From the Dispatch

Eye on the Right: Adding Anti-Gay Provision to Wasteful Film Tax Credits in Florida

Altaf Rahamatulla — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 10:00:00 -0800

PSN has noted in previous Dispatches, these credits are costly, favor out-of-state workers, offer minimal to no returns, do not create permanent jobs, and place an excessive burden on taxpayers in a time of economic uncertainty. The Massachusetts Department of Revenue recently determined that in twelve states that administer a film tax credit, the return is extremely meager-- finding that states were only getting back "$.0.07 to $.0.28 per dollar of tax credit granted."

Eye on the Right: Arizona's Failed Experiment with Tax Cuts

Altaf Rahamatulla — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 08:58:44 -0800

How are Arizona's right-wing legislators responding to the state's most severe fiscal crisis since the Great Depression?

Massive corporate income tax cuts, of course.

Revenue Options in 2010: Making the Case and Debunking the Myths

Altaf Rahamatulla — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 10:22:15 -0800

Last Tuesday, Oregonians overwhelmingly approved two ballot initiatives that ratified legislative action last year to increase high-end personal income and corporate taxes. The failure of the anti-tax movement in Oregon is one more in a long stream of right-wing initiatives rejected by voters at the ballot box. In fact, progressive revenue generation as part of a balanced approach to addressing state deficits has been popular with both voters and legislatures for years. This Dispatch will provide both the facts and messages to debunk opposition to smart revenue options, while outlining a few of the best revenue approaches to filling budget holes.

Making the Rich Pay their Fair Share on the Ballot in Oregon

Altaf Rahamatulla — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 09:56:30 -0800

In 2009, Oregon lawmakers approved HB 2649 and HB 3405, a balanced approach to dealing with their fiscal problems that included increased taxes on the wealthiest state residents and corporations. These revenue increases were combined with lowered taxes for people receiving unemployment insurance benefits, offering tax relief to many families.

Anti-Tax Forces Lose at Ballot/Split Decision on Gay Unions/Other Election Analysis

Nathan Newman — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 09:30:19 -0800

While the governors' races in New Jersey and Virginia got most of the headlines, other state races around the country delivered a mixed message by voters on a number of issues. Read more about anti-tax forces continue to fail at the ballot box, a split vote on gay and lesbian unions, how voters continue to support public investments, and more.

On the Ballot: Defeating TABOR, Defending Relationship Equality Laws & A Roundup of Other Ballot Issues

Nora Ranney — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 11:12:59 -0700

Along with giving a roundup of the range of initiatives on the ballot in this off-year election, this Dispatch will give special focus to the campaigns against TABOR and defending relationship equality laws.

Big Business Already Giving Big to Take Down Oregon Tax Increase

PSN — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 07:50:17 -0700

Earlier this year, policymakers in Oregon enacted both temporary and permanent changes in the state’s tax system to help close an enormous budget gap and, by extension, provide funding for vital services like education, health care, and public safety... Yet, due to quirks in Oregon’s legislative process, opponents of these changes have an opportunity to put them before the voters for approval via referendum. Not surprisingly, representatives of big business and a who’s who of anti-tax organizations are attempting to take full advantage of that opportunity.

Progressive Revenue Measures Approved or Moving in Oregon and Other States

Nathan Newman — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 09:02:13 -0700

Oregon became the latest state to address the current fiscal crisis with progressive revenue increases. This is part of a welcome trend that we highlighted back in April of states recognizing that budget cuts need to be balanced with wealthier state residents being asked to pay their fair share to address the effects of the economic downturn.

Nutty, Dangerous "Fair Tax" Approved in Missouri House - Reports Highlight Likely Tax Increases for Working Families If Enacted

Nathan Newman — Thu, 14 May 2009 09:06:54 -0700

If most state legislatures are considering reasonable revenue increases this year, a few, like Missouri's House, have been captured by rightwing anti-tax fundamentalists. One of the pet ideas of the far right in recent years has been eliminating the income tax for both individuals and corporations and replacing it with a sales tax applied to every transaction. The rightwing call it the "fair tax" and the Missouri House became the first legislative chamber in the country to vote for a constitutional amendment, HJR 36, that would put the issue to voters in 2010.

Taxing High-Income Residents: Better than Budget Cuts, Better for Economic Growth

Nathan Newman — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 11:03:58 -0700

After resisting the proposal for months, New York Governor Patterson has agreed with legislative leaders to raise income taxes on the wealthiest state residents in order to help close the state budget gap. “It’s a profound breakthrough for tax fairness,” said Dan Cantor, executive director of the Working Families Party, an organization of New York individuals, labor unions and other groups that was a leader in the campaign to raise the tax rates. The New York deal is part of a national movement of state leaders looking to raise new revenue from high-income residents to avoid budget cuts and fund needed investments for long-term economic recovery.