Economic Justice : Taxation and budgets |
Regressive v. progressive taxation systems, effects of tax cuts on the provision of social services; allocation of expenditures between various kinds of activity: military, social security, education, health, etc.
12/12/08 Members of Florida Senate assemble to hear their leaders outline the dimensions of the state's budget crisis which now reaches a projected $2.3 billion deficit with the unexpected addition of 100,000 people to state Medicaid rolls. The Senate President, backstopped by the body's "Ways and Means" chairman, tells the unhappy men and women that the state has few palatable ways or means for balancing its budget, as it is required to do under the state's constitution. http://floridacapitalnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081211/CAPITOLNEWS/812110337
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Analysis & views: 11/17/08 Critics say money set aside in Denmark for foreign aid is being diverted to pay for an international climate conference in Copenhagen. http://www.cphpost.dk/get/109890.html 8/15/08 Budget cutting in Canada is taking an especially heavy toll on the country's support of programs in culture and the arts. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080814.wcuts15/BNStory/National/home 8/5/08 Canadian province of Ontario continues its rift with Ottawa over alleged shortchanging of the province in government revenue distributions. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080801.coessay02/BNStory/specialComment/home 8/4/08 Peru looking for more equitable distribution of revenues from mining taxes to the country's different provinces, while local leaders resist any loss of revenue. http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=43414 4/1/08 Most people in England want the Scottish government to pay for services in Scotland from taxes collected within that country. 3/11/07 What would happen to the U.S. if China stopped financing its huge deficit? We may be about to find out, as financial signals from China indicate likelihood that it may put more of its profits from a huge and growing trade balance with the U.S. into other investments than U.S. Treasury bonds. http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=viewArticle&code=20070310&articleId=5039
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NATIONAL
Websites Center for Budget and Policy Priorities: http://www.cbpp.org/ Urban Institute: Federal Budgets and Fiscal Policy: (abstracts of published research articles and papers) (http://www.urban.org/economy/fedbudgets.cfm
Analysis & views: 12/8/08 As stock market-invested endowment funds shrink, U.S. colleges and universities are facing a severe financial problem. http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/annearundel/bal-ar.foxcreek07dec07,0,4078480.story 11/15/08 State and local governments across the U.S. are facing budget shortfalls. http://www.csmonitor.com/2008/1114/p01s05-usec.html 11/13/08 New York Statye has a $5.2 billion hole in its budget, and how do you think it will be filled?: You guessed it, mainly on the backs of the sick and of children, by reductions in state expenditures for health and for education. Governor Patterson's budget targets funding cuts in those areas, leading to massive protests by health and education activists in the state. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/13/nyregion/13budget.html?th&emc=th 11/11/08 Seattle scuttles its popular in-home health care program which benefits 200 clients. http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008375929_solidground11m.html 11/9/08 De Kalb County Georgia loses tens of millions of dollars in revenue when it loses track of unpaid traffic violations. http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/dekalb/stories/2008/11/09/recorders_1109.html 11/7/08 Hawaii may ask its teachers to work some days without pay and close schools for 6 days every year to deal with the state's school budget crisis. http://www.starbulletin.com/news/20081107_DOE_pitches_6-day_closure_to_cut_spending.html 11/5/08 With taxes on their minds, Colorado voters just said "No." With the state turning "blue" for Obama, voters retained much of their "red" fiscal conservatism. Faced with 14 state measures on the their ballots, they followed a pattern of rejecting all of them that involved increased taxation, including a "feel good" measure for special funding for the disabled that went down by 2-1 margin. As former Governor Dick Lam said, "In times of economic stress, people vote no on taxes — that's a no-brainer." http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/nov/05/voters-just-say-no-state-ballot-measures/ 11/5/08 Massachusetts voters reject measure to eliminate state income tax:. Voters respond to appeals of public officials that the measure would devastate public services, roundly defeating a measure that almost passed in 2002. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/05/us/politics/05measures.html 11/4/08 School budget cuts in DeKalb County GA follow those in Broward FL, with lay-offs, cuts in busing and withholding of teacher pay raises. http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/dekalb/stories/2008/11/03/dekalb_school_board_cuts.html 8/20/08 Oregon voters to decide in November whether to lift limits on income tax deductions which would reduce taxes but result in decline of state revenues. http://www.oregonlive.com/politics/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/1219200915204700.xml&coll=7 8/12/08 Sacramento legislators are more focussed on getting out of town after trying to deal once again with a state "budget crisis" than they are in planning for a state future which will be marked by major demographic changes involving an exploding population of the elderly and of Asian and Latino people. This is the conclusion of a state economic "think tank." http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/08/11/MNO91292SH.DTL 8/11/08 Florida and other states around the country are calling off "back to school" tax holidays:. States cite flagging revenues in a sagging sales economy and the lack of proof of any real savings to hard-pressed consumers as reasons. 7/25/08 Proposal to grant tax breaks to movie film companies locating in Massachusetts flounders as legislators look to other ways to spend scarce funds. http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2008/07/25/film_bill_losing_its_luster_in_senate/ 7/15/08 East-west conflict ignites in Salt Lake City over issue of distribution of funding to schools in different sections of the city. http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_9884282 7/12/08 Wisconsin Supreme Court finds for a corporation's claim against the state for illegal sales taxes charged on software purchases; decision to cost state $265 million in revenues to add to its budget deficit. http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=771699 4/6/08 Wisconsin taxpayers may be facing call for bailout for several state school districts which have made risky investments of their pension funds in securities that have declined in the current credit crisis. http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=735976 4/4/08 Maryland legislature: tax on computer services out, income tax surcharge for millionaires is in. http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/politics/bal-md.computer04apr04,0,4794851.story 4/4/08 Some in Berkeley CA want the city to spend less money on "foreign policy" concerns and more on "filling pot-holes" in city streets. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/04/02/MNFUVUMVN.DTL 3/2/08 As Massachusetts municipalities prepare to make taxing and funding decisions, citizens groups are engaged in active campaigns to urge people to support public services at levels that will increase their taxes. http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2008/03/02/moms_for_more_taxes/ 3/2/08 City of Vallejo CA faces bankruptcy and critics say Mayor's plan to stave if off is "little more than a band-aid." http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/03/02/BADOVCB8H.DTL 2/26/08 Minnesota legislature over-rides Governor's veto of a transportation bill providing for infrastructure renovation and the first increase in state gas tax in twenty years. http://www.twincities.com/ci_8363286?nclick_check=1 2/17/08 Governor Schwarzenegger signs budget bill for California with $2 billion in cuts; school funding takes hardest hit at $500 million. