By Pat Bowen, Iowa City
On Election Day, we will be asked to amend the state constitution. It is called: Amendment 1. It may sound good on the surface but it isn’t. It does not mean fewer or decreased taxes for the average Iowan.
Amendment 1 is backed by big corporations and their lobbyists who want to lock in tax breaks for the themselves, the rich. Working Iowans currently pay their share, this amendment would make sure the wealthy individuals and corporations don’t have to. But it won’t keep all taxes down.
Without corporate tax increase, legislators will fix budget gaps by raising fees, licensing, permits, raising college tuition and other taxes, like sales and gas. All of which are already too expensive.
Without corporate tax increases, fixing the current projected $1 billion budget deficit would mean cutting services to schools, health care and delaying addressing our water quality. It will decrease the ability of our state to respond to economic downturns, emergencies, natural disasters or changing needs.
We don’t need to amend the constitution because the current process does not need changing. The constitution is to preserve our rights and privileges, NOT fiscal policy. This would tie future legislatures’ hands, they would not easily be able to respond to the needs of the state.
Vote No and spread the word.
