Dash of Calabash

Newest Eyman initiative aims to soothe WA traffic jams

OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — Initiative activist Tim Eyman’s newest target could bring hallelujahs from frustrated commuters: a special state bank account dedicated to smoothing out traffic jams.

Eyman unveiled his 2008 ballot measure on Wednesday, calling it a follow-up to 2005’s government performance audits and a wake-up call for cautious politicians.

“This is a big, big problem,” Eyman said. “And I think there is a tendency in Olympia to say, ‘Well, it’s an election year, it’s too tough, it’s controversial, and we’re just going to wait a year.’”

If qualified for the ballot and approved by voters this fall, the initiative would divert 10 percent of vehicle sales taxes to a new “Reduce Traffic Congestion Account.” Eyman said that would amount to about $85 million per year.

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Blagojevich rhetoric changes on sales tax for mass transit veto threat

For the better part of a year, Gov. Rod Blagojevich consistently has vowed to veto a proposed sales tax increase to fund mass transit in Chicago and the suburbs.

Today, the governor didn’t repeat that veto threat when given the opportunity at a news conference aimed at heading off the CTA, Metra and Pace service cuts and fare hikes that loom Jan. 20.

Asked if he would sign legislation that increased the sales tax, Blagojevich hinted he might be able “to improve” a bill so that enough constituencies are satisfied. If it’s a bill that includes an increase in sales taxes to fund transit, then so be it, the governor said - just send it his way.

“If, however, the legislature believes in that (sales tax) bill, they ought to pass that bill and give me a chance to improve it,” Blagojevich told reporters in Chicago.

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Transportation’s deep pockets no match for state gas tax
By: Rebecca Boyle

Two terrible T’s are likely to be the main focus of state lawmakers’ work this session: Taxes and transportation.

Colorado needs an infusion of $1.5 billion a year to fix crumbling roads and highways. Ultimately, voters might be asked to tax themselves to raise the money, which a statewide panel said in November was crucial for safety and efficiency.

Gov. Bill Ritter’s Transportation Finance and Implementation Panel held meetings throughout the state and learned the state is in dire need of new funding streams.

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By: Greg Wiles (Honolulu Advertiser Staff Writer)

Hawai’i ranks at the bottom of states using electronic filing of Internal Revenue Service tax returns, though more people are starting to adopt electronic submissions.

The IRS yesterday released figures showing about 46 percent of individual income tax returns from Hawai’i were filed online in 2007. That compares with the national figure of almost 57 percent.

The IRS is encouraging taxpayers to make more use of electronic filing, either through their home computers or with their tax preparers.

The IRS has touted the filing option because returns typically have fewer errors and taxpayers can get refunds in as little as 10 days if they choose to have the money directly deposited into their banks.

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Based on the results of the November election, 2007 may go down in history as a year of mini-tax revolt in Washington State.

Not only were a majority of the local tax increases on the ballot rejected, voters also:
* turned down a huge transportation tax increase;
* rejected an effort to make it easier to raise school levies;
* adopted a tax and fee limitation measure; and
* enacted a constitutionally restricted budget savings account.

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According to published news reports from Bosnia-Herzegovina, the Federation has slashed its corporate rate from a high of 30% to 10%, effective January 1, 2008.  The Serb Republic (RS) led the race in 2001 to reduce tax rates within Bosnia Herzegovina by reducing the corporate tax rate to 10%.  The Federation’s new tax cut was in response to the Serb Republic attracting FDI, experiencing higher economic growth and lowering unemployment rolls.

During the past twelve months, tax competition has intensified in the Western Balkans with the introduction of Macedonia’s low flat tax rate of 12% implemented in 2007 - now reduced to 10%.

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• Kyrgyzstan (since 2006) - 10%lang=”EN-GB”>
• Kazakhstan (2007) - 10%
• Bulgaria (2008) - 10% New
• Macedonia (2007) - 10% Lowered
• Georgia (2005) - 12%
• Macau - 12%
• Ukraine (2004) - 13%
• Russia (2001) - 13%
• Hong Kong (1947) - 15% Lowered
• Iraq (2004) - 15%
• Romania (2005) - 16%
• Slovakia (2004) - 19%
• Jersey and Guernsey (1940) - 20%
• Estonia (1994) - 21% Lowered
  • 2009 - 20%
  • 2010 - 19%
  • 2011 - 18%
• Island (2007) - 22.5% Lowered
• Lithuania (1994) - 24% Lowered
• Latvia (1994) - 25% (more…)

A  tax ($16) to enter London central zone has failed, as traffic congestion has actually worsened.  Read the whole article using this link.

UK: London Congestion Charge Increases Congestion

Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee has been in early-primary-state New Hampshire talking up his support for eliminating the federal income tax and replacing it with a national sales tax.

Let us begin by saying that we’re thrilled that a presidential candidate is talking about fundamental tax reform.  And the Institute for Policy Innovation is based in Texas, which is one of the states with a state sales tax rather than a state income tax. So we’ve seen sales taxes serve as a more than adequate replacement for income taxes.

That system works pretty well; Texans don’t fill out or file any income information with the state.  As a way to address the regressivity inherent to a sales tax, Texas excludes several necessities, such as food, housing, prescription drugs and medical bills—items that take up a disproportionate share of low-income workers’ incomes.

Were we able to get a national sales tax working that well, we’d be all for it.  But—You knew a “but” was coming, didn’t you?—count us as skeptical.
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In case you missed it, our good friend Grover Norquist was one of the few non-Democrat “plants” who got to ask a question in the November 28th CNN/Youtube Republican debate. HERE is the link to the clip from the debate of Grover’s question and the candidates’ answers.

Additionally, HERE is a link to Grover’s response to the candidates’ answers to his question