Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy

ITEP's Research Priorities

Des Moines Register: Aim for fairness in state tax policy

January 4, 2013

(PDF of Original Post) The Register’s editorial The political debate over taxes these days ranges from “We will not raise taxes” to “We will cut taxes.” There is little interest, it seems, in raising taxes, but there should at least be interest in the idea that taxes ought to be fair. By fair, that means […]

Mount Vernon-Libson Sun: Sun Editorial: Look at the complicated when tackling Iowa’s budget

January 4, 2013

(PDF of Original Post) We sure hope our state leaders take the “road less traveled” when the legislative session convenes this coming month and they face a $1 billion revenue shortfall. Certainly, cuts are needed. We laud those coming up with places to trim. In fact, we like a mix of ideas from Democrats to […]

The Des Moines Register: Iowa governor’s race: Candidate views differ on effect of corporate tax cuts

January 4, 2013

(PDF of Original Post) Iowa governor’s race: Candidate views differ on effect of corporate tax cuts By JASON CLAYWORTH • [email protected]• May 9, 2010 Republican governor candidates’ proposals to cut taxes for corporations would result in a smaller state government providing fewer services – and also could introduce greater inequities in Iowa’s tax system, some […]

The Des Moines Register: Ideology differences carry over to Culver, Branstad tax plans

January 4, 2013

(PDF of Original Post) 1:45 AM, Oct. 30, 2010 | Written byJASON CLAYWORTH Here’s what other groups are saying about state tax cuts. IOWA CHILD & FAMILY POLICY CENTER: It questions the premise of proposing state tax cuts, saying state government cannot further reduce revenues without harming vital services, such as K-12 education and children’s […]

The Hawk Eye: Lawmakers struggling with preschool issue

January 4, 2013

(PDF of Original Post) By CHRISTINIA CRIPPES [email protected] Area schools may be moving full steam ahead with their preschool programs, but state lawmakers have yet to weigh in on their future. Sen. Tom Courtney, D-Burlington, said the outcome will depend on how badly Republican Gov. Terry Branstad pushes his proposal. Lawmakers have been divided along […]

Chicago Sun-Times: Commentary: Quinn and Hynes both want fairer tax system

January 4, 2013

(PDF of Original Post) September 5, 2009 Commentary Last week, when Comptroller Dan Hynes kicked off his campaign for governor, he took a shot at Gov. Quinn, painting him as the guy who wants to burden everyone with an income tax increase. In contrast, Hynes said, he proposes a more “progressive” income tax increase, one […]

NBC Chicago: Tax Report: Combine Quinn, Hynes Proposals

January 4, 2013

(PDF of Original Post) Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy: Use Quinn’s plan, then adopt Hynes’ By BJ LUTZ Updated 8:50 PM CST, Mon, Oct 19, 2009 Forget the he said / he said. A research group in the nation’s capital says the best tax policy would be a combination of Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn […]

Chicago Tribune: Tax review says Quinn-Hynes tax-hike hybrid is best for Illinois

January 4, 2013

(PDF of Original Post) October 19, 2009 UPDATED by Rick Pearson at 7:02 p.m.; first posted at 4:25 p.m. As the two major Democratic candidates for governor bash each other over competing proposals to raise the state’s income tax, a Washington-based research group has proposed its own method of tax fairness– combining the plans offered […]

Chicago Tribune: Illinois tax increase: Researchers say combine plans by Pat Quinn and Dan Hynes

January 4, 2013

(PDF of Original Post) Both proposals are ‘complementary,’ says Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy By Rick Pearson and Monique GarciaTribune reporters October 20, 2009 Gov. Pat Quinn and Comptroller Dan Hynes have fought for weeks over whose income-tax hike proposal is fairer, but a Washington-based research group said Monday the best answer may be […]

The State Journal-Register: Typical campaign nonsense won’t wash this time

January 4, 2013

(PDF of Original Post) Posted Nov 24, 2009 @ 12:05 AM Well, it’s officially turkey time. No, not the family-, friend- and food-oriented holiday we call Thanksgiving. Think more the frenetic, fatuous and occasionally flagitious biannual event called “campaign” season. You already can’t turn on a TV or radio without being subjected to negative political […]

NBC Chicago: How to Soak the Rich Without Soaking the Poor, Too

January 4, 2013

(PDF of Original Post) The two-point (or more) tax increase making its way through the state legislature has one thing to recommend it. Right now, the super-rich in Illinois — Oprah Winfrey, the Ty Beanie Baby guy, anyone named Pritzker — pay a lower proportion of their income than in any state that levies taxes. […]

Chicago Tribune: Emanuel and Chico gloss over fine print on taxes

January 4, 2013

(PDF of Original Post) By Bob Secter, Tribune reporter 9:53 PM CST, February 16, 2011 With city finances in shambles and fiscal straight talk at a premium, one of the final skirmishes of the race for mayor is centering on charges of distortions and misstatements over a tax plan floated by front-runner Rahm Emanuel. Ahead […]

Progress Illinois: A Missed Opportunity On The Sales Tax?

