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The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) promotes and rewards work in the state of Iowa.

Questions for Iowa before adopting the pass-through loophole need answers: Costs of $100 million-plus, benefits to wealthy — some vs. others at the same income.

Seniors are least likely to live in poverty and most likely to have substantial wealth, but legislators keep looking for ways to cut their taxes.

A special federal tax break for business income claimed for personal income tax purposes is complicated, poorly understood, and costly — and now it’s being considered by Iowa state lawmakers.

The proposed expansion of Iowa’s 529 program adds administrative complexity, reduces revenue for other needs, and disproportionately benefits high-income families.

The plan includes some desirable reforms that need not have come at the expense of essential public services that inevitably will have to be cut in the face of revenue losses. It also omits reforms that could enhance Iowa tax fairness. 

Governor Kim Reynolds’ tax proposal trades massive cuts in public services for small savings for lower-income taxpayers, larger savings for high-income taxpayers and few meaningful strides toward fairness in a system that already treats the poor poorly and raises too little revenue to avoid mid-year cuts.

Overall the Senate plan would erode revenues, create structural budget deficits for years to come, and force cuts certain to imperil Iowa’s basic infrastructure and traditionally accepted responsibilities for its residents.