Taxes and Spending

May 2011

$600 million in New Taxes

by Frances Nuar

The desperate dance to balance the state budget was trickier than ever this legislative session. Far from providing innovative solutions, the Democratic led legislature had one answer to solve the $1.2 billion budget deficit: tax, tax, and tax some more, to the tune of $600 million. (more)

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Environment

May 2011

Carbon and carbon dioxide: Clearing up the confusion

Let's restore common sense to our public policy debates on energy and climate

by Paul Driessen

We are constantly bombarded with information - much of it inaccurate, misleading, even deliberately so. We are frequently told we must reduce carbon emissions, support "carbon disclosure" and invest in "carbon trusts" - to prevent catastrophic global warming, global climate change or global climate "disruption." News stories, advocacy and lobbying activities, and corporate "ethics" promotions frequently use "carbon" and "carbon dioxide" almost interchangeably; some occasionally talk about "dangerous carbon monoxide emissions." (more)

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Transportation

May 2011

Are you going to sit back and let this happen?

What do you know about the rail project? Did you know: · Trains will run every 3 minutes in each direction; a train every 1½ minutes at 83 decibels! · They say it will cost $5.5 billion. Experience says $7 billion. Property tax hike coming? · Riders are supposed to increase by 31,000 daily more than if we do nothing; that is $212,000 for every new rider! · To run the train increases its share of the city budget from 11 percent to 15 percent. Property tax hike? · The city says, “Traffic congestion will be worse in the future with rail than what it is today.” (more)

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