Republicans on an Iowa House committee have approved a bill that will eliminate the “check-off” for political parties that’s on the Iowa income tax form. Representative Bobby Kaufmann, a Republican from Wilton, says the tax form is not the place to make political donations.

 

Last YEAR, the tax checkoff raised nearly 44-thousand dollars for Democrats and about 29-thousand dollars for Republicans.  Democrats like Representative John Forbes of Urbandale say now is not the time to get rid of the check-off.

 

The state income tax check-off allows Iowans to donate a dollar-50 ($1.50) to a fund for the two major political parties. Advocates for other political parties, like the Libertarians and the Greens, say it’s unfair. The bill to eliminate the check-off is now eligible for debate in the Iowa House.