Should Iowa Raise Taxes?

To The Editor,

As a candidate for the 10th Iowa House District, I was recently asked if the only solution to our current budget woes was to raise taxes. Iowans are subjected to every form of taxation known to Americans. Cumulatively, our families are inflicted with some of the highest rates in the nation. Iowans pay too much in taxes! Companies decline to locate here and young people choose to leave rather than pay high taxes. Fewer taxpayers results in less tax revenue, and a higher share of the burden for each individual.

Declining revenues are a symptom of Iowa's abundance of over-taxation. During the 1992 campaign for President, we heard that "It's the economy, stupid!" In 2002, Governor Vilsack needs to know the answer to our budget-balancing problem is not raising taxes, "It's the SPENDING, stupid!"

Ray Holtorf
Republican Candidate for Iowa House - Tenth District