
December 3, 2023
The 90-minute “red state-blue state” debate hosted by Sean Hannity of Fox News featured a blizzard of statistics by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) and California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D). Here’s a quick guide to some of the more noteworthy claims and whether they stand up to scrutiny. Read more.
December 3, 2023
If hurling insults, distorting facts, and pandering to Americans’ worst instincts are the hallmarks of leadership, then Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis emerged the winner in the debate with California Gov. Gavin Newsom. Read more.
December 1, 2023 • By ITEP Staff
State policymakers nationwide have embarked on a tax-cutting spree over the past three years, using the cover of temporary budget surpluses stemming from robust federal aid in response to COVID-19 and the economic recovery that followed. The tax cuts — most of which are both permanent and tilted toward wealthy households and corporations — will […]
November 29, 2023
Remember the wealth tax? It was a centerpiece of Sen. Elizabeth Warren’s 2020 presidential campaign, but the proposal — like her candidacy — didn’t end up going anywhere. But just because America doesn’t actually have a wealth tax doesn’t mean the Supreme Court can’t rule it out of bounds. It just might do so, The Associated Press reported, […]
November 21, 2023 • By ITEP Staff
Thank you Chairman Womack, Ranking Member Hoyer, and the subcommittee staff, especially Matt Smith and Philip Tizzani, for all the work that you do. This Financial Services and General Government bill put forth by the majority is unacceptable. The Republicans propose cutting critical agencies the American people depend on for a stable, secure, safe, and […]
November 17, 2023 • By ITEP Staff
The announcement that the NC Supreme Court will rehear the court case that affirmed children’s constitutional right to a sound, basic education is just another way in which North Carolina’s legislative leaders are attempting to rewrite the rules to further their agenda rather than the well-being of children. Read more.
November 17, 2023 • By ITEP Staff
Under Kentucky’s constitution, there are limits on the types of taxes the General Assembly may authorize local governments to levy, and local sales taxes are not allowed. The 2024 General Assembly may take the first step toward changing that if it considers an amendment to the constitution that would grant the legislature broader authority on […]
November 10, 2023 • By ITEP Staff
Every family in Ohio should be able to afford healthy food, a safe home, health care and the other elements of a good life. Ohio has the resources to make this a reality. Too often, however, our elected officials choose to use those resources to enrich their already wealthy supporters and do whatever else it […]
November 9, 2023
Tax prep companies claim a government-run direct-file system would be expensive — but it could cost less than the federal subsidies going to the industry. Read more.
November 6, 2023
Ahead of next year’s presidential election, voters will weigh state and local proposals on abortion, taxes and housing. Read more.
November 1, 2023 • By ITEP Staff
The federal and DC governments tax income from wealth more favorably than income from work. This preferential treatment means we under tax the most well-off, tax their wealth less often, and, in some cases, allow them to accumulate fortunes and pass vast sums of wealth to heirs tax-free. Read more.
November 1, 2023 • By ITEP Staff
While Halloween comes around only once a year, Republicans can’t help but tell terrifying stories about scary brown people all year long. Of course, these horror stories are complete lies, yet we still see and hear them in campaign speeches, tweets, and Congressional hearings. Let’s debunk five of the worst lies about immigrants. Read more.
November 1, 2023
With statewide elections on the doorstep, some 2024 candidates are playing on a familiar ploy in calling for a reduction or an end to Indiana’s income tax. The most popular idea floated by those who are campaigning on the proposal, including current lieutenant governor and gubernatorial hopeful Suzanne Crouch, is to replace a sizable portion […]
October 26, 2023
We older Americans are not only controlling national politics, we are consuming an ever larger share of our economy’s resources through programs like Social Security and Medicare, leaving younger Americans to foot growing bills for their parents’ and grandparents’ retirements. And politicians of both parties are refusing to recognize the consequences. Read more.
October 25, 2023
Since 2021, half the states have cut personal income tax rates. Read more.
October 23, 2023 • By ITEP Staff
Moore v. US, which is set to be heard by the Supreme Court on December 5th, threatens to deliver a major victory to multinational corporations and billionaires hoping to avoid paying their fair share in taxes. Read more.
October 23, 2023
For decades, multinational corporations—especially those based in the U.S.—have funneled billions of dollars in profits to tax havens, earning even more money for their shareholders. Read more.
October 22, 2023 • By Carl Davis
ITEP Research Director Carl Davis gave a presentation on New Mexico’s tax system to that state’s Revenue Stabilization and Tax Policy Committee on October 19, 2023. Click here for the slide deck.
October 21, 2023 • By ITEP Staff
We all benefit when everyday Texans, regardless of where we live or what we look like, have a fair opportunity to prosper. Contrarily, a state tax system designed to favor the ultra-wealthy undermines all of us. In Texas, the wealth gap is so extreme that 66 billionaires living in the state own more wealth than 70% […]
October 21, 2023
As Indiana seems poised to restructure its tax system in the next few years, some policy experts are urging the State and Local Tax Task Force not to make drastic cuts to the state’s individual income tax. Read more and watch the video featuring ITEP’s Neva Butkus here.
October 20, 2023 • By Neva Butkus
Today ITEP State Policy Analyst Neva Butkus presented to the Indiana State and Local Tax Review Task Force. For a related blog from Neva, click here. For her slide deck, click here. Good morning members of the State and Local Tax Review Task Force, Thank you for providing me the opportunity to share ITEP’s findings […]
October 20, 2023
As electric vehicles become more popular and gasoline sales decline, governments are struggling to find new ways to fund infrastructure. Read more.
October 17, 2023
Even if the city wanted to scrap its 1% earnings tax and make the property tax dominant—as it is nationwide—conservative state laws block it. Read more.
October 16, 2023
More than 20 years ago, during Frank Keating’s second term as governor, he proposed replacing the state’s individual income tax, its sales tax on groceries and its business franchise tax with a 5.9% tax on some 200 additional business activities, from hair cuts to house sales. Oklahomans liked the idea of no income tax, but […]
October 15, 2023
Extreme wealth has been consolidating in the United States. Read more.