Tax Politics
The Politics of Taxes
Productivity Decline Greatest Since 2008
This is a tad worrisome: Nonfarm business sector labor productivity decreased at a 3.2 percent annual rate during the first quarter of 2014, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today, as hours increased 2.2 percent and output decreased 1.1 percent. (All...
Burdensome Regulations Hurt Our Industries and Economy
Diana Furchtgott-Roth wrote an article this past week outlining the economic impact of Obama's newest regulations. Obama has decided through Executive Order to institute environmental regulations similar to those in the failed "cap-and-trade" legislation from a few...
The VA Scandal and Obamacare
Paul Krugman did it in 2011. Nicholas Kristof did in 2009. So did Ezra Klein. And Barack Obama did it in 2008. What did they do? They all praised the VA system as a model for health care. Krugman: “Yes, this is ‘socialized medicine’…But it works, and suggests what it...
Chesterton on Taxes
“A citizen can hardly distinguish between a tax and a fine, except that the fine is generally much lighter.” – G.K. Chesterton 5/25/31 Happy Birthday, Sir!
US Economy Shrinks For First Time Since 2011
From Bloomberg: "The economy in the U.S. contracted for the first time in three years from January through March as companies added to inventories at a slower pace and curtailed investment. Gross domestic product fell at a 1 percent annualized rate in the first...
IRS Insurance Rule Keeps Employers From Putting Workers on Obamacare
The NYT reported that the IRS made yet another law clarification this past week: "Many employers — some that now offer coverage and some that do not — had concluded that it would be cheaper to provide each employee with a lump sum of money to buy insurance on an...