Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy

ITEP's Research Priorities

The Grand Rapids Press: New report shows Michigan tax system unfair, but reactions continue along partisan lines

January 4, 2013

(PDF of Original Post) By Jeff Cranson | The Grand Rapids PressNovember 19, 2009, 9:36PM Without exception, every business advocacy organization, special interest group and partisan of any stripe screams these days for some sort of change in Michigan’s governmental structure. Now comes another report telling us what anyone paying attention has known for years: […]

Detroit Free Press: More support for a graduated income tax

January 4, 2013

(PDF of Original Post) November 20, 2009 EDITORIAL There’s a lot of talk in Michigan these days about taxes. Whether they’re too high or too low, whether they’re structured properly for the economy we have, whether they are a hindrance to or a nonissue for economic development. The Free Press editorial board outlined http://www.freep.com/article/20091115/OPINION01/91114005/1069/opinion01/Why-Michigan-needs-to-change-its-taxes”> in […]

On Politix: Gov: Mich must focus on ‘we,’ not ‘me’

January 4, 2013

(PDF of Original Post) Associated PressUpdated: Mar 9, 2011 12:45 PM Michigan citizens need to think about what’s best for everyone rather than just themselves if the state is to reinvent itself, Gov. Rick Snyder told the Michigan Association of Broadcasters on Wednesday. The Republican governor defended his nearly $2 billion in business tax cuts […]

Grand Rapids Press: Family advocacy group says Gov. Snyder’s tax plan hits low-income households 10 times harder

January 4, 2013

(PDF of Original Post) Published: Tuesday, March 08, 2011, 3:07 PM Updated: Wednesday, March 09, 2011, 1:07 AMBy Monica Scott | The Grand Rapids Press The Michigan League for Human Services says a new analysis of Gov. Snyder’s proposed tax plan shows that low-income families would see a far bigger impact from income tax increases […]

Michigan Messenger: Snyder Budget Shifts Tax Burden to Poor

January 4, 2013

(PDF of Original Post) By Ed Brayton | 03.09.11 | 7:21 am A new study highlighted by the Michigan League for Human Services concludes that Gov. Snyder’s budget proposals, despite dropping the state income tax rate from 4.35 to 4.25 percent, will increase the tax burden on the poorest Michigan residents more than the wealthy. […]

Forbes: How The Wealthy Plan to Finance The American Aristocracy With Middle Class Dollars

January 4, 2013

(PDF of Original Post) Mar. 11 2011 – 4:57 pm The quest for influence, power and control at all levels of government has long played out through large political contributions and the big bucks paid to lobbyists to accomplish special interest objectives. And while the game has often been ‘rigged’ to benefit the wealthy in […]

FireDogLake: Michigan Becomes Latest State With Worker-Led Uprising

January 4, 2013

(PDF of Original Post) By: David Dayen Wednesday March 16, 2011 11:36 am The team at MichaelMoore.com is streaming live video all day long from protests in Lansing, the latest site to see a backlash to Republican-led efforts to weaken the rights of workers. Moore says that over 6,000 protesters occupied the Rotunda in the […]

Daily Tribune: Snyder Tax Plan Hurts Poor

January 4, 2013

(PDF of Original Post) Published: Thursday, March 10, 2011 By Jerry Wolffe For the Daily Tribune Low-income families would see 10 times greater impact than the wealthy An analysis of Gov. Rick Snyder’s proposed tax plan shows low-income families will see 10 times greater impact from income tax increases than wealthy families, according to the […]

Labor Notes: Who Pays Taxes?

January 4, 2013

(PDF of Original Post) Bruce Boccardy | October 27, 2010 A mountain of literature documents the unfairness in our tax system. Laws in the majority of states are rife with dodges that permit large corporations to avoid paying tax on a significant share of their profits. These dodges include depreciation rules, exemptions, deductions, credits, tax […]

Daily Hampshire Gazette: Fair taxation one budget fix

January 4, 2013

(PDF of Original Post) Saturday, March 26, 2011 EASTHAMPTON – The middle class is disappearing in America. We hear it over and over again. Instead of watching helplessly while it slips away, a few brave members of the state Legislature, lead sponsors state Sen. Sonia Chang-Diaz and Rep. Jim O’Day, have filed “An Act to […]

Stateline: Md. ‘millionaire’s tax’ debate is back

January 4, 2013

(PDF of Original Post) TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2009 By Stateline.org Staff Reports A headline in this morning’s Baltimore Sun — “Maryland lost nearly 30% of millionaires last year” — is sure to revive a debate over the higher tax rates that Free State legislators imposed on millionaires in 2008. At least eight other states this […]

Frederick News Post: Huntin’ millionaires

January 4, 2013

(PDF of Original Post) Elizabeth Marsh Cupino Originally published December 10, 2009 Set up a roadblock. Put out an APB. Maryland’s comptroller has reported that the number of millionaires in the state dropped by 30 percent in 2008 and that some wealthy residents might be trying to make a break for it. We can’t have […]

