Browsing: Tax Reform

One of the benefits of having 50 states, our so-called laboratories of democracy, is that we can examine different states’ policies and learn from them.

Economists from Suffolk University’s Beacon Hill Institute for Public Policy have determined through economic modeling that Wisconsin would benefit long-term from further tax cuts. Yet, they’ve found, Wisconsin doesn’t just suffer from high taxes. It suffers from the wrong tax mix.

One of my favorite quotes is from the French economist Frederic Bastiat. In his essay “Ce qu’on voit et ce…

Scott Walker is Reagan-like in his bold steps to remake Wisconsin government By Richard Esenberg Madison has fallen. All of…

It’s a shock for some: He means what he says, and he does what he promises by Richard Esenberg Last…

Peter Barca, a usually levelheaded Democrat, articulated what has been wrong with state government.

Dear Gov.-elect Walker (Scott): Welcome back to Madison. While you were busy convincing us to elect you, most Wisconsinites were…

Paul Ryan, unlike the president, acts like a grownup in facing the entitlement tsunami By RICHARD ESENBERG In his State…

As Wisconsin’s debt load continues to grow, the tax burden for Wisconsin families and businesses will grow right along with it

Why you’ll pay more at the pump

The future impact in Wisconsin

The impact of state taxes

In state capitols across the country governors and legislatures have been forced to put all of their energy into solving enormous fiscal shortfalls. Given their dependence on income tax and sales tax revenues, the 2001 recession hit state governments particularly hard. In 2003, no fewer than 39 states, including Wisconsin, experienced budget gaps. During the

A flawed idea for schools and for taxpayers

A critical examination

Early in the postwar era, Wisconsin was not among the nation’s highest-taxed states, as measured by state and local taxes.1 Relative to personal income, Wisconsin’s tax burden flirted with the “top ten” during those years, but did not reach it. That changed in 1963 when the full effect of sales and income tax increases enacted

Dale Belman, Ph.D. & John Heywood, Ph.D. The setting of public sector compensation should command the attention of all citizens. The level of such compensation helps determine both the competence and efficiency of government services. Too high a level wastes the resources of state and local governments, depriving them of the opportunity to address other

By Roger Parks, Ph.D., Ronald Oakerson, Ph.D. Throughout the 1980s and into 1990, Wisconsin has labored over the twin issues of property tax relief and the control of state/local spending. The two concerns are interrelated, but differently focused. Effective property tax relief requires local tax restraint; otherwise tax dollars spent for relief may instead finance increases in