Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy

ITEP's Research Priorities

Arizona Capitol Times: Senate panel OKs bill to flatten state income tax

January 3, 2013

(PDF of Original Post) By Luige del PuertoPublished: March 24, 2011 at 5:44 pm A House proposal to implement a flat income cleared a Senate panel today, but the favorable vote in committee is no assurance the major policy change would get to the finish line. Legislative economists said in a memo that the shift […]

Arizona Central: Arizona flat income tax a hike for many

January 3, 2013

(PDF of Original Post) Study: 88% of Ariz. filers would pay moreby Mary Jo Pitzl – Mar. 25, 2011 12:00 AM The Arizona Republic If Arizona shifts to a one-size-fits-all income tax, it would raise taxes for 88 percent of Arizona filers while cutting them for the 12 percent with a taxable income of more […]

Tuscon Weekly: Flat Unfair

January 3, 2013

(PDF of Original Post) In Arizona, poor and middle-class residents are paying more for less—and Republicans keep lowering the tax burden on the rich by Jim Nintzel David Cay Johnston proves that the notion that half of all Americans skip out on paying taxes is a load of hogwash. Even if some citizens don’t owe […]

CNN: By the Numbers- Politics in 2013

January 3, 2013

(Original Post) By Amy Roberts, CNN Libraryupdated 11:14 AM EST, Thu January 3, 2013 (CNN) — Two-thousand-thirteen promises to be an interesting political year — with two governors races that will be closely watched, the very real possibility of another special Senate election in Massachusetts, a possible debate in Washington over immigration reform as the […]

Montgomery Advertiser: James Evans: System perpetuates poverty

December 21, 2012

(PDF of Original Post) There is a constant refrain in the faith tradition shared by Jews and Christians. It begins with the Law of Moses, flows through the prophets, and finds perfect expression in the teaching of Jesus. This refrain is God’s concern for the poor. People of faith who take the Scriptures seriously are […]

The Birmingham News: Our View: Most Alabamians don’t get to celebrate having the nation’s lowest state and local taxes

December 21, 2012

(PDF of Original Post) By Birmingham News editorial boardNovember 08, 2009, 6:00AM Imagine that Nick Saban’s Alabama Crimson Tide wins the national championship this year, but only the special-team players — and not the majority of the team — get to celebrate. If you can imagine that, you get a better sense of what it […]

The Birmingham News: Our View: The time is right for the Legislature to grant sales tax relief to Alabama families struggling to make ends meet

December 21, 2012

(PDF of Original Post) By Birmingham News editorial boardFebruary 10, 2010, 5:30AM When the nation’s economy catches a cold, Alabama gets pneumonia, the saying goes. And when the nation’s economy catches pneumonia, as it has during the Great Recession? Let’s just say Alabama’s economy is gravely ill and struggling. In recent months, the state’s unemployment […]

The Birmingham News: Our View: Lawmakers should make Alabama’s tax system more fair and do away with the 4 percent state sales tax on food

December 21, 2012

(PDF of Original Post) By Birmingham News editorial board March 31, 2010, 5:45AM How does two weeks’ worth of free groceries sound? That’s what the great majority of Alabamians stand to gain if the Legislature removes the state’s 4 percent sales tax from food and over-the-counter drugs. Alabama Arise, a group that lobbies for the […]

The Birmingham News: Our View: The state House of Representatives should approve a bill ending the state’s 4 percent sales tax on groceries and nonprescription drugs

December 21, 2012

(PDF of Original Post) By Birmingham News editorial board April 08, 2010, 5:45AM When the Alabama House of Representatives debates a bill today that would remove the state sales tax on groceries, you can bet opponents utter these words, or some variation, more than once: “The whole bill is a redistribution of wealth.” (In fact, […]

The Birmingham News: Our View: The nation’s lowest-tax state reaps the nation’s highest amount from its poorest taxpayers

December 21, 2012

(PDF of Original Post) Alabama stands atop two national rankings. Auburn fans should be upset. But so should fans of the Crimson Tide. Obviously, we’re not talking BCS and AP pre-season college football rankings. Instead, we’re talking about two seemingly contradictory rankings of the state’s tax system that expose just how screwy it is. Alabamians […]

Montgomery Advertiser: Editorial: Are state’s taxes low? Not for all

December 21, 2012

(PDF of Original Post) August 15, 2010 Which statement is true? 1. Compared to the rest of the nation, Alabamians pay a low rate of state and local taxes. 2. Compared to the rest of the nation, Alabamians pay a high rate of state and local taxes. Actually, both statements can be true, or they […]

Birmingham News: OUR VIEW: It’s awful that Birmingham is tied for the highest sales tax rate in the nation among cities with more than 200,000 people

December 21, 2012

(PDF of Original Post) Published: Wednesday, May 25, 2011, 5:45 AM By Birmingham News editorial board If it’s possible to be No. 1 with a bullet, Birmingham is. It sits tied with Montgomery atop the charts. But it’s nothing you’d want to dance to. Birmingham and Montgomery have the highest general sales tax rate in […]

