ITR Poll: Iowans Overwhelmingly Support Tax Protections

In this episode of ITR Live, Chris Hagenow and John Hendrickson break down the latest ITR Foundation poll and what it reveals about Iowa voters’ priorities. The results show that fiscal issues are more important than ever, with tax policy, government spending, and inflation dominating voter concerns. Surprisingly, issues like illegal immigration and abortion have dropped in importance, possibly reflecting confidence that Trump will address these issues in his second term.

Chris and John analyze the overwhelming support for three major fiscal proposals:
• A two-thirds majority requirement to raise taxes
• Constitutional protection for Iowa’s flat tax
• A 2% hard cap on local government spending

The hosts then shift to the new property tax bill introduced by Senator Dan Dawson and Representative Bobby Kaufmann. The bill includes a 2% cap on city and county spending, and replaces the current rollback system with a new homestead exemption. Chris and John explore how this could impact taxpayers, local governments, and Iowa’s long-term fiscal health.

Wrapping up, they emphasize that Iowans are demanding structural tax reforms—not just temporary fixes. The hosts praise Iowa’s conservative leadership for listening to voters and pushing for meaningful, lasting change.

00:00 – Welcome & ITR Foundation Poll Overview
02:30 – Voter Priorities: Why Taxes and Spending Are Dominating Concerns
06:00 – Two-Thirds Majority to Raise Taxes: Why Voters Want It Locked In
10:00 – Constitutional Protection for Iowa’s Flat Tax: Growing Support
13:00 – 2% Local Spending Cap: Why Voters Are Backing It Across Party Lines
16:30 – Iowa’s Property Tax Bill: What’s In It & How It Could Work
20:00 – School Funding Shift: How State Dollars Will Replace Local Levies
23:30 – Why the New Homestead Exemption Could Reduce Property Tax Burdens
26:00 – How This Bill Could Impact Local Budgets and Government Growth
30:00 – Final Thoughts: Why Iowa’s Fiscal Reforms Are Politically Smart