Budget & Tax News
The Heartland Institute's national monthly outreach publication for advocates of lower taxes, balanced budgets, and limited government.
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Budget & Tax News
November 2007
A Strong Case for Limited Government, Self-Reliance
America Alone: The End of the World As We Know It By Mark Steyn Washington, DC: Regnery Publishing, Inc. 2006 224 pages, hc, $27.95, ISBN: 0-8952-6078-6 I ... (read more)
America Alone: The End of the World As We Know It By Mark Steyn Washington, DC: Regnery Publishing, Inc. 2006 224 pages, hc, $27.95, ISBN: 0-8952-6078-6 I ... (read more)
Casinos Won't Solve Kansas' Fiscal Problems, Taxpayer Advocates Say
State and national fiscal policy groups say Kansas lawmakers are wrong to embrace state-run casinos to solve the state's budget problems. "State-run ... (read more)
State and national fiscal policy groups say Kansas lawmakers are wrong to embrace state-run casinos to solve the state's budget problems. "State-run ... (read more)
Charity Rejects U.S. Food Aid to Protest Farm Bill
One of the world's largest charities has rejected millions of dollars of U.S. government financing because of its objections to U.S. farm policies. "Our ... (read more)
One of the world's largest charities has rejected millions of dollars of U.S. government financing because of its objections to U.S. farm policies. "Our ... (read more)
Drivers, Taxpayers Steaming Over New Virginia Fees, Taxes
The summer driving season has drawn to a close, but the political heat wave over Virginia's new "abusive driver" fees and transportation taxes shows little ... (read more)
The summer driving season has drawn to a close, but the political heat wave over Virginia's new "abusive driver" fees and transportation taxes shows little ... (read more)
Federal Investment Tax Change Bill Worries Investors
On June 22, Rep. Sander Levin (D-MI) introduced a bill (HR 2834) that would drastically alter the taxation of carried interests held by managers of investment ... (read more)
On June 22, Rep. Sander Levin (D-MI) introduced a bill (HR 2834) that would drastically alter the taxation of carried interests held by managers of investment ... (read more)
Financing Infrastructure: Conservatives vs. Innovators
Like any major policy debate, the issue of how to finance the nation's infrastructure involves strongly held points of view. To simplify the issue, we shall ... (read more)
Like any major policy debate, the issue of how to finance the nation's infrastructure involves strongly held points of view. To simplify the issue, we shall ... (read more)
Foes Slug It Out Over Louisville Library Tax Proposal
Louisville, Kentucky is enmeshed in a debate over whether to create a new taxing district to provide more money for the city's public libraries. A measure ... (read more)
Louisville, Kentucky is enmeshed in a debate over whether to create a new taxing district to provide more money for the city's public libraries. A measure ... (read more)
Fringe Benefits Keep the Total Compensation of Government Workers Ahead of Private Sector
The nation's 16 million state and local government workers earned an average of $61,727 in total compensation (wages plus benefits) in 2006, 11 percent ... (read more)
The nation's 16 million state and local government workers earned an average of $61,727 in total compensation (wages plus benefits) in 2006, 11 percent ... (read more)
Increasing Passenger Rail Service Could Make Traffic Even Congestion Worse
Not a single congressional session passes without calls for an expansion of Amtrak or other passenger train service. Members of Congress, bureaucrats, and ... (read more)
Not a single congressional session passes without calls for an expansion of Amtrak or other passenger train service. Members of Congress, bureaucrats, and ... (read more)
Lee County, Florida Rejects 'Mystery' $10 Million Earmark from Alaska Rep.
