Senior Fellow Eugene Steuerle argues that the fatal flaw in the administration's strategy behind its private pension proposal is that it is not integrated either with social security reform or with further reform of the private pension system. Accordingly, if adopted as proposed, USA accounts...
Senior Fellow Eugene Steuerle argues that there are advantages to the administration's USA account proposal. It would attempt to use some general revenues to fortify and build up the private pension system. He concludes that with luck, it would develop and reinforce better saving patterns by...
There are many items in the tax law that add significant complexity with little gain in some other area like equity or efficiency. Almost no one would introduce many provisions now in current law, if designing a Code from scratch. Once there, however, these complexities are hard to remove.
Senior Fellow Eugene Steuerle offers the expertise of American University Professor Janet Spragens, executive director of the American Tax Policy Institute. He shows that she made a strong case that more attention ought to be paid to the needs of low-income taxpayers. Indirectly, she points to...
Senior Fellow Eugene Steuerle raises questions about a proposed long-term care credit, in terms of traditional tax policy issues: administration, costs, equity, budget accounting, and tax simplicity.
This column by Senior Fellow Eugene Steuerle is the first in a series examining key questions about the president's proposal to deal with long-term care through the tax code. The focus will be less on the specific details of that particular proposal than with the type of analysis required to...
Senior Fellow Eugene Steuerle examines tax reform and the Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT). He suggests a solution: Simply eliminate or cut the AMT and then replace it with more direct taxes on the income classes that benefit from the AMT tax cut. He concludes, however, that neither political party...
The Administration's USA Account Proposal (Part 3 of 3)
Senior Fellow Eugene Steuerle argues that the fatal flaw in the administration's strategy behind its private pension proposal is that it is not integrated either with social security reform or with further reform of the private pension system. Accordingly, if adopted as proposed, USA accounts...
The Administration's USA Account Proposal (Part 2 of 3)
Senior Fellow Eugene Steuerle argues that there are advantages to the administration's USA account proposal. It would attempt to use some general revenues to fortify and build up the private pension system. He concludes that with luck, it would develop and reinforce better saving patterns by...
The Impact of Complexity in the Tax Code on Individual Taxpayers and Small Businesses
There are many items in the tax law that add significant complexity with little gain in some other area like equity or efficiency. Almost no one would introduce many provisions now in current law, if designing a Code from scratch. Once there, however, these complexities are hard to remove.
The Administration's USA Account Proposal (Part 1 of 3)
Senior Fellow Eugene Steuerle comments on the apparent demise of the Clinton Administrations USA proposal, and examines its pros and cons.
Tax Controversy Among the Low-Income Population
Senior Fellow Eugene Steuerle offers the expertise of American University Professor Janet Spragens, executive director of the American Tax Policy Institute. He shows that she made a strong case that more attention ought to be paid to the needs of low-income taxpayers. Indirectly, she points to...
Long-Term Care Needs and the Government Response (Part 3 of 3)
Senior Fellow Eugene Steuerle raises questions about a proposed long-term care credit, in terms of traditional tax policy issues: administration, costs, equity, budget accounting, and tax simplicity.
Long-Term Care Needs and the Government Response (Part 2 of 3)
Senior Fellow Eugene Steuerle raises questions about a proposed long-term care credit, in terms of budget, health, and retirement policy.
Long-Term Care Needs and the Government Response (Part 1 of 3)
This column by Senior Fellow Eugene Steuerle is the first in a series examining key questions about the president's proposal to deal with long-term care through the tax code. The focus will be less on the specific details of that particular proposal than with the type of analysis required to...
When is a Tax Cut Justified?
Senior Fellow Eugene Steuerle attempt to make sense of the tax cut debate, offering guidance in answering the question, "when is a tax cut warranted?"
The Crazy Politics of the Alternative Minimum Tax
Senior Fellow Eugene Steuerle examines tax reform and the Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT). He suggests a solution: Simply eliminate or cut the AMT and then replace it with more direct taxes on the income classes that benefit from the AMT tax cut. He concludes, however, that neither political party...