Georgia
San Antonio Express: Internet racket: Nat’l providers reap obscene profits
May 17, 2013
(Original Post) By Timothy Karr, Guest CommentaryPublished 1:22 pm, Wednesday, May 15, 2013 Is your Internet bill too high? You can thank the phone and cable companies for that. Today, high-speed broadband services offered by these national carriers cost more than $500 a year and even more when customers are forced to bundle Internet access […]
Chattanooga Times Free Press: Some lawmakers say they may kill Georgia’s income tax next year, but there would be a cost
May 6, 2013
(Original Post) published Sunday, May 5th, 2013 by Tim Omarzu A group of Republican lawmakers in Atlanta wants to do away with Georgia’s 6 percent income tax and replace it — mainly by increasing taxes on sales and services. State Rep. Tom Kirby, R-Loganville, set the stage for what could be a sweeping change to […]
Winston-Salem Journal: Lights, camera … and a $69 million N.C. rebate to movie industry
May 2, 2013
(Original Post) Posted: Thursday, May 2, 2013 8:13 am J. Andrew Curliss/News & Observer State leaders blamed each other in October 2011 after Continental Tire chose South Carolina for a large new factory that will employ 1,600 workers. The biggest hang-up, according to documents and state officials, was $45 million in taxpayer money the tire […]
The Star-Ledger: Putting up a fight with the internet racket
May 2, 2013
(Original Post) By Star-Ledger Guest Columniston May 02, 2013 at 7:16 AM By Timothy Karr Is your internet bill too high? You can thank the phone and cable companies for that. Today, high-speed broadband services offered by these national carriers cost more than $500 a year and even more when customers are forced to bundle […]
Governing: The Risks of Relying on User Fees
March 29, 2013
(Original Post) In the past three years, states and cities have brought in billions of dollars in additional user fees. But there are pitfalls to this form of revenue boost. BY: Katherine Barrett & Richard Greene | April 2013 The political debate that pits the desire to generate new revenues against the drive to cut […]
The Atlanta Journal Constitution: Bill would hinder Georgia’s future
March 18, 2013
(Original Post) Posted: 6:02 p.m. Sunday, March 17, 2013 By Jay Bookman The Atlanta Journal-Constitution If you want to pay higher taxes, state Sen. David Shafer, the Senate president pro tem from Gwinnett County, has just the plan for you. He has proposed two amendments to the state constitution that, if approved by voters, would […]
The Atlanta Journal Constitution: Jay Bookman Ga. ‘tax reform’ will mean big tax hike for many
March 15, 2013
7:54 am March 15, 2013, by Jay If you want to pay higher taxes, state Sen. David Shafer, the Senate president pro tem from Gwinnett County, has just the plan for you. He has proposed two amendments to the state constitution that, if approved by voters, would lead to significantly higher taxes on the vast […]
The Daily Kos: Republican tax shifters wrong about states with no income taxes performing better
March 1, 2013
(Original Post) Meteor Blades for Daily Kos Economics Across the South and Midwest—in Georgia, Oklahoma, North Carolina, Louisiana, Indiana, Kansas and elsewhere—Republican-dominated states seek to eliminate income taxes and replace part of them with regressive sales taxes. Thus would be the tax burden be shifted to people in the lower earning tiers of the economy […]
Georgia Budget and Policy Institute: Menu of Revenue Options to Pave Way for Georgia’s Rebound
January 28, 2013
Georgia is one of the most under-funded states in the country, but state lawmakers can remedy structural budget shortfalls by implementing revenue options used successfully by other states. Annual deep cuts in state funding the past five years means fewer teachers in Georgia’s classrooms, roads and bridges that continue to crumble and an unappealing environment […]
Georgia Budget and Policy Institute: Fact Sheet: Capital Gains Tax Breaks
January 14, 2013
Capital gains tax preferences are costly, inequitable, and ineffective. They deprive states of millions of dollars in needed funds, benefit almost exclusively the very wealthiest members of society, and fail to promote economic growth in the manner their proponents claim. Read the Full Report (PDF)
Georgia Budget and Policy Institute: Sensible Tax Change to State Income Taxes Would Raise $450 Million
January 14, 2013
Georgia is one of a few states that allows a deduction for state income taxes for filers who itemize. Repealing it would bring in an estimated $450 million, which in K-12 education alone, could have prevented the six furlough days and additional cuts to the education funding formula in the amended budget. Repealing it prevents […]
Georgia Budget and Policy Institute: Advancing Georgia’s 1930s Tax System to the Modern Day: Fair and Adequate Tax Reform for 21st Century Georgians
January 14, 2013
The recommendations in this report contain tax reform options that stress a workable combination of raising enough money to meet Georgia’s needs, updating the tax system to reflect today’s economy, keeping rates as low as possible, and tying the system more closely to ability to pay than it is now. Read the Full Report (PDF)
Georgia Budget and Policy Institute: Reducing Exemptions is Good Tax Reform – But Taxing Groceries is Highly Regressive
January 14, 2013
All exemptions, credits, and deductions should be examined and weighed against each other and against the principles of tax reform. The grocery exemption, in particular, increases equity and should be weighed against other tax breaks with an equity lens. Eliminating the deduction for state income taxes offers an alternative worth considering. Read the Full Report […]
Georgia Budget and Policy Institute: ALMOST THERE…Tax Council’s Recommendations Improve Finances,but Shift Taxes onto Vulnerable and Working Georgians
January 14, 2013
