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Resist increases in taxes; don't rely on shaky revenues
By Jamie Van Fossen, Des Moines Register--February 6, 2006
 The debate over proposed increases in cigarette and tobacco taxes reminds me of the old saying: "Don't tax you, don't tax me, tax that man behind the tree." In this case, we know he's behind the tree because of the smoke that wafts from behind.
 Unfortunately for Iowa taxpayers, when we aim tax increases at one group of people, we often miss the mark, and the bill falls on everybody's doorstep.
 As chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, I do not support tax increases on Iowans — ANY tax increases on ANY Iowans. As such, I do not support raising state taxes on cigarettes or tobacco products...
 Government has an insatiable appetite for new money, and it doesn't discriminate from where it comes, but it does often attempt to walk the path of least resistance. Right here, right now, that path appears to lead to higher taxes on cigarettes and tobacco products. That road also leads straight to the House Ways and Means Committee, and I also do not discriminate.
 I am committed to protect ALL taxpayers, not only taxpayers who use cigarettes and tobacco but also those who ultimately would pick up the bill — each and every one of you. See complete story here.

Seniors waver over tax break
By Jennifer Jacobs, Des Moines Register--February 6, 2006
  A 77-year-old widow, Gigi Stokes said she's uncomfortable with the proposal to do away with all state taxes on retirement income.
 "I just plain hate the idea," said Stokes, a registered Republican who said some of her peers feel the same way.
 The Republican-controlled Iowa House, in hopes of keeping more seniors in Iowa, voted last week to phase out over five years the state income tax on pension and Social Security benefits for people 55 years and older. The state revenue loss — and savings to Iowa retirees — is estimated to top $200 million if fully implemented.
 Doubt is springing from another, unexpected source: AARP.
 AARP's uncertainty surprised Rep. Jamie Van Fossen, a Republican from Davenport who is chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, which considers tax policy.
 Van Fossen said the tax cuts aren't only meant to prevent older Iowans from leaving the state but also to benefit those who always intended to stay.
 "Not only is it the right thing to do, it's the fair thing to do," he said. "This helps cops and firefighters and health care workers and people who have invested in their 401(k)s. To me it adds up to good policy."
 Bill Cram, 79, a Democrat from Des Moines, said he loves the proposal.
 "Oh, boy, I've been working on it for about 10 years," said Cram, who is retired from the U.S. Postal Service. "We're losing retirees to other states that don't tax pensions and believe me, we are losing them. And they take everything with them: their bank accounts, the money they spend on cost of living, hours spent volunteering. It's a big loss to the state of Iowa. We've got to stop this exodus."
 But several experts on taxes and economic policy say Iowa's senior exodus is a myth. See complete story here.

Pension tax phase-out approved by House
By Charlotte Eby, Quad City Times--February 1, 2006
 DES MOINES — The Iowa House approved a plan Tuesday to phase out the income tax on Social Security and pension income and to eliminate all income taxes for moderate-income senior citizens.
 The tax cut package cleared the House with bipartisan support on an 81-18 vote.
 Rep. Jamie Van Fossen, R-Davenport, said it shows lawmakers are making seniors a priority.
 “It’s the right thing to do for our seniors,” Van Fossen said.
 Rep. Steve Olson, R-DeWitt, said Iowa’s taxes have pushed a number of retirees across the Mississippi River to Illinois, which exempts pensions and Social Security from income taxes. Complete story here.

Ending Tax on Pensions Makes Sense
By Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier Editorial Board--January 17, 2006
 Economic development is usually associated with attracting and retaining business and industry to bolster the tax base while adding to the payroll.
 Yet retaining people should be part of the equation, too. According to USA Today, many states and communities are recognizing the 79 million baby boomers soon to enter retirement as economic assets --- often with 401(k) portfolios and profits from the sale of homes held for many years.
 Iowa currently has a disincentive for retirees to stay with an income tax on pensions and Social Security. Even Iowans wanting to retain their roots in the Midwest can live more comfortably by moving to communities just across the border.
  Last week, the House Ways and Means Committee approved the five-year phaseout, 19-6, with only Democrats in opposition. Some critics are adamant foes of tax cuts, saying the state needs the revenue to maintain and enhance existing programs. Others argue the higher priority is overall reform of the income tax system.
 While those points have validity, they also are shortsighted.
 We concur with Rep. Jamie Van Fossen, R-Davenport, the chairman of the tax-writing House Ways and Means Committee, who said, "People say the state can't afford it. I say we can't afford to have these people leave the state." See story here.

Phaseout of Pension Tax Moves Ahead
By Dan Gearino, Quad City Times--January 12, 2006
 Rep. Cindy Winckler, D-Davenport, stuck her neck out this week by voting against a plan that would repeal the income tax on pensions and Social Security — a key issue for many voters in her House district.
 But Winckler contends that she cannot support the bill until her colleagues give a better explanation of how the state would replace the estimated $250 million per year in taxes.
 The bill, a five-year phaseout of the two taxes, passed 19-6 in the House Ways and Means Committee, with all of the “no” votes coming from Democrats. The measure is now eligible for debate on the House floor.
 Committee Chairman Jamie Van Fossen, R-Davenport, has long sought to repeal taxes on retirement income. He said the gradual phaseout gives the state plenty of time to determine how to deal with the lost income. Read on
 

Republicans: Eliminate taxes on Social Security, pensions
By Tim Higgins, Des Moines Register--January 9, 2006
 Retirees would would avoid state taxes on pensions and social security under a plan Iowa House Republicans said they would push this legislative session.
 The GOP wants to phase out the tax over five years to give incentives for older Iowans to stay in the state, keeping their money and charity here.
 The legislation appears to be flagged to fast-tracked in the House. The House Ways and Means Committee will receive the bill today and the committee's chairman Jamie Van Fossen, a Republican from Davenport, said he expects the measure to move out of his committee later this week. See complete story here.

Every Property Owner in Iowa is Waiting
By Quad City Times Editorial--January 7, 2006
 For more than nine years, Iowans have been waiting for lawmakers to introduce a new property tax code to the state. Could 2006 be the year it actually happens?
 Gov. Tom Vilsack challenged lawmakers in his Condition of the State message to set a date for repealing the property tax system and replacing it with a simpler, fairer one. Rep. Jamie Van Fossen, R-Davenport, led his party’s charge to repeal the property tax code by 2005. The League of Cities, the Farm Bureau and others submitted proposals.
 The Iowa House may resurrect last year’s effort to introduce a rollback for businesses, too. That can provide immediate relief for businesses by shoving the burden back on homeowners. Lawmakers can keep shoving the local tax bill back and forth among businesses, farmers and homeowners. But it misses a core problem: the cost of local government still is born by property owners, not by all Iowans.
 Without legislative action, we know what will happen: A larger and larger share of local government costs will fall on businesses. But not fairly. The biggest burden falls on businesses with the most property, not the most successful or profitable businesses.
 This must be the session the General Assembly gets busy fixing this inequity. We can’t expect them to whip it entirely during the frenzy of a single session. But Iowans can expect them to launch a major process that culminates in reform.
 How major?
 The General Assembly established a Vision Iowa board and process to jump start billions in public improvements. It established a Values fund and board to incent high-tech businesses. Both were stunning successes.
 That’s the scale necessary to tackle the state’s property tax problems.
 Every property owner in Iowa is waiting. Read on.

