Republican majority focused on tax cuts this year

Iowa Republicans will be in a familiar spot Jan. 10 when the Legislature convenes for the 2022 session.

GOP lawmakers will hold control of the House, Senate and governor's chair for the sixth-straight year. That grip on the majority has allowed Republicans to check several boxes off their legislative priority list over the past half decade, and they're primed to keep the ball rolling.

Tax cuts have created a big buzz prior to the 2022 session. Gov. Kim Reynolds earlier this year signaled her support for reform, and she's since received a groundswell of support from Republican allies in the Statehouse. GOP leadership has pledged to make it one of the key targets this winter with some even calling for the elimination of the individual state income tax altogether.

However, several other key issues will receive attention this year. Below, Rep. Dennis Bush (R-Cherokee), Rep. Megan Jones (R-Sioux Rapids), Sen. Jeff Taylor (R-Sioux Center) and Sen. Dave Rowley (R-Spirit Lake) outline their predictions and priorities for the 2022 legislative session

The governor has indicated that she would like to cut taxes this year. Do you support this move, and if so, what kind of tax cuts would you like to see?

Rep. Dennis Bush: Last session, the Legislature passed a bill that would allow the biggest tax cuts in Iowa's history to take effect in 2023. With the current surplus in the state budget, I believe that we should implement those cuts for the 2022 tax year.

I am open to additional income tax cuts, but would like to see the financial impact of the state taking over the funding of the regional mental health system from property tax, which occurs in FY22, and of the 5-year phase-out of the Iowa inheritance tax which began in 2021. From all indications, school supplemental aid will have to be significantly higher in the coming year due to the high inflation of the past 12 months, as well as salaries for state employees. There is also some uncertainty as to how much of the current budget surplus is due to the federal COVID-19 money injected into the economy during this past year. I don't want to see the state finances get upside down by cutting taxes too aggressively before all these factors play out.

Rep. Megan Jones: I support cutting taxes. I think we need to take a responsible approach to phasing down income taxes to make us competitive with other states.

Sen. Jeff Taylor: Yes, I support further tax reduction, especially for middle class Iowans. I would like to see an eventual ending of the individual income tax in our state. I would, however, want to know more about the revenue stream that would replace the income tax. I have concerns about increasing sales taxes because of their typically regressive nature.

Sen. Dave Rowley: I would like to see Iowans keep more of their income in their own pockets. This provides families, young and older, with more of "their" dollars to handle their daily expenses. Doing so opens up the opportunity for financial independence and sound planning as their families grow.

This is especially needed in the inflationary period we are experiencing now. Last year, the Legislature voted to reduce the marginal tax rate, and that's a good start. I would like to explore ways to go farther with tax cuts.

Do you expect any further action on vaccine mandate bans in the workforce during the 2022 session? If so, what would you like to see?

DB: I plan on introducing a bill that would prohibit discriminating between the immunity an individual receives from the vaccine and the immunity an individual has from actually recovering from COVID-19. I have not heard of, nor do I expect, any further action on vaccine mandate bans.

MJ: I expect there to be more discussion on vaccine mandates, but we are really waiting on the Biden Administration here. We passed a significant bill in October that might provide options for folks who do not want to be vaccinated but fall under the proposed Biden mandate.

DR: The federal COVID-19 vaccine mandates put employers and their employees in a very tough spot. I don't believe government's role is to require any individual by threat, intimidation or otherwise to put anything into their body. It's a disturbing precedent. I am most interested in how this will be handled through the courts.

JT: I hope the Legislature will pass additional protections, building on the religion-and-health-exemption law we created during special session in October. Vaccine mandates – whether forced on us from above by the Biden Administration or chosen as a policy by Iowa business owners – are unnecessary, unfair and unconstitutional.

God-given, constitutionally-protected (Ninth Amendment) rights of human beings are being denied through the threat of job dismissal. It's wrong. I would support adding vaccination status, as a protected class, to the civil rights portion of Iowa Code. I would also support a wider bill to protect health care privacy and freedom for all Iowans.

Some lawmakers have expressed both concern and support for tax-funded scholarships that could be used at K-12 private schools. Do you support this? Why or why not? Do you expect movement on this during 2022?

DB: I do not support tax-funded scholarships that could be used at K-12 private schools. I have a real problem with having public tax dollars go to private religious schools. I also cannot support financially weakening the public school system.

