Beacon Center of Tennessee » budget

An Unfair Exchange

editor — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 20:07:51 +0000

Amidst discussions in the state legislature about the implications of setting up a state healthcare exchange under the Patient Protection & Affordable Care Act, the Beacon Center has published a policy insight outlining the myths vs. facts of a state-run exchange. Download the one-page insight at: http://www.beacontn.org/wp-content/uploads/An-Unfair-Exchange.pdf.

Beacon’s letter cited by Washington Examiner

editor — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 16:30:18 +0000

The Washington Examiner publishes an Associated Press story noting the Beacon Center’s role in urging Gov. Bill Haslam to support a repeal of the state death tax. Read the entire article here. Beacon’s president & CEO recently signed a letter to Haslam along with several prominent national taxpayer advocates, including Americans for Tax Reform’s Grover Norquist. The letter can be downloaded at this link.

Anti-death tax advocates eye victory in TN

editor — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 16:05:53 +0000

The Daily Caller looks at the work of the Beacon Center and other key groups who are urging Gov. Bill Haslam to support a repeal of the state death tax. Read the entire article here.

An Idea a Day: 51 Ideas for a Prosperous Tennessee

editor — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 19:00:18 +0000

Beacon Center Provides Legislature with 51 Ideas for a Prosperous Tennessee
Pamphlet offers a free market idea for each remaining legislative day of the General Assembly

NASHVILLE – The Beacon Center of Tennessee, founded as the Tennessee Center for Policy Research, today made available in electronic version its most recent publication, An Idea a Day: 51 Ideas for a Prosperous Tennessee. The second of its kind, the pamphlet offers one innovative free market idea for each remaining legislative day of the 107th General Assembly. Each idea is surmised in one brief sentence, followed by a link to original work published by the Beacon Center or contact information for more details.

Hardcopies of the pamphlet will be provided to each member of the General Assembly upon their return to session in January. The electronic version was sent to members and their staff today as the Legislature prepares for the second session of the 107th General Assembly.

“When lawmakers look for solutions that will expand individual liberty, return taxpayers’ hard-earned money to their pockets, and reduce the size and scope of government, they now have a place to turn,” said Justin Owen, the Beacon Center’s president & CEO. “We hope members of the General Assembly will frequently turn to this simple, concise resource as they conduct the people’s business.”

A new feature was added to the second edition of An Idea a Day, with a special emblem marking ideas that will create jobs and/or save taxpayers money. This makes it easier for lawmakers to identify those issues that are a top priority for taxpayers: job creation and tax cuts.

The electronic version of the pamphlet, complete with links to original Beacon Center work on the ideas offered, can be viewed by clicking here or visiting http://www.beacontn.org/wp-content/uploads/An-Idea-a-Day-2012.pdf.

The Beacon Center of Tennessee’s mission is to change lives through public policy by advancing the principles of free markets, individual liberty, and limited government. The Center is an independent, nonprofit, and nonpartisan research organization committed to providing timely free market solutions to public policy issues in Tennessee.

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Beacon urges Haslam to support death tax repeal

editor — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 19:36:48 +0000

The Beacon Center’s president & CEO Justin Owen co-signed a letter today with the Dick Patten of the American Family Business Institute, American’s for Tax Reform’s Grover Norquist, Duane Parde of the National Taxpayers’ Union, and Americans for Prosperity’s Tim Phillips, urging Gov. Bill Haslam to support a repeal of the state death tax. The full text of the letter is reprinted below. Click here to download a PDF version.

Dear Governor Haslam,

We are encouraged, this year, by your leadership and the work of the Tennessee assembly members to promote a friendlier economic environment for Tennessee’s family business owners, family farmers, and their many employees. In particular, we are encouraged by many members who have publicly vowed to work towards eliminating Tennessee’s Inheritance Tax which is a major obstacle to the survival of family owned businesses and farms.

It is true that while serious reforms like eliminating the death tax present short-term challenges, they are necessary steps towards leaving a legacy of economic prosperity in Tennessee and promoting job creation from the most productive sector of the economy – family businesses.

A recent study on the Tennessee Inheritance tax by Laffer Associates states that “Tennessee’s estate and gift tax is the single greatest reason why wealthy people don’t want to live in Tennessee.” For those that continue to operate in Tennessee, the looming Death Tax burden ties up their working capital in expensive estate plans and life insurance policies. Tennessee’s estate and gift tax, the study claims, has already reduced state GDP by up to $18.2 billion over the past ten years. In addition, the robust economic growth resulting from elimination of the state’s inheritance tax, would have added at least $7 billion to state coffers over the last ten years. The tax currently accounts for less than 1% of total state revenues.

The conditions for repeal will never be as favorable as now. We are concerned about some of your recent statements indicating a reluctance to usher through repeal of the Tennessee Inheritance Tax in 2012. We are, however, confident that with your leadership and the support of a very motivated legislature, this important policy measure will be pursued.

Many winning candidates’ top tax issue, and a pillar of your pro-growth platform during the 2010 election, was promoting the complete repeal of the Tennessee inheritance tax. With control of the Governor’s office and state legislature in Republican hands, now is the time to push forward to swiftly eliminate the Tennessee Inheritance Tax.

