Posts by chris lilienthal

Governor's Budget Makes Modest Increases But Relies on Uncertain Funding

Posted by Christopher Lilienthal on February 6, 2013 11:09 am
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From the Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center's analysis of Governor Tom Corbett's 2013-14 budget plan:

Governor Tom Corbett proposed a 2013-14 budget of $28.4 billion — up $400 million, or 1%, from the budget in place when he took office in 2011. The budget proposes expensive new corporate tax breaks that will continue to shift costs to individuals and local taxpayers, while failing to restore deep cuts to public schools, keep college affordable for middle-class students, or ensure working families can obtain basic health care.

Helping You Make Sense of the Governor's Budget

Posted by Christopher Lilienthal on February 5, 2013 10:37 am
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Governor Tom Corbett will release his 2013-14 spending plan today, and the Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center is here to help you make sense of it. We will be providing our usual critical analysis to shed some light on the immediate and long-term implications of the Governor’s budget priorities.

How Do PA Taxes Compare to New Jersey and West Virginia?

Posted by Christopher Lilienthal on February 1, 2013 2:04 pm
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On Wednesday, I blogged about a new report out from the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy showing Pennsylvania is among the "Terrible 10" most regressive tax states in the nation. This means state and local taxes fall disproportionately on middle-class, working and poor families to the advantage of the richest taxpayers.

Pennsylvania Among 'Terrible 10' Most Regressive Tax States

Posted by Christopher Lilienthal on January 30, 2013 12:13 pm
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Working families in Pennsylvania pay a far higher share of their income in state and local taxes than the state’s wealthiest earners, according to a new study by the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy (ITEP).

Pennsylvania’s tax system scored so poorly that it made the list of the “Terrible 10” most regressive tax states in the nation.

What a Progressive Tax Looks Like

Posted by Christopher Lilienthal on January 29, 2013 1:54 pm
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This is what a progressive state tax system should look like. Upper-income families pay a larger share of their incomes in tax than families with lower incomes. How does Pennsylvania score on this front? Find out tomorrow when the Pennsylvana Budget and Policy Center co-releases a new study with the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy (ITEP) examining state and local tax rates paid by income group in Pennsylvania.

What a Progressive Tax System Looks Like

Undo the Damage Done to Students by Cutting Public Schools

Posted by Christopher Lilienthal on January 29, 2013 10:57 am
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Budget Secretary Charles Zogby addressed the Pennsylvania Press Club Monday, fielding questions on a variety of budget issues without giving away much detail about Governor Tom Corbett's forthcoming spending plan. (The governor delivers his budget address on February 5 to a joint session of the state House and Senate.)

Secretary Zogby did suggest that more cuts could be on the way for public schools if the state does not make changes to the pension system, which could include reducing the future retirement benefits of current teachers and state employees.

About that Federal Budget Sequester...

Posted by Christopher Lilienthal on January 23, 2013 1:32 pm
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The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities has a table showing how the fiscal cliff deal reduced the 2013 federal budget sequester, automatic across-the-board cuts now scheduled to take effect March 1. The cuts had originally been slated for January 2, but the fiscal cliff deal delayed them.

As the table at the Center's Off the Charts Blog shows, more than $85 billion in sequester cuts are still on tap for 2013 unless Congress acts.

Fiscal Cliff Deal Reduces Automatic Budget Cuts for 2013

The Bush Tax Cuts in Charts, Part 2

Posted by Christopher Lilienthal on December 20, 2012 12:12 pm
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Yesterday, I shared some charts from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities showing just how expensive the Bush tax cuts for high-income earners have been and will continue to be if policymakers extend them.

Today I wanted to highlight a few other charts from the Center to provide some more perspective in the debate over extending tax cuts for top earners and reducing the federal deficit.

The Bush Tax Cuts in Charts, Part 1

Posted by Christopher Lilienthal on December 19, 2012 2:28 pm
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The Center on Budget and Policy Priorites tells many a budget story with pictures. Below are a few of the Center's best charts on the tax cuts enacted in 2001 and 2003 under President Bush, extended in 2010 under President Obama, and now set to expire in January.

Mayors Ask Congress to Enact Deficit Plan that Keeps Cities Strong

Posted by Christopher Lilienthal on December 12, 2012 10:56 am
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Federal deficit reduction must include significant new revenue so that Pennsylvania cities, their residents and local economies can thrive again.

This was a critical point made by several Pennsylvania mayors during a conference call with reporters this week focused on what is at stake for cities in a federal deficit plan. The call was organized by the Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center.