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Pension Guarantee Would Be a Hammock Not a Safety Net

A few years ago, I was talking to a new college graduate who was moving to an expensive, distant city where she didn’t have a job. I asked, “How will you support yourself?” She shrugged and said her parents had money and would support her whether or not she found work. I couldn’t help but think, “Her parents aren’t doing her any favors.” Sure enough, during the past several years she has failed to hold steady long-term employment. These types of blank-check relationships often are filled with...

Fundamental Change Needed for Infrastructure Management: Report

If taxpayers and ratepayers want to avoid unaffordable utility bills and huge liabilities in the not-too-distant future, they must insist now on more competition, oversight, and innovation in the way public officials manage the nation’s water and sewer systems. That’s the conclusion of a comprehensive study by the 362,000-member National Taxpayers Union (NTU). The analysis projects hundreds of billions of dollars in future government expenditures could be saved by adopting techniques such as...

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Latest News in Fiscal

Sales Tax Collections Hit All-Time High
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February 13, 2013

Sales tax collections in the United States are on the rise and at an all-time high, according to TaxConnex, America’s leading independent provider of sales and use tax outsourcing and consulting se
Report Documents, Critiques Growing ‘Sin’ Tax Industry

Steve Stanek

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February 13, 2013

The NAACP and the Hispanic Federation went to court in January to block a ban on large sugared soft drinks that New York City is set to begin enforcing in March.
Poll: Most People See No Improvement from Federal Spending Surge
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February 13, 2013

Adjusted for inflation, federal spending per capita has increased approximately 39 percent since 1992, yet a new Reason-Rupe poll&n
Leading Analyst Calls Tax-Raising Moves in ‘Blue’ States a ‘Suicide Strategy’

Steve Stanek

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February 13, 2013

Joel Kotkin once again shows that he is a particularly astute observer and analyst of economic and demographic trends in his latest Forbes.com piece,
Missouri Legislators Mull Special Tax on Violent Video Games

Johnny Kampis

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February 12, 2013

A Missouri lawmaker wants to levy a tax on violent video games, with the extra money going toward studying mental health issues.
Cell Phones Often Taxed More Heavily Than Alcohol and Cigarettes

Steve Stanek

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February 12, 2013

Wireless consumers in the United States pay more than 17 percent in taxes and fees on average on their cell phone bills, including more than 11 percent in state and local charges, according to a ne
Understanding the Many Costs of Corporate Welfare

Sheldon Richman

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February 11, 2013

When Congress and President Obama in January came up with their beyond-the-last-minute deal to put off addressing the coming fiscal crisis, The Wall Street Journal turned the spotlight on
Pa. Governor Divides, Hopes to Conquer Union Opposition to Liquor Proposal

Eric Boehm

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February 08, 2013

Pennsylvania Gov.
Study Shows Need to End Secrecy in Government Union Collective Bargaining

Rob Kramer

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February 08, 2013

Secret negotiations over employment contracts between union representatives and government officials are the norm in nearly every state in the union.
Fuel Taxes, Tolls Pay for Only One-Third of Road Spending

Joseph Henchman

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February 08, 2013

A key issue for many state legislatures this year is transportation funding. Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley (D) and Virginia Gov.