In this episode of ITR Live, hosts Chris Hagenow and John Hendrickson discuss the transition to a new studio, analyze the recent presidential debate between Trump and Harris, and delve into the fiscal policies proposed by Kamala Harris. The conversation highlights concerns over future governance and the implications of Harris' policies on the American economy. The episode wraps up with reflections on the importance of controlling government spending and the need for informed discussions on local elections.

Tim Walz is a flyover state Bernie Sanders, and the demands of government are exceeding the ability to pay for them. The excessive taxation is killing the economy. Local governments in Iowa are spending too much and need to limit their spending. Democrats are trying to appeal to voters by messaging the need for property tax relief, but the problem is their excessive spending.

The Harris-Walz ticket is not moderate, despite attempts to portray them as such. They have a radical agenda and want to reimagine democracy. Their economic plan includes price controls, subsidies, and taxing unrealized capital gains. This is dangerous for the economy and individual businesses. The Democrat Party has shifted away from its core constituency of labor and is now focused on wealthy coastal elites and overeducated individuals. The left's disregard for the Constitution and their desire to pack the court and repeal parts of the Bill of Rights is concerning. We need to fight against these radical ideas and protect our democracy.

Tim Walz, Bernie Sanders, excessive taxation, local government spending, property tax relief, Harris-Walz ticket, radical agenda, reimagining democracy, economic plan, unrealized capital gains, Democrat Party shift, Constitution, court packing, repeal Bill of Rights, protect democracy

In this episode, Chris Hagenow and John Hendrickson discuss the current state of the presidential race and the importance of focusing on key issues such as inflation, immigration, and foreign policy. They also highlight the growing national debt and its impact on the economy and individual Americans. The conversation touches on the need for tax reform, particularly in relation to property taxes, and the potential lessons that can be learned from the tax reform debate in Nebraska. They also mention the importance of addressing the trade deficit and the need for domestic production of essential goods.

Takeaways

John Hendrickson returns to Studio 130 for this episode of the ITR Live Podcast. John is fired up and ready to celebrate President Herbert Hoover's 150th birthday.

Chris quickly moved the conversation which started about 1920's Presidents forward 100 years to talk about Democrat Vice Presidential nominee Tim Walz's record as Governor of Minnesota. Governor Walz has proudly led one of the most left wing radical policy shifts in the nation. Chris and John take a closer look at recent history in Minnesota and compare it to what we have accomplished in Iowa.

The fundamental question that is posed in this episode is which state should lead the way for the future of our country? Governor's Walz's socialist Minnesota or the pro-taxpayer and pro-freedom example set here in Iowa?

Iowa’s Tax-Free Weekend:

If you have kids in Iowa, you probably know that Iowa’s tax-free weekend always begins the first Friday in August. For 2024, the shopping holiday will start at midnight on Friday, August 2, and run through Saturday, August 3. Businesses in Iowa are required to participate if they are open during these days.

Chris and Sarah examine the merits of Iowa’s sales tax-free weekend. Economists and public finance scholars generally agree that a well-structured sales tax should extend to all final consumer purchases, whether goods or services, to build a solid sales tax base. Each exemption erodes that base, often delivering political benefits and little else. Exempting certain goods and services from taxation is a direct example of the government “picking winners and losers.”

Read Sarah's article here: https://itrfoundation.org/iowas-sales-tax-free-weekend-is-coming-up-but-is-it-good-policy/

Looking Ahead to Property Tax Reform:

Chris and Sarah also discuss the upcoming months and the focus on property tax reform. There will be levy increases on the September ballot in some jurisdictions. On the general election ballot in November, there will be county supervisor elections and bond questions, with the local budget process beginning shortly after that.

They highlight the importance of understanding the implications of these local elections and the potential impact on property taxes. The discussion touches on how local government spending drives taxation and the need for continuous reforms to ensure fiscal responsibility and taxpayer protection.

John Hendrickson returns to the ITR Live Podcast to give his thoughts on an eventful week in American history. John delves into the significance of JD Vance being selected as the Vice Presidential nominee and what this means for the America First movement. He provides a historical perspective on trade policy and the trend towards less foreign intervention within the movement.

John discusses how JD Vance’s nomination aligns with the broader goals of the America First movement, particularly focusing on Vance’s stance on trade policy and non-interventionist foreign policy. This includes a detailed look at how these policies resonate with the movement’s supporters and their potential impact on the 2024 election.

The conversation shifts to the recent Republican National Convention, highlighting the unity within the Republican Party behind Donald Trump. Chris and John analyze the strategies employed to achieve this unity and the role of key endorsements and speeches in solidifying support for Trump.

The discussion then turns to the state of the Democratic Party, examining the internal chaos and conflicts that could influence the general election in November. They explore the implications of this disarray for Democratic voter turnout and overall strategy.

In this episode of ITR Live, we present insights from the latest edition of the ITR Foundation poll. In our poll, Donald Trump has widened his lead over Joe Biden from 9% in our February poll, to 12% in this edition. The top concerns for Iowa voters are fiscal matters along with immigration.

We explore further key policy proposals: A constitutional amendment requiring a supermajority to raise taxes, another to constitutionally guarantee a flat tax. Finally, we take a look at the overwhelming support for a proposal to establish a 2% hard cap on property tax growth at the local level. Learn how these fiscal priorities shape voter preferences and the strategies political candidates must adopt to resonate with the electorate in Iowa.

https://itrfoundation.org/iowans-seek-protection-from-property-taxes-and-income-taxes-trump-widens-lead-over-biden/

In this episode of ITR Live, we take a look at the upcoming ITR Foundation poll, which will be the first look at the Presidential match-up in Iowa post-presidential debate. We discuss how the polls not only predict election outcomes but also highlight Iowans' preferences for conservative fiscal policies. We also examine the ongoing dissatisfaction with property tax increases and the growing conversation around capping property tax growth at 2% annually. Tune in for an in-depth analysis of these pressing issues and their impact on Iowa's political climate.

On this episode of the Hendrickson Group (formerly ITR Live), Chris Hagenow and Chris Ingstad take a look at additional data from the recent Des Moines Register/Mediacom Iowa Poll. According to these results, inflation is the biggest issue on the minds of Iowa voters, and they have no confidence left in Joe Biden to address the problem.

One of the biggest drivers of inflation is the huge increase in deficit spending at the federal level, exemplified by the monstrosity that was the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). ITR cautioned local governments from using these dollars to fund ongoing programs, and we take a look at yet another program in Des Moines that has a very uncertain future after now that the money has run out.

The Des Moines Register recently released their latest Iowa Poll, with a shocking result in the Presidential race. In this new poll, Donald Trump leads President Biden by a whopping 18 percentage points in Iowa. That is a margin over double what Trump won Iowa by just four years ago. Alan Ostergren from the Kirkwood institute is in Studio 130 to discuss these new numbers and much more.

One big question: What do these poll numbers mean for downballot races in Iowa? Chris and Alan look at several state legislative races, and try to determine what issues democratic candidates might offer to try and fight these historic headwinds.

Alan also shares some insightful thoughts on the criminal prosecutions of Donald Trump. Alan's background as a prosecutor gives him a wealth of knowledge and experience to draw on as he points out the danger of these politically-motivated prosecutions.