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The Impact of State Income Taxes on Low-Income Families in 2008
November 4, 2009
While some working-poor families get help lifting themselves out of poverty through exemptions from state income taxes, in many states they continue to face substantial state income tax liability. An analysis of state income tax systems for the 2008 tax year shows that: In 16 of the 42 states that levy income taxes, two-parent … -
Press Release: State Income Taxes Push Many Working-Poor Families Deeper Into Poverty
November 4, 2009
Sixteen states taxed working-poor families deeper into poverty last year, according to a new report from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. Income tax bills on poor families in those 16 states ranged from a few dollars to several hundred dollars, which is a significant amount for a family struggling to make ends meet, the report said. … -
Statement: Iris Lav, Senior Advisor, on Defeat of “TABOR” Initiatives In Maine and Washington
November 4, 2009
Yesterday’s votes in Maine and Washington show clearly that TABOR’s crippling and arbitrary spending limits remain unpopular around the country. Anti-government groups have made serious efforts to enact TABORs in 20 states since 2004 — and they have failed every time. … -
Which States Tax the Sale of Food for Home Consumption in 2009?
Revised November 4, 2009
Forty-five states and the District of Columbia levy general sales taxes. Most of those states have eliminated, reduced, or offset the tax as applied to food for home consumption. The relief strategies include full or partial exemptions from the sales tax for food purchased for home consumption and credits or rebates to offset the food tax. Of … -
Podcast: Protecting Low-Income Consumers in Climate Change Legislation
November 3, 2009
The nuances of climate change legislation, and how the Senate and House bills will protect low-income families, are discussed by the Center’s Chief Economist, Chad Stone.
Duration: 3:38
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Berkley Estate Tax Bill Would Add Billions to Deficit While Benefiting Only Wealthiest 1 in 500 Estates
November 2, 2009
A new estate tax bill introduced by Representative Shelley Berkley (D-NV) and others would cost $119 billion more over the first decade (2012-2021) than extending the tax under its current rules as the President has proposed, yet would benefit only the nation’s wealthiest 0.2 percent of estates since they are the only … -
House Health Reform Bill Would Help Ensure Affordable, Quality Coverage for Older Adults Aged 55-64
Updated November 2, 2009
The House health reform bill (H.R. 3962)[1] unveiled last week would reduce the ranks of the uninsured by 36 million by 2019 as compared to under current law, the Congressional Budget Office says, meaning that 96 percent of the non-elderly population would have health insurance.[2] One particularly vulnerable subset of the … -
House Health Reform Bill Would Strengthen Medicare
Updated November 2, 2009
The comprehensive health reform bill (H.R. 3962)[1] unveiled by House Democratic leaders on October 29 includes a number of significant changes to the Medicare program that would enhance benefits and improve the quality of care, as well as shore up the program’s finances.[2] Much of the discussion of Medicare in the health reform debate has focused, however, on various proposals … -
Audio Clip: Michael Leachman Discusses Stimulus and Job Creation on National Public Radio
October 31, 2009
Michael Leachman Discusses Stimulus and Job Creation on National Public Radio
Duration: 1:17
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House Health Reform Bill Expands Coverage and Lowers Health Cost Growth, While Reducing Deficits
October 31, 2009
The comprehensive health reform legislation that House Democratic leaders unveiled on October 29 would make significant progress in three critical areas: expanding health coverage and ensuring that such coverage is affordable, slowing the growth in health care costs, and instituting essential reforms in the health insurance market. Moreover, the … -
New Climate Bill in Senate Provides Funding for Low-Income Consumers but Amount Falls Short of Need
October 29, 2009
The Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act (S.1733) introduced by Senators John Kerry (D-MA) and Barbara Boxer (D-CA) represents a notable achievement, as it continues to move Congress forward toward taking needed action to address global climate change. The Kerry-Boxer bill, like the Waxman-Markey bill that the House … -
The Administration’s October 30 Data Release on Jobs Created by the Economic Recovery Law: What it Will Tell Us and What it Won’t
October 28, 2009
The Obama Administration’s October 30 release of data on jobs created and saved by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), which the Administration and Congress enacted early this year, will capture only a portion of the jobs created and saved due to ARRA’s limited reporting requirements. ARRA’s … -
Podcast: Understanding the Senate Finance Committee's Health Reform Bill
October 27, 2009
The Senate Finance Committee’s health reform plan is discussed by Senior Fellow, Judy Solomon.
