On October 18, the Senate Finance Committee held a hearing on tax incentives for charitable giving.
On October 17, Americans for Tax Reform posted an extensive critique of Herman Cain’s 9-9-9 tax plan.
Also on October 17, Citizens for Tax Justice published an analysis of the Cain tax plan. It finds that it would raise taxes for 80 percent of households, while reducing them sharply for those in the top 1 percent of the income distribution. It would also increase the budget deficit by more than $300 billion per year.
An October 17 CNN poll found that 63 percent of people favor raising taxes on those making more than $250,000 and 76 percent favor raising taxes on millionaires.
On October 14, the Joint Committee on Taxation issued a report on the tax treatment of charitable contributions.
In an October 13 commentary, economist Simon Johnson warned against the use of “dynamic scoring” in the deficit reduction process.
An October 12 NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll found strong support among Republicans for a national sales tax. The poll also found that people support higher taxes on the rich by a two to one margin.
On October 12, USC law professor Edward Kleinbard posted an analysis of Herman Cain’s 9-9-9 tax plan. Kleinbard says that it is essentially a 27 percent tax on wages.
In an October 12 commentary, Brookings Institution economist Henry Aaron explained why higher taxes must be part of long-term deficit reduction.
On October 7, the Congressional Research Service published a report on the so-called Buffett Rule, which would raise taxes on millionaires.
I last posted items on this topic on October 13.
Bruce Bartlett is an American historian and columnist who focuses on the intersection between politics and economics. He blogs daily and writes a weekly column for The Fiscal Times. Bartlett has written for Forbes Magazine and Creators Syndicate, and his work is informed by many years in government, including as a senior policy analyst in the Reagan White House. He is the author of seven books including his new book: The Benefit and the Burden .