The Special Council on Tax Reform and Fairness for Georgians provided recommendations that make improvements to structural issues plaguing Georgia’s tax system. The Tax Council took strong action to broaden tax bases—a tenet of good tax policy. In the sales tax, the Tax Council recommended expanding the tax base to services, which would allow the […]
Georgia Budget and Policy Institute: Additional Adjustment Options to Improve Fairness in the Tax Recommendations
January 14, 2013
The Special Council on Tax Reform and Fairness for Georgians provided recommendations that make improvements to structural issues plaguing Georgia’s tax system. The Tax Council took strong action to broaden tax bases—a tenet of good tax policy. Although the Tax Council’s recommendations would improve Georgia’s ability to meet current and future needs, they would do […]
Chattanooga Times Free Press: Liberal group raps state tax regressivity
January 7, 2013
(PDF of Original Post) By: Andy Sher Thursday, November 19, 2009 NASHVILLE — The Tennessee and Alabama tax systems are among the nation’s worst when it comes to favoring the rich over the poor and middle class, according to a study by a Washington-based research organization. The Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy, a liberalleaning […]
The Atlanta Journal Constitution: Our view: Tax cuts made at risky time and with no sense
January 4, 2013
(PDF of Original Post) Sunday, April 26, 2009 To understand the skewed priorities of our state Legislature, imagine that you come home to discover that your house is ablaze. Do you pour water on it? Or gasoline? The General Assembly would choose gasoline. This year, faced with rapidly declining tax revenues that threaten to deepen […]
Athens Banner-Herald: Officials consider tax caps
January 4, 2013
(PDF of Original Post) By BLAKE AUED | [email protected] | Story updated at 10:45 pm on 6/21/2009 Low-income Athens homeowners would get a tax break under a proposal Athens-Clarke commissioners will consider this summer. A group of commissioners and other officials are beginning work on “circuit breakers,” a policy that caps property taxes based on […]
The Atlanta Journal Constitution: At Ga. Legislature, wisdom and justice sacrificed for obsession
January 4, 2013
(PDF of Original Post) Jay Bookman (http://blogs.ajc.com/jay-bookman-blog) 6:45 am January 19, 2010, by Jay Last year, with the economy collapsing and state tax revenue already in free fall, Georgia legislators paused on their way out the door to pass a major last-minute tax cut. Fully implemented, the 50 percent reduction in capital-gains tax would have […]
Chattanooga Times Free Press: Georgia hurting for funds
January 4, 2013
(PDF of Original Post) Sunday, March 7, 2010By Ashley Speagle, Correspondent ATLANTA — Budget and policy experts say Georgia may face a $3 billion budget hole in fiscal 2012 if legislators continue to neglect revenue options to replenish state funds. “Legislators are now in crisis mode, and there’s no long-term discussion,” said Allan Essig, executive […]
Connect Savannah: Robin Hood in reverse
January 4, 2013
(PDF of Original Post) May 25, 2010 Pending legislation could drain much needed revenue and hurt lowincomefamilies. By Patrick Rodgers Included amongst the stack of bills passed by the Georgia legislature this session are several that could have a significant negative impact on the state’s revenue, shifting even more of the tax burden onto low–income […]
Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Barnes plan: Remove capital gains tax for 2 years
January 4, 2013
(PDF of Original Post) Candidates says break would pay for itself; experts disagree By Jeremy Redmon The Atlanta Journal-Constitution 7:45 a.m. Wednesday, October 13, 2010 Democratic candidate for governor Roy Barnes appeared alongside a pair of local businessmen at a news conference in Midtown Atlanta’s Technology Square this month, trumpeting his plan to revive Georgia’s […]
Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Tweaks will create real tax reform
January 4, 2013
(PDF of Original Post) By Sarah Beth Gehl 8:33 p.m. Friday, January 28, 2011 The Special Council on Tax Reform and Fairness took a swing at fixing Georgia’s outdated tax system and hit a triple. The Council’s recommendations would help align Georgia revenues with the 21st-century economy and meet the current and future needs of […]
Athens Banner-Herald: Tax Council hits triple on reform
January 4, 2013
(PDF of Original Post) Published Wednesday, February 02, 2011 The Special Council on Tax Reform and Fairness, created last year by the state legislature, took a swing at fixing Georgia’s outdated tax system and hit a triple. The council’s recommendations would help align Georgia revenues with the 21st-century economy and meet the current and future […]
Tallahassee Democrat: Tobacco tax, It’s a symptom of bad fiscal habits
January 3, 2013
(PDF of Original Post) November 22, 2009 It’s a symptom of bad fiscal habits When the Legislature was debating last spring whether to raise money by substantially boosting the taxes on tobacco, a couple of arguments were all that caused even a pause in enthusiasm for this “sin tax.” One was that it would likely […]
Institute on Taxation
and Economic Policy
ITEP is a non-profit, non-partisan tax policy organization. We conduct rigorous analyses of tax and economic proposals and provide data-driven recommendations to shape equitable and sustainable tax systems.
Subscribe to ITEP Emails
Tax research and policy news in your inbox.
Promote Fair Tax Policy
Your gift to ITEP promotes tax justice. With your help, we do research that supports taxing millionaires and billionaires, taxing big corporations and raising revenue for the things our people, our communities and our planet need.
Together, we can create a country with more economic justice, more racial justice, more climate justice… and more tax justice.