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
October 2007
Billions in Tobacco Taxes to Fuel Expansion of Federal Health Program
The big question over reauthorization of the federal government's State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) appears to be this: $35 billion, $50 ... (read more)
The big question over reauthorization of the federal government's State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) appears to be this: $35 billion, $50 ... (read more)
Congress to Impose Collective Bargaining
Congress is considering imposing unionism and collective bargaining on state and local public safety departments in states that have not given public-sector ... (read more)
Congress is considering imposing unionism and collective bargaining on state and local public safety departments in states that have not given public-sector ... (read more)
County Commissioner Gives Illinois Lawmakers an Earful over TIF Abuse
Rarely does a person get a two-hour, closed-door meeting with Illinois' most powerful lawmakers. But Cook County Commissioner Mike Quigley (D-Chicago) was ... (read more)
Rarely does a person get a two-hour, closed-door meeting with Illinois' most powerful lawmakers. But Cook County Commissioner Mike Quigley (D-Chicago) was ... (read more)
Debate Over Public-Private Highway Partnerships Takes a New Turn
The latest chapter in the continuing debate about the role of public-private partnerships (PPPs) has featured uncharacteristically blunt congressional criticism ... (read more)
The latest chapter in the continuing debate about the role of public-private partnerships (PPPs) has featured uncharacteristically blunt congressional criticism ... (read more)
Destroying the Rationale for Government Growth
Freedomnomics: Why the Free Market Works and Other Half-Baked Theories Don't by John Lott Regnery Publishing, Inc. (June 4, 2007) 256 pages, hardcover ... (read more)
Freedomnomics: Why the Free Market Works and Other Half-Baked Theories Don't by John Lott Regnery Publishing, Inc. (June 4, 2007) 256 pages, hardcover ... (read more)
Environmentalists Defend Property Values Against Global Warming ‘Art’
Even in Santa Barbara, California, arguably the birthplace of the modern environmental movement, environmentalists can go too far. That seems to be the ... (read more)
Even in Santa Barbara, California, arguably the birthplace of the modern environmental movement, environmentalists can go too far. That seems to be the ... (read more)
Excise Taxes Impose Growing Burden on the Poor
See if this rule makes sense to you: If you want to help poor children, do not raise taxes on poor families. Excise taxes on items such as cigarettes, ... (read more)
See if this rule makes sense to you: If you want to help poor children, do not raise taxes on poor families. Excise taxes on items such as cigarettes, ... (read more)
Fall Showdown Looms for U.S. Farm Bill
The U.S. Senate and House of Representatives are at odds over the outlines of a comprehensive farm bill, and an extension of the five-year-old law currently ... (read more)
The U.S. Senate and House of Representatives are at odds over the outlines of a comprehensive farm bill, and an extension of the five-year-old law currently ... (read more)
GAO Warning: Huge State, Local Budget Deficits Loom
State and local governments will have to raise taxes 17 percent or cut spending 14 percent to keep their operating budgets in balance over the next decade, ... (read more)
State and local governments will have to raise taxes 17 percent or cut spending 14 percent to keep their operating budgets in balance over the next decade, ... (read more)
House Leadership Breaks Rules to Pass Subsidies for Illegal Aliens in Farm Bill
The politics behind the farm bill came into full view August 2, when the electronic scoreboard in the House showed a vote of 215-213 and the word FINAL ... (read more)
The politics behind the farm bill came into full view August 2, when the electronic scoreboard in the House showed a vote of 215-213 and the word FINAL ... (read more)
Illinois Budget Approval Does Nothing to End Wild Ride
Calls for impeachment; legislation introduced to allow voters to recall the governor and lawmakers; lawmakers calling the governor "a madman" and "insane"; ... (read more)
Calls for impeachment; legislation introduced to allow voters to recall the governor and lawmakers; lawmakers calling the governor "a madman" and "insane"; ... (read more)
Impact Fees Reduce Housing Affordability, New Study Maintains
Impact fees provide one of the most potent weapons for both sides in the battle over sprawl. Many residential builders contend that the fees charged ... (read more)
Impact fees provide one of the most potent weapons for both sides in the battle over sprawl. Many residential builders contend that the fees charged ... (read more)
Michigan Economy Declines as Legislature Fiddles
The depth of the economic crisis in Michigan is greater than ever, and there is little evidence of a turnaround any time soon. Consider the following data ... (read more)
