Archives: Ben Wilterdink / Articles

Archives: Ben Wilterdink / Articles (page 4)

  • New 2014 Rich States, Poor States Rankings Show States Are Making Large Reforms image

    New 2014 Rich States, Poor States Rankings Show States Are Making Large Reforms

    Since 2008, Rich States, Poor States: ALEC-Laffer State Economic Competitiveness Index has used the latest economic data to determine which states are doing well and which states are struggling. The…

  • Kansas Supreme Court Usurps Legislature’s Authority image

    Kansas Supreme Court Usurps Legislature’s Authority

    In most states, elected officials, usually state legislators, are responsible for assessing what education funding in the state should be and will be. Recently, the Kansas Supreme Court ruled…

  • Tax Reform and Pension Reform image

    Tax Reform and Pension Reform

    This appeared on PublicSectorInc.Org on March 11, 2014. Congressman Dave Camp’s recently released tax reform draft has stimulated a much-needed national conversation about the U.S. tax code, attracting …

  • Attacking Consumer Choices through the Tax Code image

    Attacking Consumer Choices through the Tax Code

    Last week, a bill was introduced but never heard in the Washington State Senate that considered a proposal to tax electronic cigarettes at 95 percent of their cost; the…

  • Pension Interview with Pennsylvania Manufacturers’ Association image

    Pension Interview with Pennsylvania Manufacturers’ Association

    Jonathan Williams, Director of ALEC’s Center for State Fiscal Reform, was a recent guest on the Pennsylvania Manufacturers’ Association show, PMA Perspectives, broadcast statewide on PCN. During the show, he…

  • An Examination of State Tax Instruments image

    An Examination of State Tax Instruments

    All states need to collect revenue if they are to fund the necessary government services that they must provide. While it can be argued what does and does not belong…

  • President Obama Can Find Change In The States image

    President Obama Can Find Change In The States

    This article appeared on AmericasFuture.org February 5, 2014. President Obama’s State of the Union address has produced a polarizing effect on the nation; some fully support him while others express…

  • The Laffer Curve Takes its Toll in Maryland image

    The Laffer Curve Takes its Toll in Maryland

    The idea that lowering tax rates can lead to higher revenue collections from increased economic activity is not a new one. Nor is this observation unique to tax policy. A…

  • Oklahoma Considers Pro-Growth Tax Reform image

    Oklahoma Considers Pro-Growth Tax Reform

    Last year, Oklahoma legislators voted on a tax reduction package to the state’s personal income tax. The measure passed the legislature and was signed by Governor Fallin. Ultimately, however,…

  • Oklahoma Tax Cuts Back on Track image

    Oklahoma Tax Cuts Back on Track

    Oklahoma is back on track to reduce its personal income tax and make sure it remains economically competitive. Last year, Oklahoma legislators voted to reduce the state’s personal income…

  • The $5.1 Trillion Elephant in the Room image

    The $5.1 Trillion Elephant in the Room

    State Budget Solutions, a non-partisan public policy organization, has released their 4th annual report on state debt. The findings are not pleasant. The data shows that the total…

  • In Texas, Economic Freedom Produces Innovation and Growth image

    In Texas, Economic Freedom Produces Innovation and Growth

    The United States is in the midst of an economic paradigm shift as evidenced by the evolution of state-level economies. States that used to be bastions of economic innovation are…

  • In New Report, Ideology trumps Common Sense image

    In New Report, Ideology trumps Common Sense

    A new report from the Center for Effective Government comes with an eye-catching conclusion: if companies pay more taxes, they create more jobs. This assertion runs contrary to just…

  • The Taxpayers’ Happy Thanksgiving image

    The Taxpayers’ Happy Thanksgiving

    We all know there is nothing scarier than taxes, but with Halloween behind us, taxpayers have much to be thankful for this holiday season. ALEC’s recently released 2013…

  • It’s Very Simple, States Should Cut Taxes To Boost Economic Growth image

    It’s Very Simple, States Should Cut Taxes To Boost Economic Growth

    This article original appeared on Forbes.com on November 22, 2013. Read the original here. There was a strong trend of states…

  • 2013 Tax Cut Roundup Released image

    2013 Tax Cut Roundup Released

    ALEC’s Center for State Fiscal Reform is proud to announce its newest publication, the 2013 State Tax Cut Roundup. Released this morning, the report has already garnered national…

  • Colorado Taxpayers Reject Tax Increases, Choose Growth image

    Colorado Taxpayers Reject Tax Increases, Choose Growth

    On Tuesday a ballot measure to raise income taxes on Coloradans to raise funds for increased education spending failed. In fact, the measure, Amendment 66, didn’t just fail–it went…

  • California Raising Minimum Wage and the Economic Consequences image

    California Raising Minimum Wage and the Economic Consequences

    Once again California has thrust itself into the national spotlight as a leader in enacting the policy wish list of the American Left. This time, California’s legislature has voted to…

  • Texas vs. Maryland: Opposing Economic Strategies image

    Texas vs. Maryland: Opposing Economic Strategies

    Recently, Texas Governor Rick Perry and Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley had a verbal sparring match on CNN’s Crossfire. Both participants mentioned various statistics and claimed the mantle of economic success…

  • The Utah Pension Reform Model image

    The Utah Pension Reform Model

    At a time when nearly all state government pension funds are suffering from severe underfunding, there are a few bright spots that stand out. Utah is one such bright spot…