Crispus Attucks

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Budget & Tax News
September 2004
Agricultural Trade Talks Move Forward in WTO
Global trade in agriculture received a big boost from the World Trade Organization (WTO) on July 31, when member countries meeting in Geneva, Switzerland ... (read more)

Bush to Support Lifetime Savings Accounts
President George W. Bush is expected to push for new tax-free savings accounts during the upcoming presidential race by promoting a bill by a fellow Texas ... (read more)

California Governor Signs Balanced Budget with No New Taxes
The state of California has a no-new-taxes budget in place for the coming fiscal year. Republican Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger reached agreement with ... (read more)

California Union and Legislators Receive Fleece Award
The Business and Economic Studies program of the Pacific Research Institute (PRI) announced in August that it has given its California Golden Fleece Award ... (read more)

Federal Highway Bill Still in Limbo
Throughout the summer, 75 U.S. House and Senate conferees--the largest conference committee in federal government history--have been working feverishly ... (read more)

Federal Transportation Screeners Raise Conflict of Interest Issue
July articles in the Wall Street Journal and Los Angeles Daily News identified passenger complaints about "stolen or damaged items from checked baggage ... (read more)

Fiscal Conservative Wins GOP Senate Nod in Oklahoma
Former U.S. Representative Tom Coburn (R-Oklahoma) was a runaway winner in the July 27 Oklahoma Republican primary for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated ... (read more)

Florida Drops Gas Tax for Month of August
The state of Florida decided to give its taxpayers a couple of breaks during the month of August. For 31 days, the state cut its sales tax on gasoline, ... (read more)

Hastert Book Says GOP Plans to Abolish IRS
U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-Illinois) wrote in a new book that congressional Republicans plan to push for elimination of the ... (read more)

Illinois Finally Has a Budget
On July 24, the Illinois legislature completed the state's budget for fiscal year 2005, which began July 1. The new budget raises taxes on businesses ... (read more)

Kerry Lags in Polls; Spending Proposals Questioned
After the Democratic National Convention in Boston, candidate John Kerry still trailed President George W. Bush, according to a USA Today/CNN/Gallup presidential ... (read more)

Kerry's Tax Plan: Too Much Tinkering
In offering a plan purporting to "create 10 million jobs," presidential candidate Senator John Kerry (D-Massachusetts) has become the latest of many national ... (read more)

Key Opportunities for U.S. Farmers and Ranchers in WTO Framework for Future Progress
Major cuts in foreign tariffs on U.S. farm exports. Expanded market access for all U.S. farm products through tariff cuts and quota expansion. ... (read more)

New York Has Nation's Highest State and Local Taxes
No matter how you measure it, New York State is still No. 1 in combined state and local taxes, an analysis of the most recent U.S. Census Bureau data shows. ... (read more)

Past Recipients of the California Golden Fleece Award
If we can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them, they must become happy. Thomas Jefferson No. ... (read more)

President's Personnel Office Shows Privatization Gains
No one thought bringing competition to Washington, DC would be easy. Upon entering office, President George W. Bush issued the President's Management Agenda, ... (read more)

Report: Sales Tax Increase Would Cut Jobs, Income in Washington State
State of Washington voters will rule in November on a ballot initiative that would raise the state's sales tax to increase school funding. Initiative 884, ... (read more)

September 2004 Budget & Tax News (PDF)
The September issue of Budget & Tax News features a Tax Foundation report on the spread of "jock taxes," which 20 states and half-a-dozen cities have adopted ... (read more)

Study Finds Controversial Jock Taxes Spreading
A July 9 report from the Tax Foundation notes more and more state governments are using controversial "jock taxes" to extend state income taxes to residents ... (read more)

Study Reveals Wisconsin State and Local Tax Burden Is Sixth-Highest in Nation
As the Wisconsin legislature debated tax limitations amid much confusion and political maneuvering (see "Watered-Down TABOR Bill Rushed to Committee Vote ... (read more)

Tables: State and Local Taxes Per Capita and Per $1000 Personal Income, 2002
Table 1: State and Local Taxes Per Capita, 2002 Rank State Amount 1 New York $4,645 2 Connecticut 4,373 3 New Jersey 4,038 4 Massachusetts 3721 5 ... (read more)

Tax Hike Leaders Lose in Kansas GOP Primary
Republican tax hike advocates lost several high-profile races in the August 3 Kansas primary. Among those defeated were the grandson of a former presidential ... (read more)

Taxes Soar in Ohio
State and local taxes are soaring in Ohio, according to a May editorial in the Wall Street Journal. "State-local taxes have risen considerably in Ohio ... (read more)

Virginia Town Reconsiders Cigarette Tax Hike
In Clintwood, Virginia, population 1,549, businessman Randy Davis said he would move his tobacco business out of town if the Clintwood city council won't ... (read more)

Watered-Down TABOR Bill Rushed to Committee Vote in Wisconsin
For six years, Wisconsin State Representative Frank Lasee (R-Bellevue) has urged adoption of government spending limits as part of a constitutional amendment. ... (read more)

Wisconsin Barely Passes Lukewarm Taxpayer Bill of Rights Out of Committee
The room was full of shocked expressions at the July 27 hearing of the Wisconsin State Senate. Why? Because I was testifying against their proposed state ... (read more)