DES MOINES – According to proposed legislation being discussed in Des Moines, raising taxes in Iowa would become more difficult for state lawmakers.
Th proposal is largely backed by Republicans. Liberal lobbyists generally oppose the resolution.
The resolution, currently being discussed in a subcommittee, proposes two amendments within a new Article XIII to the Constitution of the State of Iowa which relate to state budgets and state revenue.
The first amendment creates a state general fund expenditure limitation. The amount of the limitation is 99 percent of the adjusted revenue estimate. The amendment requires that the expenditure limitation be used by the governor in preparation of the governor’s budget and by the general assembly in the budget process. The governor is prohibited from approving or disapproving of appropriations in a manner that would cause the final budget approved by the governor to exceed the expenditure limitation.
The second amendment contained in the resolution requires a three-fifths majority vote of the members elected to each house of the general assembly for certain tax law changes. The amendment provides that any bill that enacts, amends, or repeals the state income tax or the state sales and use tax, and which causes, in the aggregate, an increase in state tax revenues, as determined by the general assembly, must be adopted by at least three-fifths of the members elected to each house of the general assembly. The amendment also requires a three-fifths majority vote of the members elected to each house of the general assembly in order to enact a new state tax to be imposed by the state.
