Japan’s corporate tax rate reduction on April 1, 2012 left America with the highest corporate income tax rate in the industrialized world.^[1] Effective taxes are also high by international standards.^[2]Because state corporate income taxes are levied in addition to this high federal tax, state tax ...

Read more: Trend #3: Corporate Tax Reductions

State sales taxes went up in the past few years, continuing a long-term trend. First adopted in the 1930s during the Great Depression as property tax collections plummeted, sales taxes have seen their base erode over time. Except in a few states, sales taxes generally apply to goods and not ...

Read more: Trend #4: Sales Tax Increases

The taxing power of the states generally extends only to their individual borders: since the adoption of the U.S. Constitution, states have not been able to impose tax collection obligations on businesses that have no property or employees within the state.[1] In 2008, however, New Yorkadopted ...

Read more: Trend #5: "Amazon" Taxes

Seven states have no income tax and five states have no sales tax. Abolishing an entire tax means ridding your taxpayers of the associated compliance costs and loss to economic growth, but one must figure out whether to make up the revenue with spending cuts or higher taxes elsewhere. No state has ...

Read more: Trend #6: Tax Abolition

As The New York Timeswould put it, when in 1996 "President Bill Clinton delivered on his pledge to 'end welfare as we know it'...he signed into law a bill forcing recipients to work and imposing a five-year limit on cash assistance." Back then this supposedly cruel deed was one "Hillary Rodham ...

Read more: Did '96 Bill Force People to Work?

Most states have created budget stabilization, or “rainy day,” funds to draw upon when economic conditions create a severe or sudden drop in tax revenues.^[1]However, these cash reserves were for the most part inadequate in coping with the recent economic downturn. For all intents and purposes, only ...

Read more: Trend #8: Insufficient Rainy Day Funds

The game of voting starts in the Primaries. Did you know only 10% of voters in VA vote in the primaries? Vote in the primaries June 12! Jamie Radtke is one of the people running for senate. She's not afraid to take a stand for what's right. Check out her website and consider voting for her on June ...

Read more: Top Twenty Reasons to Support Jamie Radtke on June 12th

When states set aside money to be spent on Medicaid, the federal-state program providing health care to low-income Americans, they receive matching funds from the federal government. These matching funds are made available according to a formula known as the Federal Medical Assistance Percentages ...

Read more: Trend #9: State Abuse of Medicaid Matching Funds