Sen. Dawson rebukes Mitchell op‑ed and defends Senate property‑tax package
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Summary
During a brief Iowa Senate floor session, Sen. Dawson criticized an op‑ed by a Mr. Mitchell that called for a constitutional amendment to eliminate property taxes, defended the length and substance of the Senate’s property‑tax work (including Senate Study Bill 3,001), and cited failed efforts in other states while contrasting prior proposals such as a $5,000 moving‑expense tax credit.
Sen. Dawson used a point of personal privilege on the Senate floor to criticize an op‑ed by a Mr. Mitchell that advocated eliminating property taxes through a constitutional amendment and to defend the Senate’s ongoing property‑tax work.
"There is an old saying in politics that you punch up and you don't punch down," Sen. Dawson said, opening his remarks. He described the op‑ed as "an op ed that makes no sense" and disputed the piece's characterization of the legislature's efforts as merely a "Band‑Aid." "I would be hard pressed to say that an 80 some page bill and a senate bill that reaches over a 100 pages is a Band Aid approach," he said.
Dawson referenced efforts in other states, saying a North Dakota ballot initiative to eliminate property taxes failed and noting that Ohio's reforms would still leave school property taxes in place. He pointed to Senate Study Bill 3,001 as an example of the kind of detailed proposal under consideration in Iowa, saying the measure includes limits on assessment growth and provisions affecting homestead property taxes: "where Ohio does want to eliminate homestead property taxes, but still leave in place the school property taxes..." and describing elements of SSB 3,001 as part of the chamber’s work.
He also criticized earlier proposals he attributed to Mitchell, saying the former representative had previously pushed a plan to "offer tax credits to anyone from the island nation of Puerto Rico to move into Iowa to the tune of $5,000" to address workforce shortages. Dawson framed that earlier idea as distinct from the homestead‑focused provisions under current Senate deliberations.
The senator characterized the op‑ed as inviting federal remedies for state issues and said such promises — "another promise of someone gonna take something to Washington DC" — had limited prospects of resolving local property‑tax concerns.
The remarks were delivered as part of a floor exchange of announcements and points of personal privilege; no motion or amendment to the referenced bills was made during Dawson's remarks.
The Senate concluded the brief session with a motion to adjourn; the chair declared the motion prevailed and the chamber was adjourned until Monday, March 16 at 1 p.m.