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
January 2005
Bill to Hike Income Tax, Lower Property Tax Stirs Debate
A strong push is underway in Illinois to radically change how taxes are collected and distributed in the state, mainly in response to complaints from educators ... (read more)
A strong push is underway in Illinois to radically change how taxes are collected and distributed in the state, mainly in response to complaints from educators ... (read more)
Congress Extends Ban on Internet Taxes
Shortly before adjourning for the Thanksgiving holiday, Congress presented Internet users with an early Christmas present: a three-year extension of the ... (read more)
Shortly before adjourning for the Thanksgiving holiday, Congress presented Internet users with an early Christmas present: a three-year extension of the ... (read more)
Congress Lauds Spending Control, Critics Decry Pork Spending
Federal funding for tens of thousands of programs and projects, ranging from road and bridge construction to the study of mariachi music, was contained ... (read more)
Federal funding for tens of thousands of programs and projects, ranging from road and bridge construction to the study of mariachi music, was contained ... (read more)
Congress Not Interested in Real Tax Reform
It's tops on the president's agenda, and a very good idea: tax reform. Americans spend an estimated $183 billion every year just to comply with our horrendously ... (read more)
It's tops on the president's agenda, and a very good idea: tax reform. Americans spend an estimated $183 billion every year just to comply with our horrendously ... (read more)
Economic Freedom Greatest in Middle America, Study Says
If you want to start a business but are not sure where to set up shop, should you head for a vibrant megalopolis like New York City? A nucleus of brainpower ... (read more)
If you want to start a business but are not sure where to set up shop, should you head for a vibrant megalopolis like New York City? A nucleus of brainpower ... (read more)
Grassroots Battle Brewing Against Illinois Tax Hike
Jim Peschke of Harvard, Illinois, co-founder of Citizens for Reasonable and Fair Taxes (CRAFT), began a full-court press last Fall with other taxpayers ... (read more)
Jim Peschke of Harvard, Illinois, co-founder of Citizens for Reasonable and Fair Taxes (CRAFT), began a full-court press last Fall with other taxpayers ... (read more)
Illinois and Utah Move in Opposite Directions over Tax Reform
Illinois and Utah Move in Opposite Directions over Tax Reform Here are the major differences (and one similarity) between tax reforms currently being ... (read more)
Illinois and Utah Move in Opposite Directions over Tax Reform Here are the major differences (and one similarity) between tax reforms currently being ... (read more)
Illinois Court Calls Business Fee Hike Unconstitutional
A Cook County, Illinois judge has struck down a state surcharge on workers' compensation insurance premiums, putting into question the legality of scores ... (read more)
A Cook County, Illinois judge has struck down a state surcharge on workers' compensation insurance premiums, putting into question the legality of scores ... (read more)
In Some States, Wine Shipment Is a Felony
Interstate wine shipments using a common carrier, from a winery to an adult consumer 21 years or older, are prohibited in the following 24 states and are ... (read more)
Interstate wine shipments using a common carrier, from a winery to an adult consumer 21 years or older, are prohibited in the following 24 states and are ... (read more)
January 2005 Budget & Tax News (PDF)
The January 2005 issue of Budget & Tax News leads with a November election wrapup by Sandra Fabry of Americans for Tax Reform, who reports "taxpayers gained ... (read more)
The January 2005 issue of Budget & Tax News leads with a November election wrapup by Sandra Fabry of Americans for Tax Reform, who reports "taxpayers gained ... (read more)
Kansas Survives Year Without a Statewide Tax Increase
For the first time since 1998, Kansas legislators in 2004 declined to enact a statewide tax hike, one of several reasons 2004 could be considered a historic ... (read more)
For the first time since 1998, Kansas legislators in 2004 declined to enact a statewide tax hike, one of several reasons 2004 could be considered a historic ... (read more)
Massachusetts Lawmakers Eye
After three years of mediocre economic performance and poor job growth in Massachusetts, various economists are projecting the state's tax revenues will ... (read more)
After three years of mediocre economic performance and poor job growth in Massachusetts, various economists are projecting the state's tax revenues will ... (read more)
New Chicago Budget Gives City Some of the Nation's Highest Tax Rates
As of January 1, Chicagoans and those who do business in the city began paying some of the highest taxes and fees in the nation on items ranging from natural ... (read more)