The depth of the economic crisis in Michigan is greater than ever, and there is little evidence of a turnaround any time soon. Consider the following data ... (read more)
Mo. Fire District Is Challenging Pension Law
The Mehlville, Missouri Fire Protection District Board of Directors has filed a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of legislation recently signed ... (read more)
The Mehlville, Missouri Fire Protection District Board of Directors has filed a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of legislation recently signed ... (read more)
More Freight Rail Could Reduce Road Congestion
State and national policymakers are missing an important part of the solution to reducing traffic gridlock: putting more trucks on trains, according to ... (read more)
State and national policymakers are missing an important part of the solution to reducing traffic gridlock: putting more trucks on trains, according to ... (read more)
Negotiation Documents Are Public Record, Judge Rules
A Washington state judge has ruled that documents exchanged between the state and public employee unions during contract negotiations are public records ... (read more)
A Washington state judge has ruled that documents exchanged between the state and public employee unions during contract negotiations are public records ... (read more)
Norquist, Nader Call for State Spending Transparency
They say politics creates strange bedfellows. Here is another example. Grover Norquist, president of the limited-government group Americans for Tax Reform, ... (read more)
They say politics creates strange bedfellows. Here is another example. Grover Norquist, president of the limited-government group Americans for Tax Reform, ... (read more)
October 2007 Budget & Tax News (PDF)
The October 2007 issue of Budget & Tax News leads with a report on the continuing budget battle in Illinois, where the governor and leaders of his own party ... (read more)
The October 2007 issue of Budget & Tax News leads with a report on the continuing budget battle in Illinois, where the governor and leaders of his own party ... (read more)
Professorial 'Elite' Blind to Problems in Gas Tax Proposal
The rise in world fuel prices since 2005 has made many motorists uneasy about proposals to increase gasoline taxes. But this has not stopped a handful of ... (read more)
The rise in world fuel prices since 2005 has made many motorists uneasy about proposals to increase gasoline taxes. But this has not stopped a handful of ... (read more)
Retailer Misses Job Targets Again
For the second year in a row, outdoor retailer Cabela's missed job targets set by its performance contracts with the state of Texas. When a Cabela's ... (read more)
For the second year in a row, outdoor retailer Cabela's missed job targets set by its performance contracts with the state of Texas. When a Cabela's ... (read more)
State of the Unions: Big Labor's Decline Explained
Is the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA), the 1935 law designed to protect and invigorate the labor movement, responsible for the past 50 years of the ... (read more)
Is the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA), the 1935 law designed to protect and invigorate the labor movement, responsible for the past 50 years of the ... (read more)
Study: Spending Reforms Are Key to Property Tax Relief in Conn.
Spending reforms are essential to solving Connecticut's property tax crisis, but legislators and Gov. M. Jodi Rell (R) will need political courage to adopt ... (read more)
Spending reforms are essential to solving Connecticut's property tax crisis, but legislators and Gov. M. Jodi Rell (R) will need political courage to adopt ... (read more)
Tax Hike on Cigars, Other Tobacco Products Proposed
Cigar makers and distributors were stunned to learn legislation to fund an expansion of the federal State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) included ... (read more)
Cigar makers and distributors were stunned to learn legislation to fund an expansion of the federal State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) included ... (read more)
Washington State Government Workers Get Record Raises
The current collective bargaining agreements between Washington state and its employee unions give state employees the largest raises some have ever seen. ... (read more)
The current collective bargaining agreements between Washington state and its employee unions give state employees the largest raises some have ever seen. ... (read more)
Wisconsin Senate OKs Record $15.2 Billion Tax Increase for Health Mandate
A universal health insurance mandate that relies on a $15.2 billion payroll tax for funding has passed the Wisconsin Senate. The estimated price tag ... (read more)
A universal health insurance mandate that relies on a $15.2 billion payroll tax for funding has passed the Wisconsin Senate. The estimated price tag ... (read more)