Nothing happened.Iowa Legislature: Lawmakers Miles Apart on Fixing Tax System
By Dan Gearino, Quad City Times--January 1, 2006
 DES MOINES — Iowa lawmakers have big ideas for overhauling the state’s tax system, but they are pessimistic when asked whether such changes can happen in an election year.
 It does not help that the political parties remain miles apart on what tax reform should look like.
 Key lawmakers from both parties agree that property taxes are a growing impediment. But they are nowhere near agreement on how to fix the system.
 Rep. Jamie Van Fossen, R-Davenport, chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, plans to continue pushing his top priority — repealing the income tax on pensions — even though he realizes it may not get far in an election year.
 “I think it’s the right thing to do and I think the state can afford it,” Van Fossen said. See complete story here

State Orders Property Tax Equalizations
By Dan Gearino, Quad City Times--August 16, 2005
 DES MOINES — The Iowa Department of Revenue issued an order Monday requiring cities and counties to raise residential property valuations because current rates are out of step with true market value.
 Jackson County will see a 7 percent hike in residential property tax assessments. There is no change for homeowners in Cedar, Clinton, Louisa, Muscatine and Scott counties and the cities of Clinton and Davenport.
 But an increase in assessed property values doesn't directly translate into an increase in property taxes. The actual tax bills will depend on local government spending and the amount of this year's "rollback" — the state's limit on the annual rise of residential property taxes.
 The Department of Revenue makes the order every two years to comply with a state law requiring assessed property values in each city or county to be within 5 percent of actual selling prices of similar property.
 "If your assessor is doing a good job of keeping your assessed valuation where it should be in the market, you won't see a huge increase in this," said Rep. Jamie Van Fossen, R-Davenport, chairman of the tax-writing Ways and Means Committee. Read on.

Sales Tax Holiday will Draw a Crowd, But Many See Room for Improvement
By RC Balaban, Waterloo Courier--August 4, 2005
 WATERLOO --- Crowds are expected to flood clothing stores this weekend during Iowa's sixth sales tax holiday, where most clothing items priced under $100 are exempt from state and local sales and use taxes.
 Some stores are lengthening hours to accommodate the crowds. Some are adding merchandise or employees on staff.
 "We're going to see some heavy traffic," said Chad Scarbrough, assistant store manager at Super Target.
 "I think of it being for parents with school kids and I don't have any that age," Baker said.
 Iowa also has one of the most restrictive tax-free holidays when it comes to exempted items. Iowa is one of three states which restrict the holiday to just clothing, joining Texas and Connecticut.
 Attempts have been made to include additional items in the sales tax holiday. Rep. Jamie Van Fossen, R-Davenport, sponsored a bill to include computers in the list of tax-free items during the holiday. The bill cleared the house by a 65-35 vote in April, but did not make it out of the Senate. Read on.

Iowa, Illinois Economic Performance Diverging Sharply
By Jamie Van Fossen, Tax & Budget News- The Heartland Institute--August 1, 2005
 The Mississippi River is not the only thing that separates Iowa from Illinois. So does Iowa's economic performance.
 New U.S. government statistics show the Iowa economy is surging at a pace that leads the nation. Neighboring Illinois, by contrast, has some of the weakest economic performance in the region.
 Each state's economic performance can be attributed in large part to fiscal policy. Iowa's policy has been to restrain state spending and taxes, whereas Illinois has been sharply increasing government spending and tax rates. See complete story here.

Vilsack Questions Newton Tax Idea
By Tim Higgins, Des Moines Register--April 5, 2005
 A fast-moving measure to allow a proposed speedway in Newton to keep state sales tax generated at the facility hit its first patch of rough road on Monday.
 Gov. Tom Vilsack, while stressing he supports the project, questioned whether allowing the $70 million facility to capture up to $12.5 million of state sales tax revenue is the best way to help the project get started.
  Supporters, however, said the tax measure would help the state's economy and could serve as a model for other communities seeking similar incentives in the future.
 House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jamie Van Fossen, a Davenport Republican, said he planned to move forward with the bill, adding that the risk to the state was limited.
 "I don't think it is such a bad thing," he said. "If this project doesn't move forward, this law is moot."
See Complete story here.

Hip Shots
By Marc Radolfi, Quad City Times--April 1, 2005
Van Fossen explodes.
 Rep. Jamie Van Fossen's House floor conniption fit Wednesday was entirely out of line, except for its point. The blather on the House floor that day was about sex offender registries, boundaries and a lot of government busy work that do ...
 Bluster aside, he nailed it: “If we want to look at protecting our kids, we need to keep those perverts locked up in jail. We don’t need to put them on a Web site.”
 Well put. But spare the barroom epithets.
 See complete story here.

House OKs Beefed-Up Sex Offender Registry Laws
By Tim Higgins, Des Moines Register--March 31, 2005
 The day after a slain 10-year-old girl from Cedar Rapids was buried, state legislators broke into a political fight over whether they have appropriated enough money to protect the state's children from sex abusers.
 The argument occurred as the Iowa House rushed passage of legislation Wednesday to beef up laws involving convicted sex offenders.
  Rep. Jamie Van Fossen, a Republican from Davenport, visibly upset by the debate's tenor, lashed out at Democrats, accusing them of playing politics over the death of child.
 He said criticism that Republicans had improperly allocated money for the state's sex offender Web site was unfounded.
 "What does this database have to do with Jetseta getting killed this weekend?" Van Fossen asked at one point in the day. "Nobody knows. That's why this is a purely a political discussion.
 "If you want to look at protecting our kids, we need to keep these perverts locked up in jail. We don't need to put them on a Web site." See complete story here.

House Puts ‘Hammer’ Down on Sex Offenders
By Charlotte Eby, Quad City Times--March 31, 2005
 DES MOINES — The Iowa House moved swiftly Wednesday to put tight restrictions on sex offenders after a convicted sex offender was charged this week in the brutal kidnapping and slaying of a 10-year-old Cedar Rapids girl.
. Rep. Joe Hutter, R-Bettendorf, called the bill, passed unanimously by the House, “the hammer for sex offenders."
 The issue has been pushed to the forefront since the killing of Jetseta Gage last week. Prosecutors have charged Roger Paul Bentley, 37, of Brandon, Iowa, with first-degree murder and first-degree kidnapping in connection with the girl’s death.
 Rep. Jamie Van Fossen, R-Davenport, erupted with anger on the House floor during a break in the debate and accused Democrats of political gamesmanship.
.“If we want to look at protecting our kids, we need to keep these perverts locked up in jail. We don’t need to put them on a Web site,” he said.
.He rejected complaints from Democrats that the Web site is not reliable and does not have enough information about sex offenders to be meaningful to the public.
. “I’m not worried about some stupid Web site that not everybody even in this state has access to,” Van Fossen said.
 See complete story here.

