We retired Tax Justice Blog in April 2017. For new content on issues related to tax justice, go to www.justtaxesblog.org
The LaCrosse Tribune gets it right in this editorial titled, “Don’t Conduct Tax Talks in Private.” As we told you last week , Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker asked Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch and Revenue Department Secretary Rick Chandler to host a series of roundtable discussions about the state’s tax structure. Unfortunately, the first invitation-only discussion happened behind closed doors. We couldn’t agree more with the Tribune that, “true tax reform deserves feedback and input from all Wisconsin citizens because while we may not all contribute to political candidates or align ourselves with political parties, we all pay taxes.” Now we hear that the Governor is interested in income tax repeal. Let’s hope this debate doesn’t happen behind closed doors.
Illinois Governor Pat Quinn has come out in favor of reviewing tax breaks given to businesses over the last several years in order to see if they really had a positive impact on the state’s economy. We’ve been critical of the Governor for offering such tax incentives to specific companies. Reviewing those giveaways for effectiveness is long overdue.
In more good news for those of us concerned with the “race to the bottom” in which states are doling out massive tax incentives to businesses with little oversight, Archer Daniels Midland is set to announce that they will move their headquarters to Chicago without receiving any state or city incentives in return.
Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear is (again) committing himself to tax reform. He recently said in
an interview, “Tax reform remains a top priority of mine, and I am hopeful that we can address it in some way in the upcoming session.”
The Oklahoma Supreme Court recently struck down a regressive and unpopular cut to the state’s top income tax rate that Governor Mary Fallin signed into law earlier this year. According to the court, the bill containing the tax cut violated a provision in the Oklahoma constitution requiring each bill to be focused on a “single subject.” In addition to cutting the state’s income tax, the bill would have also provided funding to repair the state’s Capitol building.