Iowa voters approved a constitutional amendment requiring a two-thirds vote in both chambers of the Iowa Legislature to raise state income tax rates or establish a new state income tax.
Unofficial results show Amendment One received 686,939 yes votes, or 56.25 percent, compared with 534,258 no votes, or 43.75 percent.
The requirement applies to Iowa’s personal and corporate income taxes. Passing an increase would require support from at least 67 of the 100 members of the Iowa House and 34 of the 50 state senators.
Republican State Representative Skyler Wheeler of Hull said during an election-night interview with Sioux County Radio that he voted for the amendment. He described it as a safeguard against tax increases.
“I voted for it. I mean, I think it’s a good protection in case things like this happen where you’ve got a crazy “blue wave” and people want to come in like (Rob) Sand (Iowa’s Governor-Elect) does and raise your taxes to pay for multiple billions of dollars in promises to teachers’ unions and some of these other groups that backed him. So it’s just basically protecting you from becoming a state that you don’t want to live in anymore.”
Wheeler also argued that the amendment would help prevent future tax increases to fund spending commitments to teachers’ unions and other groups backing Democratic candidates. Sand has stated that reports saying he would raise taxes by $7,500 a year are false.
Supporters view the amendment as protection for taxpayers. Critics argue that restricting income tax increases could lead lawmakers to raise other taxes, including the sales tax, to address state budget shortfalls.
The vote totals remain unofficial pending canvassing and certification.