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/02/17/BAOMV46PR.DTL&tsp=1 2/17/08 Philadelphia columnist wonders how local tax agency "lost" a file on the tax liability of a prominent local man who lives in a mansion with a tax liability less than those of some of the city's more modest homes. 2/10/08 "Smartest guys in the room" are doing to the United States what other guys did to Enron: Drive it into bankruptcy:. Chalmers Johnson so describes the neo-conservative "guys" behind the Bush administration's military adventurism as having the same effect on the American economy that the Enron "guys" had in their disastrous investment adventurism. He documents this perspective with an extended analysis of a "military Keynesianism" that falsely equates economic prosperity with a voracious defense industry. http://www.countercurrents.org/johnson080208.htm 2/8/08 Municipal bonds to finance city budgets are getting harder to sell in wake of mortgage crisis as investors grow leery of defaults from "sub-prime" muncipal borrowers. http://www.csmonitor.com/2008/0208/p03s01-usec.html 2/7/08 Whoe gets the revenue benefits of Indian gaming? In Massachusetts as in several other states, Governors are opposing applications of tribes to put the locations of their gambling operations in federal trust lands, a maneuver that the states fear will deprive them of the revenue windfalls they anticipated when they approved such operations. 1/22/08 Raging fire in Lawrence MA raises a political fire storm over plans to trim city budget by cutting back on emergency services. http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2008/01/22/150_homeless_in_lawrence_fire/ 1/21/08 California voters on Feb 5 will decide on proposed massive expansion of Indian casino gambling in the state, a move touted as essential to solve the state's revenue shortfall. http://www.csmonitor.com/2008/0118/p03s01-uspo.html 1/20/08 The voodoo economics of a $250 taxpayer "stimulus" for the U.S. economy: In an economy stressed out by bad mortgages and over-extended credit, the plan for a "quick fix" to stimulate consumer spending is really, says Mike Whitney, simply another indication of the tendency to "use the credit card" to buy what we can't afford to buy, creating another $100 billion in debt for "our kids" to pay. http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2008/01/bushs-voodoo-stimulus-package-250-rebate-for-every-taxpayer/ 1/18/08 Federal Reserve and political leaders of both parties are articulated an "advanced" economic theory that tax rebates to those most likely to spend them with "stimulate" the economy as people spend more money (forget about inflation). 1/12/08 Washington may act to "stimulate" U.S. economy... If Congress and White House can ever agree on how to do it:. With Bush administration hoping to deal with the country's recession or near-recession by additional tax cuts, Democrats in Congress are thinking in terms of increased spending for under-funded public services. Is a "deal" for tax cuts in exchange for spending increases in the works? Can you spell d-e-f-i-c-i-t? http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/12/us/12fiscal.html?th&emc=th 1/9/08 Indiana legislature considering a bill that would eliminate all property taxes http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080109/LOCAL190102/301090006 12/24/07 Briton's opinion: Mike Huckabee may embrace the flat tax concept with a bear hug while other GOP candidates shake it shand, but it's a form of "tax lunacy" that's anything but "fair": The flat tax, which would abolish progressive income taxes in favor of a single tax on consumption, was rejected even by President Bush's 2005 tax advisory panel. With the U.S. already arrived at a level of income inequality matching that of the 1920s, a flat tax would only widen that inequality and discard the concept that those who can afford to pay more toward providing for the common good should in fact contribute more. "To each according to his need, from each according to his ability." Yes, that's a Marxian definition of pure "communism," but it is as well the formula for assessing taxes in any well-ordered human community, from a family to a nation. http://commentisfree.guardian.co.uk/tim_watkin/2007/12/tax_lunacy.html 12/18/07 Massachusetts Governor Patrick works on a "compromise" with state business community by lowering corporate income tax rate in exchange for fulfilling his campaign promise to close corporate tax "loopholes." http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2007/12/18/governor_is_open_to_corporate_tax_rate_cut/ 12/12/07 Detroit program to help low income people pay their property taxes, criticized in a Detroit News feature, grows in popularity as the News article focussed attention on the program. http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071212/METRO/712120406 12/8/07 Utah Governor expected to do something unusual for him: submit a budget without major tax cuts http://deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,695234235,00.html 11/13/07 Maryland legislature thwarts Governor's plan to shift tax burden from the poor to the well-to-do. http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/politics/bal-te.md.taxes13nov13,0,5019014.story 10/23/07 U.S. states beginning to get that old recession feeling again:. Bust in the housing market has a domino effect on state government revenues, in sales tax receipts for example. In the Credit Card Nation that the U.S. has become, Americans have used borrowing on equity of their houses as a backup when the Mastercard gets maxed out. With foreclosures and maxing out of their equity lines now occurring, people have fewer funds to make sales tax-generating purchases, whether they be "big ticket" items like a boat to sit in the driveway or a "little ticket" item like a new kitchen skillet. http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/1023/p03s03-usec.html 10/3/07 3 Democrats in Congress propose a "war surcharge" in taxes to support operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. The idea is pronounced "dead in the water" as Congress says "nah, let the kids pay for it" and passes forward another "unfunded mandate" to continue an operation for which no money is proved from country's revenue sources. Just call it "No Grandchild's Behind Left" http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5gQ6MiELLp8fFhwGT9y-Ri-p6o6QwD8S15S7O2 9/7/07 To help cover state's $1.5 billion budget shortfall, Maryland Governor proposes to expand state sales tax to cover personal services as well as manufactured goods. 7/31/07 Property tax relief for New Jersey homeowners is being stymied by the complexity of required paper work http://www.philly.com/inquirer/local/20070731_Homeowners_find_rebate_forms_taxing.html 7/26/07 Opposition to farm subsidies in a time of booming U.S. agricultural economy ranges from Speaker Pelosi and some liberal Democrats to the White House and some conservative Republican members of Congress. It seems that regional differences trump ideological ones, and now the Democratic leadership is backing off from farm subsidy "reform" to protect re-election chances of Democrats from farm belt states. 