What Would a Vaccine Passport Cost You?

As society takes steps back to "normal," the debate over vaccine passports is front and center. Normal is not having to show your papers unless you lived in Eastern Europe during the Cold War.

The idea of government entities or private businesses requiring proof a person has received a COVID-19 vaccination shot would come at great cost: reduced personal and economic freedom. 

As of today, Iowans traveling to Chicago must quarantine for ten days or test negative for coronavirus no more than three days before arriving. The quarantine and test can be avoided if they can show proof of receiving the vaccine. 

New York tested a digital passport QR code that had to be displayed to attend professional basketball and hockey games.

The Chicago Tribune reports, "At least 17 companies or nonprofits are developing websites or apps that might be used by sporting venues, restaurants and other businesses seeking to keep their customers and employees safe."

This week, Governor Kim Reynolds took a firm stand on the issue and protecting our freedom: 
"I strongly oppose vaccine passports, and I believe that we must take a stand as a state against them. Which I intend to do either through legislation or executive action."

"While I believe in the efficacy of the vaccine enough to get it myself and encourage Iowans to do the same, I also respect that it’s a personal choice"

"What you’re doing when you move forward with something like that is you’re creating a two-tiered society. You’re either engaged or you’re marginalized."
Receiving the COVID-19 vaccine is voluntary. As long as that is the case, requiring proof of vaccination would violate Iowans' personal freedom. Businesses requiring verification would restrict the free flow of commerce and reduce an individual's economic freedom. 

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and Texas Governor Greg Abbott have both issued executive orders banning COVID-19 vaccination passports in their state. Iowans need similar protection.

We Need More Local Elected
Officials Who Think Like These Two

Two members of the Sioux City Community School Board understand the growing burden of property taxes is caused by the growth of spending, not increasing property assessments. Taylor Goodvin and Dan Greenwell submitted an article to the Sioux City Journal arguing for lower property tax bills

Goodvin and Greenwell say, "The district has built record levels of cash and spending authority on the backs of taxpayers. We have overtaxed property owners. Further, hoarding of taxpayer funds is not justified or needed. Taxpayers deserve fair treatment... All elected officials, not just school board members, need to realize that a drop in the levy rate does not necessarily correlate to a lower tax bill. The lower levy rate we propose will be largely offset by continued increases in taxable property valuation." 

Sadly, the article notes, "This opinion piece does not represent a majority of the school board."

If property tax levy rates are not reduced significantly after assessments increase, property tax bills will continue to grow. We need more local elected officials across Iowa who think like Goodvin and Greenwell and understand it is government spending that increases taxes.
 

Government Doesn't Get Theirs First

In case you missed ITR's special edition Watchdog email Wednesday, the Iowa Senate Republicans continued their work to cut taxes in Iowa, passing Senate File 587 (SF 587).

Government doesn't get theirs first. The Iowa taxpayers come first, and we will deliver on the promise of permanent income tax reform," Senator Dan Dawson, the bill’s floor manager, said in his closing remarks. "What this bill is, it's leadership. It's carrying the flag forward, increasing personal freedoms and economic freedoms. Returning power and tax money back to the people.”

SF 587 is a bill that, if passed by the Iowa House, would:
  • Eliminate the county mental health property tax levy, reducing property taxes for Iowans by $100 million
  • Fund Iowa's mental health system through state appropriations
  • Remove revenue and growth triggers from the 2018 tax reform law and reduce income tax rates
  • Phase-out the property tax backfill of state dollars sent to local governments
“We were elected here to do bold changes, bring big ideas, and make the State of Iowa a better place. This bill today accomplishes some of those goals,” said Senator Dawson.

Senate File 587 now goes to the Iowa House, where its passage is uncertain. Use the button below to send a message thanking the Senate for passing this bill and asking the House to do the same.
 
Contact Your Legislators

Legislative Issue Status

 
Bills Updated this Week:
Income and Property Tax Reform
SF 587  - Passed Senate 30-17 Tuesday; Sent to House
Income Tax Reform and Eliminate Inheritance Tax
SF 576 - Passed Senate 46-0 March 17; Sent to House; Fiscal note released Monday

 

No Change This Week:
Taxpayer-Funded Lobbyist Transparency
HF 822 (HF 346) - Passed House 91-3 Monday; Passed Senate State Gov't Committee April 1
Occupational Licensing Reform
SF 487 - Passed Senate 30-17 March 17; Passed House State Gov't Committee April 1
SF 354 - Passed Senate 48-0 February 17; Passed House State Gov't Committee March 24
Eliminate Iowa's Inheritance Tax
HF 841 - Passed House subcommittee March 29
Donor Privacy
HF 309 (HSB 28) - Passed House 84-9 February 23; Passed Senate Judiciary Committee March 24
Governor's Tax Reform Bill
HSB 174 - Assigned to a subcommittee
SSB 1145 - Assigned to a subcommittee
Eliminate Iowa's Inheritance Tax
SSB 1026 / HF 48Passed Senate subcommittee / Assigned to House subcommittee
SF 16 - Assigned to a subcommittee
Deductibility of PPP Loan Forgiveness
SF 364 - Passed Senate 49-0; Passed House with amendments 94-0; Sent back to Senate March 4
HSB 195 - Passed subcommittee 
SSB 1198 - Assigned to a subcommittee
SF 196 - Assigned to a subcommittee
Open Records Request Costs
HF 786 (HF 637) - Passed House State Government Committee and  Assigned to House Ways and Means Committee March 5
SF 480 (SF 218) - Passed Senate State Government Committee February 25
Additional Property Tax and Income Surtax - ITR Opposes
SF 258 (SF 117) - Passed subcommittee 

Recent ITR Newsletters

$100 Million Property Tax Cut Bill Advances
  • SPECIAL EDITION WATCHDOG
  • "Government doesn't get theirs first"
  • Triggers are unnecessary
  • State budget priorities
  • Iowa: A great place to live; not a great place to die
  • Iowans know what is best for Iowans
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ITR works for lower taxes, less spending,
and fewer regulations so politicians
get out of your pocket and off your back.

 
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