Unlike the drought-stricken row crops which fell victim to a merciless season of cloudless skies, high temperatures and scorched earth, a bumper-sized crop of crowds turned out across the state this year to share views on matters of public policy, including the economy, energy, health care, transportation, debt, taxes, immigration and agriculture. In August,...
Q: Why not raise taxes on the high income to pay down the deficit and debt?
A: Professor Richard Vedder of Ohio University has studied tax increases and spending for more than two decades. His research has found that over the entire post World War II era through 2009, each dollar of new tax revenue has been associated with $1.17 in new spending. A researcher...
Q: How significant is the burden of federal regulations on economic activity?
A: According to a recent Gallup survey, small-business owners in the United States are most likely to say that complying with government regulations is the biggest problem facing them today. Recently the Small Business Administration estimated the federal regulatory burden has...
The highest court in the land issued a landmark decision just days before the United States celebrated its 236th anniversary declaring independence from a tax-happy monarchy. I respect the Supreme Court, but the colonial patriots who rallied against “taxation without representation” and blazed the trail for liberty, freedom and the pursuit of happiness must...
Q: What is so important about this congressional investigation?
A: When a person dies in service to his country, and his own government may have contributed to his death, covered up evidence about the circumstances, or both, the survivors’ families and the American people have a right to know the truth. In December 2010, Customs and Border Patrol Agent Brian...
Q: How is the threat of higher taxes impacting the economy?
A: I hear regularly from Iowa employers about how uncertain tax policy, along with the threat of costly new regulations from Washington, prohibits them from being able to make pro-growth decisions including hiring new workers. As it stands, if Congress and the President do not act by the end of this...
New graduates have good reason to celebrate their academic achievements. After all, on average, a college degree remains a good indicator for boosting one’s lifetime earning potential. For many Americans, a college education is a lasting investment in future economic mobility.
After the gilded glow of the cap and gown and the pomp and circumstance of the...
Q: What is required of Congress in making a budget plan?
A: The Congressional Budget Act of 1974 says Congress should annually adopt a budget plan for the upcoming fiscal year and at least the following four fiscal years. The annual budget is to be adopted as a concurrent resolution, so it is not presented to the President for his signature and doesn’t...
Q: What is National Foster Care Month?
A: For more than 20 years, Presidential proclamations have declared National Foster Care Month in May. It’s an opportunity to raise awareness about the challenges facing the 408,000 children in the foster care system, commend the foster care parents who take in these children who are without permanent, loving homes, and...
The taxpaying public’s confidence in the federal government suffered more setbacks recently with two scandals: excessive spending by the General Services Administration and allegations of misconduct within the Secret Service. The actions by employees in these agencies have led to internal and congressional investigations that call into question the culture...
Q: When will Congress reduce health care costs with medical liability reform?
A: There’s routine opposition to creating an environment where doctors don't have to engage in defensive medicine just to keep their practices open because somebody might sue them. Legislation that could lead to a reduction in unnecessary medical tests that drive up costs was...
Q: What is Tax Freedom Day?
A: Since 1990, the Tax Foundation has calculated how many days a taxpayer must work from January 1 each year to pay taxes that year, including federal, state and local levies. Tax Freedom Day is the symbolic day that a taxpayer’s income no longer goes to paying taxes. This year, Tax Freedom Day arrives nationally on April 17,...
Q: How do you see the recent attention given to lean finely textured beef?
A: I enjoy and appreciate beef in a meal as often as possible, and I have confidence in this meat product, which comes from a process that separates fatty pieces from beef trimmings to reduce the overall fat content. There’s nothing wrong with using all of the edible trimmings of an...
Chances are pretty good you’ve enjoyed at least one meal today before reading the words here in front of you. Due in large measure to generations of hard-working farm families, Americans continue to benefit from a safe and abundant food supply.
Much has been said lately about the one percent vs. the 99 percent in America, usually in a political context. But...
Q: Who is able to witness arguments made in a case before the Supreme Court?
A: The Supreme Court case to consider the constitutionality of the health care law enacted in 2010 has brought public access to court proceedings front and center. While arguments are made for and against the sweeping health care law that requires citizens to obtain health insurance...
Q: What needs to be done to improve the oversight of medical device safety?
A: Post-market surveillance of medical devices should be as effective as possible in order to preserve the fast-track approval process that gets new and innovative medical products on the market for consumers. There’s an opportunity this year to pass legislation to strengthen the...
With spring just around the corner, many Iowans look forward to seasonal rites of passage this time of year. Farmers are itching to get in the fields. Home gardeners anticipate the first shoots of peas and lettuce. Spring cleaning tops the to-do list for many families. School students give thanks for Spring Break. And, soon-to-be-college graduates have their...
Q: What is Sunshine Week?
A: In 2005, a group of advocates, including journalists, launched a national initiative to encourage individuals to play an active role in their government at all levels and to work to give them access to information about their government. Sunshine Week is scheduled each year to coincide with the March 16 birthday of James Madison,...
Q: What’s the effect of rising gas prices?
A: Affordable energy is a major economic issue. In 2011, consumers spent a greater percentage of their household income on gasoline than any other year since 1981. Since January 2009, the average U.S. price of a gallon of regular gasoline has more than doubled. Paying $4 or more for gas acts like a hidden tax and...
Against a staggering national debt that’s surged by $5 trillion in just the last three years, voters will decide in November who will take the reins of Washington’s runaway spending. In the meantime, the fragile economic recovery is struggling to gain traction. Job creators in the private sector are vulnerable to rising gas prices, expiring pro-growth tax...