Duration: 4:06
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Video Clip: Bob Greenstein Discusses Controlling Costs in Senate Health Reform Bill on PBS’ Nightly Business Report
October 27, 2009
Video Clip: Bob Greenstein Discusses Controlling Costs in Senate Health Reform Bill on PBS’ Nightly Business Report
Duration: 2:22
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Washington Times Op-Ed: Robert Greenstein on the Deficit — Don't Make Things Worse
October 27, 2009
We recently updated our long-term projections of federal spending, revenues and deficits, and they confirm what budget experts both inside and outside the government have concluded: The nation is on an unsustainable fiscal course, facing unprecedented deficits that, if left unaddressed, will seriously weaken our economy.
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Proposed Expansions of Homebuyer Tax Credit Would Be Highly Inefficient and Squander Federal Resources
October 27, 2009
Executive Summary Members of Congress are considering extending — and possibly substantially expanding — the $8,000 homebuyer tax credit enacted as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009. The credit, which is available to first-time homebuyers with incomes up to $150,000 (up to $75,000 for … -
Provision Under Consideration for Merged Senate Health Bill Would Harm Needy Families:
October 26, 2009
A family of three earning $27,465 a year before taxes — that is, at 150 percent of the poverty line — would have to pay $1,318 a year for health coverage under a proposal that Senate negotiators are considering for a merged health reform bill that they would bring to the Senate floor. This is more than such a family would pay under either … -
Video: Judith Solomon Discusses Affordability, Individual and Employee Mandates in Health Reform on Fox Business News
October 26, 2009
Duration: 6:07
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Audio Clip: Jim Horney Discusses Cost-of-Living Increase for Social Security on National Public Radio
October 22, 2009
Jim Horney Discusses Cost-of-Living Increase for Social Security on National Public Radio
Duration: 3:45
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Excise Tax on Very High-Cost Health Plans Is a Sound Element of Health Reform
Revised October 22, 2009
An excise tax on very high-cost health plans, which the Senate Finance Committee included in its health reform bill, represents a sound way to help pay for health reform. The excise tax finances nearly a quarter of the costs of the Finance Committee bill over the first ten years ($201 billion out of $829 billion) and makes a major contribution to the … -
Testimony: Chad Stone, Chief Economist, on Climate Policy Impact on Low-Income Households
October 21, 2009
Chairman Bingaman, Ranking Member Murkowski, and other members of the Committee, thank you for the opportunity to testify on this important topic. The focus of my testimony will be on how low-income households will be affected by climate change policy and the allocation of greenhouse gas emissions allowances. The essential … -
Podcast: Climate Change Testimony
October 21, 2009
The Center’s Chief Economist, Chad Stone, testifies before the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources on how low-income households will be affected by climate change policy.
