KEJA -- National Tax, Budget, & Good Government Resources

Information on Tax & Budget Issues, Economic Justice & Good Government Initiatives

National Studies & Reports:

Tax & Spend: The Unapologetic Case for Big Government. This report from The American Prospect is recommended reading for supporters of government that works for the common good.

Rethinking Growth Strategies: How State and Local Taxes and Services Affect Economic Development -- by Robert G. Lynch. Analysis of relevant research literature finds little grounds to support tax cuts and incentives—especially when they occur at the expense of public investment—as the best means to expand employment and spur growth.

The Great American Jobs Scam: Corporate Tax Dodging & the Myth of Job Creation. In his new book, Greg LeRoy describes our current system in which corporations exact huge taxpayer subsidies by promising quality jobs and then fail to deliver jobs or the tax revenue needed to maintain public services.

Workforce, Schools, Safety & More Outrank Taxes In Business Location Decisions. According to a survey conducted by LSU researchers, 1000 business executives ranked quality public schools, health care faciilities and skilled labor availability as more important than corporate tax rates in making business location decisions. Full Report

Related Articles:

Nonprofits and Taxes by Kim Klein. What are taxes for? What is fair taxation? Why should nonprofits make it their business to understand and affect tax policy? A fundraising guru gives us her perspective on why ignoring tax policy is foolish. From The Nonprofit Quarterly

Link Between Taxation, Unemployment Is Absent: By Jonathan Weisman, The Washington Post (3-15-04). It has become conventional wisdom in Washington that rising tax burdens crush labor markets... Yet an examination of historical tax levels and unemployment rates reveals no obvious correlation.

Also: Some Truths About Taxes, Jobs & Economic Growth. The Reality: Tax Cuts Cost Jobs

National Resources:

Center on Budget and Policy Priorities: A nonpartisan policy organization that conducts research and analysison the state and federal level to inform public debates over proposed budget and tax policies and to help ensure that the needs of low-income families and individuals are considered in these debates.

Citizen's For Tax Justice: A nonpartisan, nonprofit research and advocacy organization dedicated to fair taxation at the federal, state, and local levels.

Economic Policy Institute: EPI is a nonprofit, nonpartisan think tank that seeks to broaden the public debate about strategies to achieve a prosperous and fair economy.

Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy: ITEP's mission is to keep policymakers and the public informed of the effects of current and proposed tax polices on tax fairness, government budgets and sound economic policy.

United For A Fair Economy: UFE raises awareness that concentrated wealth and power undermine the economy, corrupt democracy, deepen the racial divide, and tear communities apart.

Responsible Wealth: A national network of businesspeople, investors and affluent Americans who are concerned about deepening economic inequality and are working for widespread prosperity. Three primary areas of work are tax fairness, corporate responsibility and living wages.