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 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… -
ITEP Work in Action February 16, 2017 Open Sky Policy Institute: Income tax bills good for wealthy and non-residents
Forty percent of Nebraskans would see tax increases under LB 452 Low- and middle-income earners pay more of their incomes in sales taxes than income taxes. This is reflected in… -
ITEP Work in Action February 15, 2017 West Virginia Center on Budget & Policy: Replacing Income Tax with Sales Tax is a Boon for the Wealthy
Scale back income tax exemptions – Every taxpayer regardless of income receives a $2,000 exemption for each dependent. Phase it out between $150,000-$200,000, and eliminate it for those over $200,000,… -
ITEP Work in Action February 15, 2017 Kansas Action for Children: KAC Testimony to the Senate Assessment and Taxation Committee in Support of Senate Concurrent Resolution 1604
The high food sales tax hurts Kansas families. Food is a basic necessity for Kansas’ families. According to the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy, the state’s increasing reliance on… -
ITEP Work in Action February 15, 2017 West Virginia Center on Budget & Policy: Income Tax Cuts and Shifting to Sales Tax a Poor Strategy for Growing West Virginia’s Economy
Even though faced with a $600 million budget deficit, some West Virginia lawmakers are proposing reducing or eliminating the state’s income tax, and replacing that lost revenue with an increase… -
ITEP Work in Action February 14, 2017 ITEP Testimony Regarding Kansas Senate Bill 188
ITEP analysis of Kansas tax changes enacted between 2012 and 2015 shows the state lost over $1 billion in revenue annually from changes to its personal income tax, including lowering… -
ITEP Work in Action February 14, 2017 Policy Matters Ohio: Kasich plan continues tax shift
Governor John Kasich’s new 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… -
ITEP Work in Action February 10, 2017 Policy Matters Ohio: Ohio Nees a Strong Income Tax
Ohio’s income tax is the only major tax that is based on ability to pay. This principle was embraced by the founders of our democracy, such as Thomas Jefferson, as… -
ITEP Work in Action February 9, 2017 DC Fiscal Policy Institute: Revenue: Where DC Gets Its Money
The DC government collects revenue in a variety of ways from its residents, businesses, and the federal government. These revenues are used to fund the wide array of services provided…