Income taxes are the backbone of most state budgets, but you wouldn’t gather this fact based on the current trend to cut or eliminate them. A recent, cheerful Wall Street Journal op-ed from anti-government advocate Grover Norquist offers a clear sign that tax-cutting states are taking the wrong approach. The long-time proponent of anti-tax pledges wrote favorably about the legislative and gubernatorial plans to cut income tax cuts across the country. As usual, he failed to address that income taxes support state investments in education, infrastructure, health care and other important public services.
Brakeyshia Samms
For over a decade, Brakeyshia has produced engaging research and analyses for today’s tax policy debates. As a senior policy analyst on the Cross Cutting Research team, she writes and presents on local, state, and federal tax topics, and especially focuses on how these policies relate to racial equity. Throughout her career she has authored essays for Tax Notes, The Huffington Post, The Dallas Morning News, The Austin American-Statesman, Human Rights, Bloomberg Tax, and Common Dreams. She’s presented to both houses of the Texas Legislature, Chicago City Council’s Committee on Housing and Real Estate, The American Bar Association, The University of Texas at Austin, Duke University, The University of Missouri, and The US Department of State, among others. Her work has garnered the attention of the public, other researchers, and the media.
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blog March 3, 2022 Reality Check: Drastic Income Tax Cuts Are Dangerous Despite What Anti-Tax Supporters Say
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blog January 31, 2022 Build Back Better’s Tax Provisions Would Help Advance Racial Equity
Build Back Better can help ensure that all people are provided with the chance to lead healthy lives, have access to quality education, are treated fairly and justly, and thrive in today’s economy.
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blog January 11, 2022 School’s In: Tackling College Affordability Through State Tax Codes
Given that a sweeping federal solution to the college affordability crisis does not appear to be on the immediate horizon, it is even more important that states take whatever steps they can to expand college access and affordability. While most of that effort will need to occur on the spending side of the ledger—such as through lowering tuition costs, expanding financial aid, or perhaps even funding free college outright—tax policy also has a role to play.
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blog October 18, 2021 Federal Tax Reform Would be a Step in the Right Direction for Millennials of Color
Currently, millennials of color are worse off than their parents when it comes to wealth expectations. So, if one of the goals of federal policymakers is to reduce racial income and wealth disparities, the proposals outlined are a good start. Tax reforms included in the budget package making its way through Congress would help by boosting incomes and making raising children more affordable—two things that would help millennials of color thrive in today’s economy.