Budget and Tax News Back Issues - Click on an Issue to see Articles from that Issue
Budget & Tax News
March 2006
'Give 'em a Million, Save a Billion'
Mundelein, Illinois resident Bill Zettler has spent 35 years designing computer software, analyzing statistics, and giving himself mathematical challenges. ... (read more)
Mundelein, Illinois resident Bill Zettler has spent 35 years designing computer software, analyzing statistics, and giving himself mathematical challenges. ... (read more)
'Stop Over Spending' Initiative Rolls on in Oklahoma
Taxpayer advocates in Oklahoma started the new year by announcing they had gathered more than 300,000 signatures to put the Stop Over Spending (SOS) initiative ... (read more)
Taxpayer advocates in Oklahoma started the new year by announcing they had gathered more than 300,000 signatures to put the Stop Over Spending (SOS) initiative ... (read more)
Bad Rules Have Led to Big Pension Problems
Ron Ryan is founder and chairman of Ryan ALM, Inc., an asset/liability management company in New York City that is nationally known for its pension fund ... (read more)
Ron Ryan is founder and chairman of Ryan ALM, Inc., an asset/liability management company in New York City that is nationally known for its pension fund ... (read more)
Bank Ends Loans to Build on Land Seized by Government
The nation's ninth-largest bank will no longer loan money to real estate developers to build on land seized from property owners through eminent domain. "The ... (read more)
The nation's ninth-largest bank will no longer loan money to real estate developers to build on land seized from property owners through eminent domain. "The ... (read more)
Chicago Gives Up $1.6 Billion to Get $360 Million
The definition of blight--as it is used in eminent domain cases--has been expanded to include almost any property in the United States. Consequently, tax ... (read more)
The definition of blight--as it is used in eminent domain cases--has been expanded to include almost any property in the United States. Consequently, tax ... (read more)
Commission Proposes Supply-Side Tax Reform
Governor George Pataki's Commission on Tax Reform and Simplification released in January its recommendations on how to reform New York State's tax policy. ... (read more)
Governor George Pataki's Commission on Tax Reform and Simplification released in January its recommendations on how to reform New York State's tax policy. ... (read more)
Connecticut Public Employees Live On Easy Street
"No, layoffs are not something we would ever consider," said former Connecticut House of Representatives Speaker Moira Lyons (D-Stamford) in November 2002, ... (read more)
"No, layoffs are not something we would ever consider," said former Connecticut House of Representatives Speaker Moira Lyons (D-Stamford) in November 2002, ... (read more)
Georgia Governor Gives up Tax 'Windfall'
One of the first actions of Georgia legislators when they convened for the 2006 session was to approve Republican Gov. Sonny Perdue's executive order for ... (read more)
One of the first actions of Georgia legislators when they convened for the 2006 session was to approve Republican Gov. Sonny Perdue's executive order for ... (read more)
Illinois Senator Proposes 401(k) for Government Employees
Illinois state Sen. Bill Brady (R-Bloomington), who served on the Governor's Pension Commission in 2004, has introduced legislation to create a voluntary ... (read more)
Illinois state Sen. Bill Brady (R-Bloomington), who served on the Governor's Pension Commission in 2004, has introduced legislation to create a voluntary ... (read more)
Illinois' Pension System: Woefully Underfunded, Scandal-Plagued
By almost any measure, the Illinois government pension system is the nation's worst, plagued by debt and scandal. Recent developments include: The ... (read more)
By almost any measure, the Illinois government pension system is the nation's worst, plagued by debt and scandal. Recent developments include: The ... (read more)
March 2006 Budget & Tax News (PDF)
The March 2006 issue of Budget & Tax News features extensive coverage of public-sector pension issues. While Adam Summers of Reason Foundation warns the ... (read more)
The March 2006 issue of Budget & Tax News features extensive coverage of public-sector pension issues. While Adam Summers of Reason Foundation warns the ... (read more)
Oil Industry Posts Record Profits in 2005
Record profits reported in January by ExxonMobil Corp. and other major oil companies have prompted renewed calls for a "windfall profits" tax on the oil ... (read more)
Record profits reported in January by ExxonMobil Corp. and other major oil companies have prompted renewed calls for a "windfall profits" tax on the oil ... (read more)
Opposing View: Public Pension Situation Not So Dire
After functioning for years as obscure, back-office operations of state and local government, retirement systems for employees of state and local governments ... (read more)