Last session, the Legislature removed all barriers to open enrollment between public school districts. I believe that should be a sufficient alternative for parents who believe that their child(ren) is (are) not receiving a good education in their district of residence. I do expect this to be debated this session.

MJ: I would welcome a broader discussion in education discussion beyond vouchers. That didn't make it out of the House and I am not sure any of the votes have changed.

We do need to dive into burdens that are limiting our schools, archaic laws, and open-up options – specifically for public schools. Schools need flexibility and innovation to hire substitutes, bus drivers and other personnel and to utilize non-traditional teachers (with proper pedagogy). We need to help our schools tackle challenges – more resources and support – and I am hearing it loud and clear, especially for dyslexia services.

DR: I attended public schools here in Iowa. I believe in our public school systems, and I fully support them.

Northwest Iowa has great schools and teachers. My four children received an excellent education here. I don't believe we have the same needs or challenges as urban or suburban schools on many levels.

I also understand that the world is changing, and we need to be open to alternatives that support families and their needs. I support families having the same choices as young high school graduates who after graduation can choose from a variety of state universities, private colleges, community colleges, online universities and so forth.

JT: I voted for the Education Savings Account scholarship bill last session. It was very limited in scope.

I am a supporter of a "school choice," also known as "parental choice," for three reasons: (1) children belong to their parents (not to any government, system, or organization); (2) a one-size-fits-all approach conflicts with the fact that the needs of school-age children are not all the same; and (3) competition is usually a healthy thing that drives accountability and improvement across the board. I will continue to be a supporter of educational reform and I expect there will be a major bill in 2022.

As an educator and as someone who attended K-12 public schools in Iowa, I will also continue to support public education. It should be both well funded and accountable to parents and taxpayers. I want an ESA approach that helps both students who leave and students who remain in public schools.

Iowa Republicans have made restricting abortions a key priority in past sessions, passing several pro-life bills. Do you expect any abortion-related legislation this session, and if so, what?

DB: I don't think that there will be any abortion-related legislation this session. There is currently an Iowa law already on the books restricting abortion after a fetal heart beat is detected that is tied up in the courts. I don't expect any movement in that case until the U.S. Supreme Court makes a decision on the Mississippi abortion case.

MJ: We seem to have an annual discussion on how we can move the ball forward on pro-life issues. I understand a lot of people look at pro-life officials (myself included) and ask what we are doing for the families after the child is born. The discussion doesn't just end at abortion, and we can do a lot better and a lot more.

Last session, several of us pushed a bill to allow families already involved in a Child in Need of Assistance proceeding to keep their same public defender lawyer to facilitate an adoption and bill it to the state. While some of these services were free already, the platform is now there to possibly open this up to other types of adoptions – and they can keep their same lawyer.

Additionally, families should have access to and flexibility for family planning. We need young families in our state – and we need to be listening and responding to their everyday barriers

DR: As a pro-life advocate, the effort this majority has made is most impressive. I expect our party will keep this subject front and center as the Supreme Court reviews the issue of state's rights with regards to abortion. I would like to see thought given to legislation that can address the stress an unwanted pregnancy can bring to an expecting mother or couple. I believe mitigating that stress can play a vital role in the abortion issue.

JT: I am strongly and consistently pro-life because life is the most foundational of all of our natural, God-given rights. I will support any sensible and constitutional bills that advance the cause of human life protection, including creation of an Alternatives to Abortion Program (HF 515) and statistical reporting of injuries to women resulting from abortion (SF 508).

Democrats have said Iowa's mental health care system is struggling to keep with the demands placed upon it. Is this something you agree with? If so, how would you like to see it addressed?

DB: I believe that the current plan for Iowa's mental health system is sound and a good one. I am especially pleased that the mental health regions were given the responsibility for the children's system.

I've been involved with the mental health system since I was elected county supervisor in 2011. The adult mental health system has experienced significant advances since the regions were formed. We now have mobile crisis response teams, residential crisis service homes, and 24-hour crisis observation centers.

Many of the regions have jail diversion programs. All regions will have Assertive Community Treatment teams that work to keep those with severe mental health and/or disability challenges in a community setting, if appropriate. Regions must provide for Intensive Residential Service Homes for those who cannot be served in a community setting. All Iowans must have a mental health access center within a two-hour drive.

