Washington
Salon: Behind the 1 Percent’s Brazen New Scheme to Raise Your Taxes and Cut Their Own
June 2, 2014
By Paul Rosenberg, June 2, 2014 You might think that tax cuts that pay for themselves had disappeared from rational discourse ages ago. If so, you’d be sadly mistaken. Instead, “rationality” has been redefined to make such tax cuts “true by definition,” at least in one economic model that’s playing an influential role in state-level […]
Bloomberg: How Gasoline-Use Drop May Raise Taxes in Deleware
May 27, 2014
Fuel-efficiency gains, inflation and higher construction costs have eroded the ability of state gasoline taxes to keep pace with needs, said Carl Davis, an analyst at the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy, a Washington-based research group.
Transportation Topics: Gas Tax Buying Power at All-Time Low in Some States
May 19, 2014
By Michael Fuetsch, May 19, 2014 The gasoline tax is so low and has not been raised for so long in 10 states, that the levy’s purchasing power has fallen to historic lows, a new study said. States where this has occurred are Alabama, Alaska, Delaware, Idaho, Iowa, Nebraska, New Jersey, South Carolina, Utah, and […]
The Gazette: Iowa Ranks Low for Keeping up with Gas Tax
May 19, 2014
By B.A. Morellie, May 19, 2014 A new report shows Iowa is one of 10 states where the gas tax, when considering inflation, is at a historic low. The report was critical of falling behind on the gas tax, saying the tax supports roads and transportation infrastructure, and many states are falling behind. “This isn’t […]
Des Moines Register: Iowa Fuel Tax Hits Low
May 12, 2014
By Jason Noble, May 10, 2014 “Iowa is one of 10 states in which fuel taxes have hit an inflation-adjusted “all-time low,” according to a report issued last week by a Washington think tank. The state’s current 19 cents per gallon tax on fuel has been in place since 1989. Inflation over that time, though, […]
Washington Post: Inflation, Not Efficiency Is Eroding the State Highway Trust Fund
May 7, 2014
The article misdiagnosed the cause of the looming shortfall in the Highway Trust Fund when it stated that the fund "relies on the 18.4-cent federal gas tax, which has eroded steadily as vehicles have become more energy efficient.
Governing: Corporate Tax Attacks in the States
April 25, 2014
Lawmakers on Capitol Hill have been complaining for years about corporate tax havens. The Congressional Research Services reports that offshore tax shelters cost the federal government between $30 billion and $90 billion a year.
Seattle Times: Under the microscope
April 18, 2014
By Mike Lindblom While most big transit agencies in the U.S. slashed service during the recession, King County Metro Transit managed to hang on. Managers shifted a $100 million surplus from a fleet-replacement fund to keep existing buses rolling. And the agency made painful choices — raising fares, while cutting some low-use routes to cram […]
Associated Press: Missouri lawmakers pass tax cut; veto possible
April 17, 2014
(Original Post) Thursday, April 17, 2014 By DAVID A. LIEB ~ The Associated Press JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Setting up a likely veto showdown, the Republican-led Missouri Legislature gave final approval Wednesday to an income-tax cut for millions of individuals and thousands of business owners that Democratic Gov. Jay Nixon warned could imperil funding for […]
The Seattle Times: Under the microscope – Metro’s big transit vote
April 16, 2014
In the April 22 mail ballot, King County voters are being asked to increase their sales taxes and their car tabs to fund Metro Transit and fix roads. As the campaign enters its last week, here’s an assessment of some arguments being made on both sides. By Mike Lindblom Seattle Times transportation reporter While most […]
Wall Street Journal: States Raise Gas Taxes to Pay for Infrastructure
April 7, 2014
(Original Post) As Congress Only Takes Short-Term Steps, Governors Seek More Funds for Roads By JOSH MITCHELL Updated April 4, 2014 7:32 p.m. ET GEORGETOWN, Del.—States and cities desperate to build and repair roads and other infrastructure—but frustrated by inertia in Congress—are raising their own levies and turning to private companies for funding. Six states […]
The Washington Post: New report slams Kansas tax cuts
March 28, 2014
(Original Post) BY NIRAJ CHOKSHI March 27 at 3:22 pm In 2012, Kansas enacted one of the largest tax cuts of any state ever, and the short-term results aren’t promising, a new report finds. “Kansas is a cautionary tale, not a model,” Center on Budget and Policy Priorities researchers Michael Leachman and Chris Mai write […]
Rocky Mountain Telegram: Tax loopholes favor giant corporations
March 27, 2014
(Original Post) Tuesday, March 25, 2014 Gov. Pat McCrory and the Republican-led N.C. General Assembly in 2013 made good on their promises to cut corporate income taxes in order for North Carolina to better compete to land new businesses and industries – and the jobs that come with them. North Carolina’s tax rate on corporations […]
