This November, Iowans will be asked to vote on a simple constitutional amendment on whether the legislature should obtain a two-thirds majority in both houses to increase income taxes. The amendment is simple because the problem it solves is simple. Raising income taxes shrinks the paychecks of workers and cuts into the bottom line of farms and businesses of all sizes. A decision like this, which directly and immediately affects the livelihood of Iowans, should not be something that lawmakers can do without broad consensus or accountability.
Politicians too often have a difficult time limiting spending on their own. One of us, former Wisconsin state legislator Leah Vukmir, has seen that dynamic firsthand. When spending continues to grow, lawmakers eventually face pressure to find more tax revenue to pay for it.
That is why a supermajority requirement can serve as a practical check on the growth of government. By making it more difficult to raise income taxes, the amendment would encourage lawmakers to exercise greater discipline on the spending side of the ledger, examining existing spending, prioritizing programs, and seeking efficiencies before turning to taxpayers for additional revenue.
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