Tax Deal for Track in Newton Finds Favor
By Tim Higgins and William Ryberg, Des Moines Register--March 26, 2005
 Legislation that would allow a proposed Newton race- car track to keep the state sales tax money it generates is finding a warm reception from key Iowa lawmakers.
 "I think the train has left" the station, said Sen. Matt McCoy, D-Des Moines, who is part of a subcommittee working on the proposal. "I think it is a done deal."
 The legislation was introduced in the House and Senate this week. The proposal would allow U.S. Motorsports Entertainment Corp. to retain a maximum of $12.5 million that customers of the race track would pay in sales taxes on tickets and concessions.
 Once that total is collected, sales taxes from the track would begin flowing into the state treasury.
 Rep. Jamie Van Fossen, R-Davenport, the chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, said he believes there is plenty of the support for the legislation. He predicted that the proposal should move forward from his committee within a week or two.
 "The proponents of the track have done their homework," he said. "They've done a good job of talking with leadership on both sides."
See complete story here.

Tax Power for Voters Clears First Hurdle
By Dan Gearino, Quad City Times--February 26, 2005
 DES MOINES — Iowa voters would gain the power to approve or reject large tax increases at the polls, according to a proposed constitutional amendment passed by an Iowa House committee.
.The proposed constitutional amendment would require voter approval when lawmakers approve tax hikes that would increase state revenue by more than 1 percent.
 It passed in the House Ways and Means Committee 14-9, with all Republicans voting in favor and all Democrats voting against.
. “It’s a good idea to give people more say in what their government does,” said Rep. Jamie Van Fossen, R-Davenport, the committee chairman. See complete story here.

House Panel Passes Tax Cut for the Elderly
By O. Kay Henderson, Radio Iowa--February 24, 2005
 A House committee has voted to cut taxes for the elderly. The bill that passed the House Ways and Means Committee would eliminate state income taxes on pension and Social Security income within five years. Representative Jamie Van Fossen, a republican from Davenport, says he doesn't want to give older Iowans another reason to move out of state. Van Fossen says Illinois doesn't charge taxes on pensions, and he's concerned that a lot of Quad City-area residents are moving across the border to escape Iowa taxes on their pension income. And Van Fossen says it's unfair to tax Social Security benefits. "It's letting people keep more of their own money," Van Fossen says. See complete story here.

Ways and Means Committee Working on a New State Budget
By Dean Borg, Iowa Public TV/ Iowa Press--February 17, 2005
 Borg: IOWA LAWMAKERS ARE WORKING ON A NEW STATE BUDGET AND REVENUE TO FUND IT. GETTING THAT REVENUE IS CALLED WAYS AND MEANS. WE'LL QUESTION WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE CHAIRS JAMIE VAN FOSSEN OF DAVENPORT AND JOE BOLKCOM OF IOWA CITY ON THIS EDITION OF "IOWA PRESS."
 Borg: NICE TO HAVE YOU HERE. AND ACROSS THE IOWA PRESS TABLE: "DES MOINES REGISTER" POLITICAL COLUMNIST DAVID YEPSEN AND "ASSOCIATED PRESS" SENIOR POLITICAL WRITER MIKE GLOVER.
 Glover: REPRESENTATIVE VAN FOSSEN, LET'S START WITH YOU, AND I DON'T REALLY WANT TO HEAR THE ARGUMENTS FOR OR AGAINST THE CIGARETTE TAX. YOU'VE BEEN AROUND THE LEGISLATURE FOR A WHILE. IS IT GOING TO PASS THIS YEAR? Van Fossen: I THINK THAT IF WE LOOK AT, YOU KNOW, WHAT HAS GONE ON IN THE PAST THAT THIS YEAR WOULD PROBABLY BE MORE OF A PERSPECTIVE YEAR WHERE IT COULD POSSIBLY PASS. See complete story here.

Cigarette Tax Hike Draws Fire
By Ed Tibbetts, Quad City Times--February 4, 2005
 If Gov. Tom Vilsack’s plan to triple the state’s cigarette tax becomes law, it will vault Iowa’s tobacco tax from one of the lowest in the country to one of the highest. Die-hard smokers and convenience store owners might not like that, but Lt. Gov. Sally Pederson said during a visit to the Quad-Cities that the plan will avert cuts in health-care services and stop 4,000 people in Scott County from smoking.
 Critics say the proposed tax hike will stanch the flow of Illinoisans who started coming across the Mississippi River to buy cigarettes — and other goods — after the state Legislature in Springfield boosted cigarette taxes by 40 cents a pack three years ago.
 Sen. Maggie Tinsman, R-Bettendorf, said she supports the plan. Rep. Joe Hutter, R-Bettendorf, said he, too, could support a cigarette tax increase but has not yet decided at what level. However, Rep. Jamie Van Fossen, R-Davenport, said he is opposed.
. “My concern’s for the gasoline station owners and convenience store owners and the smokers who may be economically affected by this,” he (Van Fossen) added. He also doubts that lower gasoline prices will keep customers in Iowa because the difference in those prices is not as great as the governor’s proposal to increase cigarette taxes. See Complete story here.
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Reaction Mixed to Under-30 Tax Cut in Iowa
By Mike Glover , Omaha World Herald--January 27, 2005
 DES MOINES (AP) - A proposal to eliminate state income taxes for everyone younger than 30 was greeted with skepticism Wednesday by lawmakers in both parties and mixed reviews from Iowa's young people.
 "Do we really think that a lot of people between 20 and 30 make a decision about where to live based on taxes?" said Rep. Jamie Van Fossen, R-Davenport. "Not a lot of those people pay a lot of taxes."
 Van Fossen heads the tax-writing House Ways and Means Committee, which must approve any tax changes, and he made it clear he is moving in a different direction.
 Senate Republicans on Tuesday called for the elimination of state income taxes for everyone under 30 as part of a series of proposals aimed at improving the state's economy. Few were willing to dismiss the proposal out of hand, but many pointed to the projected $200 million cost of the proposal, arguing that there are other places to spend that money...
 Van Fossen said the state needs to take advantage of its family-friendly climate.
 "Let people go to California and have some fun," said Van Fossen. "When they're in their 30s and thinking about raising some kids, then they can move back here when they're making some real money."
 His committee is considering a proposal to eliminate state income taxes on pension income and Social Security benefits, a $100 million cost phased in over five years.
 "That's far more effective," Van Fossen said. Complete story here.