7/24/07 Maryland legislators, facing a budget with severe revenue shortfall, begin looking at closing loopholes in tax laws that allow half the state's corporations to avoid paying any corporate taxes. http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/bal-te.md.taxes24jul24,0,2509998.story?coll=bal_tab01_layout 7/19/07 Alaska's Rep. Don Young, of "earmarks" notoriety, is fighting to retain earmarked funding for native education programs in his state http://www.adn.com/front/story/9145013p-9061508c.html 6/29/07 Politically well-connected hotel owner in Buffalo owes Erie County half a million dollars in bed taxes collected and not turned over to the county. http://www.buffalonews.com/home/story/108971.html 6/16/07 State of Utah gets $20 million from U.S. Interior Department as a payment in lieu of taxes lost for state land being off its tax rolls because it is in federal preserves. http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,665194131,00.html 6/3/07 Trans-Alaska pipe line system assessed at $4.6 billion for tax purposes. Oil companies complain too high, revenue-dependent communities say it is too low. http://www.adn.com/money/industries/oil/pipeline/story/8944749p-8844715c.html 5/13/07 State of Maine betting on larger take from slot machines to help balance its budget. http://www.bangordailynews.com/news/t/news.aspx?articleid=149764&zoneid=500 5/11/07 Connecticut Governor backs off from unpopular sales tax proposal after state revenues show unexpected upswing. 5/10/07 Wall Street licking its chops overwoes of state and local governments. If cash is needed, they can sell off to eager investors their "infrastructure" public facilities ranging from highways to schools to prisons to help pay for "tax relief" to make the wealthy even wealthier. http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2007/05/09/1064/ 5/2/07 Governor of Montana vetoes popular spending bills and says his mandate for "fiscal responsibility" doesn't allow approval of spending that exceeds state's revenues. http://www.helenair.com/articles/2007/05/02/legislative/top_copy/08_01.txt 4/18/07 Its government revenues largely funded by its oil wealth, Alaska has the nation's lowest rates of taxation, including state and local taxes that are only half those of the U.S.at large. http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/story/8801477p-8702718c.html 4/10/07 As tax day approaches, writers from responsiblewealth.org note that the wealthy are spared contribution to the costs of current military operations, helping to create massive federal debts and deficits in the ability of government to deal with the needs of the less wealthy who, in many ways, are those who pay for our wars 4/9/07 Democrats version of class war: Tax plan will be popular but costly. Proposal to shield all but the very wealthy from alternative minimum tax appeals to upper middle income voters, but will result in heavy reduction of revenues available for social services for the poor. http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/09/business/09tax.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin 3/25/07 For some Mississippi towns, being flush with oil resources doesn't necessarily equate with an increase in revenues available for public funding. http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070325/NEWS01/703250349 3/16/07 Class struggle in Asheville NC about what type of tax---sales or hotel---should be instituted to help fund public services. http://www.citizen-times.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=200770315140 3/2/07 Tax trade-off in Boston: Mayor proposes to lower property taxes and institute tax fees on meals and telecommunications. http://www.boston.com/business/taxes/articles/2007/03/02/mayor_to_offer_tax_tradeoff/ 3/1/07 Budget crunch in Detroit may result in closing of 40 of 232 public school buildings by mid-2008. http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070301/SCHOOLS/703010395/1003/METRO 2/27/07 Florida take notice: Utah is about to pass a revamped tax structure containing progressive taxation features like a lowering of the sales tax and putting more of the burden of taxation on the wealthy than the poor. http://www.sltrib.com/ci_5313096 2/23/07 To evade taxes and government regulation, many corporations are "hiding out" in the hills outside Las Vegas. http://www.usatoday.com/money/companies/regulation/2007-02-23-tax-havens-usat_x.htm 2/23/07 In Montana, a Democratic Governor and a Republican legislature are in a shoot-out conflict over the Governor's budget that the legislature wants to cut. http://www.helenair.com/articles/2007/02/23/legislative/top_copy/76_01.txt 2/19/07 Suburban St. Louis school district would lose $70,000 a year in revenue if Jefferson County grants Lowe's application for reduction in its property taxes. http://suburbanjournals.stltoday.com/articles/2007/02/18/news/sj2tn20070217-0218ndj_lowes.ii1.txt 2/8/07 German Deutsche Bank settles claims of investors it represented in its tax shelter work, as it still faces federal criminal prosecution for programs costing U.S. Treasury large amounts of revenue. http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/08/business/worldbusiness/08shelter.html?th&emc=th 2/6/07 Bush's 08 budget has its domestic wing spending like Medicare severely clipped, while the military wing is overloaded. With tax cuts perpetuated and overall expenses expanding, deficits loom except here's the prayer: that an "expanding" economy can make up the revenue shortfall from lower taxes and that meantime our national credit card with foreign creditors is not maxed out . Democrats forecast a crash landing for this Spruce Goose, calling it "dead on arrival." http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/02/05/AR2007020500208.html?referrer=email 2/4/07 Parents and school officials protest plan in Detroit to close 52 public schools within the next year under budgetary constraints. http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070204/SCHOOLS/702040333/1003/METRO 2/3/07 "Revenue sharing" is much less profitable to local governments than taxation, as illustrated in a Maine community presented a revenue-sharing check by the U.S. Wild Life Service which was much less than than the taxes foregone by exemption of refuge lands from local taxation. http://www.bangordailynews.com/news/t/downeast.aspx?articleid=145903&zoneid=177 1/19/07 36 Republicans join 228 Democrats to pass a bill rescinding tax breaks to oil companies and reclaiming some royalties from oil drilling, completing the "100 hour" legislative agenda for the 110th Congress. The vote: http://clerk.house.gov/cgi-bin/vote.asp?year=2007&rollnumber=40 1/7/07 New York's Governor Spitzer is fighting a very difficult battle to consolidate the state's 4200 different taxation and budgeting units. http://www.newsday.com/news/local/longisland/ny-lispec0107,0,2369819.story?coll=ny-linews-headlines 12/30/06 Daniel Schorr: U.S. government running mostly on "continuing resolutions" which allow agencies to spend at their current levels of funding---the result of the failure of Congress to approve 9 of the 11 appropriations bills presented in the 109th Congress. http://www.csmonitor.com/2006/1229/p09s01-cods.html 12/30/06 Paul Krugman: the Republican agenda of "shrinking" government by cutting welfare services was a "failed revolution" that started to fail with its inception in 1994. http://www.commondreams.org/views06/1229-26.htm 11/26/06 Shift from Republican to Democratic control of Congress may not affect much the tendency toward pork and earmarks in appropriations. http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/26/washington/26earmarks.html?_r=1&th=&adxnnl=1&slogin 11/21/06 Democrats expected to work to repeal oil industry tax breaks but not to establish windfall profits taxes. http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/11/19/congress.energy.ap/index.html 11/20/06 Many New Jersey residents are skeptical about a proposed 20% cut in property taxes, asking where from where the money is going to come, and fearing other taxes like the sales tax. http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/news/local/16056725.htm 11/14/06 Democrats expect in next Congress to pass legislation to require public identification of the sponsors of earmarked expenditures. http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2006-11-12-dems-pork-sponsors_x.htm 10/23/06 With many U.S.states "flush" with windfall revenues from rising property values and taxes and federal budgets being tightened, contractors are increasingly "circling the statehouses" looking for public project contracts. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/22/AR2006102200567.html 10/4/06 Office of Management and Budget's project to increase accountability of special interests receiving government grants ("pork") are aided by (mostly conservative) bloggers who track these appropriations on the internet. