(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa G-O-P and a Republican who leads the Iowa Senate’s tax-writing committee say a property tax idea from Democrat Rob Sand, who’s running for governor, is unconstitutional. Sand says Iowa should be for Iowans and he’s suggested property tax rates for out of state people and businesses that own Iowa property should be higher than what Iowans and Iowa businesses pay. Iowa G-O-P chairman Jeff Kaufmann says the idea has been examined before and thrown out every time because the U-S Constitution says states cannot discriminate against citizens of other states in commerce, property, or taxation.

He also cites a 1966 Iowa Supreme Court ruling residency cannot justify unequal tax treatment and accuses Sand of being either ignorant or dishonest. In a response to Radio Iowa, Sand’s campaign manager Emma O’Brien says did not directly address the charge that Sand’s idea is unconstitutional.

She said out of state interests are buying up Iowa farmland and housing while the proceeds flow out of state, and Sand believes it’s time to find ways to keep Iowa resources and the benefits that come from the work Iowans do in Iowa.