Budget
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- Stateline Story
State Revenues Grow Despite Deep Tax Cuts
State tax revenues rose 5 percent from 1998 to 1999, another bit of statistical evidence of the degree to which states have benefited from the nation's economic prosperity, the Census Bureau reports. A nonprofit nonpartisan group that tracks state revenue trends, Rockefeller Institute's Fiscal Studies Program, puts the increase for state tax revenues even higher, at 5.7 percent, for 1999. The figure would have reached 7.4 percent had it not been for legislative tax cutting, says Rockefeller senior policy analyst Elizabeth Davis. more
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- Stateline Story
Initiative 695 Haunts State Government In Washington
Election year for Washingtons part-time Legislature normally means a short session, just enough time to tweak the biennial budget, pass a few bills, and create an issue or two for the campaign. But this year would hardly qualify as normal. more
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- Stateline Story
Political Brawl Leaves New Mexico Without Budget
Politics is often called the art of compromise, but compromise is in short supply in New Mexico politics these days. The net effect is a state buried at the bottom of nearly every quality of life list. In the latest round of a running battle between Republican Gov. Gary Johnson and Democrats who dominate the legislature, New Mexico is without a budget while Johnson threatens a government shutdown and the Democrats call him a dictator. more
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- Stateline Story
Clinton Posting Mediocre Domestic Record, Scholars Say
President Clinton sent his budget for the 2001 fiscal year -- the last of his presidency -- to Capitol Hill Monday (2/7), with the expectation that lawmakers will consider a host of spending increases in his favorite domestic programs: public education, health care, middle-class tax cuts and welfare. The Clinton budget, like his State of the Union speech, is expected to be short on grand designs. Many scholars say Clinton's style of incrementalism may deprive him of an enduring legacy. For a review of Clinton's domestic policy achievements, click on more
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- Stateline Story
Budget Squeeze Snarls Louisiana Gov's Agenda
Louisiana Gov. Mike Foster started his second term Monday after he and seven other statewide elected officials and the new Legislature were sworn in at Baton Rouge ceremonies. The Republican governor has an ambitious agenda for his next four years, but a budget squeeze brought on by smaller than expected tax collections may make it hard to realize. more
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- Stateline Story
Internet Panel Far Apart On E-Sales Taxation
The congressionally-created Advisory Commission on Electronic Commerce ended two days of meetings in San Francisco Wednesday with a glimmer of agreement on keeping the Internet free of international tariffs and banning access taxes. But the panel continued to disagree sharply about collecting sales taxes on cyber-transactions. more
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- Stateline Story
Debate Over Internet Tax Policy Intensifies
A congressionally-created advisory panel trying to formulate an Internet tax policy began a two-day meeting in San Franscisco Tuesday amid conflicting signals about where the public stands on the issue. Many states fear an important revenue stream will be lost if foes of any taxation of e-commerce prevail in the increasingly contentious policy debate. more
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- Stateline Story
Wisconsin Legislative Outlook: Skirmishing Over Substance
Wisconsin was the second to last state in the Union to pass a budget this year because of partisan wrangling (Massachusetts brought up the rear), and the state's lawmakers and lobbyists say the acrimonious climate in Madison that caused the lonmg budget stalemate is likely to spill over into year 2000. Because of this, few people expect much in the way of legislative accomplishments in the next twelve months. more
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- Stateline Story
State Tobacco Payout May Be Smaller Than Expected
Money from the $206 billion tobacco settlement will start flowing to the states by the middle of December, but the payout over the next 25 years may ultimately be smaller than many officials anticipated. The reason: a legal Catch 22. If states accomplish their public health goal of curbing smoking, they'll get less tobacco money -- the fine print of the settlement stipulates that payments can be cut by up to 10 percent if there's a slump in cigarette sales. more
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- Stateline Story
Delaware, Tennessee Legislatures Called Into Special Session
Education and tax reform are the topics of legislative special sessions in Delaware and Tennessee. Delaware's Democratic Gov. Thomas Carper summoned lawmakers back to work to consider his controversial plan to raise the standards and accountability required of teachers in his state, while Tennessee's Republican Gov. Don Sundquist is pushing for action on a tax reform plan. Meanwhile, Massachusetts legislators remain mired in a budget stalemate. more