ITEP Work in Action
Advocates and policymakers at the state and federal levels rely on ITEP’s analytic capabilities to inform their debates on proposed tax policy changes. In any given year, ITEP fields requests for analyses of policies in 25 or more states. ITEP also works with national partners to provide analyses of federal tax policy proposals. This section highlights reports that use ITEP analyses to make a compelling case for progressive tax reforms.
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ITEP Work in Action March 22, 2017 Policy Matters Ohio: Testimony to the Senate Ways & Means Committee on Senate Bill 35
The federal earned income tax credit (EITC) was designed to keep people working, lift families out of poverty, boost their income to help weather financial emergencies, and help offset payroll… -
ITEP Work in Action March 21, 2017 Policy Matters Ohio: Testimony to the House Ways & Means Committee on House Bill 49
Governor Kasich’s tax proposal would further reinforce the shift in Ohio’s state and local tax system in favor of affluent residents and against those with lower or middle incomes. Under the plan, Ohioans who made under $56,000 last year – those in the bottom three-fifths of the income spectrum – on average would pay more tax than they do now.
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ITEP Work in Action March 21, 2017 Hope Policy Institute: Everyone Pays Taxes, Including Undocumented Immigrants
According to a new report by the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy (ITEP), it is estimated that undocumented immigrants in Mississippi pay almost $22,684,000 in state and local taxes. Nationally, undocumented immigrants pay over $11.74 billion in state and local taxes. The report, entitled “Undocumented Immigrants’ State and Local Tax Contributions,” highlights the contributions of undocumented immigrants as taxpayers to state and local governments.
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ITEP Work in Action March 20, 2017 Maine Center for Economic Policy: MECEP Testifies Against Bills to Cut Taxes for the Wealthy at Expense of Maine’s Schools
Augusta, Maine (Monday, March 20, 2017) State legislators on the taxation committee will hold a public hearing today on several bills that would roll back the tax to pay for education enacted under Question 2, the ballot initiative passed by Maine voters in November 2016. As a result of Question 2, the state will have the capacity to provide 55% of school funding mandated by voters previously in 2004.
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ITEP Work in Action March 20, 2017 Evidence Counts: Wealthiest 1% of West Virginians Gain from Tax Cuts in Health Care Repeal
The House proposal to repeal the federal Affordable Care Act (ACA) and replace it with the American Health Care Act (AHCA), provides only a tiny fraction of very wealthy West… -
ITEP Work in Action March 19, 2017 The Economic Progress Institute: Understanding Rhode Island’s Motor Vehicle Tax
The Motor Vehicle Tax (commonly known as the “Car Tax”) is a property tax collected by each Rhode Island municipality based on the value of each motor vehicle owned. There… -
ITEP Work in Action March 19, 2017 North Carolina Justice Center: BTC POLICY BASIC: Marginal versus Effective Personal Income Tax Rates
A great deal of confusion abounds in discussions about state personal income tax rates and how they apply to income. This policy basic clarifies the difference between marginal and effective… -
ITEP Work in Action March 19, 2017 North Carolina Justice Center: Still walking the path to zero: The Senate tax plan will harm North Carolina’s goal of building a stronger, inclusive economy
Senate leaders continue to pursue reductions to the income tax rate for wealthy taxpayers and profitable corporations even as they claim to be focused on helping low- and moderate-income taxpayers.… -
ITEP Work in Action March 19, 2017 Montana Budget & Policy Center: Capital Gains Tax Credit Valuing Wealth Over Work in Montana
In 2003, the Montana Legislature passed a capital gains tax credit that benefits a very narrow portion of our population at the great expense of our collective ability to adequately… -
ITEP Work in Action March 18, 2017 Kansas Center for Economic Growth: A Flat Tax Would Only Worsen Kansas’ Budget Crisis
Governor Sam Brownback’s 2012 plan to phase out the state income tax created an unprecedented fiscal crisis for Kansas. Some options presented for addressing this crisis would “flatten” Kansas’ income… -
ITEP Work in Action March 17, 2017 The Half Sheet: You Can’t Cut Your Way to Prosperity
Virginia’s tax system is upside down. Regular Virginians pay a higher share of their income in state and local taxes than the wealthy and powerful. An array of recently proposed… -
ITEP Work in Action March 9, 2017 Connecticut Voices for Children: Testimony Regarding S.B. No. 787 – AAC Revenue Items To Implement the Governor’s Budget
At Connecticut Voices for Children, we view the state budget as the clearest statement of Connecticut’s policy priorities. We believe that these priorities should advance long-term inclusive economic prosperity, equity… -
ITEP Work in Action March 9, 2017 Minnesota Budget Project: Undocumented Immigrants Pay $83 Million in State Taxes, Would Pay More with Immigration Reform
Undocumented immigrants play a vital role in Minnesota’s economy and currently pay an estimated $83 million in state and local taxes, according to a new report from the Institute for Taxation and Economic Policy (ITEP). Under immigration reform that provides a path to legal status, ITEP estimates these contributions would substantially increase.