January 4, 2013

(PDF of Original Post) Over the past couple of years, Progress Illinois has reported time and again on the problems with the State of Illinois’ sales tax structure (older posts that touch on variations of this issue can be found here, here, here, here, here, and here). To recap, Illinois has the “narrowest base of […]

All Business: Editorial: If there’s a tax to raise, Idaho’s poor will pay it

January 4, 2013

(PDF of Original Post) Sept. 24–Even a modest uptick in state tax revenues won’t replace all the federal stimulus and state reserves that propped up Idaho’s public schools, higher education and other programs this year. That money will be exhausted when it’s time to figure out how to plug next year’s hole of close to […]

Hawaii Independent: Hawaii needs to keep the GET hike proposal on the table

January 4, 2013

(PDF of Original Post) Mar 31, 2011 – 04:26 PM | by Josh Frost A 2009 study by the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy, it was found that in Hawaii, people among the lowest 20 percent of income pay a significantly higher percentage of their income on “Sales and Excise” taxes than the top […]

The Atlanta Journal Constitution: Our view: Tax cuts made at risky time and with no sense

January 4, 2013

(PDF of Original Post) Sunday, April 26, 2009 To understand the skewed priorities of our state Legislature, imagine that you come home to discover that your house is ablaze. Do you pour water on it? Or gasoline? The General Assembly would choose gasoline. This year, faced with rapidly declining tax revenues that threaten to deepen […]

Athens Banner-Herald: Officials consider tax caps

January 4, 2013

(PDF of Original Post) By BLAKE AUED | [email protected] | Story updated at 10:45 pm on 6/21/2009 Low-income Athens homeowners would get a tax break under a proposal Athens-Clarke commissioners will consider this summer. A group of commissioners and other officials are beginning work on “circuit breakers,” a policy that caps property taxes based on […]

The Atlanta Journal Constitution: At Ga. Legislature, wisdom and justice sacrificed for obsession

January 4, 2013

(PDF of Original Post) Jay Bookman (http://blogs.ajc.com/jay-bookman-blog) 6:45 am January 19, 2010, by Jay Last year, with the economy collapsing and state tax revenue already in free fall, Georgia legislators paused on their way out the door to pass a major last-minute tax cut. Fully implemented, the 50 percent reduction in capital-gains tax would have […]

Chattanooga Times Free Press: Georgia hurting for funds

January 4, 2013

(PDF of Original Post) Sunday, March 7, 2010By Ashley Speagle, Correspondent ATLANTA — Budget and policy experts say Georgia may face a $3 billion budget hole in fiscal 2012 if legislators continue to neglect revenue options to replenish state funds. “Legislators are now in crisis mode, and there’s no long-term discussion,” said Allan Essig, executive […]

Connect Savannah: Robin Hood in reverse

January 4, 2013

(PDF of Original Post) May 25, 2010 Pending legislation could drain much needed revenue and hurt lowincomefamilies. By Patrick Rodgers Included amongst the stack of bills passed by the Georgia legislature this session are several that could have a significant negative impact on the state’s revenue, shifting even more of the tax burden onto low–income […]

Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Barnes plan: Remove capital gains tax for 2 years

January 4, 2013

(PDF of Original Post) Candidates says break would pay for itself; experts disagree By Jeremy Redmon The Atlanta Journal-Constitution 7:45 a.m. Wednesday, October 13, 2010 Democratic candidate for governor Roy Barnes appeared alongside a pair of local businessmen at a news conference in Midtown Atlanta’s Technology Square this month, trumpeting his plan to revive Georgia’s […]

Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Tweaks will create real tax reform

January 4, 2013

(PDF of Original Post) By Sarah Beth Gehl 8:33 p.m. Friday, January 28, 2011 The Special Council on Tax Reform and Fairness took a swing at fixing Georgia’s outdated tax system and hit a triple. The Council’s recommendations would help align Georgia revenues with the 21st-century economy and meet the current and future needs of […]

Athens Banner-Herald: Tax Council hits triple on reform

January 4, 2013

(PDF of Original Post) Published Wednesday, February 02, 2011 The Special Council on Tax Reform and Fairness, created last year by the state legislature, took a swing at fixing Georgia’s outdated tax system and hit a triple. The council’s recommendations would help align Georgia revenues with the 21st-century economy and meet the current and future […]

Tallahassee Democrat: Earle Klay: Educators should heed a warning

January 3, 2013

(PDF of Original Post) May 13, 2009 My View When I was an undergraduate in the early 1960s at the University of South Florida, a legislative committee under Sen. Charley Johns forced our president to fire professors suspected of being either homosexual or communist. One of my professors was fired mid-term because he had traveled […]

Bradenton Herald: Fla. Tax system one of least fair

January 3, 2013

(PDF of Original Post) Posted on Fri, Nov. 20, 2009 State is second worst, survey says By JENNIFER RICH [email protected] If you are a Florida resident with low to moderate income, you are paying a disproportionate amount of state and local taxes. So says a nationwide study of state tax systems that shows Florida has […]