The American people received an early Independence Day present on July 1 when President Trump signed into law H.R. 3151, the Taxpayer First Act of 2019.
Hang Onto Your Wallets … And Your Freedom
Listening to the Democratic presidential debates these past two days has been alarming. Pandering to specific groups, the candidates are prepared to have the federal government cover the costs for a myriad of programs. The New York Times wrote, “The Democrats’ two nights of debates showed that liberalism is on the march in the party. […]
California’s Budget Projects a $22 Billion Surplus, Yet Wants Billions More in New Taxes
After 32 consecutive victories on the TV game show “Jeopardy,” James Holzhauer, a professional sports gambler from Las Vegas, Nevada, saw his incredible winning streak come to an end. Finishing with $2,462,216 in total prize money, James fell just $58,484 short of the all-time record set by Ken Jennings in 2004 (it took Jennings 74 […]
Seattle’s Soda Tax Fails to Live Up to Its Promises
In Seattle, free college, youth education programs, and job training are the latest “soda tax” battle cries. Unfortunately for consumers, these are promises that are made to be broken. In the city, a case of Gatorade used to cost a Seattleites $15.99 in 2017 but now costs $26.33. While this would appear to be a […]
The Golden “Nanny” State Wants $6.2 Billion in New Taxes
California state legislators have a solution to fulfill Gov. Gavin Newsom’s bloated $209 billion budget: tax anything and everything under the sun. Taking more money from taxpayers should not be a surprise from the state with the highest income tax in the country. Just last year, California lawmakers proposed to reverse the positive economic gains […]
IM 25: Bad for South Dakota
On Tuesday, November 6, South Dakota voters will decide whether to approve Initiated Measure 25 (IM 25). This measure would increase taxes on cigarettes by $1 per pack and increase the wholesale tax on tobacco products from 35 to 55 percent. The revenue, it is claimed, will be devoted to the state’s four technical schools. […]
How Tax Reform 2.0 Could Impact Savings
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), the tax bill passed in Congress last year, represents the most substantial change to the nation’s tax code in a generation. This change has greatly benefited the U.S. economy as American businesses have become more competitive globally while American workers have seen an increase in their wages. Economists […]
Local Governments in Puerto Rico Punish Charitable Activity
When Hurricanes Irma and Maria devastated Puerto Rico and other places in the fall of 2017, Americans of all types raced to help. Utility companies were among the first to provide aid, as restoring the island’s power grid was a monumental task. As is customary for natural disasters, the federal government, through the Federal Emergency Management […]
Initiative 185 Would Raise Taxes on All Montanans
Montanans will decide the fate of Initiative 185 when they vote this November. The ballot measure is needed, proponents say, because it will finally accomplish the most noble, yet elusive, of goals: reducing smoking and raising revenue for the expansion of Medicaid in Montana, so that thousands more can realize the benefits of healthcare. It […]
States Must Stop Diverting 9-1-1 Fees
The National Emergency Number Association estimates that 240 million 9-1-1 calls are made each year, with more than 80 percent of those calls originating from wireless devices in some areas of the country. The 9-1-1 emergency systems, including fire and rescue operations, are funded, in part, through fees imposed on consumer telephone bills. Unfortunately, over […]