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
February 2006
'Tort Tax' Costs Illinois Jobs, Economic Growth
In recent years, reform of tort law has moved to the top of the agenda for many state and national elected officials. Advocates of tort reform cite lost ... (read more)
In recent years, reform of tort law has moved to the top of the agenda for many state and national elected officials. Advocates of tort reform cite lost ... (read more)
Americans Eager to Know about Economics, Study Says
Americans may not have articulated it to themselves, but they have been considering complex economic issues and forming opinions about them, according to ... (read more)
Americans may not have articulated it to themselves, but they have been considering complex economic issues and forming opinions about them, according to ... (read more)
Anti-Poverty Spending Grows
Congress adjourned until January 31 without taking final action on federal budget and tax bills, but that did not stop Republicans and Democrats from both ... (read more)
Congress adjourned until January 31 without taking final action on federal budget and tax bills, but that did not stop Republicans and Democrats from both ... (read more)
As Tax Rates Fall, Wealthy Pay More
The Internal Revenue Service has released data on tax year 2003 that show the top 1 percent of taxpayers, ranked by adjusted gross income, paid 34.3 percent ... (read more)
The Internal Revenue Service has released data on tax year 2003 that show the top 1 percent of taxpayers, ranked by adjusted gross income, paid 34.3 percent ... (read more)
Courts Strike Down Phone Tax
Some large telecom consumers are filing lawsuits against the Internal Revenue Service ... and winning. In October 2005, Hewlett-Packard won a $6.2 million ... (read more)
Some large telecom consumers are filing lawsuits against the Internal Revenue Service ... and winning. In October 2005, Hewlett-Packard won a $6.2 million ... (read more)
Despite Illegal Strike, New York Transit Workers Win
Barely a week after New York's 34,000 transit workers illegally walked off the job for three days near the Christmas and Hanukkah holidays, the union received ... (read more)
Barely a week after New York's 34,000 transit workers illegally walked off the job for three days near the Christmas and Hanukkah holidays, the union received ... (read more)
Federal Labor Reforms Could Be Models for States
The past several years have seen the United States make great strides toward a freer labor market. In the following interview, Sandra Fabry of Americans ... (read more)
The past several years have seen the United States make great strides toward a freer labor market. In the following interview, Sandra Fabry of Americans ... (read more)
Florida City Plans to Drive 6,000 Citizens from Their Homes
"It can't happen here" was the prevailing initial response of Florida's public officials after the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in June 2005 in Kelo v. City ... (read more)
"It can't happen here" was the prevailing initial response of Florida's public officials after the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in June 2005 in Kelo v. City ... (read more)
Government Pay, Benefits Soar
Public employee unions have so successfully used their political muscle that whereas public-sector compensation once lagged behind the private sector, now ... (read more)
Public employee unions have so successfully used their political muscle that whereas public-sector compensation once lagged behind the private sector, now ... (read more)
Hospitality Industry Ignored by Tax Relief Bill
Congress awarded businesses that suffered losses because of Hurricane Katrina tax breaks worth nearly $8 billion in the closing days of 2005, but the breaks ... (read more)
Congress awarded businesses that suffered losses because of Hurricane Katrina tax breaks worth nearly $8 billion in the closing days of 2005, but the breaks ... (read more)
Illinois Governor Creates Mortgage Program Benefitting Illegal Aliens
Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich (D) has used his executive powers to create a state-backed low-interest mortgage loan program for persons with little or no ... (read more)
Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich (D) has used his executive powers to create a state-backed low-interest mortgage loan program for persons with little or no ... (read more)
IRS Gets Record Funding to Prosecute Taxpayers
On November 30, 2005, President George W. Bush signed into law the largest appropriation for the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) in the history of the agency. ... (read more)
On November 30, 2005, President George W. Bush signed into law the largest appropriation for the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) in the history of the agency. ... (read more)
Judgments Set Anti-Business Tone
Two recent class-action cases illustrate how lawsuit abuse in Illinois has damaged the state's legal reputation. Although the Illinois Supreme Court recently ... (read more)
Two recent class-action cases illustrate how lawsuit abuse in Illinois has damaged the state's legal reputation. Although the Illinois Supreme Court recently ... (read more)
Lawmakers Pave Way for Wisc. Tax Relief
Late-year legislative sessions often result in less-than-pleasant surprises for taxpayers, but recently in Wisconsin the outcome was pleasantly surprising. ... (read more)
Late-year legislative sessions often result in less-than-pleasant surprises for taxpayers, but recently in Wisconsin the outcome was pleasantly surprising. ... (read more)
Leader Quits Union
Cheryl Conn, a nationally credentialed specialist, worked for the Department of Labor and Industries in Washington state and had long been active in her ... (read more)
Cheryl Conn, a nationally credentialed specialist, worked for the Department of Labor and Industries in Washington state and had long been active in her ... (read more)
Millions Hit by Tax Intended for Wealthy
Millions of middle-income Americans are about to be hit by the alternative minimum tax (AMT), enacted nearly 30 years ago to ensure the nation's wealthiest ... (read more)
Millions of middle-income Americans are about to be hit by the alternative minimum tax (AMT), enacted nearly 30 years ago to ensure the nation's wealthiest ... (read more)
Nevada Senator Seeks Spending Limits
After presenting fellow lawmakers with three different proposals to limit state and local spending in 2005, all of which failed, Nevada state Sen. Bob Beers ... (read more)
After presenting fellow lawmakers with three different proposals to limit state and local spending in 2005, all of which failed, Nevada state Sen. Bob Beers ... (read more)
Public Servants Live Better than the Public Itself
For 50 years, public-sector unions, health care lobbyists, and social services advocacy groups have doggedly been amassing power in state capitols and city ... (read more)
For 50 years, public-sector unions, health care lobbyists, and social services advocacy groups have doggedly been amassing power in state capitols and city ... (read more)
Seniors Benefit from Capital Gains, Dividend Tax Cuts
In the Congressional fight over whether to preserve cuts in capital gains and dividend tax rates, there's one group of beneficiaries that has been largely ... (read more)
In the Congressional fight over whether to preserve cuts in capital gains and dividend tax rates, there's one group of beneficiaries that has been largely ... (read more)
St. Cloud's New Mayor Cuts Spending, Lowers Tax Levy
St. Cloud, Minnesota Mayor Dave Kleis had been on the job less than two weeks when he was presented with a budget he played no part in putting together. That ... (read more)
St. Cloud, Minnesota Mayor Dave Kleis had been on the job less than two weeks when he was presented with a budget he played no part in putting together. That ... (read more)
States Have Recovered from Budget Crisis, Report Says
The outlook for state budgets is the best in five years, according to a report of the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), a bipartisan organization ... (read more)
The outlook for state budgets is the best in five years, according to a report of the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), a bipartisan organization ... (read more)
Union Demands Wash. Workers Be Fired
On November 2, 2005, the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE), Washington state's largest public employee union, delivered a list of 800 workers' ... (read more)
On November 2, 2005, the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE), Washington state's largest public employee union, delivered a list of 800 workers' ... (read more)
Unions Drive Growth of Government
David Denholm, president of the Public Service Research Foundation (PSRF) in Vienna, Virginia, has spent almost 40 years studying the impact of unionism ... (read more)
David Denholm, president of the Public Service Research Foundation (PSRF) in Vienna, Virginia, has spent almost 40 years studying the impact of unionism ... (read more)
