06 October 2009 // 09:20 am // Comments Closed
Fong eyes cutting state income tax to zero
Read this story at the Sioux City Journal
SIOUX CITY—Holding his first series of public meetings in Northwest Iowa since announcing his 2010 gubernatorial candidacy, Christian Fong unveiled that he proposes cutting Iowa income taxes to zero.
Finishing up a 17-event tour with a 1,400-mile swing through western Iowa before heading home to Cedar Rapids, Fong spoke at Spencer and Sioux City events that were closed to the news media. In an interview, Fong said as governor he would begin the process of cutting the state income tax rate, targeting incremental cuts in the middle of his term, before moving to completely end the state income tax.
“We have got to get our state income taxes to zero,” he said.
Fong said an income tax is indefensible public policy since it taxes the productivity of Iowa workers that comes from their sound education and work ethic. He said the “policy geek” and economist in him knows that’s a sound reason for cutting income taxes but added his immigrant father delivered the anti-tax point in a way that might be more digestible for Iowans.
“He said, ‘You don’t need all that policy talk,’” Fong said. “He said, ‘High taxes are wrong because they inhibit personal freedom.’ Done. For an immigrant from China who’s bottom line is about the American Dream, taxation is really a freedom issue.”
Fong said he would replace revenue lost by paring the income tax with fees, which are consumption taxes rather than productivity taxes.
Fong said the first year of his candidacy would be devoted to “The Year of the Family” but not limited to beating back the April Iowa Supreme Court ruling that made same-sex marriage legal in Iowa. He supports the Legislature, now controlled by Democrats, advancing a state referendum on the marriage issue. But Fong said if Republicans keep the pro-family focus simply on overturning gay marriage, they risk being labeled “the Anger Party,” so he would highlight the need for increasing adoptions and foster parenting.
Republicans are eyeing October with anticipation, as former Gov. Terry Branstad has said he’ll announce whether he’ll seek a fifth term. Since Branstad left the governor’s office, the subsequent three terms have been held by Democrats Tom Vilsack and Chet Culver.
Fong said he expects Branstad will seek the governor position and that some of the announced Republicans—a field that includes State Rep. Chris Rants of Sioux City, Sioux City businessman Bob Vander Plaats, state lawmakers Rod Roberts of Carroll and Jerry Behn of Boone—will drop out. But Fong said he will not leave the field and will compete in the June party primary.
Fong said he’s a relative unknown in Northwest Iowa but that polls have shown his name recognition is equal to that of GOP lawmakers who have been in Des Moines for years. He said gaining leadership in business and community activism is a better route to a governor position than serving in the Legislature.
Christian Fong Vita
Party: Republican
Age: 32
Home: Cedar Rapids. The son of a Chinese immigrant and Nebraska farm girl, he graduated from Underwood High School in southwest Iowa.
College: Bachelor’s degree in statistics from Creighton University in Omaha, Master of Business Administration degree from Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College, Hanover, N.H.
Occupation: Executive with insurance company AEGON USA in Cedar Rapids.
Professional highlights: Appointed to the Generation Iowa Commission by Gov. Chet Culver, founded and serves as president of Corridor Recovery, a nonprofit flood relief organization.
Family: Married, with three children.
Hobbies: Triathlon races, reading, violin.
