Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy

ITEP's Research Priorities

South Florida Business Journal: Report: Florida’s tax system among worst

January 3, 2013

(PDF of Original Post) Wednesday, November 18, 2009 South Florida Business Journal Florida’s poorest residents pay a far higher share of their income in state and local taxes than do the richest families in the state, according to a newly released report by the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy, a Washington, D.C.-based think tank. […]

Orlando Sentinel: Think tank says Florida tax system hardest on working class

January 3, 2013

(PDF of Original Post) posted by Jim Stratton on Nov 18, 2009 10:56:10 AM Florida’s tax system is among the worst in the nation in terms of pushing the financial burden onto low and middle-income residents, according to a new study by a D.C.-based think tank. The Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy — which […]

Tallahassee Democrat: Tobacco tax, It’s a symptom of bad fiscal habits

January 3, 2013

(PDF of Original Post) November 22, 2009 It’s a symptom of bad fiscal habits When the Legislature was debating last spring whether to raise money by substantially boosting the taxes on tobacco, a couple of arguments were all that caused even a pause in enthusiasm for this “sin tax.” One was that it would likely […]

Wonk Room: Florida’s Incoming Republican Speaker Casts Doubt On Scott’s Plan To Cut Spending

January 3, 2013

(PDF of Original Post) By Pat Garofalo on Sep 13th, 2010 at 7:50 pm Florida’s Republican gubernatorial nominee Rick Scott — when he’s not spending an inordinate amount of time discussing policies over which he’d have no control as governor — likes to tout his economic growth plan, which involves large tax cuts and supposedly […]

Ocala: Poverty rises, while taxes benefit wealthy

January 3, 2013

(PDF of Original Post) By Alan Stonecipher Special to the Star-Banner Published: Sunday, November 14, 2010 at 6:30 a.m. FLORIDA FOCUS The number of Floridians living below the federal poverty level increased between 2007 and 2009 by almost 550,000 — equal to the population of the cities of Orlando and Tampa combined. New U.S. Census […]

Gainesville Sun: Alison Law: Behind Paula’s rant, serious questions about taxes

January 3, 2013

(PDF of Original Post) By Alison Law Special to The Sun Published: Friday, November 26, 2010 at 6:01 a.m. Airport scanners and personal tax bills have a lot in common. We all know what’s under the clothing or in the tax bills, but both are offensive when displayed in public. The County Commission swearing in […]

Think Progress: Gov. Scott’s Version of ‘Fair Taxes’: Regressive Personal Taxes and No Corporate Tax

January 3, 2013

(PDF of Original Post) Like many Republican governors, Gov. Rick Scott (R-FL) has released a budget that lays off thousands of state workers and slashes education and Medicaid funding, but still cuts Florida’s already low corporate income tax rate by two and a half percentage points. During an interview with CNBC’s Larry Kudlow last night […]

Daytona Beach News-Journal: The facts on pensions don’t support rhetoric

January 3, 2013

(PDF of Original Post) By MIKE WILLIAMS, FLORIDA VOICEMarch 7, 2011 12:05 AMPosted in: Other Voices Changing Florida’s public pension systems has become a hot topic across Florida and the nation. Unfortunately, many politicians in Tallahassee have been using a moving target when giving their reasons for so-called pension “reform.” This process began with certain […]

Change.org: D.C. Needs Fairer Taxes, Not More Safety Net Cuts

January 3, 2013

(PDF of Original Post) by Kathryn Baer November 18, 2010 12:56 PM (PT) Like state and local governments across the country, the District of Columbia is facing a budget shortfall. We’ve got a $175 million gap that’s got to be closed right now. And our total local budget (pdf) is only somewhat over $6.1 billion. […]

American Way of Life Magazine: The Home Front: Where the Recession Really Matters

January 3, 2013

(PDF of Original Post) If the recession ended a year ago, why does it feel like our economy is still in shambles? Turn on any news station and you will be bombarded with people and institutions to blame. It’s the Obama administration’s fault. It’s the Republicans’ fault. It’s Wall Street’s fault. It’s the banks’ fault. […]

CT News Junkie: Connecticut’s Budget Crisis – Let’s talk ‘Tax Burden’

January 3, 2013

(Original Post) by Jonathan Pelto | Jan 8, 2010 3:58pm While political developments dominate Connecticut’s news, the state’s budget crisis continues to deteriorate. Faced with a half a billion dollar deficit (and growing) in this fiscal year, and what could be well over a billion dollar state deficit next year and at least a $3.5 […]

Hartford Courant: Rich or Poor? Either Way, Someone’s Going to Be Taxed

January 3, 2013

(PDF of Original Post) By WILLIAM CIBES March 7, 2010 Anatole France observed that “The law, in its majestic equality, forbids rich and poor alike to sleep under bridges, to beg in the streets, and to steal their bread.” If only the law, in its majestic equality, also asked the rich, as well as the […]

Hartford Courant: State Tax Exemptions In The Cross Hairs

January 3, 2013

(PDF of Original Post) By CHRISTOPHER KEATING, [email protected] The Hartford Courant 7:00 PM EST, January 26, 2011 HARTFORD — In flush economic times, the legislature could leave untouched the huge number of exemptions from the state’s 6 percent sales tax: haircuts, prescription drugs, boat repairs, car washes, and food purchased at supermarkets, to name a […]

New Haven Advocate: What’s happening with the state sales tax?

