PLATTE Blogs http://www.platteinstitute.org/rss/blogs.asp This is blogs from PLATTE en-us (c) 2011 Tue, 08 Mar 2011 12:55:00 EST http://feedvalidator.org/docs/rss2.html www.eResources.com (Generator) webmaster@PlatteInstitute.org (Platte Institute) support@eresources.com (eResources) 60 Film Incentives: Subsidizing Hollywood http://www.platteinstitute.org/blog/blog_detail.asp?id=166 Proponents of publicly funded tax incentives for film-making projects had much to cheer about in the last legislative session as their long struggle for a film incentive program was finally passed in LB863, which allows cities to use economic development funds for film projects. Giving cities more latitude in how to spend their economic development funds is a good example of local control. However, these cities with LB840 funds should be aware that the costs often outweigh the benefits when it comes to spending taxpayer money on film projects.

]]> Thu, 17 May 2012 14:45:00 EST Blog http://www.platteinstitute.org/blog/blog_detail.asp?id=166 End Lincoln’s Taxi Monopoly http://www.platteinstitute.org/blog/blog_detail.asp?id=165 This month, the Public Service Commission will review whether to grant permits to five Omaha cab companies looking to operate in Lincoln. These five companies would provide needed competition to Servant Cab, the only taxi company currently licensed to operate in Lincoln and a company which is notorious for its high rates, long wait times and poor customer service.

]]> Thu, 10 May 2012 09:43:00 EST Blog http://www.platteinstitute.org/blog/blog_detail.asp?id=165 Time To Focus On Inflation http://www.platteinstitute.org/blog/blog_detail.asp?id=164

Pundits and politicians often focus their attention on tax, regulatory, and fiscal policy when debating how to help the economy out of its current slump, yet they have neglected to consider the immense importance of monetary policy. By not considering monetary policy, our leaders act in ways that may solve immediate problems, but leave us vulnerable to the insidious effects of inflation.

]]> Thu, 03 May 2012 16:10:00 EST Blog http://www.platteinstitute.org/blog/blog_detail.asp?id=164 Legislative Round-Up http://www.platteinstitute.org/blog/blog_detail.asp?id=163 At the beginning of the Legislative session, we at the Platte Institute set out a list of issues we would like to see addressed. Throughout the session we have also been tracking specific bills and analyzing how they would affect Nebraska's economy. Here is a look at what positive steps were made in 2012.

]]> Wed, 25 Apr 2012 12:16:00 EST Blog http://www.platteinstitute.org/blog/blog_detail.asp?id=163 Reject Local Option Sales Tax http://www.platteinstitute.org/blog/blog_detail.asp?id=162 Tomorrow is the last day of the 2012 legislative session. One of the items to be debated is whether to override Governor Heineman's veto of  LB357, a bill introduced by Omaha Sen. Brad Ashford allowing cities to raise their local sales taxes by as much as half of one percent.

]]> Tue, 17 Apr 2012 17:07:00 EST Blog http://www.platteinstitute.org/blog/blog_detail.asp?id=162 Tax Freedom Day Has Arrived http://www.platteinstitute.org/blog/blog_detail.asp?id=161 Today is Tax Freedom Day in Nebraska, meaning Nebraskans have finally worked enough days to pay off their total federal, state, and local tax bill - and can start making their own decisions about how to save and spend their money.

]]> Wed, 11 Apr 2012 12:20:00 EST Blog http://www.platteinstitute.org/blog/blog_detail.asp?id=161 Give Citizens a Voice on Occupation Taxes http://www.platteinstitute.org/blog/blog_detail.asp?id=160 In tough economic times, governments look for any method to ensure their revenue stream continues unabated. One of the most common ways used by Nebraska cities is the imposition of "occupation taxes." Since 2008, five of Nebraska's larger cities-Grand Island, Omaha, Norfolk, Lincoln, and Sidney-have all adopted occupation taxes to either help fund specific projects, or-in Omaha's case-simply increase revenue. Kearney put such a tax to a vote of the people where it failed by nearly two to one.

]]> Wed, 04 Apr 2012 12:09:00 EST Blog http://www.platteinstitute.org/blog/blog_detail.asp?id=160 Hunters Helping the Hungry http://www.platteinstitute.org/blog/blog_detail.asp?id=159 It is rare that a legislative program is introduced that will allow for easier administration of private charity at a minimal cost to taxpayers, yet that is just what Lincoln Sen. Tony Fulton has introduced with AM 2667, an amendment to LB 928.

