TaxVox

The voices of Tax Policy Center's researchers and staff

Federal Budget and Economy

Does the Tax Reform Act of 1986 Offer Lessons for Future Reform?

October 20, 2011 –
As the economic coordinator of the Treasury study that led to Tax Reform Act of 1986, I've always found it fascinating to read and listen...
Campaigns, Proposals, and Reforms

Five Lessons from the 1986 Tax Reform Act

October 20, 2011 –
October 22 is the 25 th anniversary of the landmark Tax Reform Act of 1986. For those of us who still remember that remarkable event,...
Campaigns, Proposals, and Reforms

Cain’s 9-9-9 Plan Would Cut Taxes for the Rich, Raise Taxes for Almost Everyone Else

October 18, 2011 –
Herman Cain’s 9-9-9 tax plan would result in a massive tax cut for nearly all of the highest earning Americans and a steep average tax...
Individual Taxes

Why A Repatriation Tax Holiday is Still a Bad Idea

October 13, 2011 –
In another one of those bad ideas that never seem to go away, Congress may be about to grant a huge tax break to multinational...
Individual Taxes

Solyndra, Carrots, and Sticks

October 11, 2011 –
A wonderfully-titled new paper —The Tragedy of the Carrots—by Boston College law professor Brian Galle got me thinking about Solyndra, the failed solar panel company...
State and Local Issues

California’s Initiative Turns 100

October 10, 2011 –
This year marks the 100 th Anniversary of California’s initiative process . In 1911, California famously adopted the direct initiative process and ballot box decision-making...
Federal Budget and Economy

Tax Policy in Margaritaville: The Buffett Rule

October 7, 2011 –
I'm trying a new thing in the blog--imagining a debate between a smart conservative and liberal economist on a contentious tax policy issue. Here liberal...
Campaigns, Proposals, and Reforms

The Democrat’s Millionaire Tax: Smart Politics, Awful Policy

October 6, 2011 –
Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid’s plan to fund a $445 billion stimulus, err, jobs bill with a 5.6 percent surtax on millionaires is not all...
Campaigns, Proposals, and Reforms

Is Obama Tax Hiker in Chief? Not Exactly

October 4, 2011 –
Conservatives like to say that President Obama has been responsible for massive tax increases. It is wonderful rhetoric that plays to the big tax image...
Campaigns, Proposals, and Reforms

Eric Cantor, Tax Increases, and Soup Kitchens

September 30, 2011 –
PolitiFact’s Lou Jacobson recently pointed me to a blog post by House Majority Leader Eric Cantor complaining that President Obama’s proposal to limit itemized deductions...