January 3, 2013

(PDF of Original Post) Written by Betsy YaglaWednesday, March 16, 2011 8:05am – Last Updated Tuesday, March 15, 2011 5:11pm If Gov. Dannel Malloy has his way, next year’s haircuts and yoga classes will cost you 6.35 percent more. That’s because he’s proposed adding these and other services to the list of items that Connecticut […]

Hartford Courant: State Taxes A Good Deal For Residents

January 3, 2013

(PDF of Original Post) By JOACHIM HERO The Hartford Courant April 26, 2011 Income tax filing day has just passed, which generates the usual talk about how much we pay. We can expect tea party followers to hold rallies that focus on what they pay and how much they dislike paying it, instead of all […]

Connecticut Post: GE tax issue still rages on

January 3, 2013

(PDF of Original Post) Rob Varnon, Staff Writer Updated 07:24 p.m., Tuesday, April 26, 2011 General Electric Co.’s tax bill is not a joke among constituents, U.S. Rep. Jim Himes, D-Conn., told the Stamford Advocate, but he said it’s Congress’ fault for not plugging the loopholes in the federal tax system. “Should they be paying […]

Stamford Advocate: Grandfather knew: The rich can afford higher taxes

January 3, 2013

(PDF of Original Post) Published 09:25 p.m., Thursday, May 19, 2011 In the mid-1950s, my grandfather told the Buffalo Evening News he didn’t mind paying taxes. He considered it “the rent I pay for the privilege of living in this country.” The quote was in a profile published because he ran a large local business. […]

Denver Post: Group resubmits ballot initiative aiming to raise taxes and state revenue

January 3, 2013

(PDF of Original Post) By Tim Hoover The Denver Post Posted: 02/05/2011 01:00:00 AM MST A liberal group that pushed a tax-increase initiative thrown out on a technicality is back with new proposals that would ask Colorado voters to increase taxes by up to $1.5 billion a year. The Colorado Center on Law and Policy […]

Press Democrat: Your taxes are going up this week

January 3, 2013

(PDF of Original Post) 1-cent hike in sales tax taking effect Wednesday, vehicle license fee jumps in May; income tax already went up By GUY KOVNER THE PRESS DEMOCRAT Published: Sunday, March 29, 2009 at 2:32 p.m. The rancor in Sacramento over balancing California’s budget has subsided, at least for the time being. Now Californians […]

Ventura County Star: Commission considers flat tax for California

January 3, 2013

(PDF of Original Post) By Timm Herdt Originally published 04:42 p.m., July 15, 2009 Updated 04:42 p.m., July 15, 2009 SACRAMENTO — With great fanfare early this year, Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Democratic legislative leaders appointed a blue-ribbon commission to recommend fundamental changes in California’s tax structure. Among the chief charges given to the […]

Arkansas Times: Appointment in Samarra

January 3, 2013

(PDF of Original Post) News that at least one Huckabee has moved to Florida arrived as we were pondering, more or less, a study showing that residents of states without state income taxes, such as Florida, pay more in federal income taxes than do residents of states that have an income tax, such as Arkansas. […]

Arkansas Times: Kicking the Poor Around

January 3, 2013

(PDF of Original Post) Kicking the poor around While Arkansas and five other states might be considered “low tax” states overall, their taxes aren’t low for poor and middle-income families, according to the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy, a Washington think tank. ITEP looked at data released earlier this summer by the Census Bureau […]

Arizona Republic: Flat-tax compromise adds to budget logjam

January 3, 2013

(PDF of Original Post) Some taxpayers could see bills rise under plan by Mary Jo Pitzl – Jun. 30, 2009 12:00 AM The Arizona Republic If Arizona shifted to a flat , there would be a seesaw effect on tax bills: Down for high-income earners but up for some in the middle, according to an […]

Arizona Public Broadcasting Service: Federal Tax Changes

January 3, 2013

(PDF of Original Post) A new report from the non-partisan Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy says federal tax changes have made itemized deductions more unfair to low-income taxpayers and more costly for government. Dana Naimark of the Children’s Action Alliance and Kevin McCarty of the Arizona Tax Research Association discuss the report. Guests:-Dana Naimark […]

Arizona Daily Star: Giffords, Kelly differ on fairness of Fair Tax plan

January 3, 2013

(PDF of Original Post) Andrea Kelly Arizona Daily Star Arizona Daily Star | Posted: Friday, September 17, 2010 12:00 U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords has accused her opponent, Jesse Kelly, of supporting what she calls a 23 percent tax increase. Kelly says the tax model he backs is not an increase in taxes, but a 23 […]