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
April 2006
A Conversation with the Senate's 'Most Dangerous Creature'
There's a reason nationally syndicated columnist George Will recently wrote Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK) is "the most dangerous creature that can come to the ... (read more)
There's a reason nationally syndicated columnist George Will recently wrote Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK) is "the most dangerous creature that can come to the ... (read more)
AMT Sending Tens of Thousands to Financial Ruin
Tens of thousands of Americans face financial ruin because they voluntarily reported incentive stock options to the Internal Revenue Service. The IRS ... (read more)
Tens of thousands of Americans face financial ruin because they voluntarily reported incentive stock options to the Internal Revenue Service. The IRS ... (read more)
Analysis: Highway Tolling, Private Roadway Financing Gain Support in States
According to author Malcom Gladwell, an idea can lie dormant for a long time and then suddenly catch on when the right stimulus comes along. Spreading rapidly ... (read more)
According to author Malcom Gladwell, an idea can lie dormant for a long time and then suddenly catch on when the right stimulus comes along. Spreading rapidly ... (read more)
April 2006 Budget & Tax News (PDF)
The April 2006 issue recognizes Tax Day 2006 with several stories on the IRS and federal income tax reform. We look at the National Taxpayer Advocate's ... (read more)
The April 2006 issue recognizes Tax Day 2006 with several stories on the IRS and federal income tax reform. We look at the National Taxpayer Advocate's ... (read more)
Black Activists Call for Eminent Domain Restrictions in Virginia
The push to restrict the use of eminent domain for private development in Virginia is getting an extra shove from black activists worried the homes and ... (read more)
The push to restrict the use of eminent domain for private development in Virginia is getting an extra shove from black activists worried the homes and ... (read more)
Bloated Budgets a Bipartisan Trend in Maryland, Study Shows
Government growth in Maryland has continued unabated without regard to taxpayers' interests, according to a new study from the nonpartisan National Taxpayers ... (read more)
Government growth in Maryland has continued unabated without regard to taxpayers' interests, according to a new study from the nonpartisan National Taxpayers ... (read more)
Calif. Legislator Gives Pension Reform Another Try
Despite strong opposition from unions and lukewarm support from Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R), California State Assemblyman Keith Richman (R-Northridge) ... (read more)
Despite strong opposition from unions and lukewarm support from Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R), California State Assemblyman Keith Richman (R-Northridge) ... (read more)
Cook County Doubles Its Cigarette Tax
The Cook County, Illinois tax on cigarettes has doubled to $2 a pack, giving the city of Chicago the highest cigarette tax in the nation. County, city, ... (read more)
The Cook County, Illinois tax on cigarettes has doubled to $2 a pack, giving the city of Chicago the highest cigarette tax in the nation. County, city, ... (read more)
Ill. Leaders Take Pension Reform Show on the Road
Republican lawmakers in Illinois are making group appearances around the state to discuss what they say may be the worst state government pension system ... (read more)
Republican lawmakers in Illinois are making group appearances around the state to discuss what they say may be the worst state government pension system ... (read more)
IRS Policies Result in Unnecessary Taxpayer Harassment
Each year since passage of the IRS Restructuring and Reform Act of 1998, the National Taxpayer Advocate (TA) has issued a report to Congress identifying ... (read more)
Each year since passage of the IRS Restructuring and Reform Act of 1998, the National Taxpayer Advocate (TA) has issued a report to Congress identifying ... (read more)
Maine Voters Will Weigh in on TABOR
Citizens of Maine will have the chance to limit taxes and spending when they go to the polls this November 7. Maine Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap ... (read more)
Citizens of Maine will have the chance to limit taxes and spending when they go to the polls this November 7. Maine Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap ... (read more)
Missouri Bank Refuses to Finance Eminent Domain Development Projects
