Tax Justice Blog Archives

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An Overview of State Tax Trends in 2017

January 26, 2017 10:48 AM By Meg Wiehe, Deputy Director at ITEP | Permalink | Since the 2007-2009 economic crisis, rising income inequality and the role our public policies play in aiding or easing this trend have been an ongoing part of the public discourse. In spite of what we know about the growing gap […]

A Visual Tour of Who Pays State & Local Taxes

January 26, 2017 10:45 AM By Carl Davis, Research Director at ITEP | Permalink | While it can be hard to look away from the important federal policy debates occurring right now in Washington D.C., state lawmakers across the country will also be debating consequential fiscal policy changes in 2017 that will deserve close scrutiny. […]

47 Years Later, Alaska Considers Playing Catch-Up with its Motor Fuel Tax

January 25, 2017 05:11 PM By Carl Davis, Research Director at ITEP | Permalink | Alaska Gov. Bill Walker recently proposed tripling the gasoline and diesel tax rates paid by Alaska motorists to generate funding for the state’s infrastructure. In a different state, tripling the motor fuel tax might be a radical policy change. But […]

State Rundown 1/25: Revenue Shortfalls and How to Avoid Them

January 25, 2017 02:01 PM By Meg Wiehe, Deputy Director at ITEP | Permalink | This week brings more news of states facing budget crunches, a new state looking to eliminate income taxes, and plans to raise gas taxes to fund transportation projects.  Be sure to check out the What We’re Reading section for a […]

Tax Justice Digest: Kansas again, state budget woes, and corporate tax cuts

January 19, 2017 03:46 PM By Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy Staff | Permalink | 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.  Trickle-down policies […]

State Rundown 1/18: Revenue Woes Piling Up Faster Than Solutions

January 18, 2017 04:03 PM By Meg Wiehe, Deputy Director at ITEP | Permalink | This week we continue to track revenue shortfalls, governors’ budget proposals, and other tax news around the country, finding most proposals to be focused on slashing taxes and reducing public investments despite public opinion and economic research showing the benefits […]

Kansas State of the State: Worlds Apart

January 18, 2017 12:07 PM By Lisa Christensen Gee, Senior Analyst at ITEP | Permalink | Back in December, Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback gave an interview with the Wall Street Journal and suggested President-elect Trump should follow his state’s example and cut taxes as well as spending. The sheer gall of the suggestion belies the […]

Trump Plan to Give Billions in Tax Breaks to Multinational Corporations May Have Bipartisan Support

January 18, 2017 09:00 AM By Richard Phillips, Senior Policy Analyst at ITEP | Permalink | There are a lot of troubling components of the tax reform packages being proposed by President-Elect Donald Trump and the House GOP, but one that especially stands out is the push to give companies a tax break on the […]

State of Play: The Coming Debate Over the Ryan and Trump Tax Plans

January 17, 2017 05:37 PM By Richard Phillips, Senior Policy Analyst at ITEP | Permalink | If the incoming Trump Administration and Republican-lead Congress have their way, fundamental changes to the tax code are afoot. The most important similarity between the Ryan and Trump tax plans are dramatic reductions in the corporate tax rate and […]

Congress Shouldn't Defy Public Opinion and Good Policy by Cutting Taxes for Corporations and the Wealthy

January 17, 2017 05:25 PM By Richard Phillips, Senior Policy Analyst at ITEP | Permalink | Members of Congress have floated fundamental changes to the tax code for years, but last week marked a ramping up of these efforts as Republican Speaker of the House Paul Ryan met with President-elect Donald Trump and his advisors […]

State Rundown 1/11: State Legislative Sessions Kick Off Amid Uncertainty

January 11, 2017 12:56 PM By Meg Wiehe, Deputy Director at ITEP | Permalink | This week brings still more states looking for solutions to revenue shortfalls, multiple governors’ State of The State addresses, important reading on counter-transparency and local-preemption efforts, and more.  — Meg Wiehe, ITEP State Policy Director, @megwiehe  A Nebraska legislator this […]

State Rundown 1/4: Revenue Shortfalls, Gas Tax Changes Dominate Early Debates

January 4, 2017 02:35 PM By Meg Wiehe, State Tax Policy Director at ITEP | Permalink | This week we bring you updates on major revenue shortfalls looming in Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Pennsylvania, as well as gas tax changes taking effect in some states and being debated in others. — Meg Wiehe, ITEP State Policy Director, […]

