The first four bills introduced in the 2001 Iowa Legislature reflect the G-O-P’s agenda. The first bill introduced in the Iowa House would repeal the state income taxes charged on Social Security benefits. Today, elderly Iowans who earn 32-thousand or more have to pay taxes on their Social Security. The second measure would enforce a temporary moratorium on the state sales taxes charged on utility bills. Democrat Governor Tom Vilsack has expressed concerns about both those proposals. The third bill offered by republicans would limit property tax increases. Republicans also want to force Vilsack to put information about Iowa’s right-to-work law back in the state’s economic development materials, and that’s what the fourth bill would do.
