Steve Stanek

Steve Stanek (sstanek@heartland.org) is a research fellow at The Heartland Institute and managing... (read full bio)

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.
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,
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
Study Debunks Tax ‘Myths’ of Political ‘Progressives’

Steve Stanek

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February 07, 2013

The U.S. economy is suffering its deepest and most prolonged recession since the Great Depression.
Florida Supreme Court Upholds Law Requiring Pension Contributions

Steve Stanek

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February 04, 2013

Florida’s public school teachers, state and county workers, and some municipal employees must send 3 percent of their pay to the state’s pension plan, according to a 4-3 ruling of the Florida Supre
Illinois Stops Bond Sale After S&P Downgrades State’s Debt

Steve Stanek

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January 30, 2013

Illinois state government has canceled a $500 million debt sale, just days after Standard & Poor’s downgraded the state’s credit rating to the worst in the nation.
Supreme Court to Decide How Hard Landowners May Be Squeezed

Steve Stanek

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January 23, 2013

Nearly 20 years ago, Coy Koontz Sr., now deceased, sought a permit for four acres of his property in Orange County, Florida to be available for development, so he could sell the property and fund h
Banks Pay Billions to Settle Complaints, Receive Billions in Tax Breaks

Steve Stanek

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January 21, 2013

The billions of dollars a dozen financial institutions recently agreed to pay to settle government complaints over banking and mortgage lending practices come with a twist: The financial institutio
Louisiana Governor Wants to End Income and Corporate Taxes

Steve Stanek

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January 11, 2013

Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal (R) has announced he plans to ask legislators to end the state’s personal income tax and corporate tax and replace them with a higher sales tax.
Bumpy Road for Plan to End Virginia’s Gas Tax, Raise Sales Tax

Steve Stanek

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January 10, 2013

Virginia Gov.
Federal Judge Denies Injunction to Stop Florida Auto Insurance Reforms

Steve Stanek

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January 07, 2013

A federal judge has denied an injunction that would have blocked reforms to the personal injury protection portion of Florida’s auto insurance law that were enacted in 2012.
Fiscal Cliff Deal Slammed by Political Right . . . and Left

Steve Stanek

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January 06, 2013

So this is what Congress and President Obama meant by “balance” in addressing the “fiscal cliff”: $42 of tax increases for every dollar of spending cuts.
Missouri Cigarette Tax Hike Goes Down to Defeat

Steve Stanek

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January 01, 2013

The third time was not the charm for supporters of a higher cigarette tax in Missouri, as voters rejected for the third time in 11 years a ballot measure to raise the state’s cigarette tax.
Taxes, Regulations, Interest Rates All Working Against Housing

Steve Stanek

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December 14, 2012

With the bursting of the housing bubble having played such a big part in the economic downturn, could housing play an equally big part in an economic recovery?
Hong Kong Rejects U.S. Compliance Law, Ireland Embraces It

Steve Stanek

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December 13, 2012

The chief executive of Hong Kong's Securities and Futures Commission is warning against allowing U.S.
Companies Rushing to Pay Dividends Before Expected Tax Hikes

Steve Stanek

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December 04, 2012

Uberbillionaire Warren Buffett recently declared tax rates don’t matter to investors, but the actions of publicly owned companies and investors as the nation nears the “fiscal cliff” say otherwise.
Republican Leaders Offer $800 Billion in Revenue; Other Republicans Balk

Steve Stanek

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December 04, 2012

House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) and other Republican leaders in Congress have offered to overhaul the federal tax code to take another $800 billion in taxes over the next 10 years, but some Repub
Cliff Looms; It’s Anyone’s Guess How Bad the Fall Could Be

Steve Stanek

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November 13, 2012

Big cliff, sidewalk crack, or something in between? Americans may soon find out.
California Voters Send Taxes Soaring

Steve Stanek

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November 07, 2012

California voters have approved measures to raise taxes by billions of dollars and rejected a measure to stop labor unions from forcing members to pay dues for union-backed political activities.
Mortgage Originations Expected to Rise, Refis to Fall

Steve Stanek

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November 02, 2012

The Mortgage Bankers Association expects to see $1.3 trillion in mortgage originations during 2013, largely driven by a spillover of refinances into the first half of the year.

Steve Stanek

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