Why would an Alaska congressman make a $10 million earmark for a Florida road project that local officials do not want? That's a question Lee County, ... (read more)
Why would an Alaska congressman make a $10 million earmark for a Florida road project that local officials do not want? That's a question Lee County, ... (read more)
Mayor Returns $48 Million to Taxpayers, Then Retires
Every year, folks in Crestwood, Illinois, a suburb southwest of Chicago, open their mail to find a check paying for half their property taxes. Who would ... (read more)
Every year, folks in Crestwood, Illinois, a suburb southwest of Chicago, open their mail to find a check paying for half their property taxes. Who would ... (read more)
Missouri Judge OKs Defined Contribution Pension Plan for Local Firefighters
The Mehlville, Missouri Fire Protection District (MFPD) board of trustees won a victory for fiscal responsibility when a judge ruled the district may switch ... (read more)
The Mehlville, Missouri Fire Protection District (MFPD) board of trustees won a victory for fiscal responsibility when a judge ruled the district may switch ... (read more)
New Jersey Proving it Can Overtax Economic Activity
New Jersey has secured another dubious distinction. It is the first state in the nation to experience a decline in cigarette tax revenues after increasing ... (read more)
New Jersey has secured another dubious distinction. It is the first state in the nation to experience a decline in cigarette tax revenues after increasing ... (read more)
November 2007 Budget & Tax News (PDF)
The November 2007 issue of Budget & Tax News reports from Virginia and Washington State, where taxpayers have rejected tax increases. On page 1: The ... (read more)
The November 2007 issue of Budget & Tax News reports from Virginia and Washington State, where taxpayers have rejected tax increases. On page 1: The ... (read more)
Prevailing Wages Controversy Continues
As unionization in the construction industry continues to decline, prevailing wage laws are becoming even more controversial. Only 13.1 percent of U.S. ... (read more)
As unionization in the construction industry continues to decline, prevailing wage laws are becoming even more controversial. Only 13.1 percent of U.S. ... (read more)
Record Overtime Session Brings Lawsuit, Insults to Illinois Legislature
September saw Illinois lawmakers move into their fourth month of overtime in a budget battle that has included a lawsuit filed by the governor against the ... (read more)
September saw Illinois lawmakers move into their fourth month of overtime in a budget battle that has included a lawsuit filed by the governor against the ... (read more)
Santa Barbara Defends Its Property Values Against Global Warming 'Art'
Even in Santa Barbara, California--arguably the birthplace of the modern environmental movement--environmentalists can go too far. That seems to be the ... (read more)
Even in Santa Barbara, California--arguably the birthplace of the modern environmental movement--environmentalists can go too far. That seems to be the ... (read more)
States Increase Spending Transparency
On September 4, the one-millionth online search occurred at the Missouri Accountability Portal, or MAP, a Web site created just a few weeks earlier on order ... (read more)
On September 4, the one-millionth online search occurred at the Missouri Accountability Portal, or MAP, a Web site created just a few weeks earlier on order ... (read more)
To Grow Their Economies, Cash-Strapped States Need to Cut Tax Rates
With real U.S. gross domestic product (GDP) growth falling to only 0.7 percent in the first quarter of this year after an anemic 2 percent pace for the ... (read more)
With real U.S. gross domestic product (GDP) growth falling to only 0.7 percent in the first quarter of this year after an anemic 2 percent pace for the ... (read more)
Treasury Dept. Conference Highlights Need for Corporate Tax Reform
The U.S. Treasury Department held a conference July 26 regarding the growing uncompetitiveness of the U.S. corporate tax system. Scholars and heads of ... (read more)
The U.S. Treasury Department held a conference July 26 regarding the growing uncompetitiveness of the U.S. corporate tax system. Scholars and heads of ... (read more)
Unions Are Demanding Political Payback for 2006 Democrats' 2006 Election Victories
Big Labor invested heavily in the 2006 Democratic takeover of Congress. The AFL-CIO spent a reported $40 million to mobilize union households. The Service ... (read more)
Big Labor invested heavily in the 2006 Democratic takeover of Congress. The AFL-CIO spent a reported $40 million to mobilize union households. The Service ... (read more)
WA Voters Sink Port Authority Tax Increase
Voter turnout in Washington's first August primary election, held August 21, may have been low, but in the Columbia River-side city of Vancouver, more than ... (read more)
Voter turnout in Washington's first August primary election, held August 21, may have been low, but in the Columbia River-side city of Vancouver, more than ... (read more)
