Gov. David A. Paterson will propose a $4 billion package of taxes and fees on a range of items, from sugary soft drinks made by Coca-Cola and Pepsi to luxury items like furs and boats, when he unveils his plan to close a deficit that has ballooned to
Without action this year, the state could be staring at a deficit as great as $40 billion by June 2010, an administration official said. Schwarzenegger is expected to share the bad news with legislative leaders in a budget negotiating meeting today.
The National Conference of State Legislatures released a survey today indicating that Arizona faces a budget deficit representing 24.2 percent of its general fund, easily outpacing No. 2 New York, which faces mere 20 percent reductions.
, would require that a majority of registered voters—not just a majority of voters casting ballots—approve all ballot measures that raise state taxes or fees or otherwise obligate government spending before such a proposal can become law.
Banged out in secret meetings, a $1.75 billion taxpayer-funded plan to buy 187,000 acres of US Sugar's cane fields in the Lake Okeechobee basin marks one of the largest conservation buyouts of a major industry in the US, promising to break
In 2008 alone, at least nine states have considered digital download taxes, and at least five of those states have enacted them into law: Nebraska, Tennessee, Utah, Indiana, and South Dakota
The court-appointed receiver in charge of bringing California’s prison health system into compliance with federal constitutional prohibitions against cruel and unusual treatment of prisoners said Wednesday that he would ask a judge to seize $8 billio
The Governor used her weekly press conference to blast the Majority Rule initiative. That's the proposal to change the Constitution so that a majority of the electorate has to approve tax increases. Under the current system, if half of the voter
If towns & cities aren't liable for dangerous streets and police aren't liable for failing to protect you and tax payers don't have standing in court to challenge the way taxes are used, why should tax payers be liable to pay taxes...
Arizona's coffers could be fattened by $210 million a year - or more - under the terms of the new contract for statewide photo enforcement of speed and red-light laws.
Figures provided by the state Department of Public Safety show that the eig
A weak economy, soaring gasoline prices and a frustration with government could cause Massachusetts voters to approve a ballot initiative to repeal the state's income tax.
Hidden deep in Senator Christopher Dodd's 630-page Senate housing legislation is a sweeping provision that affects the privacy and operation of nearly all of America’s small businesses. Require the nation's payment systems to track, aggregate
"Cigarette Taxes Are Fueling Organized Crime," discusses the damage inflicted on society by high cigarette taxes, which often cause consumers to turn to the black market. The amount of criminal activity related to cigarette taxes is stagger
Now some lawmakers in New Jersey are considering taking food taxes a step further and install a proverbial "sin" tax on fast food. The thought of taxing a Big Mac came up at a Hospital Association meeting to help fund struggling hospitals.
Gov. Janet Napolitano on Wednesday vetoed legislation that would have permanently repealed the state's property tax, calling it "untimely, untenable and unwise."
Oil companies aren't the big winners in rising gas prices--federal and state governments are. In California, lawmakers are fighting over how to spend the extra $8 billion.
[Use the supplied link to read the referred article for yourself.] Don’t miss Cybercast New’s great piece detailing the unjust prosecution of the Oklahoma 3. The in-depth article is entitled, “Tax-Control Advocates May Go to Jail in Oklahoma."
We must be getting close to April 15. I can tell because the California Attorney General, Jerry Brown, is holding press conferences decrying the evils of refund anticipation loans (RALs) at H&R Block.
The Virginia Senate joined the House in cutting off all funding to Planned Parenthood, the nation's largest abortion provider. Va. taxpayers will save at least $300 million.
Arizona voters may get the chance to scrap the state income tax on what they earn in favor of expanded sales taxes on what they buy. The proposal would establish a levy on every transaction in the state including services that now are exempt.
Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano says the deployment of new photo radar enforcement technology on state highways is all about public safety. But her proposed state budget counts on the speeding fines to help erase a projected revenue shortfall.
The Iowa Department of Revenue is taxing jack-o'-lanterns this Halloween. The new department policy was implemented after officials decided pumpkins are used primarily for Halloween decorations, not food, and should be taxed
The state Legislature agreed early Monday to raise the income tax and expand the sales tax to services in a deal with the governor that quickly ended a partial state government shutdown. For a little more than four hours, fewer state police
Starting today, state Department of Revenue agents will begin stopping Tennessee motorists spotted buying large quantities of cigarettes in border states, then charging them with a crime and, in some cases, seizing their cars.
Critics say the new
Enter researchers from the Univ of Iowa Public Policy Center, who have developed a system for charging you by the distance traveled, instead of by the gallon of fossil fuel. 2,700 drivers from Maryland,Texas,North Carolina,Idaho, and California
Who would ever guess that in 2002, 45.3% voted to end the Income Tax in Massachusetts. This is going to be on the ballot again in 2008. With the Ron Paul campaign in full gear, one just never knows.
On June 28, AAA had given unreserved praise for all aspects of the speeding ticket tax which the group had used its substantial lobbying clout to help enact.