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/03/AR2006100301313.html?referrer=email 9/20/06 With less publicity than much-criticized congressional "earmarks," lawmakers are quietly inserting into federal tax bills "tariff suspensions" on products to give their constituents, often major campaign contributors, a competitive edge in the U.S. market. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/09/19/AR2006091901759.html?referrer=email 9/10/06 Feeding the pigs: Unlikely coalition of conservative and liberal watchdog groups is promoting public awareness of congressional earmarks which favor the "pet" funding projects of members of Congress. http://www.ajc.com/search/content/auto/epaper/editions/today/news_54206552218a91fa000a.html 9/8/06 Huge discrepancy being noted between the national debt as the Bush administration depicts it and the "true" debt. http://www.buzzflash.com/articles/alerts/105 9/1/06 Senator Robert Byrd, spectacularly successful in bringing "pork" home to West Virginia, put a "hold" on a pork-busting bill introduced just before the current congressional recess, saying his constituents needed time to have a say on the issue. What do you figure they would say? http://www.tpmmuckraker.com/archives/001452.php 8/24/06 With income tax collection being farmed out to private debt collectors, IRS warns taxpayers to be wary about scam artists posing as legitimate collectors. http://www.breitbart.com/news/2006/08/23/D8JMGFVG1.html 8/11/06 President Bush said to be eager to pursue cuts in "entitlement" spending (Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid) after midterm elections. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/08/10/AR2006081001508.html?referrer=email 8/4/06 Lacking the votes for cloture on debate on the issue, by 56-42 vote, Senate kills effort to tie a minimum wage increase to a reduction in estate taxes. Both sides cry "politics!" http://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/04/washington/04cong.html?_r=1&th&emc=th&oref=slogin The vote (find Bill and Mel, together again): http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=109&session=2&vote=00229 8/2/06 Senate report details "out of control" practice of off-shore banking practices that deprive the Treasury of $70 billion per year in tax revenues: http://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/01/business/01tax.html?_r=1&hp&ex=115449oref=slogin 7/29/06 U.S. House of "Representatives" does the deed: attaches permanent repeal of estate tax to a bill raising the minimum wage. 34 Democrats and 196 Republicans vote for estate tax repeal. Senate action uncertain. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/07/28/AR2006072800337.html?referrer=email Vote: http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2006/roll425.xml 7/27/06 Republican leaders in Congress are trying a stealth move to sneak repeal of estate tax as an amendment to a pension bill before Congresses recesses for a month on July 28. http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aqKKaxKK5Z9g&refer=home 7/26/06 Will tax cuts "pay for themselves" because they stimulate economic growth and increased revenues? Treasury report delicately says "no." 7/24/06 Unable to convince Congress to totally repeal estate tax, Bush administration's IRS is making severe cutbacks in agents assigned to audit estate tax returns. If you don't tell, they probably won't ask. http://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/23/business/23tax.html?_r=2&oref=slogin&oref=slogin 7/5/06 Economist characterizes congressional Republicans' opposition to minimum wage increase and support of tax cuts for the wealthy as "just vicious class warfare." http://64.226.238.78/PA/bh/bh215.shtml 7/5/06 Can you spell e-l-e-c-t-i-o-n-s? Republican lawmakers hear it from their constituents, who once "clamored" for tax cuts but are now raising questions about fiscal responsibility and (that's right) the justice of wealth-favoring tax cuts. http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2006/07/05/tax_cuts_hill/
7/2/06 Farm subsidies program benefits primarily wealthy people, including many who don't even farm (and we're not talking here about tax exemptions for "ranches" with one cow). http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/07/01/AR2006070100962.html?referrer=email 6/29/06 Effort in Senate to repeal estate tax attracts support from timber-industry Senators by combining the repeal with additional tax breaks for that industry, which is already the recipient of generous corporate welfare and a major player in campaign financing. http://newstandardnews.net/content/index.cfm/items/3347 6/26/06 Tax revenues in Louisiana take unexpected post-Katrina upturn as residents use relief funds to purchase things lost in the flood, from socks to SUVs, increasing sales tax revenue. http://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/26/us/26louisiana.html?_r=1&th&emc=th&oref=slogin 6/25/06 Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, a GOP presidential aspirant, vetoes $225 million of appropriations passed by the legislature. Saying he is mostly cutting "pork," he vetoes $50 thousand for a Mohawk Theatre in North Boston, allows $50 million requested by Red Sox for transportation improvements near Fenway Park. http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2006/06/25/romney_vetoes_225m_in_spending/ 6/14/06 Sale of Indiana Turnpike to a Spanish/Australian firm highlights tendency across the country for states to privatize infrastructure facilities in response to their fiscal crises. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/06/09/AR2006060901775.html?referrer=email 6/11/06 Floridians take note: both your U.S. Senators voted for a debate cloture that, had it succeeded (as it nearly did), the repeal of the estate tax would have been advanced. (Only 4 Democrats, including Nelson, voted for cloture.) http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=109&session=2&vote=00164 6/9/06 Senate kills repeal of estate tax. 6/7/06 GOP strategists are divided, as showdown on estate tax repeal nears, on whether to insist on full repeal, unlike to survive a Democratic filibuster, or work for a compromise. http://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/07/business/07tax.html?th&emc=th 6/5/06 While repeal of the estate tax would benefit only the very richest families in America, proponents of repeal have aggressively marketed the idea that the "death tax" is detrimental to middle-income people as well. http://www.americanprogress.org/site/pp.asp?c=biJRJ8OVF&b=1721763 5/25/06 Readthebill.org places the Iraqi War supplementary appropriations bill on its list of "mystery bills" that legislators should read before they vote on it. http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/052406S.shtml 5/18/06 GOP conservatives win in Pennsylvania by emphasizing fiscal restraint: http://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/18/us/18repubs.html?th&emc=th 5/17/06 In Pennsylvania primaries yesterday, at least 13 members of state legislature who had voted themselves a big pay raise were denied re-election. http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/05/17/ap/politics/mainD8HLH05O0.shtml 5/17/06 A new wrinkle in tax cuts for the wealthy: next tax law will allow holders of tax-deferred retirement accounts to pay deferred taxes pre-retirement and save 3/4 on their tax bills (pay a dollar now, don't have to pay three dollars later). http://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/16/business/16tax.html?ex=1147924800&en=9be49bbf99115fa8&ei=5087%0A 5/17/06 Abetted by Bush's military posturing, our national priorities are becoming so twisted that any domestic spending is suspicious as "pork," while much greater spending on the military is presumed to be just the beef we need. http://www.commondreams.org/views06/0516-25.htm 5/17/06 Supreme Court decision this week denies the right of taxpayers to challenge state giveaways to corporations in the form of tax credits. http://www.commondreams.org/views06/0516-20.htm 5/15/06 Dean Baker's new book, The Conservative Nanny State, is being distributed free on-line. The book details the fallacy of conservatives' supposed belief in "free market" economics, actually depending on a system of corporate welfare. http://www.conservativenannystate.org/ 5/13/06 Opinion: southern progressives should support the estate tax. http://counterpunch.org/kromm05112006.html 5/10/06 "Everyone" benefits from tax cuts just approved in Congress: from average $20 for middle-income households to $42,000 for those over a million; only victims are rising federal deficit and cut in services to the poor. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/05/09/AR2006050900651.html?referrer=email 5/8/06 Bush administration proposing a "sunset commission" of unelected officials who would give the ax for funding of an programs not deemed as worthy of continuing past their current period of authorization: http://newstandardnews.net/content/?action=show_item&itemid=3128 4/30/06 Who will benefit from repeal of estate taxes? 18 richest families make massive contributions to the campaign for their repeal. http://informationclearinghouse.info/article12868.htm 4/27/06 Political fallout from public's concern for high gasoline prices is causing some in Congress to re-think plans for tax breaks for oil companies: http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/27/business/27oil.html?_r=1&th&emc=th&oref=slogin 4/25/06 In a survey of its party faithful, GOP "forgets" to list spending control or budget deficits among its list of items about which participants in the survey might be "interested": Tax cuts are mentioned as an "interest," meaning that the party is implicitly acknowledging its status as a "don't tax and spend" (i.e. borrow) party: http://www.redstate.com/story/2006/4/24/214145/764 4/22/06 U.S. tells IMF to butt out with its negative comments on health care in the United States and on the U.S. budget deficit: you're just supposed to "monitor international currency." http://www.commondreams.org/headlines06/0421-11.htm 4/18/06 Opinion: prevalence of IRS auditing of low income tax payers not because of great fraud among the poor but the incredible complexity of the low income tax credit and the frequency of errors in its calculation: http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/18/opinion/18brown.1.html?_r=1&th&emc=th&oref=slogin
4/18/06 Republican Senator charges that a $750 million grant for a railroad re-location in Mississippi in the wake of hurricane Katrina, to be considered in the Senate as part of the "emergency war bill," is a "giveaway to economic developers" http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/04/17/AR2006041701551.html 4/18/06 Tax day highlights the reality that we are approaching a de facto "flat tax" situation of the rich and poor paying at the same rates; an immense advantage to the wealthy without producing the touted "economic growth" of flat tax advocates: http://www.commondreams.org/headlines06/0417-06.htm 4/17/06 On income tax day in America, environmental think tank advocates policy which is practiced in other countries around the world: shift from income taxes to taxes on environmentally-destructive consumption practices: http://www.commondreams.org/headlines06/0414-07.htm 4/16/06 Another triumph for regressive taxation: for taxes due in April 2007, alternative minimum tax, designed to help middle income tax payers, will have expired; and many wealthy payers will benefit by reduction in taxes on income from investments: http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/16/us/16tax.html 4/14/06 Reversing the regressive tax policy at the federal level, many states are starting to require the wealthy to shoulder a larger share of the tax burden: http://www.commondreams.org/views06/0414-30.htm 4/8/06 Escalating national debt will have many negative consequences for the economic well-being of Americans: http://www.alternet.org/story/34529/ 4/8/06 Responsible Wealth. a group of multi-millionaires, organizes to oppose repeal of estate tax: http://www.commondreams.org/views06/0407-21.htm 4/4/06 OMB Watchdog analyst says U.S. headed toward being a "bankrupt nation" and Congress hasn't a clue on what to do about it: http://www.commondreams.org/views06/0404-34.htm 4/4/06 Remember the old conservative Republican critique of "tax and spend" Democrats? Now it's "spend and don't tax" (and of course incur debts) as federal spending hits all-time high: http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/040306E.shtml 3/10/06 Claims that tax cuts will "pay for themselves" in generating higher tax revenues are shown in economic analysis to be false: http://www.cbpp.org/3-8-06tax.htm 2/18/06 Ben of Ben and Jerry's oreo cookie depiction of the federal budget: http://www.truemajorityaction.org/oreos/ 2/14/06 Multi-billion dollar windfalls projected for oil and gas companies to be given "royalty relief" for drilling on public lands: http://www.commondreams.org/headlines06/0214-01.htm 2/13/06 Opinion: tax breaks for health savings account represent extremely regressive tax policy: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/02/12/AR2006021201151.html 2/11/06 Cheney says proof that tax cuts boost federal revenue; some economists disagree: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/02/10/AR2006021001855.html?referrer=email 2/7/06 Soaring deficits loom as 07 budget "assumes too much, demands too little": http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/02/06/AR2006020601424.html?referrer=email 2/6/06 New Bush budget: less butter, more guns: http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/13800536.htm 2/2/06 Recent "job growth" comes from federal spending, not tax cuts: http://www.epi.org/content.cfm/webfeatures_snapshots_20060126 2/2/06 PRESIDENT'S HEALTH CARE TAX CUT PROPOSALS ARE LIKELY TO WEAKEN EMPLOYER-BASED HEALTH INSURANCE, PRIMARILY BENEFIT HIGH-INCOME PEOPLE, AND WORSEN DEFICITS 2/2/06 House passes deficit reduction/budget cut bill (216-214), sends to Bush for approval: http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/B/BUDGET_CUTS?SITE=FLTAM&SECTION=HOME 1/20/06 Trading tax cuts for lethal cuts in human services: http://www.commondreams.org/views06/0119-31.htm
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FLORIDA:
STATEWIDE
Websites: Center on Budget and Policy Priorities Report: weaknesses in Florida's tax structure: http://www.cbpp.org/pubs/povinc.htm
Analysis & views: 12/12/08 Members of Florida Senate assemble to hear their leaders outline the dimensions of the state's budget crisis which now reaches a projected $2.3 billion deficit with the unexpected addition of 100,000 people to state Medicaid rolls. The Senate President, backstopped by the body's "Ways and Means" chairman, tells the unhappy men and women that the state has few palatable ways or means for balancing its budget, as it is required to do under the state's constitution. http://floridacapitalnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081211/CAPITOLNEWS/812110337 12/11/08 Florida Senators assembling in Tallahassee today to hear bad news about state's budget deficit. http://wire.jacksonville.com/pstories/state/fl/20081210/365793653.shtml 12/11/08 Florida Atlantic University: 130 get laid off, others get 10% raises. http://www.palmbeachpost.com/localnews/content/local_news/epaper/2008/12/09/1209fausalary.html 11/17/08 South Florida counties are struggling to maintain a constitutionally-required system of public defenders for all needy clients. http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/broward/sfl-flbdefenders1117sbnov17,0,3660008.story 8/20/08 Opinion (Bill Cottrell): Governor Charlie Crist has turned unexpectedly into a "tax and spend liberal." http://floridacapitalnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080818/COLUMNIST03/808180302 8/15/08 Florida's tax swamp plan is taken off the electoral table (for now):. Circuit judge rules Amendment 5 off November ballot on grounds it "misleads" voters by misrepresenting the tax and revenue consequences of its passage. State vows to appeal the ruling, Crist says only the last ruling "counts." http://www.palmbeachpost.com/state/content/state/epaper/2008/08/14/0814propertytax.html 8/15/08 Governor Crist urges acceleration of state construction