After functioning for years as obscure, back-office operations of state and local government, retirement systems for employees of state and local governments ... (read more)
Pataki Calls for Income Tax Cuts in NY
New York Gov. George Pataki's (R) proposed budget for 2006-07 calls for hefty spending increases, significant new personal and corporate income tax cuts, ... (read more)
New York Gov. George Pataki's (R) proposed budget for 2006-07 calls for hefty spending increases, significant new personal and corporate income tax cuts, ... (read more)
Penn. Considers Property Tax Cuts
In December 2005, Pennsylvania's state House and Senate each passed plans to reduce school property taxes paid by homeowners. But the plans have significant ... (read more)
In December 2005, Pennsylvania's state House and Senate each passed plans to reduce school property taxes paid by homeowners. But the plans have significant ... (read more)
Pension Woes Caused by Incentives
State governments must address the structural problems and incentives inherent in political management if government pension systems are to be returned ... (read more)
State governments must address the structural problems and incentives inherent in political management if government pension systems are to be returned ... (read more)
Private Consortium to Help Ease Atlanta's Traffic Woes
Commuters in Georgia's metro Atlanta region are moving closer to congestion relief with the historic approval by the State Transportation Board of a letter ... (read more)
Commuters in Georgia's metro Atlanta region are moving closer to congestion relief with the historic approval by the State Transportation Board of a letter ... (read more)
Public Pension Systems Wield Clout to Twist Government, Corporate Arms
This past winter, the New York news media fixed its attention on public employee pensions when New York City transit workers went on strike and crippled ... (read more)
This past winter, the New York news media fixed its attention on public employee pensions when New York City transit workers went on strike and crippled ... (read more)
Public-Sector Pension Crisis Worsens
While private-sector pension terminations and freezes are grabbing headlines, the situation is every bit as grave for government pension systems. Like ... (read more)
While private-sector pension terminations and freezes are grabbing headlines, the situation is every bit as grave for government pension systems. Like ... (read more)
Some Question Use of TIF
With thousands of cities and nearly all states offering tax increment financing, it has become a staple incentive many businesses now expect. But some analysts ... (read more)
With thousands of cities and nearly all states offering tax increment financing, it has become a staple incentive many businesses now expect. But some analysts ... (read more)
The Making of a Hellhole
What Judicial Hellholes have in common is that they systematically fail to adhere to core judicial tenets or principles of the law. They have strayed from ... (read more)
What Judicial Hellholes have in common is that they systematically fail to adhere to core judicial tenets or principles of the law. They have strayed from ... (read more)
TIF Epidemic Infects Local Governments
In 2004, the city of Fort Worth approved an economic development initiative that seemed to have all the numbers on its side. A billion-dollar company would ... (read more)
In 2004, the city of Fort Worth approved an economic development initiative that seemed to have all the numbers on its side. A billion-dollar company would ... (read more)
Union Membership Rates Continue Slide
The percentage of American workers who belong to a labor union continues to slide, according to an annual report released in January by the U.S. Bureau ... (read more)
The percentage of American workers who belong to a labor union continues to slide, according to an annual report released in January by the U.S. Bureau ... (read more)
Utah Legislature Considers Tax Cuts
The Utah Legislature convened on January 16 to discuss an issue that has been absent from the lawmakers' agenda for several years: tax cuts. Gov. Jon ... (read more)
The Utah Legislature convened on January 16 to discuss an issue that has been absent from the lawmakers' agenda for several years: tax cuts. Gov. Jon ... (read more)
Washington's Governor Wants to Spend Additional $503 Million
With a $1.45 billion ending fund balance projected for the remainder of the 2005-07 budget biennium, Washington Gov. Christine Gregoire (D) is proposing ... (read more)
With a $1.45 billion ending fund balance projected for the remainder of the 2005-07 budget biennium, Washington Gov. Christine Gregoire (D) is proposing ... (read more)
West Virginia Sees Some, Not Enough, Tort Reform
There are two tort systems in West Virginia, or so it seems to observers of the litigation climate there. The first has been reformed in recent years, delivering ... (read more)
There are two tort systems in West Virginia, or so it seems to observers of the litigation climate there. The first has been reformed in recent years, delivering ... (read more)