Archives: State Budgets / Articles

Archives: State Budgets / Articles (page 16)

  • Good Tax Policy Doesn’t Need 12 Steps image

    Good Tax Policy Doesn’t Need 12 Steps

    Seldom has a year gone by without the release of some new study waxing wide on the public health costs associated with alcohol abuse, often with recommendations for significant tax increases or sales restrictions on alcohol.

  • The Williams Report image

    The Williams Report

    "Unfunded pension liabilities for the top 50 local governments ranked by outstanding debt have more than doubled over the last decade," Moody's reports.

  • Spooky, Scary Pension Fund Skeletons image

    Spooky, Scary Pension Fund Skeletons

    If states want to keep their pension plans healthy, and avoid a virtual apocalypse of the pension undead, reform is indispensable.

  • The Williams Report image

    The Williams Report

    U.S. states are now facing a $5.6 trillion pension funding hole...

  • The Williams Report image

    The Williams Report

    A look at fiscal headlines from statehouses nationwide...

  • Businesses Don’t Pay Taxes – People Do image

    Businesses Don’t Pay Taxes – People Do

    When government taxes a business, there is nothing that business can do but pass that tax burden on to individuals, in one form or another. Hardworking individual taxpayers pay the true burden of business taxes.

  • Northeastern Tax and Fiscal Policy Academy image

    Northeastern Tax and Fiscal Policy Academy

    Along with ALEC CEO Lisa B. Nelson, the Center for State Fiscal Reform recently hosted its first-ever regional Tax and Fiscal Policy Academy. The event took place September 19-21 in Portland, Maine,…

  • The Williams Report image

    The Williams Report

    A look at fiscal headlines from statehouses nationwide

  • Cornhuskers Need Not Fear Tax Reform image

    Cornhuskers Need Not Fear Tax Reform

    States like North Carolina have flourished after embracing both tax relief and restraints on spending.

  • Arkansas Gains Big on Capital Gains Tax Cut image

    Arkansas Gains Big on Capital Gains Tax Cut

    According to Governor Asa Hutchinson, Arkansas ended fiscal year 2016 with a budget surplus of $177.4 million – a sizable $117.3 million higher than the previous fiscal year.

  • 2016’s Best and Worst State of the State Addresses image

    2016’s Best and Worst State of the State Addresses

    In 2016, 44 governors delivered State of the State or similar addresses, and among them were many proposals to confront tight budgets and improve economic performance in the states.

  • For Economic Opportunity, the Redder the Better image

    For Economic Opportunity, the Redder the Better

    Many of America’s bluest states are deep in the red thanks to tried-and-failed progressive policies. The Illinois General Assembly can’t pass a long-term budget deal, leading to significant losses…

  • The Williams Report image

    The Williams Report

    What Can We Learn from Record-Busting State Budget Standoffs?

  • VIDEO: What’s Right – and Wrong – with Kansas image

    VIDEO: What’s Right – and Wrong – with Kansas

    In the latest edition of Rich States, Poor States: ALEC-Laffer State Economic Competitiveness Index, Kansas was 27th in terms of economic outlook.

  • Spending Cuts and Tax Reform: Not ‘Heads’ or ‘Tails’ image

    Spending Cuts and Tax Reform: Not ‘Heads’ or ‘Tails’

    Insofar as state fiscal policy goes, taxes and spending are permanently linked as two sides of the same coin.

  • Louisiana Governor Wants Higher Taxes image

    Louisiana Governor Wants Higher Taxes

    If the state had effective limits on spending, like those found in Colorado’s Taxpayer Bill of Rights, Louisiana would not be contending with a budget shortfall today.

  • State of the State: Oklahoma image

    State of the State: Oklahoma

    Governor Fallin has traditionally been an ally of limited government, free markets and federalism. However, given the difficult economic circumstances that her oil-dependent state is suffering, the governor and legislature are in a trying position.

  • State of the State: California image

    State of the State: California

    If the governor wants to actually avoid having to raise taxes, he should propose ways to shrink the scope of government, instead of pursuing the spendthrift polices that have dried up California’s funds.

  • State of the State: Missouri image

    State of the State: Missouri

    During his state of the state address, Missouri Governor Jay Nixon made his priorities very clear: he wants to expand Medicaid and spend more on education.

  • State of the State: South Carolina image

    State of the State: South Carolina

    Following a year of tragedy, Governor Nikki Haley’s State of the State address was full of rousing optimism and calls to action.