Services for children are not quite as far along because regions were not given that responsibility until just a few short years ago. Reimbursement rates for services provided to those with mental health and disability challenges have not kept up with the cost and I hope that we can address that this coming session.

Another big challenge to the mental health system is the difficulty in hiring staff to provide these services, particularly the higher credentialed social workers, psychologists and psychiatrists.

MJ: While we continue to make strides in the area of mental health, we need to do better. I am hearing a lot of concerns about harsh and restrictive non-compete agreements that limit our young mental health professionals for 100 miles for 2 years, so they just leave the area. Iowans deserve realistic opportunities to make a living, especially when we are in desperate need of these professionals.

DR: There are many concerns regarding the mental health care systems across the nation. These are not unique to just our state. Present challenges stem from a long history of past decisions on treatment and how to best improve a patient's mental state with regards to quality of life and helping them re-enter society. Historically this area has been understaffed, underfunded, prone to potential abuse and a myriad of other challenges. I believe this is a bi-partisan issue that affects all of us, and I will work with this legislature to improve it.

JT: I agree that mental health care needs to receive more attention and greater funding. We started during the 2021 session, with a phased-in transition from county funding to state funding and an increase in financial assistance. I would like to see us continue along that path.

I would also like to see greater attention paid to the underlying causes of mental health impairment.

Name three areas Democrats and Republicans can find common ground during the 2022 legislative session.

DB: There seems to be this perception that Democrats and Republicans are always at odds with each other. During this past session, the two parties agreed on over 85 percent of the bills that made it to the House floor. I think that we can find common ground on legislation addressing available and affordable child care, workforce development and housing.

MJ: Usually about 80-90 percent of the bills we pass are bipartisan, but mental health, adoption and workforce.

DR: I believe providing accessible and quality mental health services in Iowa is a bipartisan issue that can find a lot of common ground. A second area is tax relief. Tax relief gives us a great opportunity to work together for the benefit of Iowans. Lastly, our state needs workers. We are all agreed that we need to find some way to fill jobs that are currently open. Republicans and Democrats can unite under a strategy for promoting jobs, families and exceptional schools to attract a strong workforce.

JT: In addition to mental health, I hope members of both parties can find common ground when it comes to protection of the rights of workers and opposition to "crony capitalism" (i.e., business using political connections to get self-serving favors and funding from state government in contrast to the common good).

A current example of the third area seems to be the proposed carbon capture pipelines that are seeking permits from the Iowa Utilities Board. I hope the board will listen carefully to all voices, including those of farm families and rural residents, when weighing the risks and benefits of the proposed pipelines, and I hope it will send a clear message of opposition to the possible use of eminent domain in this context. Profit for the few should not outweigh the rights of the many.

Are there any issues of personal priority to you that you plan to address this year? Is there any legislation you intend to introduce? Explain.

DB: In addition to what I outlined in previous answers, I intend to introduce legislation allowing county auditors to mail out absentee ballots three business days before in-person absentee voting. At the present time, they cannot mail out absentee ballots until the first day of in-person absentee voting. There have been incidents where voters who have applied for an absentee ballot, have presented themselves during the first couple of days of in-person absentee voting to vote in-person because they had not received their absentee ballot. Because their absentee ballot is somewhere in the postal system yet, it causes problems for the auditors and confusion for the voters.

MJ: There are several bills I am working on for constituents. One of the more interesting ones seeks to increase the Veteran's Property Tax Exemption. This exemption has existed since 1886. It has been increased once since its initial enactment and that was in 1974, when it was moved from $500 to $1,852. We can – and should – do better.

DR: Being new to the Senate, I am focusing on listening and looking for the committee discussions that relate to our district specifically and northwest Iowa overall. I plan to follow up on issues that are affecting our district that need legislative attention and possible relief.

From my background, the issues of tax relief and lowering our state income tax for taxpaying Iowans is a priority for me. I am looking forward to being part of that discussion. I will also be tuned into insurance issues that may affect our state due to my background.

JT: Two of my top priorities for the 2022 legislative session are (1) creation of a Cold Case Unit within the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, and (2) adding language to Iowa Code to more clearly delineate the rights of parents who have children in K-12 schools. I am also concerned about the growing power of transgenderism ideology. Not only is it a denial of reality, an erasing of women and a threat to freedom of speech, it is also deeply harmful to those who are suffering from gender identity disorder and estrangement from their own bodies. Both love and truth need to be applied to the confusion in our society.