Center for Data Analysis Report posted November 5, 2001 by William Beach, D. Wilson, Rea Hederman, Jr., Ralph Rector, Ph.D.
How the Economic Stimulus Proposals of the Administration, the House, and the Senate Would Effect the Economy
Congress and the President are debating economic
stimulus legislation to ease the economic recession and to improve
the incentives to work, save, and invest--the real causes of
economic growth. Although Congress has shown a great degree of
unity following September 11, the economic stimulus package has
created strong disagreements.1 On the
one…
Backgrounder posted October 12, 2001 by D. Wilson
One Easy Way for Congress to Reduce Payroll Taxes
In the wake of the terrorist attacks on New York
City and Washington, D.C., and concern over rising layoffs,
policymakers are thinking of reducing payroll taxes to bolster the
economy.1 One way Congress
can lower payroll taxes would be to repeal a little-known temporary
surtax on wages and salaries under the…
Backgrounder posted May 17, 2001 by Robert Moffit, Ph.D., D. Wilson
Beware of Medicare: Why Tax Cuts Are No Threat to Medicare
Americans are understandably confused by the
rhetoric in Washington over the possible impact of President Bush's
tax and budget plans on federal programs, especially Medicare. The
arcane character and complexity of Medicare's financing formulas as
well as the federal budget make it easy for opponents of the
President's plan to misrepresent Medicare's true financial
condition…
Backgrounder posted May 15, 2001 by D. Wilson, William Beach
Tax Rate Relief, Not Rebates, Is the Key to a Stronger Economy
Both houses of Congress recently completed their
work on the budget resolution for fiscal year (FY) 2002.1 In addition to
increasing federal spending, Congress has voted to return $100
billion in excess tax revenues, spread across this fiscal year and
FY 2002, to those who pay income or payroll taxes.…
Backgrounder posted March 8, 2001 by D. Wilson
Income Mobility and the Fallacy of Class-Warfare Arguments AgainstTax Relief
The dynamic U.S. economy is characterized by an
extraordinary degree of income mobility that has been all but
ignored in the recent debate on reducing federal income tax rates
and phasing out the death (estate) tax. Opponents of tax relief are
criticizing commonsense reforms because they claim that "only the
rich" will benefit. Yet…