projects to "pump money" into Florida economy ahead of expected announcement of $1 billion "hole" in the state's budget. http://www.gainesville.com/article/20080814/NEWS/212729671&tc=email_newsletter 8/14/08 Did Florida's Taxation and Budget Reform Commission drink the conservative kool-aid handed out by Jeb Bush and other Right-Wingers?: A columnist for the Miami Herald believes it did, as he sees Amendment 5 for "tax swap" as an especially egregious effort by the Commission to venture into the waters of "social engineering," hoping to create changes in a tax structure by shifting much of the taxation burden to "taxes for service," helping further to "starve the beast" of government-provided services. http://www.miamiherald.com/opinion/other-views/story/639684.html 8/11/08 Very few south Floridians have taken advantage of the "portability" tax-saving provisions enacted 6 months ago, as the "credit crunch" in the housing market has swamped any incentive for people to buy new homes to replace their old ones. http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/florida/sfl-flfportability0811sbaug11,0,1959544.story 8/7/08 Proposed Florida "tax swap" is not popular as many Floridians recall that they got far less property tax "relief" than they expected from the last round of tax "reductions." http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/florida/sfl-flfproptax0806sbaug06,0,7018423.story 8/6/08 "Florida's vulnerable children cannot live with another year of across-the-board cuts.". This statement by a state children's welfare advocate is joined by similar views of those advocating for the elderly, as they urge the state to find new revenue sources rather than dealing with deficits by further budget cuts. http://floridacapitalnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080805/CAPITOLNEWS/808050325&theme= 8/5/08 Projected effects of "tax swap" to be voted on by Florida voters in number are little more than "educated guesses," even by tax "experts." http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/state/orl-proptax0208aug02,0,7274710.story 7/25/08 Florida Tax Watch says that Amendment 5 would actually result in higher taxes for Floridians. http://www.floridataxwatch.org/resources/pdf/072308BriefingUncertaintyMakesAmendment5BadBet.pdf 7/25/08 66,000 Floridians living in Broward and Palm Beach Counties have not yet filed for "stimulus" tax checks. http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/southflorida/sfl-flptaxhelp0725pnjul25,0,4038339.story 7/23/08 Florida Association of Realtors puts up $1 million to campaign to pass Amendment 5, which would eliminate property taxes to support schools in a "swap" for higher sales taxes. Lakeland Ledger editorialist notes that the problem is that the sales tax hike cannot compensate for the loss of revenue from property taxes, so that funding of schools will be severely diminished. http://www.theledger.com/article/20080722/NEWS/807220361/1036&title=Education_Takes_Back_Seat 7/22/08 Melbourne legislator plans statewide tour and public forums in opposition to "tax swap" proposal: The proposal, from the state's Taxation and Budget Committee, will get a critical airing, and proponents of the measure for reduced property taxes and increased sales taxes promise a rebuttal to begin after Florida homeowners get their fall property tax bills and see that the last round of "cuts" did not help them that much. 4/15/08 Oout of gas in the middle of Interstate 4? Don;t count on the "road rangers" to ride to your rescue: The state-supported program of emergency road assistance faces prospect of having funding slashed by the legislature. The Rangers are but one of a myriad of Florida programs to feel the pain of budget cuts, programs ranging from Everglades restoration to purchase of conservation land to assistance in education and health care. So enjoy your property tax cut but don't look for a Road Ranger to change your flat tire. http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/state/orl-rangers1508apr15,0,599226.story 4/14/08 Pledge of no new property taxes for Florida homeowners may be violated in that, while tax rates across the state will be stable, tax increases may occur in many individual counties within the state. http://www.palmbeachpost.com/state/content/state/epaper/2008/04/13/s1a_xgrproptax_0413.html 4/4/08 Budget cuts of "biblical" dimension are being anticipated for schools, hospitals and transportation facilities in south Florida. http://www.miamiherald.com/457/story/482325.html 3/4/08 "Punishing year for public education"may loom for Florida's schools:. As the legislature re-convenes for a budget-cutting session, this "punishment" has begun as committees have recommended $358 million in cuts to occur on July 1, likely only the first installment of such cuts. http://www.palmbeachpost.com/state/content/state/epaper/2008/03/04/a14a_sklbudget_0304.html 2/25/08 Funding battle between P.E. and arts is shaping up for Florida Middle Schools. http://www.palmbeachpost.com/localnews/content/local_news/epaper/2008/02/25/s1b_music_0225.html 2/21/08 Wheels of justice may move more slowly in Florida as budget cuts may force the closing of state's courts for intervals of time this summer. http://www.sptimes.com/2008/02/21/State/Cost_cutting_may_clos.shtml 2/18/08 Post-hurricane relief money poured into Florida a few years ago is now causing the state to lose millions of dollars per year in federal Medicaid support money, based on Medicaid's allocation formula based on average state income levels. http://www.palmbeachpost.com/state/content/state/epaper/2008/02/13/0213medicaid.html 2/8/08 Round two of Florida property tax slashing about to begin. March session of legislature will mark the push by House Speaker Rubio for a more "radical" proposition for November ballot that would cap property taxes on all property, with no exemption for school taxes, on the order of California's famous/notorious Proposition 13. With schools as well as towns and counties expected to experience severe budgetary losses if the measure passes, it may be blocked in the Senate where support is currently lacking. http://www.miamiherald.com/458/story/411161.html 2/5/08 Proposal in Florida legislature would tax "adult entertainment services" to provide personal funds for residents of nursing homes. http://www.gainesvillesun.com/article/20080205/NEWS/802050324 2/4/08 Legal challenges are making it doubtful now whether Florida homeowners will be able to avail themselves of the "portability" feature of Amendment 1, which would allow them to retain tax breaks when they move http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/florida/sfl-flbrisky0204sbfeb04,0,1473088.story 2/1/08 Florida governor gambles on gambling to help state budget's ends to meet. New post-election budget relies heavily on anticipated revenues from slots and the Seminole gambling deal, though they are still to be developed or are mired in legal proceedings; also in "scooping up" whatever reserves exist anywhere and on making some deep cuts to expenditures for health and environmental programs. He says the state has to "tighten its belt" as homeowners loosen theirs a notch in anticipation of a property tax reduction http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/politics/orl-teachers0108feb01,0,7704650.story 1/31/08 In aftermath of property tax amendment approval in Florida, word of the day is "uncertain." Some taxpayers may get some relief from this Fall's property tax lists, but these will be very unevenly distributed and may be wiped out by localities' raising of assessments to cover their revenue requirements, and the "taste" for more reductions may face a hard road to fulfillment. The legislature, for example, empowered to propose further tax amendments for the November ballot, may refrain from doing so as they will be too busy trying to fudge the state budget to deal with the $2 billion shortfall anticipated from cuts already made. http://www.miamiherald.com/457/story/400518.html 1/30/08 "Better than nothing" seemed to be the dominant Florida voter feeling in approving property tax cuts from which minimal tax savings could be expected, with state leaders promising "more to come." http://www.sptimes.com/2008/01/30/State/Voters_flock_to_prope.shtml 1/29/08 Are Floridians so hungry for tax reductions that they will vote to "starve the beast" of government-administered services in today's property tax amendment? It's too close to call. With 60% approval required for passage, a new poll published in Miami Herald shows 55% approving with 14% undecided. (This with a question which lists all the benefits and none of the fiscal problems associated with the measure.) It may come down to turn-out, and the likelihood that more Republicans will likely turn out because they have a "meaningful" primary. http://www.miamiherald.com/politicalcurrents/story/393856.html 1/22/08 Hopes of proponents of Amendment 1 that bigger turnout of Republicans than Democrats in next week's election would favor passage are dimming as many Republican-leaning members of the business community oppose its passage. http://www.sptimes.com/2008/01/22/State/Support_wavers_in_Sou.shtml 1/18/08 While he stumps for property tax reductions, Governor Crist is asking for $1 billion for funding of public schools.