]]> Thu, 29 Mar 2012 15:28:00 EST Blog http://www.platteinstitute.org/blog/blog_detail.asp?id=159 Controlling Spending Makes Tax Cuts Affordable http://www.platteinstitute.org/blog/blog_detail.asp?id=158 Last week, Governor Dave Heineman and the Legislature's Revenue Committee forwarded a compromise amendment that reduced the tax relief offered in LB970, the Governor's tax relief package. The amendment, AM2391, dropped the provisions to eliminate the inheritance tax and lower the corporate income tax rate. It also made the individual income tax reductions gradual over three years, beginning with reducing and expanding the lower rates and brackets next year, reducing the top rate from 6.84 percent to 6.8 percent in the second year, and then reducing the top rate to 6.7 percent and fully adjusting the brackets in the third year. This slimmed down bill won first round approval from the Legislature yesterday.

]]> Wed, 21 Mar 2012 12:47:00 EST Blog http://www.platteinstitute.org/blog/blog_detail.asp?id=158 LB970 Tax Relief Package http://www.platteinstitute.org/blog/blog_detail.asp?id=157 Today, the Platte Institute for Economic Research released its analysis of Governor Dave Heineman's tax relief package LB970.

]]> Mon, 12 Mar 2012 15:21:00 EST Blog http://www.platteinstitute.org/blog/blog_detail.asp?id=157 Buying American Hurts Nebraskans http://www.platteinstitute.org/blog/blog_detail.asp?id=156 The slogan of "Buy American" encourages consumers to purchase products made by their fellow citizens to help out American industries. Yet, making purchasing decisions based upon patriotic impulses instead of what is economically best helps few and hurts many.

]]> Wed, 07 Mar 2012 12:52:00 EST Blog http://www.platteinstitute.org/blog/blog_detail.asp?id=156 Opening the Taxi Market http://www.platteinstitute.org/blog/blog_detail.asp?id=155 The high regulatory burden for taxi permits set by Nebraska's Public Service Commission (PSC) has distorted the market and allowed for the creation of veritable monopolies.  LB889, introduced by Sen. Bill Avery of Lincoln, would reduce regulation and make it easier for taxi companies operating in Omaha and Lincoln to receive permits from the PSC.

]]> Wed, 29 Feb 2012 09:32:00 EST Blog http://www.platteinstitute.org/blog/blog_detail.asp?id=155 Health Care Exchanges Don’t Work http://www.platteinstitute.org/blog/blog_detail.asp?id=154 During this session of the Legislature, two bills have been introduced in an attempt to comply with the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act's (PPACA) provision that asks states set up health insurance exchanges and mandates exchanges be up and running by January 1, 2014. These bills are LB835 and LB838 introduced by Omaha Sens. Jeremy Nordquist and Rich Pahls, respectively. However, with the PPACA currently a hostage of the judicial process, there is no guarantee this provision of PPACA will survive court challenges and these bills are premature.

]]> Wed, 22 Feb 2012 11:29:00 EST Blog http://www.platteinstitute.org/blog/blog_detail.asp?id=154 Stop Taxing Social Security http://www.platteinstitute.org/blog/blog_detail.asp?id=153 In 2007, Omaha Senator Jeremy Nordquist introduced LB303 in an effort to exempt Social Security benefits from being taxed by the State of Nebraska. This year, Sen. Nordquist is continuing his effort with LB976. Exempting Social Security benefits from being taxed is sound public policy will benefit the vulnerable in our society.

]]> Wed, 22 Feb 2012 11:19:00 EST Blog http://www.platteinstitute.org/blog/blog_detail.asp?id=153 Next Steps for Child Welfare Reform in Nebraska http://www.platteinstitute.org/blog/blog_detail.asp?id=152 Today, the Platte Institute is releasing its new policy study on the future of child welfare reform in Nebraska, specifically analyzing the effects of privatization and how it can be improved in the future.

]]> Wed, 08 Feb 2012 08:31:00 EST Blog http://www.platteinstitute.org/blog/blog_detail.asp?id=152 Counties Need to Tighten Their Belts http://www.platteinstitute.org/blog/blog_detail.asp?id=151 Recently, officials of Douglas County have made a wide range of assertions in response to LB970, Governor Heineman's tax relief package which would lower both individual and corporate income tax rates as well as repeal the state inheritance tax, which is collected on the county level. The provision to repeal the inheritance tax has led many of these officials to assert that repealing the tax would result in increased property taxes or cuts to essential services. We contend that counties should make every effort to tighten their own budget belts before cutting services or raising taxes.

]]> Fri, 03 Feb 2012 12:37:00 EST Blog http://www.platteinstitute.org/blog/blog_detail.asp?id=151 Tax Relief Helps Citizens and the State http://www.platteinstitute.org/blog/blog_detail.asp?id=150 Benjamin Franklin once wrote, "In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes." Unfortunately, few things stifle economic growth more than taxes. Nebraska is fortunate to have a leader in Governor Heineman who understands this economic reality. The Governor's tax relief package, LB970, is welcome news to spur Nebraska's economy.