Vilsack to Outline Goals this Morning
By Todd Dorman, Mason City Globe Gazette--January 11, 2005
 DES MOINES — Gov. Tom Vilsack will deliver his vision for the state's economic future this morning to an Iowa Legislature where members already are busy crafting their own growth ideas.
 Vilsack, a Democrat, will give his Condition of the State address at 10 a.m. and is expected to outline bold plans for education, health care and an array of other areas.
 "Everybody's waiting for the details," said Senate President Jack Kibbie, D-Emmetsburg.
 Legislators say they are interested in hearing Vilsack's plans for rebuilding the Iowa Values Fund and for spurring economic growth. They argue efforts to help schools and fix health care programs won't work unless a healthy economy provides enough tax dollars to pay the bills....
 Rep. Jamie Van Fossen, R-Davenport, filed legislation in the House — House File 2 — that would phase out the state income tax on pensions and Social Security income. Complete story here.

Looking for work in 2005
By Ed Tibbetts, Quad City Times--January 8, 2005
 The Christmas tree has been tossed to the curb, the New Year’s champagne drunk. Now, the serious political types in the Quad-Cities are beginning to consider what their futures hold.
 Most of Iowa’s political class is waiting to see how Iowa’s 2006 gubernatorial primaries will shape up. But now that U.S. Rep. Jim Nussle, R-Iowa, has filed organizational papers to run for governor, his strongest signal yet that he’ll mount a candidacy, the jockeying for position among the people hoping to replace him in Congress will pick up.
 Meanwhile, a couple of new names have surfaced. Iowa Rep. Bill Dix, R-Shell Rock, is being mentioned as a possible contender. And Brian Hook of Bettendorf, who is assistant counsel to President Bush in the White House, is said to be interested.
 Rep. Jamie Van Fossen, R-Davenport, is also thinking about it.
 On the Democratic side, Bruce Braley of Waterloo, a former president of the Iowa Trial Lawyers Association, is exploring a run. Bill Gluba, the Davenport Realtor who lost to Nussle last year, has already said he’ll run.
See story here.

Utility Bills to see Decrease
By Dan Gearino, Quad City Times--January 2, 2005
 DES MOINES — Iowa taxpayers will open up lower heating bills because effective Saturday, sales tax on residential utilities dropped from 2 percent to 1 percent.
 In the early months of 2001, Iowa was suffering through an unusually cold winter and unusually high costs for heating fuel. Those high bills were boosted by the state’s 5 percent sales tax.
 The Republican-controlled Legislature considered a temporary repeal of the sales tax on utilities. A Democrat sought to amend the bill to eliminate the tax altogether. Republicans came back with a plan — ultimately approved — to phase out the tax over five years.
 The amended bill presented problems and opportunities for both parties. Most Republicans liked the idea of a tax cut, but some wanted cuts in other areas that would be a greater boon to the economy. Most Democrats liked the idea of reducing heating costs, but some thought the aid should be targeted at people with low incomes.
 “I think it was the right thing to do. We should have considered it many years in the past,” said Rep. Jamie Van Fossen, R-Davenport. See complete story here.

Cheney says Bush will Help Win the War
By Ed Tibbetts, Quad City Times--October 31, 2004
 Vice President Dick Cheney made what may be the last Quad-City appearance of the four men running for president and vice president in the 2004 campaign Saturday, telling a cheering crowd at the RiverCenter in Davenport that President Bush has a plan for winning the war on terror and his opponent, U.S. Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., does not.
 Cheney also mentioned the videotape message of Osama bin Laden, which was aired Friday.
 “It’s a reminder that we’re engaged in a global war on terror. This is a conflict we did not choose, but it is one that we will win,” Cheney said.
 Inside, supporters watched on a large screen as the motorcade made its way through downtown Davenport’s streets, and they cheered as it got closer and closer to the convention hall.
 Before it arrived, Rep. Jamie Van Fossen, R-Davenport, told the crowd that 300 volunteers had been out Saturday knocking on doors and making phone calls. And, at one point, he raised the prospect that a Kerry presidency might mean the appointment of U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., to the Supreme Court.
 “Thanks, I won’t sleep tonight,” one man shouted. See complete story here.

Davenport’s House 81 Race is Classic Match-up
By Deirdre Cox Baker, Quad City Times--October 24, 2004
 A classic match up in Iowa’s 81st District pits one man whose family reaches back several generations in Davenport against a newcomer who specifically picked Davenport as a place to live and raise a family.
 Incumbent Republican Jamie Van Fossen faces off against challenger Alan Guard, a Democrat, for the seat in the Iowa House of Representatives. Van Fossen traces his family history back many decades in Davenport, while Guard and his family moved to the area in the late 1990s.
 Both men tout their financial expertise: Van Fossen is chairman of the Ways and Means Committee in the House and an economic analyst for MidAmerican Energy Co. Guard is budget manager for Davenport and vice president of the Davenport School Board.
 Van Fossen’s emphasis is taxes, and how to lower them. If re-elected, he said he will examine cutting personal income taxes and also try to lower taxes on commercial businesses. Other ideas are to reduce the number of Iowa’s cities, counties and school districts, and to pass a constitutional amendment concerning taxpayer rights. See complete story here.

Q-C Faithful Watch Their Candidates Spar Friday
By Tom Geyer, Quad City Times--October 9, 2004
 The roughly 30 Scott County Republicans who gathered at the Davenport headquarters Friday night to watch the second debate between President Bush and U.S. Sen. John Kerry were breathing easier as they watched their candidate come out seemingly better-prepared and more confident.
 “I was disappointed with the president’s first performance,” said Rep. Jamie Van Fossen of Davenport, who is running to maintain his seat in the Iowa Legislature against Democratic challenger Alan Guard of Davenport.
 As they watched, GOP volunteers stuffed envelopes for an upcoming mailing.
 “Bush did a good job in the last debate answering questions, but I don’t think he really got his point across,” Van Fossen said. “Clearly the town hall meeting forum is Bush’s best battleground.
 “I feel a lot better today,” he said. See complete story here.

Iowa GOP: Bush speech rocked
By Charlotte Eby, Waterloo Courier--September 3, 2004
NEW YORK --- Some of Iowa's most dedicated Republican activists, gathered in New York this week to nominate George W. Bush once again, praised the president for his acceptance speech Thursday which focused on his plans if he is elected to a second term.
 Jamie Van Fossen, of Davenport, serving as an alternate delegate at the convention, like Bush's calls for reforms of the tax code, making recent tax cuts permanent and ending "lawsuit abuse."
 "He really laid out a plan," Van Fossen said. "He said he was going to talk about what he was going to do in the future, and that's what I was looking for.
 See complete story here.

