Fees for Government Services in a Nickel and Dime Economy
Ten places where you might be nickeled or dimed by your state government. Plus, TFOC Director Karen Kraut blasts away at cowardly politicians who allow it to happen. August 3, 2010
Best Move for Cash-Strapped States?
Karen Kraut continues the Tax Fairness Organizing Collaborative's mission to advance progressive tax policy at the state level with this commentary in the Christian Science Monitor on a more sensible approach to closing state budget gaps. She names the benefits of a more progressive tax structure in terms of economic stimulus, recovery, and the reduced burden on those who are struggling the most. May 11, 2010
Bill Gates, Sr., Responsible Wealth in Seattle to Discuss Higher Taxes on Wealthy
Responsible Wealth member, Judy Pigott, hosts a event in Seattle, featuring Bill Gates, Sr., WA state senator Lisa Brown, TFOC partner Will Pittz, and others to discuss state- and federal-level campaigns and strategies to raise taxes on the wealthy to fund the common good. May 5, 2010
One Reason Why States Without Income Taxes Should Adopt Them
Dolores Gregory, tax expert and State Tax blogger at BNA Tax & Accounting, caught wind of the TFOC's recent report, Leaving Money on the Table. The report discusses why states without income taxes should implement them in exchange for a dollar-for-dollar sales tax reduction. See Dolores' thoughts here... April 29, 2010
TFOC on the Radio
As state budget gaps continue to threaten residents with cuts to crucial services, UFE's Tax Fairness Organizing Collaborative (TFOC) teamed up with Public News Service and took to the airwaves to spread a message: Budget cuts are
not the only answer.
April 20, 2010
Wyoming: Stop Leaving Money on the Table
Karen Kraut, Director of UFE's Tax Fairness Organizing Collaborative, makes the case for a state income tax in Wyoming. Eighty percent of Wyoming taxpayers would stand to benefit from a deficit neutral swap of the state's sales tax for an income tax. April 18, 2010
TFOC Makes the Case for a State Income Tax
Nevada is one of seven states that depend far too heavily on taxes that disproportionately hit low- and middle-income households. Alan Choate of the Las Vegas Review Journal writes about a new report by UFE's Tax Fairness Organizing Collaborative and the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy, which posits that creating a state income tax and reducing the sales tax dollar-for-dollar would place more money in the pockets of Nevada's residents. April 13, 2010
REPORT: Leaving Money on the Table
States have the option of reducing residents' federal tax bills substantially, but not all states do so. A new report from the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy and UFE's Tax Fairness Organizing Collaborative shows that if states without income taxes swap a portion of their sales tax for an income tax, they could return billions of dollars of federal income taxes to taxpayers each year and make their overall state tax structures more fair. April 9, 2010
States: Drop the Budget Ax!
Karen Kraut of UFE's Tax Fairness Organizing Collaborative comments on the dangers of the "nationwide state budget cutting frenzy," and discusses an alternative and more responsible approach to closing states' recessionary budget gaps. April 2, 2010
TFOC on Augusta Free Press Radio
David Shreve, economist and author of the TFOC's "Solutions that Work for Main Street:
Progressive Guidelines for Closing Recessionary State Budget Gaps," joined Chris Graham of Augusta Free Press to discuss pervasive state budget crises, and what states can do to recover without further damage to the majority. April 2, 2010
State Budget Cuts - Not the Only Option During Recession
UFE's Karen Kraut and Ron Deutsch of TFOC member, New Yorkers for Fiscal Fairness, went on the record to discuss a more sensible approach to closing state budget gaps during recession. Listen to this recent radio story for more. April 2, 2010
REPORT: Progressive Guidelines for Closing State Budget Gaps
Virtually every state is groping
for solutions to budget gaps of historic proportions. A new report from UFE's Tax Fairness Organizing Collaborative provides states a set of pragmatic Guidelines for closing their budget gaps while also enhancing economic recovery, long-term stability, and more widely shared prosperity. March 30, 2010
New Guidelines for State Budget Deficits Offer Pragmatic, Anti-Recessionary Approach
MEDIA RELEASE – A new set of guidelines released
today highlights the essential connection between progressive fiscal
policy and the twin goals of state budget repair and economic recovery. March 29, 2010
TFOC News Update: Tax Victories in Oregon
Oregonians voters turned out in Tuesday's special election to say "yes" to quality public education and social services, and "no" to tax breaks for the wealthy and corporations. TFOC members, Our Oregon and Tax Fairness Oregon, were active players in this major ballot victory. January 27, 2010
Oregonians: Vote "Yes" to Measures 66 and 67!