\ http://www.news-journalonline.com/NewsJournalOnline/News/Headlines/frtHEAD01011807.htm 1/17/08 Governor Crist on barnstorming tour of Florida to bolster support for property tax amendment. http://www.miamiherald.com/top_stories/story/382646.html 1/13/08 A relatively "quiet" season of campaigning for and against the property tax amendment on the January 29 Florida ballot leaves outcome in doubt, with one poll showing public support hovering just below required 60% approval. 1/12/08 As January 29 day of reckoning for his tax proposal approaches;: Governor Crist is "soldiering on with only lukewarm support from businesses" as public is faced with barrage of attack ads from public service groups, fulfilling the original warning that, to get the required 60% vote for a constitutional amendment, he would have to "fight the teachers, the police, even fight the firefighters." http://www.gainesvillesun.com/article/20080112/NEWS/801120333 1/10/08 Waiting fir the parade: University of Florida gets in line:. UF joins the mass of public agencies in Florida that are lamenting budget shortfalls resulting from revenue losses in the falling housing market, and wince in pain at thoughts of further revenue problems if Florida voters approve additional property tax reductions this month. Already on the chopping block for possible elimination: UF's summer school. They may even finally get down to cutting President Machen's salary http://www.gainesvillesun.com/article/20080110/NEWS/801100310/1007/NEWS 1/10/08 Nothing in Florida law would prevent localities from raising their local property tax rates to make up for falling revenues with new property tax exemptions; the "average" taxpayer might actually experience higher taxes. http://www2.tbo.com/content/2008/jan/10/property-tax-amendment-could-raise-rates/ 12/18/07 5 million Floridians who rent their homes would gain little from property tax reductions...unless their landlords choose to pass along tax savings by reducing their rents. 12/14/07 Coalition of Florida's teachers, firefighters and local government employees joins the battle against property tax reforms on January 29 ballot. 12/9/07 Panic among local communities about the integrity of their investments in a state agency heavily involved in troubled subprime mortgage investments may exaggerate their problem. http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/content/state/epaper/2007/12/09/m1a_FLA_FINANCE_1209.html 12/12/07 Head of Floirda's State Board of Administration resigns in a move to "restore confidence" in the investment of city and county funds: The freeze on withdrawal of funds to support local governmental functions leads to serious questions about those investments by SBA, a state agency, as it is noted that many investments are in the troubled area of sub-prime mortgage lending. http://www.miamiherald.com/458/story/332421.html 12/1/07 Florida's "investment pool" agency for local governments pleads for patience from funds-strapped towns, counties and schools as it temporarily suspends withdrawals of funds from the depleted agency. 11/15/07 "Recession" economic behavior in Florida is cited in analysis of the latest indication of severe revenue shortfalls for state budget. 11/15/07 The Florida/Seminole tribe gambling contract is a day old; But will it survive court scrutiny? Governor Crist having just concluded an agreement with the tribe concerning its gambling operations, numerous individuals, including House Speaker Marco Rubio, are expecting to challenge in court the legality of the agreement. http://www.miamiherald.com/top_stories/story/308388.html 11/15/07 Critics are saying Governor Crist didn't get that good a deal for Florida in his compact with Seminole tribe on operation of Hard Rock casino. 11/14/07 Governor Crist said to have reached agreement with Seminole Tribe on gambling slots that will yield significant revenue to the state. http://www.miamiherald.com/news/miami_dade/story/307068.html 11/14/07 Florida's bedroom communities expected to be harder hit than large cities by losses in revenues if property tax reduction referendum passes. 11/11/07 Labor groups are beginning to plot their strategy for defeating property tax cuts in January 29 vote. 11/11/07 As sales tax revenues have lagged throughout Florida, those in Miami-Dade County have increased, helping south Florida to "bail out" revenue-stressed state budget. http://www.miamiherald.com/top_stories/story/303548.html 11/4/07 Marco Rubio wants more:. The Speaker of the Florida House, disappointed in the scale of property tax cuts referred to voters by legislature's action, says in an interview he may spearhead petition drive to obtain broader cuts. http://www.miamiherald.com/top_stories/story/295136.html 10/27/07 Governor Crist moves to try to unblock state legislature's stalemate over property tax reductions. http://www.miamiherald.com/457/story/286309.html 10/25/07 Indecision in Tallahassee. What if Florida's Republican legislature were pitching in the world series? (cartoon) http://www.gainesvillesun.com/article/20071025/OPINION04/71024057/1089/opinion 10/22/07 In Florida, Community Redevelopment Agencies are increasingly allowed to spend tax money collected within their own districts for community improvement, a tendency decried by critics who see the practice as harmful to the state's ability to address broader community needs. 9/28/07 Called back into special session to deal with budget cuts, Florida legislators must now deal as well with a property taxes issue that they thought they had referred to voter referendum. http://www.miamiherald.com/458/story/253042.html 9/27/07 Private companies are seeking a "piece of the action" on state's school lottery and toll roads and bridges. http://www2.tbo.com/content/2007/sep/27/na-would-lottery-lease-be-states-winning-ticket1/ 9/27/07 Florida hunting and fishing licenses will increase on Oct 1, the first fishing license increase in 18 years, the first hunting one in 28 years. http://www.gainesvillesun.com/article/20070927/NEWS/70927011/1002/NEWS 9/26/07 Florida governor and legislature are divided and uncertain about how to proceed in light of a judge's order removing property reform from January 29 ballot http://www.gainesvillesun.com/article/20070926/NEWS/709260330 9/24/07 Florida's plan for property tax measure on January 29th ballot is knocked into a cocked hat, temporarily at least: Leon County judge orders issue removed from the ballot, citing lack of clarity in adequately informing voters of the consequences of the measure if passed. State is expected to appeal or to have legislature re-visit the wording in its October special session. http://www.miamiherald.com/458/story/249242.html 9/12/07 New poll shows waning support in Florida for property tax exemption measure on January 29 ballot; only 47% now support, far below 60% required for passage. http://www.miamiherald.com/top_stories/story/234443.html 9/9/07 Florida Democrats are concerned that DNC action in negating the effects of a January 29 presidential primary will "dramatically" effect the outcome of the referendum item on property tax reduction attached to the same ballot, as Democrats, more likely to oppose the referendum, will stay away from the polls while Republicans, who tend to favor it, will vote in an election that its national party will "count." http://www.gainesvillesun.com/article/20070909/NEWS/709090317 9/8/07 State and Seminole Tribe of Florida are nearing a deal allowing the tribe to offer Vegas-style card games at casinos with state to get a cut of the revenue. http://www.miamiherald.com/464/story/229722.html 9/6/07 Florida legislature abandons its plan to re-assemble for special session on September 18 to deal with issue of tax and budget cuts. Without any apparent consensus, they need time to "think about it." (The longer they think, the more likely are local governments to cut budgets in "anticipation" of tax cuts and budget caps.) http://www.miamiherald.com/458/story/227197.html 9/5/07 Governor Crist considers privatization of state lottery and roads system as ways of helping to improve the state's revenues and deal with budget crisis. 