Relevant and even prescient commentary on news, politics and the economy.

The relation between high college tuition and low state funding of higher ed: the right’s austerity agenda

by Linda Beale The relation between high college tuition and low state funding of higher ed: the right’s austerity agenda  As certainly everyone should be aware by now (after almost 20 Republican candidate debates and months of negative campaign ads), the GOP candidates all think that we need to prescribe an austerity budget for state […]

Santorum’s Tax Returns Out

by Linda BealeSantorum’s Tax Returns Out News Sources report Santorum has released tax returns. I’m on my way to San Diego for the ABA Tax Section meeting, so haven’t had a chance to peruse. But a tax rate of around 25-27% for 2007-2010 on income ranging from $659,000 in 2007 to more than a million […]

U.S. Chamber and corporations fighting for low preferential capital gains rates

by Linda Beale U.S. Chamber and corporations fighting for low preferential capital gains rates A coalition of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and large multinational corporations such as Altria Group Inc. and Excel Energy Inc. is trying to pressure Congress to retain the extraordinarily low current tax rates on unearned income that will expire at […]

The 1% are the only beneficiaries of Greek austerity, not ordinary Greeks

by Linda Beale The 1% are the only beneficiaries of Greek austerity, not ordinary Greeks An interesting post over on Naked Capitalism on the Greek austerity measures being demanded by the EU leaders (Germany, mostly) and the IMF: Marshal Auerback: Greece and the Rape by the Rentiers (Feb. 10, 2012). The austerity demands, in order […]

Finance moves transportation bill–revenue sources at issue

by Linda Beale Finance moves transportation bill–revenue sources at issue Senate Finance committee approved on a 17-6 vote the transportation financing proposal (13 Dems and 5 GOP voting yes; the GOP were Snowe, Crapo, Roberts and Thune).The GOP –Jon Kyl a favorite spokesperson–claimed that the Committee’s rush had “lost the opportunity to have a truly […]

Why we don’t need corporate tax "overhaul":

by Linda Beale Why we don’t need corporate tax “overhaul” GOP poormouthing on behalf of rich corporate allies(Part I in a series) These days, one hears a great deal from politicians on the right about how a corporate tax “overhaul” is needed because our taxes are “too complex” and/or “too anti-competitive” or because our tax […]

Obama’s State of the Union vs Romney’s Tax Returns

by Linda Beale Obama’s State of the Union vs Romney’s Tax Returns Obama took the high ground in his state of the union address, where he pointedly noted the importance of applying fair tax rules to ensure that millionaires pay taxes at rates more similar to those paid by secretaries and firefighters. He wants a […]

Gingrich’s 2010 Tax Return: what it does (and doesn’t) tell us

by Linda Beale Gingrich’s 2010 Tax Return: what it does (and doesn’t) tell us In last Thursday’s debate, Newt Gingrich released his 2010 Gingrich Foundation tax return and the Gingrich Joint Tax return. See Kim Dixon & Marcus Stern, Gingrich tax return out, but much remains unseen, Reuters (Jan. 20, 2012); Paul West, Gingrich tax […]

Romney to release tax returns Tuesday (finally)

by Linda Beale Romney to release tax returns Tuesday (finally) Romney’s bitter loss to Newt Gingrich in the Republican primary in South Carolina demonstrated that playing the patrician elite above the fray has its limits as a campaign strategy. Romney’s strategists had apparently thought that they could get away with not releasing tax returns–at least […]