Ledger-Enquirer: Lobby for the poor won’t make any politician richer

December 21, 2012

(PDF of Original Post) Alabamians are being inundated, and almost certainly disgusted, by the tawdry details of a federal trial involving big money that lobbyists for gambling interests allegedly paid lawmakers for votes to legalize casino-style electronic bingo. Meanwhile, a far humbler lobbying effort of a very different kind quietly continues in Alabama, with hardly […]

Oregonian: TAXING THE RICH It’s not class warfare, it’s just common sense

December 21, 2012

(Original Post) The Sunday Oregonian (Portland, Oregon) September 20, 2009 SundaySunrise Edition TAXING THE RICH It’s not class warfare, it’s just common sense NEAL PEIRCE In a dramatic break from tax trends of recent decades, eight states have voted this year to push up the percentages of income that their wealthiest citizens must pay. Connecticut […]

Shanker Blog: Evasive Maneuvers

December 21, 2012

Evasive Maneuvers Posted November 10, 2010 Original Post In a previous post, I showed how the majority of funding for education and other public services comes from state and local tax revenue, and that low-income families pay a disproportionate share of these taxes (as a percentage of income).  One of the reasons why this is […]

Politifact: Paul Krugman says poorest 40 percent of Texans pay more in Texas than national average

December 21, 2012

(Orignal Post) Says taxes paid by the poorest residents of Texas are above the national average. Paul Krugman on Monday, February 28th, 2011 in an op-ed column. Paul Krugman says poorest 40 percent of Texans pay more in Texas than national averageTrue New York Times columnist Paul Krugman sees Texas as a model for how […]

Christian Science Monitor: Taxes and the Rich: How Much Do They Pay Now?

December 21, 2012

(Original post) By Mark Trumbull April 15, 2011 As Republicans square off with the Obama administration on how much to tax the wealthiest Americans, a new report suggests the overall tax burden does not vary much by income level. As millions of Americans prepare to file their tax returns, taxes are also back in the […]

New Haven Advocate: Connecticut Can Still Raise Taxes on the Rich, Even if Washington Doesn’t

December 21, 2012

Original Post By Mark EnglerMay 24, 2011 In 2009, when then-New York Gov. David Paterson signed a temporary tax increase on the state’s wealthiest individuals — one of the so-called “millionaire’s taxes” that have passed in recent years in select states across the country — at least one multimillionaire was not happy. Rush Limbaugh proclaimed […]

Post-Star (NY): Commentary: Anti-tax Governors just getting started

December 21, 2012

Original Post By Matthew Gardner, Executive Director Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy July 28, 2011 Twelve new governors who ran on anti-tax platforms have now signed their first fiscal year budgets. All of them will tell you they were elected with a mandate to get their state’s fiscal house in order, rein in government […]

New Haven Advocate: Despite New Law, Poor Still F-ed, Rich Still Whining

December 21, 2012

NB: CTJ Modified the original story’s title, which can be found in the original article at the URL below. Original Post by Win Vitkowsky August 2, 2011 Connecticut’s wealthiest 1 percent still get a sweet deal on taxes, while the poorest 20 percent get screwed, according to a report released last month by CT Voices […]

Forbes: Massachusetts State No. 17 With 2011 Sales Tax Holiday

December 21, 2012

Original Post August 2, 2011 by Ashlea Ebeling Down to the wire — again. Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick signed legislation Aug. 1 making Massachusetts the 17th state to officially announce a back-to-school season sales tax holiday for 2011. Massachusetts’ taxpayers don’t have much time to make their shopping lists. The holiday, where just about anything […]

La Crosse Tribune: Matthew Gardner: Anti-tax govs just getting started

December 21, 2012

Original Post July 31, 2011 COMMENTARY Twelve new governors who ran on anti-tax platforms have now signed their first fiscal year budgets. All of them will tell you they were elected with a mandate to get their state’s fiscal house in order, rein in government spending and cut taxes. Some of them will even tell […]

Durham (NC) Herald-Sun: A break from tax holidays

December 21, 2012

  August 5, 2011 EDITORIAL Let’s take a holiday from the sales tax holiday. That was a daring thing for any politician to say — voters do so love their tax loopholes — but on the lips of a Republican, it was practically radical. Sen. Richard Stevens, R-Wake, was among the state legislators who not […]

Fiscal Times: Corporate Taxes: Wake up, Small Business!

December 21, 2012

Original Post August 5, 2011 by Karen Hube Many executives of big public companies have shared their ideas about corporate tax reform in hearings before policy makers lately. Just last week, the CEOs of Wal-Mart, Kimberly Clark, CVS and PMC-Sierra said they are willing to give up corporate tax breaks in exchange for lower tax […]

National Post (Canada): Are the rich paying more than their share in the U.S.?

December 21, 2012

Original Post August 5, 2011 by Kelly McParland All good situation comedies produce spin-offs, so it should come as no surprise that the wildly popular laugh-a-thon know as the U.S. debt debate has led to a comic sideshow, now playing under the working title “Who pays more taxes?” The argument is tied to the increasingly […]