Convention notebook
By Charlotte Eby, Quad City Times--August 30, 2004
 Editor’s note: Quad City Times Des Moines Bureau staff writer Charlotte Eby is in New York City this week covering the Iowa and Illinois delegations at the Republican National Convention. Daily, in addition to coverage of floor activities, she’ll introduce you to the delegates, compile a reporter’s notebook of convention snippets and in “Postcards from New York,” give Times readers a feel for what it’s like in the Big Apple.
  State lawmaker Jamie Van Fossen of Davenport didn’t want to let Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack’s criticisms of President Bush go unanswered this week during the Republican National Convention.
 Vilsack is in New York helping the Democratic National Committee lead the charge against the Republican convention message.
 But Van Fossen, an alternate delegate, will be posting his own response to Vilsack on his Web site, www.jamievanfossen.com, while he is in New York.
 He’s especially upset that Vilsack has been criticizing Bush’s economic record. Van Fossen points to what he says is a low unemployment rate in Iowa and big boosts in personal income.
 “They talk about the disaster of George Bush, but I don’t see what disaster the governor’s going to talk about,” Van Fossen said.
 See complete story here.

Van Fossen to Introduce Laptop Bill
By Charlotte Eby, Quad City Times--August 7, 2004

Congress Debates Limits on State Business Activity Taxes
By Chris Atkins, Budget & Tax News Vol.2 Num.6-- July, 2004
 Congress is debating legislation that would limit state attempts to collect taxes from out-of-state businesses. A hearing before a subcommittee of the House Judiciary Committee in May revealed fierce opposition by state tax officials to the proposed limits, but also strong support from business spokespersons and advocates of federalism.
  HR 3220 was heard in the Subcommittee on Commercial and Administrative Law of the House Judiciary Committee on May 13, 2004. Several groups representing state or local governments, including the National Governors Association (NGA), National League of Cities (NLC), and Multistate Tax Commission (MTC), condemned the bill.
 One of the witnesses at the hearing, Iowa State Representative Jamie Van Fossen (R-Davenport), testified in support of HR 3220 saying it is consistent with federalism and would be good for state and local governments.
 "Federalism, like the separation of powers, is a tool we use to limit government's power and enhance the liberty of our citizens," Van Fossen said. "Whenever state government goes beyond the powers given to it by the people and the Constitution, such as when a state tries to impose taxes on businesses located outside its jurisdiction, we should not hide behind the mantra of federalism and excuse such action."
 Van Fossen also took issue with claims HR 3220 would cause state revenue loss. "(Congress is) not forced, as the opponents of this bill claim, to choose between public schools and corporate profits," said Van Fossen. "Rather, (Congress is) going to decide whether federalism is a two-way street, granting license to states as well as restricting state power outside its own borders. Enacting legislation like HR 3220 is the best medicine Congress can prescribe for healthy state economies." See complete story here.
 

Tax Cut Bargain May be Possible
By Jonathan Roos, Des Moines Register--June 23, 2004
 Talk of a compromise over tax cuts appears to be growing louder as Gov. Tom Vilsack and legislative leaders consider a possible special legislative session.
 At a minimum, lawmakers would restore the Grow Iowa Values Fund, which was nullified by an Iowa Supreme Court ruling last week. But partisan discussions continue over what else lawmakers might do.
 Some Republican leaders acknowledged Tuesday they are unlikely to get anywhere with Vilsack, a Democrat, if they try again to pass a $310 million income tax cut that he vetoed a year ago. So they are looking at alternatives, such as a smaller tax reduction, a delayed cut, or some other form of tax relief that would help give Iowa businesses a shot in the arm.
 One possibility is having the state match a change in federal tax laws by allowing businesses a speedier tax write-off for new equipment.
 "I think it's a good idea to have a $300 million (income tax) cut, if not more. But do we have to compromise? I think it's quite possible," said Rep. Jamie Van Fossen, a Davenport Republican who heads the House's tax policy committee.
 "We don't want to be seen as obstructionists to economic development," Van Fossen said. See story here.
 

Tax-writing Committee Chair calls Governor Vilsack "Arrogant"
By O. Kay Henderson, Radio Iowa--June 17, 2004
 The head of the tax-writing committee in the Iowa House is doing a verbal victory dance after the Iowa Supreme Court ruled democrat Governor Tom Vilsack did not have the authority to ax the GOP's tax cuts out of a bill that passed the Legislature last year. Representative Jamie Van Fossen is a democrat from Davenport. Van Fossen says "this is the state of Iowa, not the Kingdom of Vilsack." During a meeting at the statehouse today, Van Fossen called Vilsack "arrogant" and Van Fossen said he would insist that the Legislature again force Vilsack to consider tax cuts. See story here.

Iowan to Testify About Taxes in Washington
By Matt Kelley, Radio Iowa--May 13, 2004
 An Iowa state legislator is in Washington D.C. today to testify about taxes before a Congressional panel. Representative Jamie Van Fossen, a republican from Davenport, will be addressing what's called the Business Activity Tax Simplification Act of 2003, which he hopes will pass. Van Fossen, who chairs the Iowa House Ways and Means Committee, says the legislation deals with taxing interstate commerce. He says "It puts a bright line standard for businesses located or not located in a state...and defines physical presence." Van Fossen is chairman of the Tax and Fiscal Policy Task Force of the American Legislative Exchange Council. See the complete story here.

Cannon Subcommittee Hearing Thursday on Legislation Clarifying When Business Activity Taxes Can Be Levied-Van Fossen to Testify
U.S. House Subcommittee on Commercial and Administrative Law--May 13, 2004
What: Legislative Hearing on H.R. 3220, “the Business Activity Tax Simplification Act of 2003"
Who: Subcommittee on Commercial and Administrative Law - Rep. Chris Cannon (R-Utah), Chairman
When: 2:00 p.m., Thursday, May 13, 2004
Where: 2141 Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, D.C.
 H.R. 3220 would create a bright-line physical presence nexus requirement in order for states to collect net income taxes or other business activity taxes (“BATs”) on multistate enterprises. This legislation would amend a Public Law enacted in 1959 which prohibits states from imposing taxes on the net income of interstate sellers of tangible personal property if the only business activity within the state consists of the solicitation of certain sales orders.

Van Fossen to Testify Before Congressional Sub-Committee
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Wednesday, May 12, 2004 (MS Word)

Senate Offers New Casino Money Plan
By Lynn Okamoto and Johnathan Roos, Des Moines Register--April 8, 2004
 Frustrated with the lack of progress in trying to reach an agreement with racetracks in an ongoing tax dispute, Senate Republicans on Wednesday unveiled a plan that includes higher tax rates and a one-time fee for all state-licensed casinos totaling $160 million.
 One House leader quickly shot down the Senate plan as penalizing riverboats. Rep. Jamie Van Fossen, a Davenport Republican who's chairman of the tax-writing House Ways and Means Committee, predicted the plan would not get the 51 votes needed for House passage.
 "This is not part of the deal," Van Fossen said. "I think it's disturbing that the boats would pay higher rate. I don't know why they should be punished for a lawsuit brought by the tracks."
See Complete story here.

