Taxation
Tom Sgouros has penned another missive explaining why Rhode Island’s fiscal conservatism has spelled its doom, and why more progressive spending and a bigger state government is the solution. I know. I know. Such are the indications that, though we all breathe the same air, we live in the different realities of our preconceptions. One…
Giving the first speech at the Rhode Island Statewide Coalition’s Winter Meeting, Gary Sasse, Governor Carcieri’s Director of the Department of Administration, spoke about tax policy (stream entire speech): RISC Chairman Harry Staley’s introduction: stream, download Sasse’s opening remarks — we compete for capital and labor, and tax policy affects our success: stream, download The…
Amidst a billion dollar state deficit, a flagging economy, a state hiring freeze and a raging debate about whether to raise tolls or jack up the gas tax (with the smart money on a compromise – “what the heck, let’s do both”), Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick has been focusing on the important things. – Appointment…
I hadn’t planned to attend the Tiverton Budget Committee meeting on Wednesday night, so when my eyelids became heavy around 9:30, and with the meeting looking as if it had settled into a series of unanimous votes on heavily debated dollar amounts, it was easy to talk myself into heading home. I wish I’d stayed:…
On last night’s Matt Allen show, Monique and Matt shared disbelief at the disbelief that Congress (particularly one marble-mouthed representative) has expressed regarding AIG’s bonus handouts. Stream by clicking here, or download it.
The BBC reported last night that the US Treasury Department will hold back the amount of the bonuses from the next round of bailout money to AIG. Ailing insurer AIG will pay back the hugely controversial bonuses it awarded after taking public bail-out money, the US treasury secretary says. In a letter to congressmen, Timothy…
So let’s understand this. The government precipitates a fiscal crisis by 1.) Authorizing/encouraging banks to make bad real estate loans: President Clinton with the help of both Repubs and Dems in Congress; 2.) Repealing Glass Steagall: President Clinton, egged on by Senator Phil Gramm and with the help of both Repubs and Dems in Congress;…
An article in last week’s Sakonnet Times (not online) informs the reader that my representative in the State House, Jay Edwards, has submitted legislation reducing the sales tax: “This legislation would stem the tide of consumers who leave Rhode Island to shop in Massachusetts just to save on the sales tax,” said Rep. Edwards. “We…
Who would that be? You guessed it. H/T Howie Carr. From the American Thinker: According to an AP article , Massachusetts is receiving 126 million stimulus dollars; of that amount more than 1 out of 5 of those dollars “is going to help preserve the legacy of the Kennedys.” 1) $5.8 million to plan and…
Governor Carcieri’s Tax Policy Strategy Workgroup has released it’s report (short version; long version). The ProJo has a story on the report and another on the impact that tax cuts will have on the budget deficit. They even have a poll asking, “Can Rhode Island afford to cut taxes now?” Funny, I don’t recall any…