States should compete within America’s highly progressive tax and redistribution system
States should compete within America’s highly progressive tax and redistribution system
State and local governments are on the front lines of providing core government services. They are also on the front lines of competing for jobs and economic growth. Therefore, state fiscal policy should produce revenue for core government services by applying low, competitive tax rates to a broad tax base with limited exemptions. That is...
By Michael Lucci
Nebraskanomics: Jonathan Williams on how Nebraska ranks
Nebraskanomics: Jonathan Williams on how Nebraska ranks
On this episode of Nebraskanomics Platte Institute CEO Jim Vokal welcomes Jonathan Williams, Chief Economist and EVP for the American Legislative Exchange Council. During the episode the two dive into the significance of state tax policies and their impact on economic competitiveness. Jonathan also shares valuable insights from the Rich State’s Poor State’s report, a...
New Iowa law provides model for Nebraska to reform local bond elections
New Iowa law provides model for Nebraska to reform local bond elections
Two school bond elections in Omaha-area schools succeeded by a 2-1 margin on May 9, authorizing more than $120 million in new debt and taxes for the school districts. The bond proceeds are committed to infrastructure and construction costs for the districts. This result wasn’t unusual for a local school bond election, and is matched...
By Michael Lucci
Nebraska property tax relief in LB 243
Nebraska property tax relief in LB 243
Nebraska lawmakers have laid out an ambitious goal of achieving historic income tax and property tax relief in 2023. Income tax reforms in LB 754 would accomplish Nebraska’s most significant tax improvements in generations. In addition, lawmakers are advancing property tax relief in LB 243, sponsored by Senator Tom Briese, an amendment to which incorporates...
By Michael Lucci
Nebraska’s Licensing Challenges Continue
Nebraska’s Licensing Challenges Continue
As the glow of Nebraska’s annual Spring Game leads to dreams of hearing “We’re Number 1” at Memorial Stadium, there is one area of policy where Nebraska is “number one” in our conference/region—but being number one is not a good thing. The Archbridge Institute recently released its first State Occupational Licensing Index, and Nebraska’s position...
By Laura Ebke
LB 754 fiscal and economic impact
LB 754 fiscal and economic impact
Nebraska has a once-in-a-generation opportunity to overhaul its tax code in 2023. A successful tax reform will pay dividends for generations. Nebraska has large revenue surpluses, and the best thing to do with the surplus revenue stream is to return most of it to the productive private economy through thoughtful and sustainable tax reform. This...
By Michael Lucci
Matt Wynn on Tracking Government Salaries
Matt Wynn on Tracking Government Salaries
The Flatwater Free Press is Nebraska’s first independent, nonprofit newsroom focused on investigations and feature stories that matter. Today on Nebraskanomics, I’m joined by Matt Wynn, the executive director of The Flatwater Free Press. Tune into our conversation to learn about government payroll reporting and more government transparency projects in Nebraska. You can also listen...
By Jim Vokal
Missouri House advances bill to cut its corporate tax in half
Missouri House advances bill to cut its corporate tax in half
North Carolina made state tax history in 2021 by passing a law to eliminate the state’s corporate income tax by the end of 2026. Although the Tarheel State will be the first to repeal its corporate income tax, it probably won’t be the last. In fact, Missouri is advancing a bill to slash its corporate...
By Michael Lucci
LB 754 keeps Nebraska’s income tax progressive
LB 754 keeps Nebraska’s income tax progressive
Nebraska has a progressive state income tax. This means that higher income earners pay a greater portion of their income in taxes than do lower income earners. If Nebraska lawmakers enact LB 754, a comprehensive income tax reform bill, the state will still have a progressive income tax. Nebraska’s top income tax rate of 6.64%...
By Michael Lucci
Summary and analysis of income tax reform in LB 754
Summary and analysis of income tax reform in LB 754
Nebraska’s Revenue Committee advanced an amendment to LB 754 out of committee on a 7-1 vote last week, bringing Gov. Pillen’s income tax reform plan to the full Unicameral for debate. The bill is a tour de force of income tax reforms. The individual and corporate income taxes are both overhauled by the bill, with...
By Michael Lucci
The state tax revolution sweeps across the Great Plains
The state tax revolution sweeps across the Great Plains
Nebraska lawmakers took a key step towards historic tax reform last week. Revenue Committee lawmakers voted to consolidate several tax reforms into LB 754 and to advance the tax package out of committee on Thursday, March 16. Nebraska’s legislative progress comes not a moment too soon, as major tax reform proposals are advancing across the...
By Michael Lucci
Nebraska’s tax code should encourage remote workers to move in
Nebraska’s tax code should encourage remote workers to move in
Nebraska has one of the most aggressive regimes for taxation of non-resident income in the country, according to new rankings from the National Taxpayers Union. While raising tax revenues from non-Nebraskans might seem like found money, it also ensures that many non-Nebraskans will never visit Nebraska for work purposes. Tax compliance is heavy for remote...
By Michael Lucci
Nebraska should join the responsible state budget revolution
Nebraska should join the responsible state budget revolution
Nebraska’s Revenue Committee is advancing a broad overhaul of the state’s tax code. These reforms, if enacted, would bring the Cornhusker State in line with the ongoing state tax revolution. During the post-pandemic era, states are turning away from progressive tax structures and creating lower, flatter income taxes. And mobile workers are moving towards states...
By Michael Lucci
Mississippi advances full expensing through both chambers
Mississippi advances full expensing through both chambers
Mississippi lawmakers advanced legislation to enact full expensing this week, with separate bills passing in the legislature’s House and Senate. H.B. 1733 passed Mississippi’s House on an overwhelming 112-3 vote, while S.B. 3101 passed the Senate on a 51-0 vote. The bills both make full expensing the permanent tax treatment for qualifying investments in both...
By Michael Lucci