Van Fossen Kicks Off Campaign for Re-election
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE--Thursday March 18, 2004 (Adobe PDF 110KB)

GOP Leader May Allow Vote on Tax Increases
By Lynn Okamoto, Des Moines Register--March 5, 2004
 The chairman of the tax-writing House Ways and Means Committee said Thursday he was willing to bring Gov. Tom Vilsack's proposed tax increases to a vote, but Democrats criticized it as a political move.
 "We've talked about having a fair hearing in Ways and Means on the tax portion of the bill," said Rep. Jamie Van Fossen, a Davenport Republican. "I want to see if it has support."
 Van Fossen and other Republicans said they want to see whether Democrats will support the bill proposed by the governor, a move blasted by Democratic leaders. See complete story here.

Yepsen: State Tax Tactic Even Shocks a Cynic Like Me
By David Yepsen, Des Moines Register--March 4, 2004
 Top state officials said this week they want to stop Iowa's practice of withholding more money than it needs from workers' paychecks. The only question is when they can do it.
 Gov. Tom Vilsack said in an interview Tuesday he was unaware the state is taking far more than it needs from taxpayers to cover the taxes they'll owe.
 "It's obviously a problem. We need to address it. This concerns me," he said. And the two legislators who head the tax-writing Ways and Means committees in the Iowa Legislature said they want to meet with state tax officials to see if legislation is needed. State Senator Larry McKibben, a Marshalltown Republican, and State Representative Jamie Van Fossen, a Davenport Republican, said the practice is wrong.
 "Some people like having that little refund, but I don't want these guys to have my money any longer than they have to," Van Fossen said. "We're going to be looking at this." See complete story here.

Gambling Debate Gets Early Start
By Barb Ickes, Quad City Times--February 1, 2004
 About 50 Quad-Citians got a two-day jump Saturday on a gambling debate that is supposed to begin Monday in Des Moines.
 A local legislative forum at St. Ambrose University may have given lawmakers an idea of what they can expect as they consider gambling expansion in the state.
 Rep. Joe Hutter, R-Bettendorf, said the stakes are awfully high at a time when new revenue opportunities are as good as gold in Iowa. He asked those opposed to expanded gambling whether they could truly pass up a potential jackpot.
 Rep. Jim Van Fossen, R-Davenport, said the state’s experience with riverboat gambling has been good so far and said he hasn’t seen some of the early worries about gambling come to pass, such as organized crime.
  While Hutter said he has not decided yet how he will come down on expanded gambling, Rep. Jamie Van Fossen, R-Davenport, hinted that it will be difficult for lawmakers to pass up the millions of dollars that are likely to come with more riverboat casinos.
 “We’re hooked on gambling, just like we’re hooked on smoking,” he said. “There will be a gambling debate. We’re hooked on the money.” See complete story here.

Cigarette-tax increase met with skepticism
 By Charlotte Eby, Quad City Times-- January 14, 2004
 DES MOINES — Some state lawmakers are skeptical of a proposal floated Tuesday by Gov. Tom Vilsack to raise cigarette taxes 60 cents a pack, arguing that a tax hike could hurt Iowa retailers, especially in border towns.
 Vilsack proposed increasing the cigarette tax during his Condition of the State address as a way to raise $126 million a year to pay for state health-care programs for the poor, senior citizens and children.
 But many Republican lawmakers say that increasing the cigarette tax could hurt store owners in Iowa’s border towns, such as those in the Quad-City region, where cigarettes are sold at lower prices than in some surrounding states like Illinois.
 Raising Iowa’s tax to 96 cents per pack would change that. Only Illinois, with a 98-cent rate, would have a higher cigarette tax among adjacent states.
 Rep. Jamie Van Fossen, R-Davenport, said cities such as Davenport could see a significant loss of business if such a tax hike is enacted. He said it simply would encourage people buying cigarettes in Iowa to do so in other states or over the Internet.
 “They’ll circumvent our taxes,” said Van Fossen, the chairman of the tax-writing Ways and Means committee in the House.
 He disagrees that the state’s revenue problems justify a tax increase this year.
“Give government more money and it will waste it. I’m fighting for the family budget, not the government budget,” he said. See the complete story.

Both sides criticize cigarette tax idea
By Lynn Okamoto and Tom Witosky, Des Moines Register-- January 14, 2004
  Gov. Tom Vilsack's proposal Tuesday to increase the state's cigarette tax to 96 cents a pack - above the rates of neighboring states Minnesota, Missouri and Nebraska - left both supporters and opponents of the idea dissatisfied.
 "I never thought it was correct to penalize one segment of people to balance the budget," said Mike Pratt, manager of the Tobacco Outlet in Bettendorf.
 Pratt said because Iowa's current tax of 36 cents a pack is much lower than Illinois' tax of 98 cents a pack, people cross the border to buy cigarettes in Iowa. Increasing Iowa's tax would take away that incentive.
 Republican lawmakers said if Iowa increases its cigarette tax, it would not only see a drop in cigarette sales, but also a drop in sales of products like bread that customers buy at the same time.
 Rep. Jamie Van Fossen, R-Davenport, had a spreadsheet showing that when Nebraska raised its cigarette tax to 64 cents in October 2002, cigarette sales at Omaha convenience stores dropped, while sales in Council Bluffs increased. See complete story here.

Legislative Session Gets Rough Quickly
By Todd Dorman and Charlotte Eby, Quad City Times-- January 13, 2004
 DES MOINES — Iowa lawmakers had barely settled into their seats Monday before widening partisan divisions and dire budget warnings from Gov. Tom Vilsack took the shine off a brand-new 2004 legislative session.
 Republicans who control the House and Senate welcomed a new session “filled with promise.’’ But Democrats complained of a “broken Legislature’’ that threatens to shortchange critical programs. Vilsack warned that the fate of teachers, students and others who depend on state dollars hangs in the balance.
 “I hope that we can focus on what’s going right in Iowa and try to build on those things,’’ said House Speaker Christopher Rants, R-Sioux City, who pointed to new power plants, tourism attractions and higher achievement test scores.
 Rep. Don Shoultz, D-Waterloo, said that unless lawmakers look at some ways of increasing taxes, the state will have a difficult time funding its priorities.
 “I think we have to have a revenue adjustment,” he said.
 But Rep. Jamie Van Fossen, R-Davenport, said he will push for a constitutional amendment requiring a statewide vote on tax hikes.
 “Folks were asking me back home what’s going to go on (this session), and I said I’m going to spend most of my time stopping tax increases,” added Van Fossen, who chairs the tax-writing House Ways and Means Committee.
 “We’ve heard gnashing of teeth over the last two years when we’ve had to cut the budget to balance the budget. We don’t want to increase taxes in an economy that’s starting to grow; we don't want to cut it off at the knees,” Van Fossen said. See story here. 