8/30/07 Florida education system may be asked to bear the brunt of state budget cuts: As anticipated deficit reaches $2.5 billion, legislators are considering increased tuition for students and withholding merit pay for teachers: call it less education at a higher cost. http://www.miamiherald.com/458/story/217095.html 7/31/07 How big a property tax cut will Florida property owners receive? According to Orlando Sentinel analysis, it depends. If you're the average Florida homeowner, you'll get $174 reduction. If you're the Walt Disney Company, make that $6 million. 7/26/07 Possible billion dollar shortfall in state budget prompts decision to hold a special session of the Florida legislature on the issue in September. http://www.palmbeachpost.com/state/content/state/epaper/2007/07/25/a3a_session_0725.html 7/20/07 Poll shows that close to the 60% of Florida voters required for passage support a Constitutional amendment for a "super" property tax exemption, although most indicate that they know little about the details of the proposal. http://www.tbo.com/news/politics/MGBD6ZA0C4F.html 7/13/07 Florida Supreme Court remands to a lower court the hearing of Weston Mayor's suit against the constitutionality of legislature putting property tax limits on local governments. http://www.tallahassee.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070713/CAPITOLNEWS/70713002/1010 7/11/07 Florida legislators finding ways to get around "travel ban." Legislature pushes the limit of the Governors' budget-tightening edict, as many members are being "sent" to conventions this summer to exchance "policy ideas" with their colleagues in other states. Apparently they haven't heard of the internet. http://www.floridacapitalnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070710/CAPITOLNEWS/707100322 7/10/07 Mayor of Weston in Broward County asks Florida Supreme Court to set aside as unconstitutional the legislature's requiring of property tax reductions for state's local governments. http://www.news-journalonline.com/NewsJournalOnline/News/Headlines/frtHEAD03POL071007.htm 7/3/07 University of Florida institutes campus-wide hiring freeze to cope with expected budget shortfall of $20-30 million. http://www.gainesville.com/article/20070702/MISC/70702015 7/2/07 Neither gasoline taxes nor revenues on toll rolls have kept up with the escalating costs of providing roads for travellers in Florida. With a new law now in effect, this may be remedied in the case of tolls, since toll authorities may now make adjustments in tolls based on changes in cost of living. http://www.miamiherald.com/884/story/157618.html 6/30/07 Official of Florida DOT tells a transportation advocacy group meeting in Sarasota that the state is facing a shortfall in revenue from gasoline taxes that will force reductions of road construction in Florida; or alternatively, lead to increases in toll road construction and tolls. Part of the blame is based on an asserted drop in gasoline sales as prices have risen. If one lives anywhere around I-75 or travels that congested route, one may wonder how gas sales have fallen as traffic has seemingly increased. There might be a clue if other people are like the editor of the Sun State Activist (mea culpa!) who make a point, on trips to more northerly points, to be sure the gas tank is near-empty when he enters Georgia and near-full when he leaves it. http://www.gainesville.com/article/20070630/LOCAL/706300352 6/28/07 Florida's "sputtering" economy is producing an anticipated $1 billion shortfall which may result in budget cuts beyond those provided in budget recently passed by state legislature. http://www.miamiherald.com/884/story/153744.html 6/24/07 Florida Taxation and Budget Reform Commission preparing to pick up the pieces after January 29th. The constitutionally mandated committee will continue its efforts at tax reform as a "back up" to a possible failure of voters to approve those reforms proposed by the legislature. http://www.miamiherald.com/569/story/149538.html For membership of the commission, see: http://www.miamiherald.com/569/story/149541.html 6/24/07 "It's here to stay, let's tax it" seems to be the prevalent attitude of Florida officials toward the expansion of gaming activity in the state. http://www.tbo.com/news/metro/MGBHAUCXA3F.html 6/21/07 While property tax rates for Floridians will be cut under new tax legislation, average actual tax bills may rise as taxpayers will be paying on properties of appreciated value. http://www.news-journalonline.com/NewsJournalOnline/News/Headlines/frtHEAD01062107.htm 6/17/07 "You've got to fight the PTA, you've got to fight the librarians, you've got to fight firefighters" says a Florida legislator of the upcoming campaign to expand property tax exemptions, an issue to be decided by voters in the January 29 presidential primary. With 60% approval required under a constitional amendment appoved last year, and with constituents of various groups jeopardized by revenue cuts lining up in opposition, approval is far from a slam-dunk and even some proponents wouldn't mind if the measure were defeated. What seems unspoken so far is what effect this action might have on the outcomes of the presidential primaries and its possible effect nationally with Florida's new status as a political "bell weather" state with its early primary. http://www.gainesville.com/article/20070617/LOCAL/706170312 6/17/07 "Cuts in tax revenue piled atop declining tax base are setting the stage for recession and social unrest" A Miami writer's ominous comment on the implications of the crisis of a high inventory of unsold condominiums, as housing prices tumble and Florida's property tax "relief" will yield revenues based on lower tax rates on lower tax assessments. http://www.counterpunch.org/farago06152007.html 6/16/07 But sir, what of the poor? The Elderly? The Children? As Florida city and county officials continue to "whine" about property tax cuts that will result in large reductions in support of non-profit welfare agencies in Alachua County and throughout the state, the Florida legislature and Governor do an Ebenezer Scrooge/Marie Antoinette duet and say "Bah, Humbug! Let Them Eat Cake!" http://www.gainesville.com/article/20070616/SUNFRONT/706160354 6/16/07 Having notices that there insurance premium bills continued to rise after a Florida legislative session in January that was supposed to have contained those costs, some Floridians are still wonder if the legislature has delivered another "nothin' muffin" with property taxes that the Governor promised would "drop like a rock." 6/16/07 Property tax reform passed by legislature gives a "first dose of excitement" to languishing real estate market in south Florida. http://www.miamiherald.com/884/story/141722.html 6/14/07 As state legislature struggles to provide property tax "relief" without breaking the budgets of Florida localities, Gainesville SUN weighs in with some "humor" (Jake Fuller cartoon) on the subject. http://gainesville.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?category=editorials 6/14/07 City and county funding for non-profit groups is being severely threatened by impending property tax reform in Florida legislature. |