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
May 2007
'Income Inequality' Claims Ring Hollow When Correctly Examined
New York Times columnist David Brooks began a January 14, 2007 piece by saying, "Income inequality is on the rise." No fact or explanation was offered because ... (read more)
New York Times columnist David Brooks began a January 14, 2007 piece by saying, "Income inequality is on the rise." No fact or explanation was offered because ... (read more)
Battle Brews in Washn. Over NASCAR, NBA Sonics Requests for $500 Million
Washington State officials are sharply divided over two proposals that would use tax dollars to subsidize a NASCAR race track and a basketball arena for ... (read more)
Washington State officials are sharply divided over two proposals that would use tax dollars to subsidize a NASCAR race track and a basketball arena for ... (read more)
Conn. Governor Seeks Higher Taxes on Income, Cigarettes
Less than three months after she was elected last November on promises to lower taxes, Connecticut Gov. M. Jodi Rell (R) proposed a $3.4 billion hike in ... (read more)
Less than three months after she was elected last November on promises to lower taxes, Connecticut Gov. M. Jodi Rell (R) proposed a $3.4 billion hike in ... (read more)
Georgia Speaker Is Considering State Tax Overhaul
Georgia House Speaker Glenn Richardson (R-Hiram) has hired economist Arthur Laffer, known as the father of supply-side economics, to develop tax solutions ... (read more)
Georgia House Speaker Glenn Richardson (R-Hiram) has hired economist Arthur Laffer, known as the father of supply-side economics, to develop tax solutions ... (read more)
Governors Press Bush for More Children's Health Money
Democrat and Republican governors alike want President George W. Bush to provide $745 million in additional funding for the State Children's Health Insurance ... (read more)
Democrat and Republican governors alike want President George W. Bush to provide $745 million in additional funding for the State Children's Health Insurance ... (read more)
High Court to Decide Whether Union Rights Trump Personal Rights
The U.S. Supreme Court is considering oral arguments in the consolidated cases of Washington v. Washington Education Association and Davenport v. WEA, which ... (read more)
The U.S. Supreme Court is considering oral arguments in the consolidated cases of Washington v. Washington Education Association and Davenport v. WEA, which ... (read more)
Ill. Governor Seeks Record Tax Increase
Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich (D) has proposed the largest tax increase in the state's history as part of a plan to raise nearly $33 billion in new revenues. The ... (read more)
Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich (D) has proposed the largest tax increase in the state's history as part of a plan to raise nearly $33 billion in new revenues. The ... (read more)
Illinois Transportation Authority Wants $10 Billion Subsidy Raise
The Regional Transportation Authority (RTA), which oversees public transportation in Chicago and its metropolitan region, wants the state of Illinois to ... (read more)
The Regional Transportation Authority (RTA), which oversees public transportation in Chicago and its metropolitan region, wants the state of Illinois to ... (read more)
Kentucky Corporate Minimum Tax Comes Under Fire
Despite a top lawmaker’s claim that Kentucky’s alternative minimum calculation (AMC) tax, also known as a gross receipts tax, is “un-American,” it appears ... (read more)
Despite a top lawmaker’s claim that Kentucky’s alternative minimum calculation (AMC) tax, also known as a gross receipts tax, is “un-American,” it appears ... (read more)
Maine Tobacco Tax Hike Likely to Benefit New Hampshire
Maine lawmakers are considering another round of tobacco tax hikes, a move that likely would increase business and tax revenue in neighboring New Hampshire, ... (read more)
Maine lawmakers are considering another round of tobacco tax hikes, a move that likely would increase business and tax revenue in neighboring New Hampshire, ... (read more)
May 2007 Budget & Tax News (PDF)
The May 2007 issue of Budget & Tax News highlights the negative experience of Kentucky and New Mexico with gross receipts taxes--Kentucky’s has been in ... (read more)
The May 2007 issue of Budget & Tax News highlights the negative experience of Kentucky and New Mexico with gross receipts taxes--Kentucky’s has been in ... (read more)
Mo. Judge Pulls Tax Cut from Ballot
A judge in St. Louis County, Missouri has ruled that trustees for a local fire protection district may ask voters to raise the district's maximum tax rate, ... (read more)
A judge in St. Louis County, Missouri has ruled that trustees for a local fire protection district may ask voters to raise the district's maximum tax rate, ... (read more)