Vilsack Letter Outlines Budget Pickle
By Lynn Okamoto, Des Moines Register-- January 13, 2004
 Gov. Tom Vilsack hinted Monday in a letter to Iowa legislators that he will propose a tax increase today when he makes his annual speech on the condition of the state.
 "With no new revenue, this budget does not fund prior commitments that have been made, or the education, health and safety priorities of Iowans," said Vilsack, who will unveil the concepts of his proposal today and details of his spending plan Friday.
  "Even a discussion about raising taxes is the wrong message to be sending to the people of Iowa," said Senate President-elect Jeff Lamberti, an Ankeny Republican.
 "We must resist the shortsighted temptation of increasing the tax burden on the very same Iowans we are trying to keep in our state," said House Majority Leader Chuck Gipp, a Decorah Republican. "Instead, we must do what Iowa families and business always do - live within present revenues and establish spending priorities."
 * UTILITY TAX: Lawmakers got right to work on fixing a problem caused by Vilsack's item vetoes of an economic stimulus package last June.
 Soaring heating bills led Vilsack and lawmakers to approve a law in February 2001 that would eliminate the 5 percent state sales tax on natural gas, propane, heating oil and electricity over five years. The savings would amount to $10 on a $200 bill, or $15 on a $300 bill.
 The tax is now at 2 percent. But Vilsack's veto last June had the effect of repealing the utility tax phase-out. That means the tax would go back to 5 percent on July 1, causing the state to take in $63 million more in tax receipts next fiscal year.
 A bill introduced Monday and assigned to a subcommittee in the House Ways and Means Committee (Reps. Van Fossen, Kramer and Shoultz) would ensure that Iowans see that savings instead. It is expected to be one of the first bills lawmakers approve this year. See entire story here.

Leave Bigger Cushion in Budget, Expert Says
By Lynn Okamoto, Des Moines Register-- September 24, 2003
 Amid a $63.9 million state budget shortfall and cries for revamping the way Iowa predicts its revenues, one of the state's top fiscal experts on Tuesday blamed lawmakers for spending too much and not leaving enough room for error.
 "There's no cushion allowed for us, the Revenue Estimating Conference, to miss," said Dennis Prouty, director of the Legislative Services Agency and a member of the panel that estimates state revenues. "A lot of it hinges on what you have for an ending balance as a cushion."
 State Auditor David Vaudt and Rep. Jamie Van Fossen, a Davenport Republican who's chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, on Tuesday called for changing the amount lawmakers and the governor can spend according to state law. The governor can item-veto spending that exceeds the limit.
 Van Fossen said the state should limit spending to 98 percent of revenues, instead of 99 percent.
See complete story here.

See Jamie's Summer 2003 Session Wrap-Up Tabloid Here.
See Jamie's Summer 2003 Session Wrap-Up Tabloid Here. 
(Adobe PDF 114KB)

Forum
Crisis in State Spending
By C-Span, American Legislative Exchange Council, Washington, D. C.--August 5, 2003

 
Vedder, Richard, Professor, Ohio University, Economics
Van Fossen, Jamie, State Representative, R, Iowa
Smith, Bill, Director, Pfizer, Inc., Government Relations
Eggers, William, Director, Deloitte Research
Williams, Bob, President, Evergreen Freedom Foundation
Currah, Tom, Assistant Manager, E-Texas

 This American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) workshop, "Crisis in State Spending", will help lawmakers respond to 2004 deficits in a Jeffersonian fashion.
 Participants talked about management of state budgets and levels of state spending on public services. Among the topics they addressed were health care spending, reducing duplication of services, cost reduction measures, and budget management. Following their remarks they answered questions from the audience. For more information click here.

Safe plan: Blame it All on the Other Guy
By Ed Tibbetts, Quad City Times--July 19, 2003
 Politicians at the Iowa Statehouse may want to pay close attention to what’s happening at Davenport City Hall these days.
 Gov. Tom Vilsack and the Legislature dropped a budget bomb on cities at the end of the 2003 session, cutting back state aid and labeling it a “government-reinvention” plan.
 Funny thing is, this has been talked about for years. Yet nobody at City Hall ever stepped up and did it, mainly because they lacked the political courage to go to voters and say they were going to jack up their taxes to pay for a service citizens already were getting.
 I’d be surprised, in fact, if the City Council didn’t name the new garbage fee after the Legislature.
 I mean, they did that with the recycling fee. And because Rep. Jamie Van Fossen, R-Davenport, has been taking it on the chin for the woes of cities across the state, it wouldn’t be a stretch to see the garbage fee named after him personally. One alderman already has suggested that.
 Of course, if it happens, Van Fossen could petition the state to name the state sales tax holiday for back-to-school shopping after him. Fair is fair, right? See complete story here.

House Set to Wind up Work on Economic, Tax measures
By Lynn Okamoto, Des Moines Register--June 4, 2003
  The Iowa House was poised late Tuesday night to approve a compromise plan for a $503 million economic development fund and changes in the state's tax systems and business regulations.
 However, as of 9:30 p.m., lawmakers had not yet started debate as they waited for amendments to be drafted. Republican leaders could say only that they thought they had the 51 votes to pass the legislation.
 The compromise plan is similar to one approved by the Senate last week on a party-line 29-21 vote. It creates the $503 million fund by using money from a federal economic stimulus package, as well as sales tax money on Internet and catalog sales.
 Legislative leaders said Tuesday that they had adjusted the plan to reduce and simplify personal income taxes so that it would reduce state revenues a maximum of $310 million. An analysis released Monday suggested that eventual revenue loss would instead be about $400 million.
 "That has been rectified," Iverson said.
 Rep. Jamie Van Fossen, a Davenport Republican who is chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, said the average state income tax cut would be less than the 17 percent approved by the Senate. Rants said the plan would have no cost in the first two years, but would have a net reduction of $238 million by fiscal 2008. See complete story here.

Lawmakers return to work on Economic Development Plan
By O. Kay Henderson, Radio Iowa--June 3, 2003
 Iowa lawmakers return to the statehouse today for what has become a last-ditch effort to approve a half-a-billion dollar state economic development fund. A small group of Republican lawmakers worked late into the night trying to reach a compromise G-O-P members of the House and Senate could live with, but bickering over how much to spend on business loans versus marketing versus parks and recreation could cause things to unravel today. Another kink came when lawmakers discovered the 300-million dollar income tax cut the Senate passed may actually amount to 500-million dollars. Jamie Van Fossen, one of the negotiators for the House, says that's a major stumbling block. Van Fossen says some lawmakers may not be able to vote for a 500-million dollar income tax cut because they believe that's too large a number. Jeff Lamberti, one of the negotiators for the Senate, says the whole deal's pretty precarious. See story here.

