Vote NO on Amendment 1
Because Iowans want strong schools, health care and clean water
— not tax breaks for big corporations and the rich
In November, Iowa voters will decide whether to amend the state constitution to require corporate and personal income-tax increases to be approved by a two-thirds majority in each chamber of the Legislature. Today it requires a simple majority. The question will appear on the ballot as Amendment 1.
Lawmakers voted this spring, in the final hours of the 2026 legislative session, to put this anti-democratic amendment on the ballot. The more Iowans are learning about it, the less they like it.
It would virtually lock in the large tax breaks enacted from 2019 to 2025, which went overwhelmingly to the wealthiest Iowans and most profitable corporations. It would hamstring our state’s ability to fund the services that help Iowans thrive — including public schools, health care and clean-water initiatives.
It is a gift to powerful corporations and the wealthy
This amendment is being pushed by well-connected donors that have successfully lobbied in recent
years for tax cuts for themselves and their buddies. But those tax cuts haven’t trickled down into
shared prosperity.
Instead, our schools and hospitals are struggling to keep their doors open, more Iowa families are
struggling to make ends meet, and our lakes and rivers are unsafe for swimming or drinking. If the
amendment passes, these well-heeled interests would need to influence just a minority of lawmakers
to stop a bipartisan bill to fix our state’s problems.
It could cut public schools, health care and water-quality efforts
After years of income tax cuts, our state isn’t bringing in enough to balance the budget. We now face
ongoing annual deficits of over $1 billion. Amendment 1 would help lock in those deficits, harming
our ability to adequately fund public services, including health-care programs, child-care assistance
and cancer research.
Our public schools would be especially hard hit, with potential budget cuts coming on top of Iowa’s
runaway private-school voucher program that is draining away our precious education resources.
It will make families’ lives harder
When the state cuts health care, child care or aid to our community colleges and universities, it just
raise costs on everyday Iowans. Because the amendment only addresses income taxes, it could also
lead lawmakers to first try to solve our budget problems by raising the sales tax, disproportionately
paid by the same working Iowans who saw little benefit from recent income-tax cuts.
People will stay in or move to our state because they see opportunity and quality of life. That requires
great schools, accessible health care and clean water. If we decide to help the wealthy and big business
avoid doing their fair share, attracting the next generation of Iowans will be even harder.
Iowa’s future is on the ballot. Learn more about Amendment 1 at www.commongoodiowa.org