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SPN State Fiscal Policy Exchange – Volume 4, Issue 30

Published on Tuesday, August 12, 2008
FISCAL POLICY

 

 

  

SPN State Fiscal Policy Exchange - Volume 4, Issue 30

 

Please send any suggestions or news updates (include web link) to Brian Zapotocky at bzapotocky@effwa.org. 

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SPN 16^th Annual Meeting

Register today for the SPN 16^th Annual Meeting, September 11-12, 2008 in Scottsdale, Arizona. This is the premier event for the free market state think tank community. The agenda features expert panels, training workshops and strategy discussions on free market policy issues as well as unparalleled networking opportunities for the over 300 public policy professionals from 150+ organizations in attendance. Find more information at www.spn.org/events. 

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The Free State Foundation

Special News Release

In a new study, "Avoiding Structural Deficits in Maryland: Recommendations for Reform," released by the Free State Foundation, FSF Senior Fellow Cecilia Januszkiewicz recommends specific reforms to Maryland's legislative and budgetary processes that, if adopted, will reduce the likelihood of continuing the persistent structural deficits that the State has experienced in the 21^st century.

Adoption of the eleven reform recommendations will instill a greater sense of fiscal discipline by raising awareness, on the part of elected officials and Maryland's citizens, of the costs imposed by proposed new and enhanced programs. The recommendations are part of a larger FSF study of Maryland's budget process to be released in the fall. 

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Studies/Policy Updates

 

Budget and Tax Reform

• Allegheny Institute for Public Policy:
• Fast Tracked City-County Merger Plan is Now a Train Wreck
• Pennsylvania Development Spending: Exorbitant and Wasteful

• Americans For Prosperity:
• Overtime could tax Orlando Police budget to tune of $4 million
• Congress is on recess and home - and needs to hear from you
• TaxWatch and Other Groups Urge a Tax Increase!

• Americans For Tax Reform:
• California Wants to Replace Rich Celebrities with State-Owned Oil Companies
• North Dakota-On the Road to Tax Cuts
• Where in the world is...Obama talking about energy?
• Great Idea Out of Indiana - Other Governors Should Follow Suit

• Arizona Free Enterprise Club:
• Good, Brief Summary on McCain/Obama Health Care
• Judge Says 17.8% Tax Increase Description is Accurate but an "Editorial", Orders Rewrite

• Blue Ridge Forum: Legacies - Bush Signed Bill Bankrolling ACORN, La Raza

• Buckeye Institute:
• Government gifts aren't charitable
• Dying Fast in Ohio
• Pricey Justice in Cuyahoga County
• Senator Ted Stevens in Cuyahoga County?

• Citizens Against Government Waste:
• California's Computers Can't Calculate Minimum Numbers
• Pork Alert: Senate Homeland Insecurity

• Evergreen Freedom Foundation:
• EFF files brief in Brown v. Owen (2/3s vote for taxes)
• One in five Washington workers is a government employee-hiring freeze is a good idea
• Gregoire adamant economy OK despite hiring freeze

• Flint Hills Center: Regulations and Health Insurance in Kansas

• Georgia Public Policy Foundation: Energy Policy Driving Under the Influence of Ethanol

• Goldwater Institute: Goldwater Institute Calls TIME Ballot Language Ruling "Absurdly Illogical"

• Grassroot Institute of Hawaii: Native Hawaiians Prosper

• Heartland Institute: When Will School Choice Come to the 'Land of the Free'?

• Maine Heritage Policy Center:
• Economic Freedom in Maine
• Think Tank Comments on Maine's "Lower" Tax Burden
• When Voters Control the Public Funds

• National Taxpayers Union:
• Obama's Tax-and-Spend Energy Plan Revives Failed Carter-Era Policies, Taxpayer Group Says
• Stop Double-Taxing Americans Working Abroad: Support the American Tax Fairness Act of 2008
• Ohio Taxpayers Support Ending the Discriminatory Tax on Satellite TV

• Nevada Policy Research Institute: Nevada's not fat, it's big boned

• Texans for Fiscal Responsibility:
• We Hate Saying We Told You So...
• Tax First, Think Later
• Dial "0" For Corporate Welfare
• Taxpayers Take The Fun Out Of Taxing
• Procurement Expert: Government May Grow While Family Budgets Shrink
• Newsflash: Newspaper OPPOSES Tax Increase

• Texas Public Policy Foundation: Texas' Property Tax Challenge

• The Tax Foundation: New Jersey Edges out New York for Nation's Highest State-Local Tax Burden

• Washington Policy Center:
• State budget increases 2003-2007
• Financial Impact of I-985 -- UPDATED
• I-601's impact on state spending increases
• Governor asks agencies to freeze hiring

 

Education

• Buckeye Institute:
• BuckeyeVoices: Teacher Merit Pay
• Teacher Merit Pay in Ohio

• Evergreen Freedom Foundation: Flunked wins Houston film festival

• Flint Hills Center: Is More Money the Solution for Wichita Public Schools?