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ITEP Work in Action March 9, 2017 Georgia Budget and Policy Institute: Targeted Fix to Income Tax Package Can Deliver Georgians a Win
Georgia lawmakers are considering a large income tax proposal with three sound tax policy reforms alongside one serious shortcoming. On the plus side, the current bill proposes to boost families… -
ITEP Work in Action March 6, 2017 Invest in Louisiana: Moving from Budget Cuts to State Investment
Louisiana’s tax system is broken. It doesn’t bring in enough revenue to pay for the things that allow communities to thrive- strong schools, good hospitals and public safety. It taxes… -
ITEP Work in Action March 3, 2017 Connecticut Voices for Children: Testimony Regarding Estate and Gift Taxes and Exempting Retirement Income: SB 5, SB 58, HB 6358, SB 6, SB 272, HB 6558, and HB 5587
Exemptions to Pensions and Social Security – Exempting retirement income would not only cause immediate revenue deterioration, but given the state’s aging population, could threaten long-term adequacy of the income… -
ITEP Work in Action February 28, 2017 Evidence Counts: A Marriage Not Made in Heaven: A State EITC Without an Income Tax
Last Friday, the Senate Select Committee on Tax Reform explored the idea of amending SB 335 to include a version of a refundable state Earned Income Tax Credit. As noted… -
ITEP Work in Action February 22, 2017 North Carolina Budget and Tax Center: The Road to Nowhere Good for North Carolina
Tax changes passed in the 2016 legislative session reduced the income tax rate and increased reliance on the sales tax. This continued flawed approach to taxation that policymakers have followed… -
ITEP Work in Action February 22, 2017 Georgia Budget & Policy Institute: Income Tax Bill Offers Earned Income Tax Credit Upside, Flat Tax Downside
Members of the Georgia House are set to consider a large income tax proposal that contains a mix of positive reforms and measures that raise significant concerns. Some aspects of… -
ITEP Work in Action February 21, 2017 Kentucky Center for Economic Policy: The Math Behind Ed Choice Tax Credit Fails Many Tests
Today in the House Education Committee legislators are hearing discussion of House Bill 162, a proposal to create a so-called Education Choice tax credit in Kentucky. This proposal does not… -
ITEP Work in Action February 21, 2017 Evidence Count: Governor Justice’s Tax Plan: Who Pays?
Governor Jim Justice has not introduced any tax measures yet, but in his State of the State Address and his executive budget there are plans to enact several tax increases to… -
ITEP Work in Action February 20, 2017 West Virginia Center on Budget & Policy: Income Tax Elimination is a Poor Growth Strategy
Unfazed by a $600 million looming budget deficit, plans by some lawmakers to reduce or eliminate West Virginia’s state income tax — which would mostly benefit the wealthiest residents —… -
ITEP Work in Action February 20, 2017 Evidence Counts: Replacing Income Taxes with a General Consumption Tax is Radical and Regressive (SB 335)
Senate leadership introduced SB 335 which would abolish the personal income tax and sales and use tax, phase out the corporate income tax, lower the severance tax, and replace these taxes… -
ITEP Work in Action February 17, 2017 West Virginia Center on Budget & Policy: What Would Eliminating the Income Tax Mean for West Virginia?
Eliminating the income tax is a strategy that has been tried over and over in other states with little or nothing to show, other than revenue erosion that brings cuts… -
ITEP Work in Action February 17, 2017 Maine Center for Economic Policy: Testimony in Opposition to Governor’s Proposed Budget, Parts D, E, and F
These proposed tax changes would stand in the way of building thriving communities and a strong Maine economy. There is a direct correlation between state resources and the ability to…