to expect in Iowa’s state legislative races. What are the issues that are behind these campaigns and do they have the right strategy? Race by race we take a look at what to expect this coming Tuesday night, including each guest bring one big prediction. ITR Live also has it's first regular segment where we find out what package John received today. It's the new unwrapping/...
The most recent Iowans for Tax Relief Foundation Poll, conducted by Cygnal, shows support for conservative candidates and incumbents remains strong, while the economy continues to be top of mind for Iowa voters. Listen to Chris Hagenow, Victoria Sinclair and John Hendrickson discuss the results. As election day draws near, the political environment for Republicans in Iowa remains strong. In every iteration of the ITR Foundation Poll this year, both Governor Kim Reynolds (+19) and Senator Chuck G...
The ITR Live Shufflin' crew of Chris Hagenow and Alan Ostergren are in studio to talk about important, timely topics ranging from the 1985 Chicago Bears to Iowa's place on the national stage. What do conservative leaders in other states think of Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds and the conservative victories she has secured for the people of our great state? Why are they so interested to find out what's going on? Alan also brings an update on his work at Kirkwood Institute . Did you know that the Unit...
Special Announcement: On another action-packed episode of ITR Live, we have a special breaking news announcement from Chris Hagenow that election 2022 watchers won't want to miss. John Hendrickson also has exclusive breaking news from his homeland of Minnesota. The gang discuss a recent article from Bloomberg which posits "GOP Poised to Cement Grip on Iowa, Ending Its Swing-State Status" . While the headline is exciting for the team in red, Chris argues that the grip has already been cemented, a...
Voters across Iowa and around the country are ready for a change from President Biden's America. You can hear it in talking with your friends and neighbors, out in the community and you can clearly see it in public opinion polls. Chris, Chris and John share their own stories of what their experiences and discuss several recently released polls. Voters not only want a change in direction from Washington D.C's progressive liberal agenda, they are excited to re-elect strong conservative leaders lik...
The Cato Institute has released their 2022 Fiscal Policy Report Card on America’s Governors. Iowa’s Kim Reynolds was not only one of just five governors who received an A grade from Cato, but this data driven report calculated her score as the highest in the nation! Since 2008, this report has graded the fiscal policies of our nation’s governors from a limited-government perspective using seven variables. The full report from Cato is available here: https://itrfoundation.org/reynolds-gets-an-a/ ...
Iowa Senate Majority Leader Jack Whitver is our guest on this episode of ITR Live. As Majority Leader, Whitver leads the Senate Republican caucus, not just through the legislative session, but during campaign season as well. Senator Whitver discusses the importance of tax policy to the future of our state and why it remains a top issue for the Senate Republican Caucus. With just four weeks left until Election Day, Senator Whitver previews the upcoming Iowa Senate elections and what tax issues co...
The most recent Iowans for Tax Relief Foundation Poll, conducted by Cygnal, shows Governor Kim Reynolds is growing more popular while President Joe Biden remains unpopular. Iowans support a wide range of conservative candidates and policy measures, including spending limits on local governments to control property taxes. The ITR Foundation Poll shows tremendous support for conservative candidates up and down the ballot. The Generic Ballot tested at +17 for the GOP, indicating the strongest polit...
Iowa is a wonderful place to live. Driving across the state during the beautiful fall season is a reminder that we are blessed to live in this state. Only slightly less inspiring than the harvest season in Iowa is the recently reported strength of our state's budget and strong fiscal management. ITR Foundation has the details of the final budget numbers for the past fiscal year and a look at the foundation that has been built for the success of our recent tax cuts. This is the second year in a r...
Why can't our federal government work more like Iowa? ITR Live gets together to talk about Governor Reynolds joining other governors in a lawsuit challenging the Biden Administration's student loan forgiven plan. The conversation then turns to our state's growing budget surplus, and how that stands in stark contrast to the exploding federal debt. John has further thoughts on how our massive federal debt might impact our nation's future.
The City of Des Moines plans to give 100% of the revenue from a TIF (Tax Increment Financing) district to property developers. The price tag for this development could reach $1 billion. Is that fair? ITR Foundation President is a student of TIF and has answers to some very basic questions: Is there any evidence to show that this will boost overall economic activity, and are these incentives really necessary? Will individual taxpayers benefit in any way? ITR Policy Director Sarah Curry is in stud...
ITR Live is back with amazing stories from their recent tour. An action packed episode that is sure to entertain with crazy Uber rides, one-of-a-kind BBQ and the thrilling, action-packed, heart-pounding agenda of a state think tank policy conference. The gang also talks about recent headlines focused on an upcoming round of real estate assessments for properties in Polk County. The Polk County assessor estimates that residential assessments will increase by 22% next year. If you aren't enthused ...
Chris got a new microphone and talks about the event where he got to meet all 11 of our listeners. Chris Ingstad and Sarah Curry join the podcast to talk about the state's revenue outlook and continue the conversation about Iowa's overall economic outlook. Sarah also provides a preview of her research on the history of Iowa's property tax system (Spoiler alert: It's always been frustrating). Did you know that Iowa once had a property tax system which involved the use of "Tax Ferrets" whose job i...
Governor Kim Reynolds and Iowa’s legislature have delivered pro-growth tax reform by balancing restrained spending growth with income tax cuts. Years of prudent budgeting enabled the passage of historic tax reform in 2022, which will create a flat 3.9 percent income tax rate by 2026. But why is the flat tax a good thing? What benefit does it have for Iowa taxpayers? Jared Walczak at the Tax Foundation recently released an article talking about the "Flat Tax Revolution" across the country. Read m...
ITR Live is back! Chris, Chris and John return from their long, unexplained hiatus to discuss two new articles. After President Biden's inflamatory speech last week, Pat Buchanan claims that "Liberal Elites Detest Middle America" and brings receipts. John also takes a few moments to sing the praises of Iowa's own "quiet conservative," Senate Majority Leader Jack Whitver. The Pat Buchanan article is here: https://buchanan.org/blog/how-liberal-elites-detest-middle-america-159617 Senator Jack Whitv...