Washington Post: Fact-checking Rep. Kratovil’s claim on tax hike

January 4, 2013

(PDF of Original Post) Thursday, October 28, 2010: Fact Check If it seems counterintuitive that a candidate would be pushing for a big tax increase as a way of winning office this election year, it is — and, in Maryland’s 1st congressional district, it’s also counter to the truth. Ads launched by Rep. Frank M. […]

Huffington Post: The Millionaire Migration Myth: Don’t Fall for This Anti-Tax Scare Tactic

January 4, 2013

(Original Post) Posted: 03/31/11 09:21 PM ET Virtually every state in the country has a tax system that heavily favors the rich. Despite this fact, only a handful of states responded to the revenue slump brought on by the Great Recession with any sort of tax increase on this favored group. What gives? With so […]

Washington Post: Return of the Maryland Millionaire’s Tax?

January 4, 2013

(PDF of Original Post) Posted at 7:26 PM ET, 03/10/2011 By Aaron Davis Add the millionaire’s tax back into the mix of Maryland’s budget battle. A bill that would permanently return the state’s top-tier tax bracket to 6.25 percent received a hearing Thursday in front of the House Ways and Means Committee. The tax increase […]

Maryland Reporter: Progressive, nonprofits push for permanent “millionaires’ tax”

January 4, 2013

(PDF of Original Post) March 11, 2011 By Megan Poinski [email protected] Several tax watchdogs and policy analysts concerned about the state of Maryland’s economy and buoyed by a new report urged delegates to revisit a just-expired method of raising more money — extending the tax surcharge on millionaires. Enacted in 2008, the “millionaires’ tax” taxes […]

The Times-Picayune: Louisiana deficit demands new look at taxes

January 4, 2013

(PDF of Original Post) By Contributing Op-Ed columnist November 26, 2009, 3:00AM Over the next two years Louisiana likely will fall almost $2 billion short of what it will take to meet people’s growing needs in a tough national recession. That’s serious money — more than you’ll find by tinkering at the margins. Lawmakers will […]

Tri-Parish Times: Will Jindal go for more sin taxes?

January 4, 2013

(PDF of Original Post) By TOM ASWELL During the 1988 presidential race, Vice President George H.W. Bush proclaimed, “Read my lips: no new taxes!” That famous line helped him defeat Michael Dukakis but when he was forced to back-track on that promise, it was his eventual undoing. Bill Clinton’s own pithy campaign slogan “It’s the […]

Lexington Herald-Leader: Coalition of agencies asks for major tax reform

January 4, 2013

(PDF Of Original Post) Posted on Fri, May. 29, 2009 By Beth Musgrave [email protected] FRANKFORT — A coalition of social service and nonprofit groups called on Gov. Steve Beshear Thursday to push for comprehensive tax reform as a long-term fix to the state’s ongoing budget woes. The announcement came on the same day legislative leaders […]

Lexington Herald-Leader: Poor spend larger percentage on taxes

January 4, 2013

(PDF of Original Post) Posted on Thu, Nov. 19, 2009 By Linda B. Blackford [email protected] Low and middle-income Kentuckians pay a larger share of their incomes on state and local taxes than wealthier people do, making the tax system one of many in the country that is inherently unfair, according to a new study. The […]

Lexington Herald-Leader: No better time for tax reform

January 4, 2013

(PDF Of Original Post) Gov. Steve Beshear says this is a bad time to be talking about tax reform because it would mean higher taxes for some Kentuckians, and he doesn’t want to go there in the middle of a recession. But what Beshear fails to consider in taking this stance is that the Kentuckians […]

Richmond Register: It’s difficult not to be cynical

January 4, 2013

(PDF of Original Post) Ronnie Ellis CNHI News Service FRANKFORT November 23, 2009 08:33 am — Thanksgiving and Christmas are right around the corner. But if your job is to listen to and report on Frankfort political leaders it’s hard to get into the spirit. Oh, some in Frankfort are in a giving spirit. Gov. […]

Think Progress: Despite Setback, Gov. Brownback Stays Focused On Making Kansas’ Already Regressive System Even Worse

January 4, 2013

(PDF of Original Post) By Pat Garofalo on May 31, 2011 at 10:15 am Gov. Sam Brownback (R-KS) has been pushing to implement what he calls “tax reform” in the Sunflower State — with the main thrust of his effort focused on reducing the Kansas’ income tax: “I think there’s a combination of things that […]

The Iowa Independent: Report: Iowa tax code favors wealthiest residents

January 4, 2013

(PDF of Original Post) By Jason Hancock 11/18/09 10:39 AM Moderate- and low-income Iowans pay a greater share of their income in state and local taxes than the rich do, according to a new report from two non-partisan research organizations. According the report, Iowa families earning less than $20,000 a year — the poorest fifth […]

Globe Gazette: Study says Iowa tax system unfair to poor

January 4, 2013

(PDF of Original Post) DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa’s tax laws force poor residents to pay a much higher percentage of their income in taxes than the state’s wealthiest citizens, according to two researchers who called Wednesday for lawmakers to overhaul the system. “It’s an old problem and a persistent one,” said Peter Fisher, […]