It's Now or Never for Economy Deal
By Lynn Okamoto, Des Moines Register--June 2,2003
 Five months of negotiations over reinvigorating Iowa's economy could all boil down to today.
 After taking a break for the weekend, lawmakers have scheduled three key negotiating sessions for today that will determine whether a deal is reached, and whether the Legislature will resume its special session Tuesday.
 A group of six Republicans hammering out the details on a $503 million economic-development fund meets at 10 a.m. today.
  A second group of six Republicans, this one working on a simplification of the state's income-tax system, has scheduled a meeting for 4 p.m. today.
 Rep. Jamie Van Fossen, a Davenport Republican, said lawmakers are very near a deal. He said there's already agreement to changes in business regulations and property taxes. He said only "minor changes" are needed in the income-tax plan.
 Most differences on income taxes were bridged when the Senate agreed with the House to hinge the elimination of federal deductibility on passage of a constitutional amendment making it harder for the Legislature to raise taxes. However, lawmakers have yet to meet Gov. Tom Vilsack's requirement that the state experience no loss in revenue. See complete story here.

Effects of Tax Cuts Stir Debate in Iowa
By Jonathan Roos, Des Moines Register--May 20, 2003
 Iowa lawmakers are on the verge of approving major reductions in Iowans' income taxes despite criticism that the proposed changes won't spark the state's economy as promised.
 Personal income taxes would be lowered by $685 million annually under a House-approved plan. Senate Republicans have proposed eliminating major tax deductions in exchange for reduced rates, resulting in an estimated revenue loss of $310 million per year, according to the nonpartisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau.
 Critics question whether the plans to reduce and simplify personal income taxes would do much to make Iowa more competitive with other states in the quest for jobs and businesses.
 "If you let people keep more of their money, you will see the economy grow," said Rep. Jamie Van Fossen, a Davenport Republican who heads the House's tax policy committee...
 "The one leg of the stool that's really missing is that our income tax is really too high," Van Fossen said...
 Republicans say they can point to studies showing that taxes do matter. Van Fossen points to competition from Illinois as one reason to improve Iowa's tax climate.
 "Illinois has a flat 3 percent tax and they have no pension tax and we see people moving over to Illinois for those reasons," he said. Complete story here.

Time for Local Governments to be Part of Solution
See Jamie's QC Times Guest Column on Gov. Reinvention--May 14, 2003(251KB Adobe)
  Since the passage of the re-invention savings bill, those of us who supported that legislation have been subject to intense criticism. See story here.

Van Fossen and McKibben on Iowa Press
By Iowa Public Television (transcript), April 6, 2003
 Sen. Larry McKibben (R-Marshalltown) and Rep. Jamie Van Fossen (R-Davenport) are the guests on this week's Iowa Press. The program aired Friday, April 4 at 6:30 p.m. and Sunday, April 6 at noon. The legislators  discussed tax reform measures currently under review at the Iowa General Assembly.
 Joining McKibben and Van Fossen at the Iowa Press table are moderator David Yepsen, Mike Glover, senior political writer for the Associated Press, and Kay Henderson, news director for Radio Iowa.
 Now in its 30th season, Iowa Press each Sunday explores the issues and discusses the topical events affecting the lives of Iowans. The news makers, the policy makers and the elected official behind the story join in the weekly half-hour discussion. View transcript of the program here.

Proposal Aims to Repeal Property Tax Code by 2005
By Kahtie Obradovich, Quad City Times-- April 4, 2003
  DES MOINES — Republican legislative leaders announced Thursday that they plan to push for legislation to replace the state’s complex property-tax system with a streamlined model by 2005.
 Gov. Tom Vilsack, a Democrat, challenged lawmakers in his Condition of the State message to set a date for repealing the property tax system and replacing it with a simpler, fairer one.
 A group of five House Republicans said Thursday they would do just that, proposing legislation to repeal the property tax code by 2005.
 “This group’s done exciting work — as far as I know there’s no proposal that’s like this,” said Rep. Jamie Van Fossen, R-Davenport, who heads the House tax-writing committee.
 He said Iowans would not necessarily pay lower taxes under the plan, but they would have a clear understanding of which taxing body is responsible for any increases. Complete story here.

Banks go Toe to Toe with Credit Unions
By David Elbert, Des Moines Register--March 11, 2003
 Iowa's credit unions and banks are squaring off this week at the Iowa Statehouse over a proposal to place an income tax on the state's six largest credit unions.
 An estimated 1,000 credit union members went to the Capitol Monday to oppose the tax, and the Iowa Bankers Association planned to bring several hundred supporters to Des Moines today to lobby for it.
 Gov. Tom Vilsack spoke at Monday's rally with state Rep. James Van Fossen, the Republican chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, and Democratic state Sen. Michael Gronstal, the minority leader. Van Fossen and Gronstal drew cheers when they displayed their own credit union cards.
 The credit unions that would be affected by the tax are larger than 90 percent of the banks in Iowa and in many ways act like banks now, said John Sorenson, Iowa Bankers Association president. The idea behind the proposal, he said, is to put all such institutions on equal footing.
 Rep. Brad Hansen, the Republican chairman of the House Commerce Committee, said Van Fossen's opposition to the bill made it unlikely that the tax-writing Ways and Means Committee would approve such a plan. See full report here.

Iowa Bill Would Boost Accountability to Taxpayers
By Kathie Obradovich, Quad City Times--February 20, 2003
 Saying they are tired of being blamed for property-tax increases, Republican members of a House tax-writing committee unveiled a series of five bills aimed at increasing local officials’ accountability to taxpayers.
 “I get upset in the election cycle when people say we raised property taxes,” said Rep. Jamie Van Fossen, a Davenport Republican who is the chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee.
 Van Fossen said a bill that would require notification of taxpayers if their county is maintaining a large ending-fund balance also could have the effect of lowering property taxes by applying pressure to local officials to justify the need for the nest egg. See complete story here.

Bills planned to Inform Property Taxpayers
By Lynn Okamoto, Des Moines Register--February 20, 2003
 Iowa lawmakers, tired of being blamed for increasing property taxes they don't control, proposed five measures on Wednesday that they said will heighten taxpayer awareness and increase the accountability of officials.
 "We're going to come up with initiatives and reforms that will change that, and put the blame or reason where it belongs: at the local level," said Rep. Jamie Van Fossen, a Davenport Republican who is chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee. See complete story here.

Iowa's Republican Leaders Unveil Tax Proposals
BY AP, WHO TV 13 Des Moines February 19, 2003
Des