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SPN State Fiscal Policy Exchange - Volume 4, Issue 31

Published on Monday, August 18, 2008
FISCAL POLICY

SPN State Fiscal Policy Exchange - Volume 4, Issue 31

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

SPN 16^th Annual Meeting
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Studies/Policy Updates

Budget and Tax Reform

Allegheny Institute for Public Policy: Amphi-Theatrics, Steeler Style

Americans For Prosperity:

Americans For Tax Reform:

Buckeye Institute:

Cascade Policy Institute:

Citizens Against Government Waste: CAGW Names Speaker Pelosi and Majority Leader Reid

Evergreen Freedom Foundation: "There's no money in the bank"

FreedomWorks:

Free State Foundation: "The Most Significant and Controversial Assertion of Agency Authority"

Heartland Institute: Tax Bites: The Toll of Hidden Taxes on Car Rentals

Heritage Foundation: Obama to CBO Revenue Baseline: Nuts-and He's Right!

Maine Heritage Policy Center:

Nevada Policy Research Institute:

Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs:

Rio Grande Foundation:

Texans for Fiscal Responsibility:

The Tax Foundation:

Washington Policy Center:

Education

Americans For Prosperity: School Choice - The next wave in education?

Buckeye Institute: Reward the best - Akron Beacon Journal

Empire Center: Teachers Go Nuclear - New York Post

Evergreen Freedom Foundation:

Mackinac Center for Public Policy: Survey 2008: School Service Privatization Grows Again

Maine Heritage Policy Center:

Nevada Policy Research Institute:

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

Rio Grande Foundation: Errors of Enchantment: Flunked, The Movie Discussion

Texans for Fiscal Responsibility:

Texas Public Policy Foundation: Texas Universities Need Reform, Not Resources

Transparency

Americans For Tax Reform:

Buckeye Institute:

Evergreen Freedom Foundation:

Heartland Institute: Budget Transparency Problems Are Identified in 50-State Survey

Texans for Fiscal Responsibility: Open, Responsible Government In Collin County

Washington Policy Center:

State News Updates

Alabama

Collections show need for reform, Montgomery Advertiser, August 12, 2008

Alaska

Judge looks to settle tax cap before October election, Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, August 14, 2008

Arizona

Tax-hike backers sue to get plan on ballot, Arizona Daily Star, August 14, 2008
Disqualification puts transit ballot measure in doubt, Arizona Republic, August 12, 2008

Arkansas

Ark. in school-building boom, Daily Citizen, August 17, 2008
Legislative hearings on controversial bingo tax planned, Arkansas News Bureau, August 16, 2008
Milk board debates fee to help dairies, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, August 15, 2008
Vague on numbers, study of school funding OK'd, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, August 14, 2008
Lawmakers endorse school funding hike, Arkansas News Bureau, August 14, 2008
Investments ban gets new scrutiny from state group, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, August 13, 2008
Cigarette tax hike could fund Ark. trauma system, Daily Citizen, August 11, 2008

California

Budget proposal goes nowhere, San Jose Mercury News, August 18, 2008
Nevada jury says California owes inventor $388 million over 'outrageous' audit, Sacramento Bee, August 16, 2008
California Assembly speaker plans a budget vote Sunday, Sacramento Bee, August 15, 2008
State burning through fire budget at breakneck clip, Mercury News, August 14, 2008
Federal overseer seeks to seize $8 billion for California prison healthcare, Los Angeles Times, August 14, 2008
Algebra expansion cost pegged at $3.1 billion, San Francisco Chronicle, August 13, 2008
Feinstein criticizes legislators for inaction on state water plan, Sacramento Bee, August 13, 2008
Lawmakers apparently miss deadline to change rail bond measure, Sacramento Bee, August 12, 2008
Experts: State must plan for demographic shift, San Francisco Chronicle, August 12, 2008
Schwarzenegger sues state controller over pay-cut order, Los Angeles Times, August 12, 2008

Colorado

Sales-tax increase makes ballot, Denver Post, August 12, 2008

Connecticut

What to do with surplus?, Republican-American, August 14, 2008

Florida

Budget cuts another blow to weakened universities, Miami Herald, August 17, 2008
Supporters of Amendment 5 say they'll appeal ruling to remove measure from ballot, Tallahassee Democrat, August 16, 2008
'Tax Swap' axed from November ballot, St. Petersburg Times, August 15, 2008
Judge has issue with wording of Amendment 5 tax ballot, Orlando Sentinel, August 14, 2008
Florida's budget shortfall may hit $1.2B, Miami Herald, August 14, 2008

