Spending Transparency

Feb 8, 2016

Top 400 Taxpayers See Tax Rates Rise, But There’s More to the Story

As Americans were gathering party supplies to greet the New Year, the Internal Revenue Service released their annual report of cumulative tax data reported on the 400 tax r...

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Feb 4, 2016

Chlorine Bleach Plants Needlessly Endanger 63 Million Americans

Chlorine bleach plants across the U.S. put millions of Americans in danger of a chlorine gas release, a substance so toxic it has been used as a chemical weapon. Greenpeace’s new repo...

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Jan 25, 2016

U.S. Industrial Facilities Reported Fewer Toxic Releases in 2014

The Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) data for 2014 is now available. The good news: total toxic releases by reporting facilities decreased by nearly six percent from 2013 levels. Howe...

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Jan 22, 2016

Methane Causes Climate Change. Here's How the President Plans to Cut Emissions by 40-45 Percent.

UPDATE (Jan. 22, 2016): Today, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) released its proposed rule to reduce methane emissions...

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more news

Disturbing Pattern Emerging on Government Budget Analyses

When it comes to federal tax and budget policy, it is essential that good forecasts and good estimates exist on the effects of policy options. Unfortunately, the current administration is showing a propensity to conceal and selectively release budget information when it suits their narrow political agenda.

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Economy and Jobs Watch: More Weakness in GDP and Employment

Output data shows some sign of life, but the labor market continues to be weak.

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Nobel Laureate Speaks Out Against Administration's Policies

Aug 6, 2003 by Guest Blogger

Nobel Laureate George Akerlof pulls very few punches in a recent interview.

"I think this is the worst government the US has ever had in its more than 200 years of history. It has engaged in extraordinarily irresponsible policies not only in foreign and economic but also in social and environmental policy. This is not normal government policy. Now is the time for people to engage in civil disobedience."

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IRS Revises EITC Certification Program

Aug 6, 2003 by Adam Hughes*

On August 5, the IRS announced significant changes in its proposed pilot program to require pre-certification of EITC taxfilers. (See previous entry for more information.)

The changes include:

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Revenue Loss and Social Security

Aug 5, 2003 by Guest Blogger

Bill Gale notes that the the size of the revenue loss from the recent tax cuts would have been more than enough to shore up Social Secuty and Medicare.

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Another below average GDP report

Jul 31, 2003 by Guest Blogger

The Bureau of Economic analysis announced Real GDP grew at a 2.4% annual rate in the second quarter of 2003. This is below the 3.2% average over the past 10 years.

Unfortunately, if you take out federal spending on national defense, the economy only grew at a 0.7% rate.

Click the image below for a larger version:

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Watcher Articles

Jul 29, 2003 by Guest Blogger

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Top 400 Taxpayers See Tax Rates Rise, But There’s More to the Story

Chlorine Bleach Plants Needlessly Endanger 63 Million Americans

U.S. Industrial Facilities Reported Fewer Toxic Releases in 2014

Methane Causes Climate Change. Here's How the President Plans to Cut Emissions by 40-45 Percent.

Disturbing Pattern Emerging on Government Budget Analyses

Economy and Jobs Watch: More Weakness in GDP and Employment

Nobel Laureate Speaks Out Against Administration's Policies

Aug 6, 2003 by Guest Blogger

IRS Revises EITC Certification Program

Aug 6, 2003 by Adam Hughes*

Revenue Loss and Social Security

Aug 5, 2003 by Guest Blogger

Another below average GDP report

Jul 31, 2003 by Guest Blogger

Watcher Articles

Jul 29, 2003 by Guest Blogger

Children Bear Brunt of Federal Tax Cuts

A Forward Look at the Budget

Budget Cuts Strain State, County and Municipal Public Health Departments

Pages

Living in the Shadow of Danger: Poverty, Race, and Unequal Chemical Facility Hazards

A Tale of Two Retirements: One for CEOs and One for the Rest of Us

Blowing Smoke: Chemical Companies Say “Trust Us,” But Environmental and Workplace Safety Violations Belie Their Rhetoric

Gasping for Support: Implementation of Tougher Air Quality Standards Will Require New Funds for State Agencies

Citizen Health & Safety Topics

Recent Reports

Living in the Shadow of Danger: State Scorecards

Living in the Shadow of Danger: Poverty, Race, and Unequal Chemical Facility Hazards

A Tale of Two Retirements: One for CEOs and One for the Rest of Us