National Expert Doubts Claimed Benefits of Subsidies
Prof. Allen Sanderson of the University of Chicago, who has extensively studied sports facility subsidies, says sports arenas do not stimulate economic ... (read more)
Prof. Allen Sanderson of the University of Chicago, who has extensively studied sports facility subsidies, says sports arenas do not stimulate economic ... (read more)
New Mexico Lawmakers Push for Spending Limits
Tax and spending limits lost at the ballot box last November in several states, but a new effort to limit spending has popped up in New Mexico. State ... (read more)
Tax and spending limits lost at the ballot box last November in several states, but a new effort to limit spending has popped up in New Mexico. State ... (read more)
New Mexico's Gross Receipts Tax Offers a Cautionary Tale
Gross receipts taxes are beginning to spread nationwide, to the dismay of economists, businesspeople, and consumers, a new report observes. While these ... (read more)
Gross receipts taxes are beginning to spread nationwide, to the dismay of economists, businesspeople, and consumers, a new report observes. While these ... (read more)
New York City Has Nation's Highest and Lowest Income Tax Burdens: Report
The Tax Foundation has released three new datasets that show how much in federal income taxes individuals in the nation's congressional districts, counties, ... (read more)
The Tax Foundation has released three new datasets that show how much in federal income taxes individuals in the nation's congressional districts, counties, ... (read more)
President Curbs Power of Agencies to Issue Regulatory 'Guidance'
An executive order by President George W. Bush, aimed at curbing the power of federal agencies to regulate businesses through "guidance," will be watched ... (read more)
An executive order by President George W. Bush, aimed at curbing the power of federal agencies to regulate businesses through "guidance," will be watched ... (read more)
Record Tax Cut Will Save Utah Taxpayers $220 Million
Utah lawmakers have cut personal income taxes more than $100 million, including a drop in the top tax rate from 6.98 to 5 percent, the centerpiece of nearly ... (read more)
Utah lawmakers have cut personal income taxes more than $100 million, including a drop in the top tax rate from 6.98 to 5 percent, the centerpiece of nearly ... (read more)
Rhode Island Lawmaker Wants Higher Beer Tax
Rhode Island beer drinkers will see the price of their favorite brews go up if a state lawmaker who wants to double the state's excise tax on beer gets ... (read more)
Rhode Island beer drinkers will see the price of their favorite brews go up if a state lawmaker who wants to double the state's excise tax on beer gets ... (read more)
Seattle's 'Sound Transit' to Cost Nearly Double Original Estimate
In 1996, Seattle-area voters approved the first phase of construction for a new transit system serving Central Puget Sound, dubbed Sound Transit. Today, ... (read more)
In 1996, Seattle-area voters approved the first phase of construction for a new transit system serving Central Puget Sound, dubbed Sound Transit. Today, ... (read more)
Tax Burden Puts Georgia at a Disadvantage
Georgia’s tax burden was 10.4 percent of income in 2006, which ranked the state 25th nationally, according to a Tax Foundation study released January 30, ... (read more)
Georgia’s tax burden was 10.4 percent of income in 2006, which ranked the state 25th nationally, according to a Tax Foundation study released January 30, ... (read more)
Taxpayers Cry Foul as AMT Affects Millions of Americans
Over the past three Congresses, the Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) has morphed from a little-known "stealth tax" into a widely known, highly discussed, and ... (read more)
Over the past three Congresses, the Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) has morphed from a little-known "stealth tax" into a widely known, highly discussed, and ... (read more)
Teachers Are Highly Paid, Survey Shows
A study released in January 2007 by the Manhattan Institute found the average public school teacher is paid 36 percent more than the average white-collar ... (read more)
A study released in January 2007 by the Manhattan Institute found the average public school teacher is paid 36 percent more than the average white-collar ... (read more)
What Is a Gross Receipts Tax?
What exactly is a gross receipts tax? Here is the New Mexico Taxation and Revenue Department's definition: "The gross receipts tax is a tax on the privilege ... (read more)
What exactly is a gross receipts tax? Here is the New Mexico Taxation and Revenue Department's definition: "The gross receipts tax is a tax on the privilege ... (read more)
