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 2008
California Okays 1,550% Tax Hike on Flavored Malt Beverages
In a move that has roused constitutional and legal concerns in California, the State Board of Equalization has voted to uphold a ruling that amounts to ... (read more)
In a move that has roused constitutional and legal concerns in California, the State Board of Equalization has voted to uphold a ruling that amounts to ... (read more)
Chicago Approves Record Tax Hike
The Chicago City Council has approved the biggest property tax hike in the city's history, plus higher taxes and fees on a host of other items. City ... (read more)
The Chicago City Council has approved the biggest property tax hike in the city's history, plus higher taxes and fees on a host of other items. City ... (read more)
Chicago Considers Gambling as Possible Economic Cure-All
Four panelists squared off at the Union League Club of Chicago on December 4 to debate a proposal to expand legalized gambling in Illinois by allowing a ... (read more)
Four panelists squared off at the Union League Club of Chicago on December 4 to debate a proposal to expand legalized gambling in Illinois by allowing a ... (read more)
Colorado Moves To Public-Sector Collective Bargaining
Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter (D) has signed an executive order recognizing labor unions and permitting them to negotiate with the state. The order allows the ... (read more)
Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter (D) has signed an executive order recognizing labor unions and permitting them to negotiate with the state. The order allows the ... (read more)
Corruption Sparked Disclosure Law
In 1959, after extensive hearings into labor union corruption, Congress enacted the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act (LMRDA), also known as ... (read more)
In 1959, after extensive hearings into labor union corruption, Congress enacted the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act (LMRDA), also known as ... (read more)
Court's Ruling Is Widely Condemned
The Washington Supreme Court's 5-4 ruling to overturn ballot measure I-747 brought nearly universal condemnation in Washington State. The court majority ... (read more)
The Washington Supreme Court's 5-4 ruling to overturn ballot measure I-747 brought nearly universal condemnation in Washington State. The court majority ... (read more)
Critics Slam Illinois Gambling Plan
While some powerful political and business leaders in Illinois are proposing a huge expansion of legal gambling to provide funding for mass transit in the ... (read more)
While some powerful political and business leaders in Illinois are proposing a huge expansion of legal gambling to provide funding for mass transit in the ... (read more)
February 2008 Budget & Tax News (PDF)
The February 2008 issue of Budget & Tax News leads with a report on Washington's property tax cap--approved by voters in 2001, overturned by the state supreme ... (read more)
The February 2008 issue of Budget & Tax News leads with a report on Washington's property tax cap--approved by voters in 2001, overturned by the state supreme ... (read more)
Government Unions Hide Behind Secrecy Protections
There is little doubt that financial transparency is a major deterrent to labor union and political corruption. Yet, where the two meet--unions of government ... (read more)
There is little doubt that financial transparency is a major deterrent to labor union and political corruption. Yet, where the two meet--unions of government ... (read more)
Henry Paulson's Mortgage Mulligan
Editor's note: On December 5 the Bush administration announced an agreement with financial institutions to impose a five-year freeze on interest rates for ... (read more)
Editor's note: On December 5 the Bush administration announced an agreement with financial institutions to impose a five-year freeze on interest rates for ... (read more)
Indiana Lawmakers Eye 'Fees' on Tax-Exempt Organizations
Rapidly rising property taxes in Indiana have caused some lawmakers to look to the state's tax-exempt nonprofit organizations to help ease the burden on ... (read more)
Rapidly rising property taxes in Indiana have caused some lawmakers to look to the state's tax-exempt nonprofit organizations to help ease the burden on ... (read more)
Model Labor Policy Language
Big Labor's political clout has grown over the past decade despite falling membership, and much of this power has been gained at the expense of the First ... (read more)
Big Labor's political clout has grown over the past decade despite falling membership, and much of this power has been gained at the expense of the First ... (read more)
New Jersey Governor Recommends Selling Toll Roads to Pay Down Debt
New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine (D) is developing a plan to sell the state's two toll roads to raise money to erase the state budget's structural deficit and ... (read more)
