Knowledge is power. It makes sure people understand what is happening to their country, and how they can make a difference. FreedomWorks University will give you the tools to understand economics, the workings of government, the history of the American legal system, and the most important debates facing our nation today. Enroll in FreedomWorks University today!
Milwaukee parents have more tax-supported educational choices than parents in other U.S. cities. These include private schools with voucher students, charter schools, contracted schools serving at-risk students, state and district-wide open enrollment, district specialty schools, and traditional neighborhood schools.
From the Charleston Gazette October 10, 2003, Friday
Copyright 2003 Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News
Copyright 2003 The Charleston Gazette
About seven months after medical malpractice reforms became law in West Virginia, premiums are going up for about 500 doctors insured by the state's largest commercial provider of malpractice insurance.
The state Insurance Commission last week approved a 13 percent hike in the premiums Medical Assurance charges doctors. The company had asked for a 17.5 percent increase in June.
October 10, 2003
The Honorable William Thomas
Chairman
Committee on Ways and Means
United States House of Representatives
1102 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Dear Chairman Thomas:
HILLSBOROUGH -- The Orange County Schools need more funding from the county, and one of the only ways to get more is to merge with the Chapel Hill-Carrboro city schools, panelists said during a parent group's forum Thursday night.
"Education is undoubtedly the key to success in life," said Richard Kennedy, a panelist, county parent and former member of the county school board. "It's true that money isn't everything, but if you want to get the job done, it takes money."
SALEM - If tax opponents succeed in overturning an $800 million tax hike approved by the Legislature, it would roll back a 10-cent-a-pack cigarette tax as well.
That would cost the Oregon Health Plan about $22 million in addition to about $200 million it would lose from rejection of the larger tax package.
Oregon would be the first state in 10 years to reduce a cigarette tax, dropping it from $1.28, eighth-highest in the nation, to $1.18, about 10th in the nation.
Tax opponents are circulating petitions to get the tax recall on the ballot in February.
Testimony of Pamela Olson Assistant Secretary (Tax Policy) United States Department of the Treasury before the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship
Madam Chair:
I appreciate the opportunity to appear before you today to discuss current tax issues affecting small business manufacturing in a global market.
Lawsuits are legendary in America. From the $370 billion dollar tobacco settlement to the more recent medical malpractice crisis, lawsuits are constantly making headlines while expanding their reach to virtually every facet of our daily lives. Trial lawyers are an important driver in the creeping expanse of litigation, aggressively pursuing new opportunities for litigation. Unfortunately, it seems that their efforts may be based more on self interest rather than applying the principles of the common law to provide redress to individuals with real grievances. In fact, trial lawyers have recently come under investigation by the FBI for activities that would make an Enron executive blush.
While citizens from Alabama to Oregon to Florida are shooting down state level tax hikes, some federal level politicians are showing just how out of touch they are with the American people by proposing higher taxes. Democratic candidates for president are arguing over how much to raise taxes and several Democratic senators have submitted a bill to increase the top income tax rate. In addition to missing the anti-tax message the American people are sending loud and clear, such proposals are bad for the economy and completely miss what needs to be done to the complicated and wasteful U.S. tax system—which is to make it simple and flat.
Back in mid-August, an Oregon Senate committee chose a one-page House bill intended to renew a 10-year-old, 10-cents a pack cigarette tax as a vehicle to carry a much bigger, unrelated tax plan.
The result was a hefty bill loaded with about $800 million in tax increases used to balance the 2003-05 state budget. Opponents now are trying to put the tax increase package on the ballot. If voters overturn it, the relatively routine cigarette tax boost would get snuffed out, too.
The leader of the campaign to repeal the Legislature’s tax increase alleged Tuesday that a union-backed watchdog group is using “intimidation” tactics to try to thwart the campaign.
Russ Walker said that in the past week, the watchdog group’s volunteers have showed up at Portland area stores where petitioners were gathering signatures to try to discourage shoppers from signing.
“They are out there confronting people,” Walker said. “They are running up to people with ‘Think Before You Ink’ fliers. It’s very intimidating to people.”
FreedomWorks exists to build, educate, and mobilize the largest network of activists advocating the principles of smaller government, lower taxes, free markets, personal liberty and the rule of law.