Reuters: Some big U.S. companies dodge state income taxes
March 21, 2014
(Original Post) WASHINGTON Thu Mar 20, 2014 6:14pm EDT (Reuters) – Some profitable U.S. corporations that avoid paying federal income taxes manage to do the same in states where they operate, said a study issued on Thursday by a tax activist group. From 2008 through 2012, ten U.S. companies paid no state income taxes, said […]
Burnt Orange Report: The Texas Miracle – The Devil in the Details
March 18, 2014
(Original Post) by: Joe Deshotel Fri Mar 14, 2014 at 02:00 PM CDT As the American economy begins to gain traction and the national dialogue addresses the subject of income equality it is a good time to reflect on merits of “The Texas Miracle.” The narrative is simple — Low taxes, low services, and low […]
Salon: The “Texas Miracle” fraud
March 10, 2014
(Original Post) FRIDAY, MAR 7, 2014 01:56 PM EST Yes, Texas has seen a lot of growth — but should conservatives really be bragging about it? ALEX PAREENE Remember “The Texas Miracle”? It was the story of how Rick Perry was going to be president because his state, Texas, was doing so much better than […]
The Huffington Post: Why Rick Perry Is So Wrong About California And New York
March 10, 2014
(Original Post) Posted: 03/08/2014 10:20 am EST Updated: 03/08/2014 10:59 am EST Texas Gov. Rick Perry (R) was the standout star at the Conservative Political Action Conference this year, in no small part because of his impassioned plea for Americans to recognize that the fate of the U.S. comes down to a battle of visions […]
The Buffalo News: Democrats ought to embrace budget
March 10, 2014
(Original Post) By Douglas Turner | News Washington Columnist on March 10, 2014 – 6:17 AM WASHINGTON – Sophisticates speaking for the real power here have already blown off President Obama’s 2015 budget. The group includes almost the entire Congress and sadly, the corps of journalists, some who are world weary, but include all who […]
CNBC: Raise the gas tax?
March 7, 2014
(Original Post) Transcript: state governments can raise their gas taxes anytime they want to fund their own highways. there’s nothing stopping them. we also need to look at privatization. so in northern virginia where i live, they just widened the capital beltway, a $2 billion project. it’s been a huge success. the money […]
Washington Monthly: The Texas Miracle that Isn’t
March 6, 2014
(Original Post) “Oh yes, I know what you’ve heard. And it’s true, as the state’s boosters like to brag, that Texas does not have an income tax. But Texas has sales and property taxes that make its overall burden of taxation on low-wage families much heavier than the national average, while the state also taxes […]
Washington State Budget & Policy Center: Corporate Tax Dodge Findings Show Need for Reforms in Washington State
February 27, 2014
Now that we know nine major corporations with operations in Washington state paid zero or less in federal corporate income taxes in recent years despite reaping huge profits, serious questions arise as to whether these corporations or others are dodging Washington state taxes too. Read the Full Report
The Hill: Corporations pay fraction of top tax rate
February 26, 2014
(Original Post) February 26, 2014, 09:54 am By Bernie Becker Many leading U.S. corporations paid just a fraction of the top 35 percent tax rate, with some even paying less than zero, according to a new study from liberal advocates. Citizens for Tax Justice and the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy found in a […]
Washington Post: A (very) brief history of the state gas tax on its 95th birthday
February 25, 2014
(Original Post) BY NIRAJ CHOKSHI February 25 at 2:41 pm Nearly a century ago today, Oregon implemented a novel policy idea that’s since become a national mainstay: It became the first state to implement a gas tax. But with the tax on its last legs, it may also be the state that figures out how […]
The Huffington Post: Boeing Paid No Federal Income Tax Last Year
February 24, 2014
(Original Post) The Huffington Post | by Jillian Berman Posted: 02/20/2014 5:01 pm EST Updated: 02/20/2014 5:59 pm EST One of the largest recipients of federal government contracts paid nothing in taxes last year, according to an analysis from the Center for Effective Government, a left-leaning think tank. Boeing reported an $82 million tax refund […]
Toledo Blade: Whose tax cut?
February 20, 2014
(Original Post) The latest scheme to cut state income tax rates would favor the rich, increase inequality, and harm basic services Gov. John Kasich and many members of the Republican-controlled General Assembly will campaign for re-election this year largely on their efforts to cut Ohio’s personal income tax yet again. Voters — at least middle-class […]