Georgia

State could be holding some of your property, Augusta Chronicle, August 18, 2008
State agencies looking for ways to deal with cuts, Macon Telegraph, August 16, 2008
State budget cuts trickle down to local schools, Gainesville Times, August 15, 2008
Georgia budget crisis hits workers' paychecks, Atlantic Journal-Constitution, August 14, 2008
State education budget cuts up for a vote, Atlantic Journal-Constitution, August 13, 2008
School funding suit will proceed, Athens Banner-Herald, August 13, 2008
State tax revenue plummets, Macon Telegraph, August 12, 2008
Education officials may cut $171 million, Athens Banner-Herald, August 11, 2008

Hawaii

Series: Part 1 - Property tax system reform work gets underway, Kauai Garden Island News, August 14, 2008

Idaho

Economic report paints grim picture for Idaho, Idaho Statesman, August 14, 2008

Illinois

Illinois House approves making injured vets exempt from property taxes, Southern Illinoisan, August 14, 2008
Capital plan inches forward, Southern Illinoisan, August 13, 2008
Illinois Senate rejects pay hike, Quad-City Times, August 12, 2008

Indiana

Red light camera push starts again, The Times, August 18, 2008
State praises tax plan to fund new stadium, Indianapolis Star, August 17, 2008
Daniels: Tax caps are working, The Times, August 15, 2008
Private lottery best bet: Daniels, Journal Gazette, August 14, 2008
Local officials voice frustrations to Indiana, South Bend Tribune, August 14, 2008
Daniels says lottery lease could fund scholarships, Indianapolis Star, August 13, 2008
Daniels wants state to handle school purchasing, The Times, August 13, 2008

Iowa

Iowa auditor pushes special investigations, Quad-City Times, August 18, 2008

Kansas

School finance debate heats up, Topeka Capital-Journal, August 18, 2008
Sebelius assigns transportation task force, says no to motor fuels tax increase, Lawrence Journal-World, August 14, 2008
KU keeping quiet on potential budget cuts, Lawrence Journal-World, August 12, 2008

Kentucky

State offers incentive for electric car plant, Lexington Herald-Leader, August 17, 2008
Beshear Touts Higher Cigarette Tax, Kentucky Post, August 14, 2008
State to audit Louisville housing agency, Courier-Journal, August 13, 2008
Business group calls for state-funded tuition assistance program, Lexington Herald-Leader, August 12, 2008

Louisiana

Getting tax cut now tricky, The Advocate, August 15, 2008
Gas find producing windfall in state, Times-Picayune, August 14, 2008
Budget surplus is windfall for coast, Times-Picayune, August 14, 2008

Maine

Back-to-school tax holiday lacking panel support, Bangor Daily News, August 18, 2008
STATEHOUSE: Maine state income tax cut still on agenda, Kennebec Journal, August 13, 2008
Baldacci may call summer session on fuel funding, Bangor Daily News, August 13, 2008
Baldacci to propose income tax cut, Bangor Daily News, August 12, 2008
State to survey schools for fuel assistance, Portland Press Herald, August 12, 2008

Maryland

Study positions Maryland fourth in state-local tax burden, The Gazette, August 15, 2008
Cigarette taxes are up -- so is smuggling, Baltimore Sun, August 15, 2008

Massachusetts

Retailers root for boost from tax-free holiday, Boston Herald, August 14, 2008
Agencies agree to aid T, Turnpike, Boston Globe, August 12, 2008

Michigan

New House recess irks Republicans, Detroit Free Press, August 14, 2008
Bill would reform property tax, Detroit News, August 11, 2008

Minnesota

Tax reform commission: E-mail your ideas, Minneapolis / St. Paul Business Journal, August 12, 2008

Mississippi

Analyst: Miss. tax structure needs balance, Clarion-Ledger, August 14, 2008
Tax issue may merit session, Sun Herald, August 14, 2008
Bryant wants one-day session, Hattiesburg American, August 13, 2008

