Topic: State and Provincial Budgets

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Senate freshmen: What the 14 new members bring to Capitol Hill

A freshman Senate class was sworn in Jan. 3, bringing diverse skills and experience – not to mention agendas – to the legislative body. Whether the 14 newest senators help break partisan gridlock, or refuse to work across the aisle, will be the test for the 113th Congress.Twelve were elected on Nov. 6, including three Republicans, eight Democrats, and an independent. In addition, a Republican and a Democrat were appointed to vacant seats after the election. Here is a look at the 14 and what they bring to the Senate:
Seven battleground states: Does economy help Obama or Romney?

Seven states have emerged as battlegrounds that may well determine the 2012 presidential election. Here's a look at seven battleground states and how their economic situation is shaping the presidential election:
Presidential debate: 7 defining moments in history (+video)

From Ronald Reagan’s one-liner, “There you go again,” to Al Gore’s heavy sighs and eye rolls, zingers and mannerisms can define a presidential debate even more than the candidates’ positions on critical issues. Here is a look back at seven defining debate moments.
GOP convention: Who is the mystery speaker Thursday night?

There’s an enticing blank on the Republican convention speakers’ schedule for Thursday night. Speculation is fierce among the vast press corps as to who (or what) it might be. Here is our list.
The Paul Ryan budget: 5 go-to sources for understanding it

Looking for in-depth analysis of the Paul Ryan budget plan? D.C. Decoder has compiled a list of excellent sources to help you sort out truth from fiction.

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Energy Voices Would a carbon tax boost clean energy?

The carbon tax can be a useful tool for nudging near-competitive low-carbon technologies into the market and spurring modest carbon cuts, Stepp writes, but it’s at best a complementary climate policy. That changes if we use a carbon tax as a revenue-raiser to support additional policies aimed at making clean energy cost and performance competitive with fossil fuels.
$2,500 teacher raises? Unlikely, Florida lawmakers say.

$2,500 teacher raises are what Florida governor Rick Scott wanted, allowing a $2,500 pay boost for every classroom teacher. But Florida lawmakers settled on putting aside $480 million for teacher raises, but with requirements that some of it be tied to performance.
Tax VOX What happened to state tax reform?

Months ago, several Republican governors proposed major tax reform plans, Gleckman writes, but by tax day, two of those governors had abandoned their tax reform plans. What happened?
Six things Obama's budget plan reveals about his priorities

President Obama's $3.78 trillion budget for fiscal 2014 lays out elements of a possible 'grand bargain' with Congress. At the same time, it speaks to his policy priorities.
Why does Washington keep putting off entitlement reform?

Both the White House and Republicans agree that entitlement reform is necessary to rein in federal deficits, but nothing ever gets started. That could change in the weeks ahead.
Why Obama is taking a pay cut

In solidarity with the federal employees receiving reductions in pay as a result of the sequester, the president has opted to return 5 percent of his salary to the government this year. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel will also return a portion of his salary.
Focus Medicare: Could Rep. Paul Ryan's reform plan work?

The only big Medicare reform idea that's been pitched in public is called 'premium support,' championed by Rep. Paul Ryan (R). Here's how it would work, and here's why Democrats deride it as a 'voucher.'
USA Update Marijuana tax touted as budgetary benefit to US and states. Really?

Marijuana tax could be a new source of revenue for strapped states, and the federal government, too, say two congressmen who have proposed such legislation. But the scale of any tax benefit is hotly disputed.
Democrats' new budget proposal: why it's balanced ... but not balanced (+video)

Senate Democrats have put forward a new budget proposal that offers balanced deficit reduction (between cuts and new tax revenue), but doesn't balance the budget.
What's in Paul Ryan plan? Surprising numbers from GOP House budget. (+video)

The GOP budget plan Paul Ryan is putting forward in the House is filled with ambitious numbers, big and small. The bottom line: reduce the national debt and the interest payments to service it.
Tax revenue to hit record this year. So is spending 'the problem'?

Tax revenue could hit $2.7 trillion, according to the Congressional Budget Office. Conservatives say this means spending cuts are the solution, but the budget numbers tell a more complicated story.
Bobby Jindal proposes sale of $47M in property to balance budget

Jindal proposes unloading a half-dozen tracts of state property around south Louisiana to drum up $47 million, money that he's using to help pay for public colleges in his budget proposal for the 2013-14 fiscal year that starts July 1.
Zimbabwe claims it only has $217 left

In an appeal Tuesday to foreign donors to help raise some $200 million, Zimbabwe's finance ministry announced that paying civil servants and government employees had bankrupted the country.
Will your state taxes go up? How legislatures are leaning.

As red states get redder and blue states bluer, state taxes could head in opposite directions. Some states are trying to eliminate income taxes, others are raising them.
Detroit bankruptcy: City 'teetering on the edge' of financial crisis

Detroit bankruptcy: Detroit is edging closer to a financial precipice, but unlike its automakers, its chances of getting a federal bailout are almost nonexistent.
Tax VOX Income tax vs. sales tax: What's better for Louisiana?

A proposal to replace income tax with a higher sales tax in Louisiana could lower compliance and administrative burdens, Harris writes. But it’s not worth asking low-income households to shoulder such a large share of the burden to achieve such a small statewide gain, he adds.
Surprise! California has a budget surplus

What's rarer than a conservative in Hollywood? A surplus in Sacramento. Gov. Jerry Brown's new budget closes the $25 billion deficit he inherited — and even shows a modest budget surplus.
Senate freshmen: What the 14 new members bring to Capitol Hill

A freshman Senate class was sworn in Jan. 3, bringing diverse skills and experience – not to mention agendas – to the legislative body. Whether the 14 newest senators help break partisan gridlock, or refuse to work across the aisle, will be the test for the 113th Congress.Twelve were elected on Nov. 6, including three Republicans, eight Democrats, and an independent. In addition, a Republican and a Democrat were appointed to vacant seats after the election. Here is a look at the 14 and what they bring to the Senate:
Powerball lottery jackpot hits record $550 million

With Powerball lottery drawing hours away, Americans are snapping up tickets for the estimated $550 million jackpot. The record Powerball jackpot is renewing questions about its burden on lower income groups, but it may be less burdensome than other lotteries.
Tax VOX Fiscal cliff: Will the states tumble, too?

Fiscal cliff talk has been mostly focused on what would happen to the federal budget and the national economy. But what impact would the fiscal cliff have on individual states?
Senator Casey prevails against GOP newcomer and 'war on coal' (+video)

Incumbent Pennsylvania Sen. Bob Casey (D) won reelection against a candidate who tried to make an issue of Democrats' position on coal.
'Red' Indiana sends Democrat to US Senate, as women fled Mourdock (+video)

US Rep. Joe Donnelly (D) defeated state Treasurer Richard Mourdock (R) in the Indiana Senate race, on the strength of women's votes. Mourdock's views on abortion in cases of rape created a stir.
Robert Reich Romney's deceit

A misleading Ohio attack ad is the latest example of GOP candidate Mitt Romney's mishandling of the truth, Reich writes.
Seven battleground states: Does economy help Obama or Romney?

Seven states have emerged as battlegrounds that may well determine the 2012 presidential election. Here's a look at seven battleground states and how their economic situation is shaping the presidential election:
Set aside debate over Romney tax math: Is tax reform a good idea?

The momentous policy challenge of how to fix America's dysfunctional tax system has been largely obscured by the debate over Mitt Romney's tax math. But there's broad support for tax reform.