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Iowans know: Don't play with job numbers

Posted on August 14, 2025 at 5:25 PM by Mike Owen

State Capitol rotunda

Presidential interference with the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics is a reminder of how meddling by an Iowa governor clouded job data in our state.

Categories: Jobs & labor

Tagged As: Employment, Iowa jobs

The big 7% Off Sale! An annual folly for Iowa

Posted on July 31, 2025 at 9:59 AM by Mike Owen

View post titled The big 7% Off Sale! An annual folly for Iowa

Iowa's annual "Sales Tax Holiday" is a costly, confusing boondoggle that does little for those it purports to help. But who rushes to a "7%-off sale" anyway?

Categories: Budget & taxes

Tagged As: Sales tax, sales tax holiday, Vouchers

Data snapshot: Iowa’s economy is losing ground

Posted on July 9, 2025 at 9:48 AM by Sean Finn

View post titled Data snapshot: Iowa’s economy is losing ground

Iowa’s economic recovery following the COVID-19 pandemic has ground to a halt. The state’s May report on jobs and unemployment from Iowa Workforce Development shows Iowa heading the wrong direction and losing ground faster than the rest of the nation.

Categories: Jobs & labor

Tagged As: Employment, Unemployment insurance, Unemployment rate

Iowa's leadership for refugees at stake in Senate

Posted on June 11, 2025 at 4:18 PM by Mike Owen

President Herbert Hoover birthplace, gravesite, library

The SNAP debate in Washington is a reminder of Iowans' long history of offering refuge and care for people in...

Categories: Budget & taxes, Family support & well-being, Federal policy, Food security

Tagged As: Immigration, Refugees, SNAP

Report shows runaway data center tax breaks by states

Posted on May 13, 2025 at 12:19 PM by Mike Owen

State Capitol, early morning

Feed this into a computer and see what it spits back: To enhance the economy, and with it tax revenue,...

Categories: Budget & taxes

Tagged As: corporate income taxes, State budget, subsidies

Precarious budgeting promises painful future tradeoffs

Posted on May 9, 2025 at 2:21 PM by Mike Owen

View post titled Precarious budgeting promises painful future tradeoffs

As Iowa lawmakers start closing down the 2025 legislative session, uncertainties remain not only on what actions they may yet...

Categories: Budget & taxes

Tagged As: Property tax, Shortfall

Tax break for tips, overtime misses the mark

Posted on April 21, 2025 at 10:17 AM by Sean Finn

View post titled Tax break for tips, overtime misses the mark

Let’s Help Workers the Right Way — Not With Gimmicks By Sean Finn, CGI Policy Analyst Let’s help workers the...

Categories: Budget & taxes, Jobs & labor

Tagged As: Income tax, Overtime and tipped wages

Wrong time for property tax bill

Posted on April 11, 2025 at 4:41 PM by Anne Discher

Capitol staircase

As of late Friday afternoon, only one organization – Common Good Iowa – had taken a position on the latest...

Categories: Budget & taxes

Tagged As: Property tax, Schools, State budget, Public safety

Cutting supports to those in need — just to help the rich

Posted on March 18, 2025 at 5:29 PM by Mike Owen

View post titled Cutting supports to those in need — just to help the rich

So, you think that was a big battle last week over avoiding a federal shutdown? You haven’t seen anything. The...

Categories: Budget & taxes, Federal policy

Tagged As: Federal budget, Federal deficits and debt, Federal taxes, Medicaid, SNAP

Once again, tax cuts aren't the solution

Posted on January 27, 2025 at 9:45 AM by Mike Owen

regional minimum wage map

Common Good Iowa research has identified many ways Iowa could do better by working families who are struggling. It’s always...

Categories: Budget & taxes, Jobs & labor

Tagged As: Income tax, Overtime and tipped wages

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