• Mackinac Center for Public Policy: MICHIGAN EDUCATION DIGEST August 5, 2008

• Maine Heritage Policy Center: School Choice coalition launched in Virginia

• Nevada Policy Research Institute: Spend more and get less

• Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs: Oklahoma Preschool Study Provides No Evidence of Lasting Benefits

• Texans for Fiscal Responsibility: A New Rubric

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State News Updates

Alabama

• Chief justice calls for new funding, Press-Register, August 8, 2008
• Riley suggests taxpayers, sewer debt holders share pain, Birmingham News, August 7, 2008

Alaska

• Windfall tax lets Alaska rake in billions from Big Oil, Seattle Times, August 10, 2008
• Alaskans to receive $1,200 in energy relief, Juneau Empire, August 8, 2008

Arizona

• Most in primaries balk at tax for transportation, Arizona Daily Star, August 6, 2008
• GOP leaders seek new session to fund 500 school vouchers, Arizona Daily Star, August 6, 2008
• Arizona lagging far behind 'Google Government' trend, Casa Grande Valley Newspapers Inc., August 5, 2008

Arkansas

• Panel proposes boosting school transportation funding, Arkansas News Bureau, August 7, 2008

California

• State budget impasse looks poised to worsen, San Francisco Chronicle, August 11, 2008
• Time may be running out for California to craft budget deal, Sacramento Bee, August 10, 2008
• No more bills until the budget is done, Sacramento Bee, August 6, 2008
• State budget stalemate continues, San Francisco Chronicle, August 6, 2008
• In California, Retro-Tech Complicates Budget Woes, New York Times, August 6, 2008
• Schwarzenegger proposes temporary California sales-tax hike to close budget gap, Los Angeles Times, August 5, 2008

Colorado

• Ritter energized about removing oil, gas tax credit, Denver Post, August 5, 2008

Connecticut

• State has one of nation's lowest smoking rates, Republican-American, August 8, 2008

Florida

• Utility costs hit universities hard, Tallahassee Democrat, August 7, 2008
• Tough times could force Crist to tap reserve funds, St. Petersburg Times, August 6, 2008
• Crist supports swapping school property tax for increased sales tax, Palm Beach Post, August 6, 2008
• Real estate bust cost to Florida: $153B, Miami Herald, August 6, 2008
• 'Big' budget deficit ahead for Florida, Orlando Sentinel, August 5, 2008

Georgia

• End of property tax break possible for Ga. residents, Macon Telegraph, August 11, 2008
• School budget cuts looming, Macon Telegraph, August 8, 2008
• Officials advised to continue tax credits, Augusta Chronicle, August 8, 2008
• Report: Georgians pay highest percentage of income tax in region, Atlantic Journal-Constitution, August 7, 2008
• State cuts erase tax rollbacks, Augusta Chronicle, August 7, 2008
• Trauma care experts say sustainable funding needed, Macon Telegraph, August 6, 2008
• House leaders vow to save homeowners' relief grant program, Atlantic Journal-Constitution, August 5, 2008
• As state cuts back, schools and counties scramble, Atlantic Journal-Constitution, August 4, 2008

Hawaii

• Lingle questions trip to Florida for educators, Star Bulletin, August 8, 2008
• Isles' 10.6% tax burden ranks 5th highest in U.S., Honolulu Advertiser, August 7, 2008

Idaho

• Fellow auditors echo Tax Commission concerns, Idaho Statesman, August 6, 2008
• ID fuel tax revenue slips for 1st time in 6 years, Idaho Statesman, August 5, 2008

Illinois

• Gov. Rod Blagojevich proposes that disabled veterans not have to pay property tax, Chicago Tribune, August 11, 2008
• Governor threatens to keep lawmakers at Capitol for weeks, Daily Herald, August 8, 2008
• Blagojevich calls for special session, Chicago Tribune, August 5, 2008

Indiana

• Schools get ready for new funding formula, The Times, August 11, 2008
• Daniels Proposes Income Tax Credit, Journal Gazette, August 6, 2008

Iowa

• I-235 could get more baffles, Des Moines Register, August 10, 2008

Kansas

• Tax credits for university repairs slow to catch on, Topeka Capital-Journal, August 11, 2008

Kentucky

• Budget cuts force KET to eliminate 'College Courses', Courier-Journal, August 10, 2008
• Beshear: Revenue is key, Bowling Green Daily, August 7, 2008

Louisiana

• Some taxes may increase, The Advocate, August 11, 2008

Maine

• Maine tax rank improves to 15th, Bangor Daily News, August 11, 2008
• Maine gets a break on tax-happy reputation, Portland Press Herald, August 8, 2008

Maryland

• State owes county residents $17.5 million, The Capital, August 8, 2008
• Racing subsidies could leave Md., Baltimore Sun, August 6, 2008

Massachusetts

• Patrick approves funds for colleges, Boston Globe, August 8, 2008
• A late try to salvage student loans, Boston Globe, August 7, 2008
• Fiscal crisis may force emergency session, Boston Herald, August 7, 2008
• Commonwealth faces $13.3b healthcare bill for retirees, Boston Globe, August 6, 2008
• Patrick signs $3b bill to fix bridges, Boston Globe, August 5, 2008
• Boston Tax Party, Wall Street Journal, August 5, 2008

