This exciting, fun-filled, action-packed episode of ITR Live is an in-depth look at an Iowa Senate subcommittee this week on property tax the rollback calculation for residential properties. While the bill itself would save residential homeowners on their individual property bill for next year, we go deeper to examine the forces at play inside the Capitol. With an army of lobbyists, local elected officials and local finance officers, who is looking out for the taxpayer?  

Criticisms of the bill included that the process lacked transparency, but where is the much-needed transparency for taxpayers who are trying to decipher Iowa's convoluted property tax system?  

ITR Foundation has several articles that speak directly to these issues:

"Taxpayer-Funded Advocacy Against Taxpayer Interests" - https://itrfoundation.org/taxpayer-funded-advocacy-against-taxpayer-interests/

"Iowa’s Assessment Limitation – Rollback" - https://itrfoundation.org/iowas-assessment-limitation-rollback/

John also has a strong article that he co-authored with the excellent Jonathan Williams: "To Achieve Meaningful Property Tax Relief, Right Size Government" - https://itrfoundation.org/to-achieve-meaningful-property-tax-relief-right-size-government/

Chris and John are back in this episode of ITR Live to discuss Kim Reynolds vs. Randi Weingarten and Franklin Roosevelt vs. Alf Landon in the 1936 Presidential Election. Is raw data enough to make decisions about modern public policy, or should we lean on history as well?

You can read John's full review of the book ""Roosevelt Sweeps Nation: FDR’s 1936 Landslide and the Triumph of the Liberal Ideal" by David Pietrusza here:  https://www.thecentersquare.com/opinion/op-ed-roosevelt-s-revolution-the-election-of-1936-and-the-triumph-of-new-deal/article_49a2a2dc-9cd6-11ed-a0c5-836547b14ed4.html

Good news: The school choice movement in Iowa just saw the culmination of ten years worth of work on Educational Savings Accounts. On Tuesday, Governor Kim Reynolds signed HF 58 into law, which establishes universal ESAs in Iowa. After the bill signing ceremony in the Capitol rotunda, Chris Hagenow is back behind the microphone with a recap of the event.  

Bad News: Legendary conservative commentator Pat Buchanan has announced his retirement from writing. John Hendrickson credits Buchanan as his political inspiration and has many thoughts on Buchanan's contribution to the conservative movement over the years.

ITR Live begins this episode on location in Davos Switzerland for John's appearance at the World Economic Forum.  Not only do we kick things off with a special musical treat, but John's message for the globalist neo-liberal glitterati is sure to entertain as well.  

Once again, we are faced with another sky-is-falling bit of drama with the looming federal debt ceiling.  Chris Ingstad brings a brutally honest look at the real issue at hand which is much more perilous. 

But as usual, things are different here in Iowa. We are on the precipice of real school choice in Iowa with the approaching passage of the Students First Act, which will bring universal educational savings accounts to all Iowa students.   

Some Iowans rush to buy groceries before a major winter storm, while  Chris and John instead take to the microphones to discuss regulatory  reform.  Why does reducing government regulation really matter?  Was is  the impact on freedom and opportunity of a burdensome regulatory  climate?  Chris cracks open a cold Dr. Pepper Zero while John provides  some answers.

Iowa's property tax system is not only expensive, it is incredibly complicated as well. Assessments, millage rates, equalization, rollbacks, and the ag-tie - what does it all mean? Chris, John and Sarah are here to help makes some sense out of how we calculate property taxes in Iowa. 

More importantly, how does this inform the conversation about how to reform Iowa property taxes? Should the system be simplified or changed, and is that enough? Regular listeners can probably guess at our main conclusion: Iowa has too much government, and real property tax relief should begin with limiting what local governments can spend.

Chris and John are back to take a look at where conservatives are winning. In Washington DC the jury is still out on the deal struck between the freedom caucus holdouts and new House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.  Is simply defunding the new IRS agents enough to satisfy?

In Iowa, conservatives have racked up win after win, and there is almost certainly more to come. What's in store for this legislative session?

We also return to our regular segment on John's new purchases, with a very interesting new book on Herbert Hoover.

After a holiday break, it's a new year and ITR Live is back to work.  Unfortunately, Congress is struggling to to do anything at all. Chris, John and Victoria bring their red-hot takes on Kevin McCarthy and the elusive Speaker's gavel.

Thankfully, it doesn't work like this in Iowa. The 90th Iowa General Assembly convenes on Monday and lawmakers are ready to hit the ground running. What is the first week of the legislature like in Iowa, and what can taxpayers look forward to in the coming session?

With a healthy state budget, lower income and corporate tax rates, the elimination of retirement income tax, and the legislature eyeing property tax reform, 2023 should be a great year for taxpayers.  As big a year as 2023 will be for Iowa taxpayers, it should only be the start of a groundbreaking decade! 

John Hendrickson has details on all of the tax changes that will be going into effect on January 1st for Iowa Taxpayers.  You can read John's report here: https://itrfoundation.org/2023-will-be-a-big-year-for-iowa-taxpayers/

No stockings have been hung over the fireplace, but this episode is the ITR Live attempt to get ready for Christmas. This episode brings a gift for Iowa policymakers: the new ITR Foundation Property Tax Toolkit.  This report has a history of property taxes in the state of Iowa has a series of policy ideas to reform Iowa's overall property tax system.  

You can read the full ITR Foundation Property Tax Toolkit here: https://itrfoundation.org/solutions-to-iowas-growing-property-tax-problem/