Budget and Tax News Back Issues - Click on an Issue to see Articles from that Issue
Budget & Tax News
December 2004
Bush Tax Reform Agenda Begins to Take Shape
President George W. Bush has signaled a willingness to spend political capital to enact changes to U.S. tax policy during his second term in office, though ... (read more)
President George W. Bush has signaled a willingness to spend political capital to enact changes to U.S. tax policy during his second term in office, though ... (read more)
Chicago Lands $1.8 Billion in Tollway Lease Deal
Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley recently signed a $1.82 billion deal with a consortium of foreign investors to privatize the Chicago Skyway, a nearly eight-mile ... (read more)
Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley recently signed a $1.82 billion deal with a consortium of foreign investors to privatize the Chicago Skyway, a nearly eight-mile ... (read more)
Chicago Mayor Loads Budget with $87 Million in Tax and Fee Hikes
Chicago businesses and residents, who already pay some of the highest local taxes and fees in the nation, will soon see many taxes and fees climb still ... (read more)
Chicago businesses and residents, who already pay some of the highest local taxes and fees in the nation, will soon see many taxes and fees climb still ... (read more)
Chicago Mayor Proposes Decriminalization of Marijuana Possession
Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley is advocating the decriminalization of marijuana possession, proposing to make the offense similar to an ordinance violation ... (read more)
Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley is advocating the decriminalization of marijuana possession, proposing to make the offense similar to an ordinance violation ... (read more)
Chicagoland Chamber Files Legal Challenge to Assessment Cap
The Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce and other groups recently filed a lawsuit in Cook County Circuit Court challenging the constitutionality of a state ... (read more)
The Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce and other groups recently filed a lawsuit in Cook County Circuit Court challenging the constitutionality of a state ... (read more)
December 2004 Budget & Tax News (PDF)
The December issue of Budget & Tax News considers whether President George W. Bush's second term will bring dramatic tax reform, as he has pledged. Social ... (read more)
The December issue of Budget & Tax News considers whether President George W. Bush's second term will bring dramatic tax reform, as he has pledged. Social ... (read more)
Fort Mitchell Latest Kentucky Town to OK Sunday Liquor Sales
For the first time since Prohibition, people may buy liquor on Sundays in Fort Mitchell, Kentucky. The Fort Mitchell City Council voted on October 18 ... (read more)
For the first time since Prohibition, people may buy liquor on Sundays in Fort Mitchell, Kentucky. The Fort Mitchell City Council voted on October 18 ... (read more)
Illinois Study Questions SSTP
Supporters of a plan to require out-of-state retailers to collect sales tax from Illinois customers to send back to Illinois say the state and local governments ... (read more)
Supporters of a plan to require out-of-state retailers to collect sales tax from Illinois customers to send back to Illinois say the state and local governments ... (read more)
Investment Firm 'Windfall' from Social Security Privatization Won't Happen
Sometimes an academic study offers much less information than it claims. And sometimes what appears to be an academic study is not a study at all. Professor ... (read more)
Sometimes an academic study offers much less information than it claims. And sometimes what appears to be an academic study is not a study at all. Professor ... (read more)
Montana Senators Named Porkers of the Month for Drought-Relief Votes
The taxpayer group Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW) named U.S. Senators Max Baucus (D-MT) and Conrad Burns (R-MT) its October Porkers of the Month ... (read more)
The taxpayer group Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW) named U.S. Senators Max Baucus (D-MT) and Conrad Burns (R-MT) its October Porkers of the Month ... (read more)
New Estimate of Smoking Costs Misleading
More ammunition for the anti-smoking crowd will soon be released in a new book from MIT Press, The Price of Smoking. According to prepublication reports, ... (read more)
More ammunition for the anti-smoking crowd will soon be released in a new book from MIT Press, The Price of Smoking. According to prepublication reports, ... (read more)
New Report Highlights Continued Growth of Privatization
18th Annual Privatization Report Covers Wide Range of Topics The Reason Foundation's recently released 18th Annual Privatization Report includes ... (read more)
18th Annual Privatization Report Covers Wide Range of Topics The Reason Foundation's recently released 18th Annual Privatization Report includes ... (read more)
New Senate Will Be More Taxpayer-Friendly, Study Finds
The 2004 election brought significant turnover in the United States Senate and good news for taxpayers, as revealed in data compiled by the National Taxpayers ... (read more)
The 2004 election brought significant turnover in the United States Senate and good news for taxpayers, as revealed in data compiled by the National Taxpayers ... (read more)
New York Has Nation's Second-Highest Public Employee Payroll, Study Finds
New York's state and local governments pay public employees more than any state except California, and the number of government workers compared to population ... (read more)
New York's state and local governments pay public employees more than any state except California, and the number of government workers compared to population ... (read more)
New York Teacher Union Punishes Lawmakers Who Backed Budget Cuts
Twenty-six Republican state lawmakers backed New York Governor George Pataki's (R) veto of $1 billion of education spending last year, and this year they ... (read more)
Twenty-six Republican state lawmakers backed New York Governor George Pataki's (R) veto of $1 billion of education spending last year, and this year they ... (read more)
No, Virginia, Illinois Is Not a Low-Tax State
The Springfield-based Illinois Policy Institute has released a policy brief which, in its own words, debunks the "myth that Illinois is a low-tax state." Among ... (read more)
The Springfield-based Illinois Policy Institute has released a policy brief which, in its own words, debunks the "myth that Illinois is a low-tax state." Among ... (read more)
South Dakota, Florida Top Business Climate Study
Citing U.S. Department of Labor statistics showing job relocation to other states is twice as common as "outsourcing" abroad, a new study by the Tax Foundation ... (read more)
Citing U.S. Department of Labor statistics showing job relocation to other states is twice as common as "outsourcing" abroad, a new study by the Tax Foundation ... (read more)
Tax Breaks for Businesses Usually Don't Work
Lawmakers seeking to foster economic growth should focus on good tax fundamentals in their states, rather than short-term tax abatements and exemptions ... (read more)
Lawmakers seeking to foster economic growth should focus on good tax fundamentals in their states, rather than short-term tax abatements and exemptions ... (read more)
Three NY Legislators Ace New 'Vote for Jobs Index'
Only three of New York's 210 state legislators received a grade of A on a new "Vote for Jobs Index" developed by The Business Council of New York State. Sixty-three ... (read more)
Only three of New York's 210 state legislators received a grade of A on a new "Vote for Jobs Index" developed by The Business Council of New York State. Sixty-three ... (read more)
U.S. Lags Behind Rest of World in Corporate Tax Reform
Although many nations that compete economically with the United States have implemented important reforms in recent years to reduce corporate tax burdens, ... (read more)
Although many nations that compete economically with the United States have implemented important reforms in recent years to reduce corporate tax burdens, ... (read more)
Utah Voters Reject Tax Hike for Open Space
Despite being outspent by a 40-1 margin, opponents of Utah's Initiative 1 carried the day November 2, as voters rejected tax and debt increases for the ... (read more)
Despite being outspent by a 40-1 margin, opponents of Utah's Initiative 1 carried the day November 2, as voters rejected tax and debt increases for the ... (read more)