Platform of the Libertarian Party of Iowa

End Corporate Welfare

We believe individuals and investors, acting in an unfettered marketplace, will make sound decisions concerning which businesses belong in Iowa. Thus, we advocate an end to all business incentives and subsidies for or administered by the State of Iowa. (Unanimously Approved, February 26, 1999)

Promote Sound Economic Development

We believe that the major impediment to attracting businesses, and high paying jobs, to Iowa is the oppressive income tax rates. Thus, we advocate ending the business and corporate income tax in Iowa. This would significantly increase Iowa's attractiveness to businesses that plan to relocate and expand, without using legislative favoritism. (Unanimously Approved, February 26, 1999)

Personal Income Tax

We believe that the state should reduce the personal state income tax, ultimately resulting in its elimination within 10 years. (Approved with one vote in opposition, February 26, 1999)

Improve the Education System for Iowa's Students

Because the government should not regulate ideas, and because parents are the best judges of how their children should be educated, we advocate a move to a competitive, independent school system. To facilitate this transition, we encourage increasing the Tax Credit and/or creating Vouchers. Also, we advocate the removal of current regulations requiring that teachers be certified, allowing specialists in their field to teach without teaching certificates. (Unanimously Approved, February 26, 1999)

Improve the quality of life for Iowa's neediest citizens

We believe that private charity provides the most efficient, and effective remedies for the human social problems that exist in Iowa. To empower private charity, we endorse the creation of a $500/individual tax credit for donations made to private charitable organizations. (Unanimously Approved, February 26, 1999)

Recognize that drug use is a choice not a crime

We believe the War on Drugs wrongly punishes individual choices. We call for Iowa to lead the way in adopting a sensible policy to drugs – one which trusts individuals to make decisions about their health and happiness so long as their actions do not cause harm or infringe upon the rights of others. We advocate, as the first step in ending the "War on Drugs,' the elimination of all "possession only" laws in the state for marijuana. (Unanimously Approved, February 26, 1999)

Responsible growth

We support the right of private property owners to utilize their property in the nature and to the extent they desire, as long as their actions do not bring tangible harm to others. Thus, we oppose all state mandated planning initiatives, and support the relaxation of county and municipality land use ordinances. We strongly support the use of voluntary measures, such as private covenants, to replace all land use regulations and ordinances. (Unanimously Approved, February 26, 1999)

Freedom to Farm

We believe that Iowa's farmers are the best in the world, and that they are capable of making decisions on which crops can be productively grown on their land. Thus, we advocate allowing individual farmers to produce crops of any kind in Iowa. (Unanimously Approved, February 26, 1999)

Eminent Domain

The state shall not use its right of eminent domain except for acquiring land for its own usage. (Unanimously Approved, March 17, 2001)

Voting Rights for Felons

Any person who has been convicted of a felony shall receive their right to vote back once their sentence and probation have been completed, with the exception of those convicted of voter fraud. (Unanimously Approved, April 6, 2002)