Duration: 7:24
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Finance Committee Makes Flawed Employer Requirement in Health Reform Bill Still More Problematic
Revised October 21, 2009
The health reform bill that the Senate Finance Committee approved this week, while a major step forward as a whole, contains a requirement that could inhibit the hiring of individuals from low-income families and would place cumbersome burdens on employers. The provision would require employers who do not offer health coverage to pay substantial … -
An Update on State Budget Cuts
Updated October 20, 2009
With tax revenue declining as a result of the recession and budget reserves largely drained, the vast majority of states are making spending cuts that hurt families and reduce necessary services. These cuts, in turn, will make the recession worse because families and businesses have less to spend in their local economies. … -
Policy Points: Recession Still Causing Trouble for States
Updated October 20, 2009
The weak economy continues to cause great fiscal distress among states. New budget gaps have opened up in many states for the current fiscal year (July 1 marked the start of 2010 for most states). The budget gap for this year and next year combined are estimated to total more than $350 … -
Recession Continues to Batter State Budgets; State Responses Could Slow Recovery
Updated October 20, 2009
The worst recession since the 1930s has caused the steepest decline in state tax receipts on record. As a result, even after making very deep cuts, states continue to face large budget gaps. New shortfalls have opened up in the budgets of over half the states for the current fiscal year (FY … -
TABOR Has Hampered Economic Growth and Reduced Quality of Life in Colorado
October 19, 2009
On October 12, the Maine Heritage Policy Center released a report that touted Colorado’s prosperity and claimed that its prosperity was the result of TABOR – ostensibly “refuting” the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities work showing that TABOR has been detrimental to Colorado. (Question 4, a TABOR … -
Podcast: Low-Income Consumers and the Kerry-Boxer Climate Bill
October 19, 2009
Recent developments in climate change legislation are discussed by Chief Economist, Chad Stone.
Duration: 3:32
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I-1033's Problematic Measure of Inflation
October 15, 2009
Each year, the cost of providing health care, education, roads and other services rises. As a result, state and local governments have to spend more to provide the same level of services. Washington’s Initiative 1033 would dictate the amount of these increases in spending based not on the actual cost of those services, … -
Case For a Social Security Cost-of-Living Adjustment in 2010 Is Weak
Updated October 15, 2009
Under current law, there will be no cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) in Social Security in 2010 — the first time that has happened since automatic cost-of-living adjustments began in 1975. Several bills before Congress would grant a special increase in Social Security payments for 2010. The inflation … -
Statement: Robert Greenstein, Executive Director, on the Senate Finance Committee’s Health Reform Plan
October 13, 2009
The Senate Finance Committee’s approval of an ambitious health reform plan marks a major step toward enactment of legislation to extend health care to tens of millions of people who lack it, strengthen insurance protections for millions more who are underinsured or face exorbitant charges, and begin to address the nation’s most serious … -
Finance Committee Health Reform Bill Makes Improvements, But Still Falls Short of What Is Needed for Many People to Afford Health Care
October 13, 2009
The health reform bill that the Senate Finance Committee approved today includes significant improvements, compared to the original chairman’s mark, in making health care coverage affordable to low- and moderate-income households. It could, however, still leave many such households facing fairly steep insurance premiums and cost-sharing … -
What Level of Coverage Will Health Reform Likely Provide? The Basics of Actuarial Value
October 13, 2009
Each of the major health reform proposals Congress is considering sets standards for the coverage that the insurance plans offered through new health insurance exchanges would provide. To measure whether an insurance plan meets these standards, the bills rely on the use of “actuarial value.” This analysis explains the concept of actuarial … -
Coalition Makes Flawed Arguments Against Proposal to Help Finance Health Reform by Maintaining Current Value of Itemized Deductions for Wealthy Households
Revised October 13, 2009
A coalition consisting of several trade associations for foundations and some nonprofit organizations along with a number of large charities has raised objections to a proposal that would help finance improved health coverage for low- and moderate-income people by maintaining the value of itemized deductions for wealthy Americans at its current … -
Senate Finance Committee Health Reform Bill Is Fiscally Responsible
Revised October 13, 2009
A fundamental principle of the bill that the Senate Finance Committee approved today is that it is budget neutral — that is, its costs are fully offset. It pays for the costs of expanding health coverage to the uninsured by redirecting spending and tax subsidies from less productive uses elsewhere in the health sector. Several of the offsets are … -
Video: Nick Johnson Discusses State Budgets Problems on Fox News
October 10, 2009
Iowa is just one of many states with serious budget problems. Steve Brown reports on expected job loss and cuts in 2010 and 2011; commentary by Nick Johnson.
