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The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of Public Interest Institute. They are brought to you in the interest of a better-informed citizenry.

Originally developed for the purpose of reducing tax burden and creating incentives to spur the economy, tax deductions and subsidies have become a back-door tool of big government. While the intention behind many of these is well warranted, they distort the economy.

DES MOINES - Iowa's top campaign finance watchdog told a legislative committee this week that only 35 percent of candidates for state offices use electronic reports to tell Iowans who gave them money and what they spent it on. The rest stick a pile of forms into a manila envelope and mail them to Des Moines. When they arrive, according to Charles Smithson, director of the Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board, state employees paid with your taxes audit them by hand, run them though a scanner and post the scanned images on a website.

Governor's FY06 Budget:
$535 Million Spending Increase

Several noteworthy events occurred this past week that will influence the legislation we consider in the coming two months. The Governor submitted his budget, an education initiative was announced and an economic development initiative was received from the House. In addition, the Governor's task force continued looking at property taxes, governance and schools.