Montana

Brown pushes budget Web site, Missoulian, August 15, 2008

Nevada

Prisons, services cut from budget, Reno Gazette-Journal, August 15, 2008
NOVEMBER BALLOT: Property tax petition advances, Las Vegas Review-Journal, August 15, 2008
Gibbons says regents 'calling for the moon' in budget plan, Nevada Appeal, August 13, 2008
State slides deeper into fiscal hole, Las Vegas Sun, August 12, 2008
Study: Nevada's tax burden low, Las Vegas Review-Journal, August 12, 2008

New Hampshire

Reducing workweek is a cost-cutting tool, Union Leader, August 17, 2008

New Jersey

Treasurer says media killed 800 percent toll hike, Asbury Park Press, August 17, 2008
Some agencies haven't changed auditors in 60 years, Asbury Park Press, August 13, 2008
State to use $650M fund to cut its debt, Star-Ledger, August 13, 2008
Corzine decries $8B shortfall in highway fund as govs meet, Asbury Park Press, August 12, 2008

New Mexico

Special Session: Drop in windfall trims rebate plan, Santa Fe New Mexican, August 14, 2008
Revenue surplus less than expected, Santa Fe New Mexican, August 13, 2008

New York

New York's aging population a concern for public resources, Democrat and Chronicle, August 18, 2008
Looking for painless budget cuts, Times Union, August 18, 2008
Seneca leaders seek veto of cigarette tax bill, Times Union, August 15, 2008
Tax-cap battle rolls on, Press & Sun-Bulletin, August 13, 2008
Storm of criticism for budget cuts, Times Union, August 13, 2008
Paterson urged to OK New York cigarette tax bill, Democrat and Chronicle, August 13, 2008
Paterson suggests $2.6 billion in spending cuts, Newsday, August 12, 2008
Paterson Seeks Cuts of $1 Billion, New York Times, August 11, 2008

North Carolina

N.C. owes schools nearly $750 million, Winston Salem-Journal, August 13, 2008
Where do gas taxes really go?, News & Observer, August 12, 2008

Ohio

State offers colleges seed money to boost enrollment, Columbus Dispatch, August 18, 2008
Editorial: Short takes, Columbus Dispatch, August 15, 2008
State Auditor puts Jefferson Twp. schools in fiscal emergency, Dayton Daily News, August 12, 2008
Report: Ohio's tax burden 7th-highest in the nation, Dayton Business Journal, August 7, 2008

Oklahoma

Group generates petition to boost school funding, Shawnee News-Star, August 17, 2008
Revenues up to start fiscal year, Shawnee News-Star, August 12, 2008

Pennsylvania

Increased Taxes in Pennsylvania Ignite Another Whiskey Rebellion, Wall Street Journal, August 15, 2008
Trucking groups back higher fuel tax over turnpike lease, I-80 tolls, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, August 12, 2008

Rhode Island

Reviews for state's film tax credit aren't good, Providence Journal, August 12, 2008

South Carolina

Online database shows health program spending, Post & Courier, August 18, 2008
State passes 3 percent cuts down to schools, Myrtle Beach Sun News, August 16, 2008
Comptroller: State ended year with $250M deficit, Spartanburg Herald-Journal, August 14, 2008
New budget cuts upset schools chief, Augusta Chronicle, August 13, 2008
SC budget officials order 3 percent spending cut, Spartanburg Herald-Journal, August 12, 2008
State universities spending more; students feeling pain, Greenville News, August 11, 2008

Tennessee

Tennessee accepts 1,500 buyout offers, The Tennessean, August 12, 2008

Texas

Chunk of school property tax relief package wiped out, study finds, Dallas Morning News, August 15, 2008
Financial transparency sweeps nation, Washington Times, August 11, 2008

Utah

Taxes unchanged? Keep eye on fees, Deseret News, August 18, 2008
State stepping in as banks bail out of student loans, Salt Lake Tribune, August 15, 2008

Virginia

Kaine asks for cuts of $32 million, Roanoke Times, August 16, 2008
Va. budget may be short $1 billion, Richmond Time-Dispatch, August 13, 2008

Washington

State might try four-day workweek, The Olympian, August 15, 2008
Justice agencies target of cuts, The Olympian, August 12, 2008

West Virginia

Going Green Saves Taxes, The Intelligencer / Wheeling News-Register, August 15, 2008

U.S.

Medicaid bears brunt of states' budget crunch, Christian Science Monitor, August 15, 2008
Frustrated govs rip fed road policy, Stateline.org, August 12, 2008

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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