New Year's Gas Tax Changes: Seven Up, Two Down

December 22, 2016 04:40 PM By Carl Davis, Research Director at ITEP | Permalink | By all indications, 2017 is shaping up to be a major year for state gas tax reform. Alaska Gov. Bill Walker has already proposed tripling his state’s gas tax. Task forces in Indiana and Louisiana have laid the groundwork for […]

Tax Justice Digest: State Tax Policy Plans for 2017

December 22, 2016 01:25 PM By Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy Staff | Permalink | Thank you for reading the Tax Justice Blog and Tax Justice Digest. We’re going on hiatus until Jan. 3, 2017, to recharge our brains and get into the holiday spirit with bad fruitcake and eggnog. Well, maybe not the […]

Governors' Plans for State Taxes in 2017/2018

December 22, 2016 12:42 PM By Misha Hill, State Policy Fellow at ITEP | Permalink | In advance of the new year, several governors have released tax and budget proposals for their states’ next two fiscal years. Below, proposals from Montana, Washington, Alaska, Arkansas, and Oklahoma are outlined. While these proposals are not necessarily indicative […]

A Strong Case for State Estate Taxes

December 22, 2016 12:33 PM By Dylan Grundman, Senior Analyst at ITEP | Permalink | Keep an eye on state estate and inheritance tax debates in 2017. Our newly updated policy brief explains the mechanics, history, and current status of state estate and inheritance taxes, and how states can adapt or improve them. Debates over […]

ITEP Staff Holiday Entertainment Selections 2016

December 21, 2016 01:42 PM By Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy Staff | Permalink | Whether you’re looking for connection with loved ones over the winter holidays, escapism during trying times, or gift ideas for policy wonks and others in your life, the ITEP list has something for you! Please see below for what […]

State Rundown 12/21: Last Minute (Sales tax free) Shopping Online May Be Coming to an End and Other News From Around the States

December 21, 2016 01:26 PM By Meg Wiehe, Deputy Director at ITEP | Permalink | This week we are bringing you good cheer about several states taking the taxation of online sales into their own hands, budget tidings from Oklahoma, Alaska, and Virginia, and the gift of new taxes in Philadelphia and DC. Enjoy the […]

Tax Justice Digest: Kansas Rising, Estate Tax Falling

December 15, 2016 04:08 PM By Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy Staff | Permalink | In the Tax Justice Digest we recap the latest reports, blog posts, and analyses from the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy (ITEP). Here’s a rundown of what we’ve been working on lately.  But first, please consider supporting our […]

State Rundown 12/15: An Upheld "Amazon tax" Law and an Emphasis on Revenue

December 15, 2016 09:50 AM By Meg Wiehe, Deputy Director at ITEP | Permalink | This week we are bringing you news about the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision on Colorado‘s “Amazon tax” law, another look at a VMT tax in Massachusetts, possible tax reform proposals in New Hampshire and Pennsylvania, and emphasis on the need […]

Rise Up Kansas Coalition Calls for Comprehensive Tax Policy Reform

December 13, 2016 05:44 PM By Lisa Christensen Gee, Senior Analyst at ITEP | Permalink | A statewide coalition is calling for the end of the Brownback tax experiment in Kansas with the release of its 2017 comprehensive plan for tax reform.   The “Rise Up Kansas” coalition includes advocacy organizations representing educators, transportation contractors, […]

State Rundown 12/7: New income taxes, funds for transportation, and revenue shortfalls

December 7, 2016 03:26 PM By Meg Wiehe, Deputy Director at ITEP | Permalink | This week we are bringing you news about states seeking revenue–Alaska, South Dakota, and Utah all weigh the creation of or increases to state personal income taxes; the need, and in some cases the will, for transportation funding in West […]

Repealing the Federal Estate Tax Would Increase Inequality and Cost Billions in Revenue

December 7, 2016 01:15 PM By Kayla Kitson, Research Assistant at ITEP | Permalink | With united Republican control of the White House and Congress, 2017 may be a year that ushers in huge tax cuts for the wealthy and corporations. Both President-elect Trump and congressional Republicans have released plans for comprehensive tax reform, and […]

Tax Justice Digest: Bartering tax breaks for jobs, repatriation, tax breaks for seniors, and other state news

December 1, 2016 12:37 PM By Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy Staff | Permalink | 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. About President-Elect Trump […]

Tax Cuts for the Rich Are the Main Feature, Not a Bug, of the Trump Tax Plan

December 1, 2016 11:35 AM By Matt Gardner, Senior Fellow at ITEP | Permalink | Incoming Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin made waves this week with his announcement that the tax plan proposed by his boss, President-elect Donald Trump, will not cut taxes for the wealthy, promising “no absolute tax cut” for upper-income families. This statement […]