Why You Just May Come to Like a Carbon Tax

Op Ed

Why You Just May Come to Like a Carbon Tax Comments Off

Tax reform may involve simplifying the tax code, but actually achieving such a thing promises to be a terrifyingly complicated process. The battle over how (and by how much) to reduce the various tax deductions, credits and exemptions that litter the code will be contentious enough; reaching agreement on how to divvy up the revenue [...]

News Release

Despite SNAP cuts, House Farm Bill is not a ‘fiscally responsible’ option Comments Off

WASHINGTON (May 14, 2013) – The U.S. House version of the 2013 Farm Bill, which the Agriculture Committee will begin marking up tomorrow, includes increases in taxpayer-financed crop insurance subsidies that are nearly double those of its Senate counterpart, the R Street Institute noted today. “While pitched by its sponsors as the more ‘fiscally responsible’ [...]

R Street’s morning round-up for May 14, 2013

Blog Post

R Street’s morning round-up for May 14, 2013 0

Louisiana House shelves bill giving lawmakers authority to block Citizens rate hikes: The Republic Online tax burden would hurt, not help: Beloit Daily News Many policyholders don’t know what their home insurance covers: Insurance Journal Gene Healy on the dangers of a partisan IRS: Cato Institute Stereotyping in Europe: Marginal Revolution

Taxes Hurt Competitiveness Abroad

Op Ed

Taxes Hurt Competitiveness Abroad Comments Off

Public Radio’s Marketplace This Morning recently ran a piece featuring an in-depth investigation by the Center for Investigative Reporting that highlighted the ability of U.S.-based companies to legally evade paying taxes on the profits earned from their overseas operations. The story presented a picture of U.S. corporate behavior that no doubt left many people indignant [...]

News Release

Senate Farm Bill draft fails to move toward real reform Comments Off

WASHINGTON (May 13, 2013) – The R Street Institute today noted the draft Farm Bill the Senate Agriculture Committee will begin marking up tomorrow once again fails to enact substantial reforms to the expensive and elaborate system of agricultural subsidies. While the committee bill eliminates the nonsensical “direct payments” program, it uses virtually all of [...]

R Street’s morning round-up for May 13, 2013

Blog Post

R Street’s morning round-up for May 13, 2013 0

IRS apologizes for targeting conservative groups: Associated Press Atmospheric carbon dioxide hits highest level in 3 million years: New York Times Five ways Congress could improve copyright law: Ars Technica Internet sales tax muddles treatment of gifts: Forbes Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac’s recent profits could be sapping will for mortgage reform: The Hill Hospital [...]

New York City: Prohibition Prison

Op Ed

New York City: Prohibition Prison Comments Off

New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s 2003 prison smoking ban produced a pervasive black market, where single cigarettes cost inmates $30, and a pack runs as high as $200, according to the Daily News. That might sound shocking, but I predicted those unintended consequences nine years ago in a column for the Las Vegas Review-Journal, after [...]

American sugar: A not-so-sweet deal

Blog Post

American sugar: A not-so-sweet deal 0

With the Farm Bill renewal debate rapidly approaching, one undeniable candidate for pruning is the federal sugar program. Currently, the federal government controls almost every aspect of sugar production. First, the government decides how much domestic sugar can come to market. It then sets the price significantly higher than prices on the world market. This [...]

R Street’s morning round-up for May 10, 2013

Blog Post

R Street’s morning round-up for May 10, 2013 0

Senate Agriculture Chair Debbie Stabenow releases Farm Bill draft: Senate Agriculture Committee Lofgren bill would allow unlocking/jailbreaking smart phones and other devices: Rep. Zoe Lofgren, D-Calif. Could Mark Sanford be a GOP champion for climate change action? : ThinkProgress Pete Sepp of the National Taxpayers Union on the Internet sales tax: U.S. News Rep. Bennie [...]

“Shallow Loss” is a loser of a program

Op Ed

“Shallow Loss” is a loser of a program Comments Off

Buried deep inside the $950 billion farm bill soon to come before the House and Senate agriculture committees is a policy proposal that easily ranks among the most misbegotten welfare-for-the-wealthy efforts ever to spring from the banks of the Potomac. The proposed new program, something called “Agricultural Risk Coverage” or “Shallow Loss,” literally offers something [...]