Duration: 1:54
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A Formula for Decline: Lessons from Colorado for States Considering TABOR
Updated October 9, 2009
Colorado’s so-called Taxpayer Bill of Rights, or TABOR, has contributed to a significant decline in that state’s public services. This decline has serious implications not only for the 4.6 million residents of Colorado, but also for the many millions of residents of other states in which TABOR-like measures are now being promoted. TABOR, … -
Video Highlights from the Conference “Progressives and the National Debt: Consequences and Solutions”
October 8, 2009
Click here to view the conference videos. -
Podcast: The Safety Net’s Response to the Recession
October 8, 2009
Director of the Center’s Welfare Reform and Income Support Division, Dr. LaDonna Pavetti, testifies on the safety net's response to the recession before the U.S. House of Representative's Ways and Means Subcommittee on Income Security and Family.
Duration: 10:55
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Podcast: TABOR’s Harmful Effect on States
October 8, 2009
Robb Gray, the Center’s state project coordinator, explains TABOR, a strict state spending restriction, and its harmful effect on states.
Duration: 4:47
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Testimony: LaDonna Pavetti, Director of Welfare Reform and Income Support, on the Safety Net’s Response to the Recession
October 8, 2009
Thank you for the opportunity to testify today. My testimony will focus on four points: With recent Census data showing increases in poverty and declines in incomes even before Americans began experiencing the worst effects of the recession — and with further deterioration expected in both areas — policymakers face a … -
Fact Sheet: TABOR Will Not Improve Maine’s Business Climate
October 7, 2009
Colorado, the only state with a TABOR, has an economy that is stronger than Maine’s. However, that has nothing to do with TABOR. The strength of Colorado’s economy is largely a legacy of a post World War II public investment boom by the military and federal government. The federal investment left Colorado with a strong infrastructure of high-tech firms … -
How Low-Income Consumers Fare in the House Climate Bill
Updated October 7, 2009
On June 26, 2009, the House of Representatives passed the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009 (H.R. 2454). The legislation, which would place a cap on emissions of greenhouse gases to combat global warming, includes important provisions to help ensure that the legislation does not increase hardship by making poor families poorer or … -
Podcast: Discussing the September Unemployment Report and What It Means For the Economy
October 2, 2009
The jobs report for September is discussed by Chief Economist, Chad Stone.
Duration: 3:20
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Statement: Chad Stone, Chief Economist, on the September Employment Report
October 2, 2009
Today’s jobs report shows that employers will need stronger evidence of a reviving economy before they will start adding workers to their payrolls. Employers shed jobs for the 21st straight month in September (see graph) and the unemployment rate edged up to 9.8 percent. … -
CBPP’s Updated Long-Term Fiscal Deficit and Debt Projections
September 30, 2009
For a number of years, the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP) has projected the long-term path of federal spending, revenues, deficits, and debt if current policies remain unchanged. These projections have shown that deficits and debt will grow in coming decades to unprecedented levels that will not only … -
Raising State Income Taxes on High-Income Taxpayers
Updated September 30, 2009
As states face increasingly difficult choices for closing the gap between available resources and the cost of needed programs and services, one potential revenue source can be found at the high end of the income tax spectrum. The personal income tax, a major source of revenue for 41 states, can yield a significant amount of money from small rate increases … -
Correcting Five Myths About the Stimulus Bill
Updated September 23, 2009
Some critics of the economic recovery law (or “stimulus” bill) that President Obama and Congress enacted early this year continue to mischaracterize how it was supposed to work and what it was supposed to do. For instance, some critics complain that, because unemployment has risen in recent months, the law is not working. Others claim … -
Harsh Labor Market Conditions Justify Extending Unemployment Benefits in Hard-Hit States
Updated September 23, 2009
On September 22, the House passed H.R. 3548, the Unemployment Compensation Extension Act of 2009, by an overwhelming bipartisan majority of 331 to 83. This legislation, which if enacted would provide additional weeks of unemployment insurance benefits in states with the highest unemployment rates, is an appropriate response to the continuing harsh conditions in the … -
Podcast: The Deficit, Debt, and Interest
September 22, 2009
In this podcast, the federal government deficit, debt, and interest is explained by Director of Federal Fiscal Policy, Jim Horney.
Duration: 5:45