A Missouri-based bank has announced it "will not lend money for projects in which local governments use eminent domain to take private property for use ... (read more)
A Missouri-based bank has announced it "will not lend money for projects in which local governments use eminent domain to take private property for use ... (read more)
Number, Cost of Government Workers Growing Fast, Study Says
The nation's 16 million state and local government workers form a large, growing, and well-compensated class in society. State and local workers earned ... (read more)
The nation's 16 million state and local government workers form a large, growing, and well-compensated class in society. State and local workers earned ... (read more)
Privatized Fire District Keeps Costs Low and Service High
More than 40 years have passed since O'Hare International Airport in Chicago opened and caused a development boom that turned farm fields and wooded lots ... (read more)
More than 40 years have passed since O'Hare International Airport in Chicago opened and caused a development boom that turned farm fields and wooded lots ... (read more)
Project Helps State Lawmakers Shape National Public Policy
State legislators do more than decide the direction of the policies of their respective states, an ongoing advisory project points out. They also shape ... (read more)
State legislators do more than decide the direction of the policies of their respective states, an ongoing advisory project points out. They also shape ... (read more)
Project Pushes 10 Resolutions
This year, the State Legislative Advisory Project is asking state legislators to pass the following resolutions: 1. Encourage the U.S. Congress to pass ... (read more)
This year, the State Legislative Advisory Project is asking state legislators to pass the following resolutions: 1. Encourage the U.S. Congress to pass ... (read more)
Reforms Repeatedly Stalled
Efforts to end the Internal Revenue Service's (IRS) current treatment of incentive stock options (ISOs) under provisions of the Alternative Minimum Tax ... (read more)
Efforts to end the Internal Revenue Service's (IRS) current treatment of incentive stock options (ISOs) under provisions of the Alternative Minimum Tax ... (read more)
Rhode Island Democrats Seek Flat Tax
Key Democrat lawmakers in Rhode Island have concluded that to keep the state competitive, they need to overhaul the state's tax system, including going ... (read more)
Key Democrat lawmakers in Rhode Island have concluded that to keep the state competitive, they need to overhaul the state's tax system, including going ... (read more)
Rising Revenues Spur State Tax Cuts, Higher Spending
From Massachusetts to Hawaii, signs abound that the immense pressure placed on state budgets by the fiscal crisis early this decade has eased--and put tax ... (read more)
From Massachusetts to Hawaii, signs abound that the immense pressure placed on state budgets by the fiscal crisis early this decade has eased--and put tax ... (read more)
State Worker Ousted for Not Joining Union
Pat Woodward, 64, of Olympia, Washington, was recently fired from her job as a financial analyst for the Washington state Department of Licensing. The ... (read more)
Pat Woodward, 64, of Olympia, Washington, was recently fired from her job as a financial analyst for the Washington state Department of Licensing. The ... (read more)
Table 2. State and Local Government Employment in 2004 as a Share of Total Employment in State
Table 2. State and Local Government Employment in 2004 as a Share of Total Employment in State TotalEducationSafetyWelfareServicesOther All states11.3%6.1%1.7%1.5%1.3%0.8% Alaska16.6%8.3%1.8%1.6%2.7%2.2% D.C.16.2%4.5%3.3%2.3%4.6%1.6% Wyoming16.1%8.2%1.7%2.92.0%1.3% Mississippi15.0%8.1%1.7%3.0%1.4%0.8% Louisiana14.6%7.5%2.2%2.4%1.6%0.9% New ... (read more)
Table 2. State and Local Government Employment in 2004 as a Share of Total Employment in State TotalEducationSafetyWelfareServicesOther All states11.3%6.1%1.7%1.5%1.3%0.8% Alaska16.6%8.3%1.8%1.6%2.7%2.2% D.C.16.2%4.5%3.3%2.3%4.6%1.6% Wyoming16.1%8.2%1.7%2.92.0%1.3% Mississippi15.0%8.1%1.7%3.0%1.4%0.8% Louisiana14.6%7.5%2.2%2.4%1.6%0.9% New ... (read more)
Top Half of U.S. Income Earners See Tax Burdens Grow
As the annual tax filing deadline approaches, many public officials traditionally use the occasion to launch into a debate about the airness of the nation ... (read more)
As the annual tax filing deadline approaches, many public officials traditionally use the occasion to launch into a debate about the airness of the nation ... (read more)
