Econ Comments & Analysis
Politico | History’s lesson on the stimulus and tax increase
The narrative seems familiar: a president coming off a significant election victory with improving poll numbers; his allies on the left demanding an ambitious Big Government agenda; political pundits opining about how Republicans must bow to reality by abandoning their core principles; some Republican elected officials hinting about a new “bipartisan” approach and shaken congressional Republicans standing as the last line of defense.
Politico | Don’t tie tax extenders bill to fiscal cliff
Lost among the fiscal cliff debates on marginal tax rates and the sequester is a bipartisan package of important tax cuts that the House and the Senate should take up and pass immediately, regardless of whether Democrats and Republicans can reach a larger compromise.
Real Clear Markets | The Muni Bond Tax Break Is a Tempting Reform Target
Prominent mayors and municipal officials called the President last week to urge him to preserve tax breaks which benefit cities amidst talk of federal tax increases. The President listened but apparently gave them no assurances about one of their greatest concerns, allowing holders of municipal bonds to continue to receive their interest tax-free.
AEI | Review of 'The Benefit and the Burden: Tax Reform — Why We Need It and What It Will Take'
While experts will already be familiar with most of the material in the book, readers with less background will be able to obtain helpful guidance on many aspects of the current tax system and reform proposals. Unfortunately, those readers will need to proceed with caution,as the book contains a significant number of factual and economic errors.