Two items on the ballot for Oregon's January 27th special election, Measures 66 and 67, would address the state's budget hardships by raising taxes on those most able to afford: wealthy individuals and large corporations. UFE urges voters to vote "YES" to Measures 66 and 67. January 13, 2010
Tax Fairness In Oregon
Voters for Oregon’s January 26th special election will be asked to affirm the legislature’s revenue package which, in part, will raise the $10 minimum tax for corporations for the first time since 1931. December 16, 2009
State Tax News: TABOR Gets Trounced in 2009
Voters in Maine and Washington state in November soundly rejected a
ballot initiative that seeks to hamstring state and local government’s ability to maintain and
invest in the quality public services residents need and want. November 19, 2009
Massachusetts Sales Tax Increase
The new Massachusetts sales tax increase – why it’s both good and bad for the Commonwealth. August 4, 2009
Oregon Governor Signs Upper-income Tax Increase Package
TFOC member Tax Fairness Oregon participated in a campaign that succeeded in creating two new (temporary) top income tax brackets with rates of 10.8 and 11 percent and increasing the state’s corporate minimum tax. These changes are expected to yield more than $700 million in additional revenue. July 31, 2009
Taxes and the Wisdom of Our Forebears (Op-ed)
UFE's new Executive Director, Brian Miller, urges elected officials to learn from the past in building a more equitable tax structure and a more just economy. July 16, 2009
Tax Fairness Campaign Victories
Read about the exciting victories of the TFOC throughout the country in the lastest edition of the Fairness Action News...
April 21, 2009
Analysis: Obama Tax Proposals Could be More Progressive
Ed Cutlip writes about our Tax Day 2009 report on Media Mouse.
April 20, 2009
Don't Eat the Rich; Just Tax Them
Mike Ivey writes: "With so many taxpayers now filing electronically -- the IRS estimates nearly 60 percent this year -- Tax Day has lost some of its urgency... But Tax Day still presents a great chance for the middle class to realize how badly the system is skewed against them."
April 15, 2009
Safe, Fair and Sustainable: Do Obama’s Tax Proposals Measure Up?
Our new Tax Day report analyzes tax proposals in Obama's budget and concludes they could be better. April 9, 2009
Obama is right to take on the very rich
Obama is right to take on the very rich. They're paying far less of their incomes in taxes than average Americans.
February 26, 2009
Evaluating Elected Officials on Taxes
See our Action Tools to help you evaluate tax proposals elected officials are making at the state and federal levels. February 13, 2009
TFOC Awarded Major Open Society Institute Planning Grant
The Tax Fairness Organizing Collaborative will engage in a 6-month strategic planning process to broaden and deepen its impact on
tax fairness and progressive policy organizing.
December 22, 2008
Why Wait to Repeal Tax Cuts for the Rich?
ON the campaign trail, Barack Obama said he wanted to eliminate the Bush tax cuts for top earners upon taking office in January. Now he seems to favor letting those cuts expire as scheduled, at the end of 2010.
December 21, 2008
We Have Plenty Of Money. The Rich Are Killing Us.
We have plenty of money to fund what needs to be done--but our
political leaders, on both sides of the aisle, seem unwilling to go
where the money is: the rich. I know where Republicans stand on this
issue. But, where in the hell is the Democratic Party? Working Life.
November 12, 2008
There’s a Big Difference in Candidates' Tax Platforms (Op-ed)
UFE member Michael Beer wrote an article that focuses on the differences between the tax policies of the two main presidential candidates. Citizen-Times, Asheville, NC.
August 6, 2008
State Budget Woes Mean Opportunity for Progressive Tax Advocates
The Center for Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP) reports that over half of the 50 states anticipate budget problems in the fiscal year 2009. The combined budget shortfall could be over $37 billion. To the extent that new taxes will be needed, there are major opportunities to make them progressive. From UFE's March 2008 E-News.
March 31, 2008
Tax Fairness Action News (Spring 2007 Newsletter)
Tax Fairness Action News (TFAN), the bi-annual publication of the Tax Fairness Organizing Collaborative (TFOC), showcases the critical organizing experiences and victories of TFOC's members. It is designed to help the public and our partners recognize the value and importance of the collaborative's work. Please consider supporting the TFOC!
May 1, 2007
Posted in
