Taxation
Uh-oh. Legislative leaders are poised to unveil a sweeping plan as soon as next week that would bring fundamental changes to the state’s personal income tax system. This may be one of the few times that I agree with a statement related to taxation coming out of the Poverty Institute, whose fiscal policy analyst, Russell…
One of my classes in high school did a unit of debating, and among the topics was the legitimacy of sin taxes. Something peculiar is in play when a government entity takes more of your money for your own good, and not surprisingly, the scope of taxable sins is apt to expand: One week after…
An interesting conversation took place in the comments section of my “Nothing to See Here” post, and this offering from Patrick is worth highlighting: Let’s look at facts now: Using the numbers here, on the state’s department of revenue web site: https://dlsgateway.dor.state.ma.us/gateway/Public/WebForms/TaxRate/ReportTRApprovalPublic.aspx And here at Riliving.com for RI’s: http://www.riliving.com/aboutrhodeisland/taxrates/index.aspx East Providence: 15.43 Seekonk: 9.64 Rehoboth:…
Eight public labor unions filed suit Wednesday to stop the implementation of minor changes made last year to public pension eligibility guidelines. The basis cited for the claim is revealing. Calling the changes a “taking of property without justification,” the unions are asking that the changes be declared unconstitutional, that lost benefits be restored and…
Article I, sections 8 and 9 of the United States Constitution originally defined the taxing authority of the Federal Government…(s8) The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defence and general Welfare of the United States; but all Duties, Imposts…
Here’s a telling turn of events: The state has delayed the payment of thousands of Rhode Island income-tax refunds because of cash-flow problems. The delays involve more than 65,000 individual income-tax refunds, as well as some refunds of the state business-corporations tax, that were processed and ready to be issued in April. State officials decided…
There have been rumblings that President Obama was looking at pushing for a VAT (value added tax) to help pay for the growing government under his watch. While many people, including conservatives, have theorized about (and even supported) the institution of a VAT, they have done so with the idea that it would replace the…
Fellow blogger and Providence Firefighter/EMT Michael Morse and his wife sent an op-ed to the Providence Journal objecting to an Obamacare tax on tanning salons: A small group will be the first to pay for national health-care reform, the first to put their hard-earned dollars into the system. Starting July 1, they will pay 10…
So here’s the deal. When “reform” kicks in, best estimates are that 50,000 people will be added to Rhode Island’s Medicaid rolls. Amy Kempe at the Governor’s office advises that, after federal matching funds go away, this will cost Rhode Island taxpayers $100-$150 million. Further, Ms. Kempe goes on to point out that We also…