Michigan

• Bill would reform property tax, Detroit News, August 11, 2008
• 3 counties support Detroit Zoo tax, Crain's Detroit Business, August 6, 2008

Minnesota

• Welfare recipients shopping in Hawaii? GOP shows it's so, Minneapolis Star Tribune, August 8, 2008

Mississippi

• Tax-flee day, Sun Herald, August 11, 2008

Missouri

• Casino and health-care bills set for November ballot, Columbia Daily Tribune, August 6, 2008

Montana

• State's oil boom areas see gambling increase, Billings Gazette, August 6, 2008

Nevada

• State-Mandated Budget Cuts: College looks at more savings, Las Vegas Review-Journal, August 6, 2008

New Jersey

• Small towns object to N.J. police fees, Philadelphia Inquirer, August 7, 2008
• The high cost of higher education is going up again, Star-Ledger, August 6, 2008

New Mexico

• Special session: Governor narrows focus to children, Santa Fe New Mexican, August 6, 2008

New York

• Senate OKs property tax cap, Times Union, August 9, 2008
• N.J. trumps N.Y. on tax burden, Democrat and Chronicle, August 8, 2008
• UB imposes hiring freeze in response to state fiscal crisis, Buffalo News, August 7, 2008
• 'Pat' on the Back: Record Approval, New York Post, August 7, 2008
• Gov's 'High Noon' at Budget Gap, New York Post, August 6, 2008

North Carolina

• Frugal drivers put road funds in peril, News & Observer, August 7, 2008
• State investigators to probe NC county finances, Star News, August 6, 2008

Oklahoma

• Petition seeks additional $850M for Oklahoma's public schools, Oklahoman, August 7, 2008

Oregon

• State Puts High Price Tag On Education Measures, Oregon Public Broadcasting, August 7, 2008
• Republicans seek more government transparency, better economy, Portland Business Journal, August 6, 2008

Pennsylvania

• Rising costs put brakes on plans for road repairs, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, August 11, 2008
• New plan would let more I-80 drivers avoid tolls, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, August 6, 2008
• Slots revenue in state bucking the odds, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, August 6, 2008

South Carolina

• Economy blamed for loss of tax revenue, Greenville News, August 9, 2008
• State agencies pare spending, Post & Courier, August 9, 2008
• SC finance leaders to tell agencies to save money, Spartanburg Herald-Journal, August 6, 2008
• SC House members work on education funding, Spartanburg Herald-Journal, August 5, 2008

Utah

• Utah cities propose tax hikes, Salt Lake Tribune, August 11, 2008

Vermont

• Supreme Court refuses budget cut request, Times Argus, August 10, 2008

Washington

• Run it by the truth squad: Gregoire and state income tax, Seattle Times, August 10, 2008
• The Money Squeeze: Gregoire orders hiring freeze, cutbacks, Seattle P-I, August 5, 2008

Wyoming

• Bill would target taxable coal mining valuation, Billings Gazette, August 11, 2008
• Republican lawmaker, challenger differ on fuel taxes, Casper Star-Tribune, August 7, 2008

U.S.

• Economy threatens tax holidays, Macon Telegraph, August 11, 2008
• Oregon, Washington at odds over toll on new I-5 bridge, Oregonian, August 10, 2008
• RAHN: No tax increase needed, Washington Times, August 7, 2008
• Buzz grows over state tax holidays, Christian Science-Monitor, August 6, 2008
• Anti-tax activists again watch Colorado, Stateline.org, August 6, 2008
• Budget trouble, Watertown Daily Times, August 4, 2008

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SPN Research Forum listserv: The research forum listserv is an email-based conversation hosted by the John Locke Foundation. Post messages and get responses to issues of importance in your state and across the country. With participants from other SPN think tanks and associate SPN member organizations, the Forum can help with background for your papers or ideas on what's worked in other states. Learn from other think tanks. Share your research ideas. Discuss timely issues. To join the conversation, email Daren Bakst dbakst@johnlocke.org.

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Links of Interest

• Alliance for Workers Freedom
• American Legislative Exchange Council
• American Shareholders Association
• Americans for Limited Government
• Americans for Prosperity
• Americans for Prosperity Texas Blog
• Americans for Tax Reform
• BNA State Tax Highlights
• Budget and Tax News
• BusinessNevada
• Carolina Journal
• Citizens Against Government Waste
• COST Tax Updates
• EFF Updates
• EFF Blog
• FreedomWorks
• Foundation for Economic Education
• Independence Institute Updates
• Insider Online
• Media Freedom Project
• National Tax Limitation Committee
• National Taxpayers Union
• PolicyBot
• Property Rights Alliance
• Ronald Reagan Legacy Project
• Sam Adams Alliance
• SPN blog
• State Tax Updates (ATR)
• Tax Bytes (Institute for Policy Innovation)
• Tax Foundation
• Townhall
• Washington Policy Center Blog
• Young America's Foundation

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