The state of Ohio recently repealed their state Estate Tax, making Ohio a more attractive place to keep capital and grow businesses. This was a widely reported and nationally touted victory. We strongly encourage you to work towards full repeal of the Inheritance Tax at the beginning of the next legislative session.

Please contact us if we can be of assistance in this crucial effort.

Sincerely,

Dick Patten, President, American Family Business Institute
Grover Norquist, President, Americans for Tax Reform
Tim Phillips, President, Americans for Prosperity
Duane Parde, President, National Taxpayers Union
Justin Owen, President and CEO, Beacon Center of Tennessee

Lawmakers seek to require voter approval of tax hikes

editor — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 18:13:06 +0000

The Beacon Center’s Ryan Turbeville talks to Channel 4 News in Nashville about a state lawmaker’s proposal to require voter approval of any local property tax increases that are greater than one percent. Click here to watch the entire interview.

Beacon Center comments on state’s high sales tax

editor — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 15:40:27 +0000

In an interview with the Chattanooga Times Free Press, Beacon Center’s Justin Owen calls for a reduced sales tax burden by cutting wasteful government spending, but at the same time warns against attempts to replace the current sales tax with a state income tax.

Beacon Center of Tennessee Executive Director Justin Owen countered that, saying, “I certainly think it’s good that we rely heavily on a sales tax instead of an income tax or other types of taxes.”

Dismissing the idea of a general state income tax, Owen said, “first of all, you shouldn’t tax people for generating economic growth and wealth and taxing productivity.”

A sales tax on consumption is “more even-keeled,” he said.

Still, Owen said, officials “may come to some agreement on the sales tax on food. That hits low income and seniors harder. We think we could lower the sales tax on food — if we cut and are not simply shifting taxation.”

Tennessee should look at cutting waste, fraud and abuse, reducing the size of state government or turning some functions over to the private sector, he said.

Read the entire article here.

Lt. Gov. support’s TCPR’s fiscal note reform proposal

editor — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 15:10:31 +0000

As covered by TN Report, Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey has thrown his support behind a Tennessee Center for Policy Research proposal to reform the state’s fiscal note process. In a policy brief issued last week, TCPR called on lawmakers to reform the process for calculating the cost of legislation, encouraging legislative leaders to not only consider the impact on state tax dollars, but also the impact new legislation will have on the private sector. Read TN Report’s article here.

TCPR’s new policy brief, titled Accurately Calculating the Cost of Tennessee Legislation, can be found at this link.

TCPR offers solution to protect taxpayers and small businesses

editor — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 18:00:29 +0000

NASHVILLE – The Tennessee Center for Policy Research today released a policy brief outlining a proposal to improve the process for calculating the cost of state legislation. TCPR senior fellow and former state Rep. Donna Barrett authored the brief, titled Accurately Calculating the Cost of Tennessee Legislation.

The brief will be provided to legislative leaders in an effort to encourage them to review and revise the currently flawed process for calculating fiscal notes, which are cost analyses attached to every bill filed in the General Assembly.

Among the proposed changes, Barrett calls for the process to include an analysis on the impact legislation has on the private sector. Currently, only the impact on state tax revenues or expenditures is calculated, yet legislation almost always impacts the private sector, often in a negative way.

“Although small businesses are the backbone of our economy, lawmakers never consider the impact their actions will have on these job creators,” said Barrett. “It’s time to revise the fiscal note process to protect taxpayers and small businesses alike.”

The brief further calls for more stringent calculations that would protect taxpayers’ hard-earned money more than the current process affords.

“When lawmakers rely on a flawed process for calculating the cost of proposed legislation, taxpayers often get left holding the bag,” said TCPR president Justin Owen. “I appreciate the work Rep. Barrett has done to identify and offer a solution to this glaring problem, and I look forward to the opportunity to work with her and legislative leaders to implement the proposals.

The brief can be downloaded at: http://www.tennesseepolicy.org/wp-content/uploads/Accurately-Calculating-the-Cost-of-Tennessee-Legislation.pdf.

Prior to joining the Tennessee Center for Policy Research as a senior fellow, Barrett served in the Tennessee House of Representatives for ten years. During her tenure, she was heavily involved in reviewing the cost of proposed legislation as a member of the House Fiscal Review Committee and chairman of the House Republican Caucus Bill Review Committee.

The Tennessee Center for Policy Research is an independent, nonprofit, and nonpartisan think tank committed to achieving a freer, more prosperous Tennessee. Through research and advocacy, the Center promotes policy solutions grounded in the principles of free markets, individual liberty, and limited government. For more information, visit www.tennesseepolicy.org.

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Overtaxation in Tennessee?

editor — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 13:38:11 +0000

As Republicans and Democrats squabble over what to do with excess revenues coming into the state’s coffers, the Tennessee Center for Policy Research offers an effective solution.

“It’s not enough to rely on the whims of either political party to return excess revenue to taxpayers,” said Justin Owen, executive director of the Tennessee Center for Policy Research.

Instead, as noted in TCPR’s 2011 Tennessee Pork Report, the state should enact a kicker law that would automatically return surplus revenues back to taxpayers. Read the full story at TNReport.com.