We retired Tax Justice Blog in April 2017. For new content on issues related to tax justice, go to www.justtaxesblog.org
In the Tax Justice Digest we recap the latest reports, blog posts, and analyses from Citizens for Tax Justice and the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy. Here’s a rundown of what we’ve been working on lately.
Companies Avoiding Billions in Taxes Spent Millions Lobbying Congress on Taxes
Just 10 companies, with $338 billion in offshore earnings among them, spent $59.8 million lobbying Congress in the first six months of 2016. Correlation? We think so. Read more
State Tax News
Coloradans to Vote on Universal Health Care Ballot Initiative
On Election Day, Colorado voters will decide whether to implement ColoradoCare, a universal healthcare plan (it would be the nation’s first) that would provide medical coverage to all Colorado citizens. Of course the proposed measure has friends and foes. Read more
Legalizing and Taxing Toking
Arizona, California, Maine, Massachusetts and Nevada are all considering ballot initiatives to legalize marijuana. States that already allow recreational marijuana sales have shown that legalizing and subjecting marijuana to sales taxes can raise millions in revenue. Read more
Louisiana among States Considering a Gas Tax Increase
While the federal government may not be interested in raising its gas tax anytime soon, 19 states have enacted gas tax increases and/or reforms since 2013. And all signs are pointing toward that number growing in the months ahead. Louisiana is among the states that will seriously consider a gas tax increase in 2017. Read more
State Rundown: Uber and State Revenue Challenges
That Uber or Lyft ride in Pennsylvania will soon be 1.4 percent more expensive; Wyoming lawmakers punt on raising new revenue in spite of a large revenue shortfall; South Dakota will face revenue challenges in 2017, and the other tax cuts passed as part of New Jersey’s gas tax bill will create revenue-raising challenges. Read more
If you have any feedback on the Digest or tax stories you’re watching that we should check out too, please email me rphillips@itep.org
Sign up to receive the Tax Justice Digest
For frequent updates find us on Twitter (CTJ/ITEP), Facebook (CTJ/ITEP), and at the Tax Justice blog.