]]> Tue, 31 Jan 2012 11:36:00 EST Blog http://www.platteinstitute.org/blog/blog_detail.asp?id=150 Nebraska’s Loss is China’s Gain http://www.platteinstitute.org/blog/blog_detail.asp?id=149 While President Obama did not mention his decision to deny a permit allowing for the building of the Keystone XL Pipeline in last night's State of the Union, the issue remains significant to America's energy and economic security. In Nebraska, failure to build the Keystone XL pipeline would cost $314.5 million in personal income, $9.5 million in Nebraska tax receipts, and $152 million in property tax revenue to state and local communities.

]]> Wed, 25 Jan 2012 11:02:00 EST Blog http://www.platteinstitute.org/blog/blog_detail.asp?id=149 The Federal Budget: A Household Perspective http://www.platteinstitute.org/blog/blog_detail.asp?id=148 This week, the Platte Institute will be taking a look at money brought in and spent by the federal government and how it affects its debt and deficits, from the perspective of the average American household. Admittedly, this is not a unique approach and has been presented by several different groups. Yet this type of illustration personalizes the fact that the current path of government overspending and mountainous debt is not sustainable and will be disastrous if drastic measures are not taken to put our fiscal house back in order.

]]> Thu, 19 Jan 2012 12:27:00 EST Blog http://www.platteinstitute.org/blog/blog_detail.asp?id=148 Sunshine State Reforms Shed Light on Improving Teacher Quality http://www.platteinstitute.org/blog/blog_detail.asp?id=147 On Monday, the Platte Institute released a study discussing teacher selection and evaluation policies in Nebraska, and the basic conclusion was this: Teacher quality matters.

]]> Wed, 11 Jan 2012 10:16:00 EST Blog http://www.platteinstitute.org/blog/blog_detail.asp?id=147 Legislative Wish List http://www.platteinstitute.org/blog/blog_detail.asp?id=146 With today marking the start of a new session of the Nebraska Legislature, here is a look at what the Platte Institute hopes to see in the 2012 legislation.

]]> Wed, 04 Jan 2012 17:56:00 EST Blog http://www.platteinstitute.org/blog/blog_detail.asp?id=146 Nebraska Favors Public Unions over Taxpayers http://www.platteinstitute.org/blog/blog_detail.asp?id=145 When it comes to favored status in Nebraska, it appears that public sector unions have a bit of an upper hand over regular taxpayers according to the Big Labor Versus Taxpayer Index developed by the Competitive Enterprise Institute. Nebraska ranks 28th of the 50 states and is graded to have policies that slightly favor organized labor in the public sector as opposed to the taxpayers.

]]> Wed, 28 Dec 2011 11:58:00 EST Blog http://www.platteinstitute.org/blog/blog_detail.asp?id=145 Alternative Options for Health Care http://www.platteinstitute.org/blog/blog_detail.asp?id=144 Two weeks ago, the Platte Institute came out against the implementation of a state-run health care exchange which is part of the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA). Among the reasons the Platte Institute opposes the exchange is because a state exchange will not give Nebraska local control, the exchange will increase health care costs and cost taxpayers millions of dollars, and setting up an exchange before a Supreme Court decision undermines the state's lawsuit against the PPACA. That being said, there are many other ways Nebraska can lower health care costs and make it easier to access health insurance.

]]> Wed, 21 Dec 2011 16:47:00 EST Blog http://www.platteinstitute.org/blog/blog_detail.asp?id=144 Public Sector Pensions in Nebraska http://www.platteinstitute.org/blog/blog_detail.asp?id=143 Yesterday, the Platte Institute released its policy study on public sector pensions, examining the benefits and shortcomings of Nebraska's unique cash-balance plan.

]]> Wed, 14 Dec 2011 14:45:00 EST Blog http://www.platteinstitute.org/blog/blog_detail.asp?id=143 Say No to Health Care Exchange http://www.platteinstitute.org/blog/blog_detail.asp?id=142 When it takes effect on January 1, 2014, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 (PPACA) will completely change health care. Every individual in the United States will be required to purchase health insurance whether they want to or not; the care provided will be regulated by government bureaucrats, and subsidization mechanisms will effectively place price controls on the health care industry. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office is already estimating the PPACA will kill 800,000 jobs by 2021.

]]> Wed, 07 Dec 2011 12:07:00 EST Blog http://www.platteinstitute.org/blog/blog_detail.asp?id=142