Tuesday – All Eyes on Iowa: Tax Hike Unlikely to Be Des Moines Area’s Destiny

 

Tuesday – All Eyes on Iowa: Tax Hike Unlikely to Be Des Moines Area’s Destiny 
Sales tax hike polls poorly with voters in bellwether state

WASHINGTON , D.C. – Voters in Iowa’s Dallas, Polk and Warren counties will go to the polls tomorrow, July 10 to decide on whether to raise increase the sales tax from 6 cents per dollar to 7 cents per dollar.  This almost 17 percent tax increase proposal called “Yes to Destiny” is expected to generate roughly $750 million over its 10-year life span, but voters seem unwilling to give the proposal their blessings.  A recent Des Moines Register Metro Poll shows that opponents outnumber supporters nearly 2 to 1.

The proposal would split the tax revenue in thirds.  While sold as a measure to bring property tax relief, only one third will go towards a direct property tax reduction, without any guarantee that the reduction will be permanent.   One third will go towards city and county governments, and the remaining third would go toward recreational spending through a 15-member panel with representatives from each county.

“It appears as if even in liberal Des Moines, Iowa, taxpayers don’t think that higher taxes should be their destiny,” said Grover Norquist, president of Americans for Tax Reform. “The national establishment press always points to Iowa as the litmus test for the national sentiment heading into presidential elections. Here’s a true poll for you, and it does not look good for tax-and-spenders.”

Iowa is generally seen as a bellwether state for the presidential elections, and while national media focuses on what Iowans think of the presidential candidates, this tax hike vote provides a true test case as to where Iowans stand on the issues.

“All eyes should be on Iowa right now,” continued Norquist.  “If voters reject this tax increase on Tuesday – which seems likely given how its polling – it will be interesting to see whether the New York Times or the Washington Post will cover this taxpayer victory on Wednesday or whether they will conveniently omit that taxpayers don’t want higher taxes.”