As of January 1, Chicagoans and those who do business in the city began paying some of the highest taxes and fees in the nation on items ranging from natural ... (read more)
No Taxpayer Left Behind in Illinois
Citizens for Reasonable and Fair Taxes (CRAFT) believes there is a better way to fund education in Illinois. It supports a program it calls No Taxpayer ... (read more)
Citizens for Reasonable and Fair Taxes (CRAFT) believes there is a better way to fund education in Illinois. It supports a program it calls No Taxpayer ... (read more)
Outgoing Utah Governor Calls for Tax Reform
Utah would expand its individual income tax and sales tax bases, reduce tax rates, and shift taxes from production to final consumption under a proposal ... (read more)
Utah would expand its individual income tax and sales tax bases, reduce tax rates, and shift taxes from production to final consumption under a proposal ... (read more)
Penn. Congressman and Punxsutawney Phil Named Co-Porkers of the Month
The nonpartisan taxpayer-advocacy organization Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW) named Congressman John Peterson (R-PA) and Pennsylvania's most famous ... (read more)
The nonpartisan taxpayer-advocacy organization Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW) named Congressman John Peterson (R-PA) and Pennsylvania's most famous ... (read more)
Pennsylvania Lawmakers Eroding Liberty, Study Finds
Pennsylvania lawmakers have repeatedly voted in ways that restrict personal and economic liberty, according to a recently released study by the Commonwealth ... (read more)
Pennsylvania lawmakers have repeatedly voted in ways that restrict personal and economic liberty, according to a recently released study by the Commonwealth ... (read more)
Study Shows Big Savings from Competitive Sourcing of Government Functions
A recently released study shows competitive sourcing of government activities has led to significant savings for the federal government. Using baseline ... (read more)
A recently released study shows competitive sourcing of government activities has led to significant savings for the federal government. Using baseline ... (read more)
Supreme Court Asked to Uncork Online Wine Sales
A state's right to regulate liquor sales and the federal government's right to regulate interstate commerce clashed on December 7 when the U.S. Supreme ... (read more)
A state's right to regulate liquor sales and the federal government's right to regulate interstate commerce clashed on December 7 when the U.S. Supreme ... (read more)
Taxpayer Advocates Win in November
During this past election cycle, taxpayers gained significant ground as tax hikes were defeated in referenda and more legislators committed themselves to ... (read more)
During this past election cycle, taxpayers gained significant ground as tax hikes were defeated in referenda and more legislators committed themselves to ... (read more)
The Ninth Annual Competition Report of the Federal Communications Commission noted:
More than 276 million Americans, or 97 percent of the U.S. population, have three or more wireless service providers to choose from in their county. ... (read more)
More than 276 million Americans, or 97 percent of the U.S. population, have three or more wireless service providers to choose from in their county. ... (read more)
Time to End the Corporate Income Tax
On November 18, in a speech given at the Finance Ministry in Vienna, Austria, the very highly regarded European economist and first woman president of the ... (read more)
On November 18, in a speech given at the Finance Ministry in Vienna, Austria, the very highly regarded European economist and first woman president of the ... (read more)
Top 10 Wireless Tax States
Since 1993 the average wireless phone customer's monthly bill has gone down almost 37 percent, while minutes of use have increased about 300 percent, according ... (read more)
Since 1993 the average wireless phone customer's monthly bill has gone down almost 37 percent, while minutes of use have increased about 300 percent, according ... (read more)
Voters Soundly Defeat Local Property Tax Hikes
Evidence of antipathy toward higher property taxes in Illinois showed up in the November 2 general election when voters across the state rejected 38 of ... (read more)
Evidence of antipathy toward higher property taxes in Illinois showed up in the November 2 general election when voters across the state rejected 38 of ... (read more)
Wireless Phone Costs Drop, but Taxes Skyrocket
Taxes on wireless telephone service in the United States have climbed nine times faster than those on general business since January 2003, putting a damper ... (read more)
Taxes on wireless telephone service in the United States have climbed nine times faster than those on general business since January 2003, putting a damper ... (read more)