New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine (D) is developing a plan to sell the state's two toll roads to raise money to erase the state budget's structural deficit and ... (read more)
New Jersey Voters Rebel Against High Taxes, Debt
New Jersey voters have said "No" to constitutionally dedicating a portion of the sales tax to fund property tax relief programs and to issuing debt to fund ... (read more)
New Jersey voters have said "No" to constitutionally dedicating a portion of the sales tax to fund property tax relief programs and to issuing debt to fund ... (read more)
Political Feuding Blocks Transit Funding in Illinois
The Illinois General Assembly in 2007 was supposed to finish its business in May, but seven months later lawmakers remained in session to wrestle with mass ... (read more)
The Illinois General Assembly in 2007 was supposed to finish its business in May, but seven months later lawmakers remained in session to wrestle with mass ... (read more)
Proposed Surtax Would Be Worse than Existing Alternative Minimum Tax
Some Democrats are floating a proposal developed by the Tax Policy Center, a joint undertaking of the Urban Institute and Brookings Institution, to repeal ... (read more)
Some Democrats are floating a proposal developed by the Tax Policy Center, a joint undertaking of the Urban Institute and Brookings Institution, to repeal ... (read more)
Public Transit Creates Value but Fails to Collect
Like many transit agencies around the nation, Illinois' Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) and its service boards (Chicago Transit Authority, Metra ... (read more)
Like many transit agencies around the nation, Illinois' Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) and its service boards (Chicago Transit Authority, Metra ... (read more)
South Carolina Governor Wins Broad Support for Spending Transparency Order
In a move that has the support of conservatives and liberals in the Palmetto State, Gov. Mark Sanford (R) of South Carolina is about to implement executive ... (read more)
In a move that has the support of conservatives and liberals in the Palmetto State, Gov. Mark Sanford (R) of South Carolina is about to implement executive ... (read more)
Stadium Subsidies Hitting Taxpayers Harder: Study
Shelling out several hundred million taxpayer dollars for a shiny new sports stadium is common practice for cities today, but a recent study from the research ... (read more)
Shelling out several hundred million taxpayer dollars for a shiny new sports stadium is common practice for cities today, but a recent study from the research ... (read more)
States Resist REAL ID Implementation
With the deadline for issuing licenses that meet the criteria of the federal REAL ID Act of 2005 less than three months away, it appears few if any states ... (read more)
With the deadline for issuing licenses that meet the criteria of the federal REAL ID Act of 2005 less than three months away, it appears few if any states ... (read more)
Tax Increment Financing Raises Costs, Hides Giveaways to Politically Connected
A decision by city officials in Kannapolis, North Carolina to borrow $168 million through tax increment financing exposes key problems with that type of ... (read more)
A decision by city officials in Kannapolis, North Carolina to borrow $168 million through tax increment financing exposes key problems with that type of ... (read more)
Tax-Hike Advocates Keep Their Money
People who urge local governments to dig deeper into taxpayers' pocketbooks are unwilling to part with their own cash voluntarily, according to a new report ... (read more)
People who urge local governments to dig deeper into taxpayers' pocketbooks are unwilling to part with their own cash voluntarily, according to a new report ... (read more)
The Coming Tax Tsunami
Over the next 25 years American taxpayers will face a fiscal tsunami. The first of the Baby Boomers will be eligible for early retirement beginning this ... (read more)
Over the next 25 years American taxpayers will face a fiscal tsunami. The first of the Baby Boomers will be eligible for early retirement beginning this ... (read more)
Two Parties' Congressional Spending Agendas Differ Radically, Study Finds
Members of the current, 110th Congress have proposed more spending cuts than in recent years, but fewer than one in seven representatives and fewer than ... (read more)
Members of the current, 110th Congress have proposed more spending cuts than in recent years, but fewer than one in seven representatives and fewer than ... (read more)
Washington Legislature Reinstates Property Tax Cap in Special Session
A tax earthquake with the potential to reshape the 2008 general election has shaken Washington State. The state supreme court on November 8 overturned ... (read more)
A tax earthquake with the potential to reshape the 2008 general election has shaken Washington State. The state supreme court on November 8 overturned ... (read more)
