tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49674931600835382782010-03-12T11:36:03.073-08:00Petenoreply@blogger.comBlogger44125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4967493160083538278.post-68419682502594304032010-03-12T11:31:00.000-08:002010-03-12T11:36:03.366-08:00

Rumored and assumed, its now reality the Medicare health insurance tax increase proposed by the administration back in February would indeed be applied to capital gains.Tax Notes reports:"The White House confirmed to Tax Analysts on March 9 that President Obama's proposed healthcare reform-related Medicare tax increase on unearned income would fall on capital gains, even though this wasn't

Buritahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06956711819545729403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4967493160083538278.post-501556550458893482010-03-10T18:51:00.000-08:002010-03-10T18:56:53.328-08:00

Some hopeful signs for lower or maybe even nixed capital gains tax rates. BNA's Daily Tax Report reports on the economic benefits of eliminating capital gains taxes on small businesses in new survey results released earlier this month by National Association for Business Economics:"NABE's semiannual economic policy survey asked 203 respondents to rank several possible proposals in order of what

Buritahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06956711819545729403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4967493160083538278.post-88637182367070856962010-03-03T17:13:00.001-08:002010-03-03T17:14:27.396-08:00

A sobering note from a March 1 Bloomberg News article reports that capital gains tax receipts dropped more than 40% in 2008 due to the stock market crash.The quick and easy fix to all of this of course is elementary—achieve higher stock prices. Most mainstream economists agree that a lower capital gains tax rate will spur the kind of investment necessary to boost investment on Main Street and

Buritahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06956711819545729403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4967493160083538278.post-73072233946044355142010-03-03T17:09:00.000-08:002010-03-03T17:11:47.793-08:00

Job creation and economic growth are certainly great buzzwords these days, but while the left hand of Washington's leadership espouses investment and growth, the right hand is quickly killing it.A February 24th Wall Street Journal editorial sums it up well:This new ObamaCare bargain would for the first time apply the 2.9% Medicare payroll tax to "interest, dividends, annuities, royalties and

Buritahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06956711819545729403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4967493160083538278.post-27782009614478662052010-02-22T18:56:00.000-08:002010-02-22T18:58:44.898-08:00

Upon taking office there was little if any doubt that President Obama would allow capital gains tax rates to expire from the current 15% and rise to 20%. Last summer, Democratic leaders in congress kicked around additional tax hikes on capital gains to finance health care reform measures.Today the latest battle in the war on entrepreneurship continues as the president outlines his new health

Buritahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06956711819545729403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4967493160083538278.post-24578179097515509252010-01-04T19:42:00.000-08:002010-01-05T08:37:37.965-08:00

A hat tip today to Washington Post columnist Robert Samuelson and his piece on the impact of the Great Recession on the "can-do" culture, risk taking and entrepreneurship that is desperately needed to save our spiraling economy.Risk-taking entrepreneurs are a major force for technological breakthroughs, new start-up companies, and the creation of high paying jobs. Many today believe that the ’78

Buritahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06956711819545729403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4967493160083538278.post-39473989020383792992009-12-17T17:27:00.000-08:002009-12-17T17:32:09.098-08:00

In October we discussed two important research papers released by the Institute for Research on the Economics of Taxation (IRET) sponsored by The Searle Freedom Trust. One found that taxpayers are still sensitive to the tax rate on capital gains, and would report fewer gains if the rate were raised, while the other concluded that tax rate increases would not raise anticipated revenues.Another

Buritahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06956711819545729403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4967493160083538278.post-3128542955914363302009-11-17T10:11:00.000-08:002009-11-17T10:20:42.091-08:00

The Wall Street Journal recently paid tribute to the late Senator Clifford Hansen as "A Soften-Spoken Hero of the Revolution." See our earlier post on Senator Hansen's heroic feats in the 1978 capital gains tax cut here and WSJ item here:Sometimes good public policy is moved forward by quiet men simply doing what's best for the country.Last week, Clifford Hansen, the oldest living U.S. Senator,

Buritahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06956711819545729403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4967493160083538278.post-38342627687878742272009-11-16T07:45:00.000-08:002009-11-17T15:35:13.661-08:00

If you're an investor that can't bear to calculate the impact of the mounting price tag of health care reform, here's some scary math for you.Under current law, if the President and Congress do nothing, the maximum long-term capital gains tax rate rises from 15 percent to 20 percent in 2011 but there are several ominous signs that point to a more substantial hike in the rate. Now factor in the

Buritahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06956711819545729403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4967493160083538278.post-10746153305442422492009-10-23T12:09:00.000-07:002009-10-23T12:13:43.529-07:00

Senator Cliff Hansen (R-WY), the quiet hero of the historic Steiger-Hansen 1978 capital gains cut, passed away peacefully this week at the age of 97. 
As if it were yesterday, I distinctly remember turning to the modest soft-spoken to ask him to become the lead Senate sponsor of the capital gains effort after Senator Lloyd Bentsen turned us down. Hansen said, "By Gosh, I will do it."Working only

Buritahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06956711819545729403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4967493160083538278.post-14644904921415724902009-10-23T11:57:00.000-07:002009-10-23T12:03:21.781-07:00

Two new reports were released in the Capital Gains Series from the Institute for Research on the Economics of Taxation (IRET) sponsored by The Searle Freedom Trust. The papers in this series discuss the taxation of capital gains and use quantitative tools to examine the economic and budgetary consequences of changes in the capital gains tax rate.In The Relationship Between Realized Capital Gains

Buritahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06956711819545729403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4967493160083538278.post-65398847643146080052009-10-15T10:25:00.000-07:002009-10-15T10:50:19.248-07:00

Congressional Budget Office Director Douglas W. Elmendorf recently responded by letter to an inquiry to Representative Brian Bilbray (R-CA) on anticipated revenue and other impacts of the 20% capital gains tax rate’s looming return in 2011. The CBO is a nonpartisan congressional research/analysis group that historically has been very skeptical about high capital gains taxes having a negative

Buritahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06956711819545729403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4967493160083538278.post-31431572836722436412009-08-18T20:19:00.000-07:002009-08-18T20:31:01.420-07:00

On the presidential stump in Wakarusa, Indiana, President Obama recently revisited his campaign promise to zero out capital gains tax rates for small businesses:"I've also proposed reducing to zero the capital gains tax for investments in small or startup businesses. Because small businesses are innovative businesses; small businesses produce 13 times more patents per employee than large

Buritahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06956711819545729403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4967493160083538278.post-9518279338507393192009-07-22T07:47:00.000-07:002009-07-22T07:50:24.938-07:00

When we started our blog, we were concerned about the automatic capital gains tax increase that would occur after 2010 when the Bush era tax cuts expire. If President Obama and congress take no action, tax rates will automatically rise to 20% from the current 15%. 

Now, much to our surprise and dismay, Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Ways and Means Chairman Charlie Rangel and other influential lawmakers

Buritahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06956711819545729403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4967493160083538278.post-91294409345790155922009-07-05T18:40:00.000-07:002009-07-05T18:54:03.137-07:00

Economic recovery is still sluggish and Americans that have seen their life's nest eggs wiped out are still reluctant to wade back into the investment pool. Here's a new idea outlined in my recent op-ed in Weekly Standard for the capital gains tax that could help restore American confidence in saving and investing and rebuild retirement nest eggs.Rather than applying a reduced capital gains tax

Buritahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06956711819545729403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4967493160083538278.post-7172497538516481402009-05-06T17:36:00.000-07:002009-05-06T17:43:26.659-07:00

Former Congressman Jack Kemp was a tireless supporter of low capital gains taxes , its impact on creating an environment for entrepreneurship to flourish and the opportunity to provided for minorities and the disadvantages to get a piece of the American dream. He will be sorely missed as I noted in an obituary in Tax Notes.Mark Bloomfield, CEO of the American Council for Capital Formation, said

Buritahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06956711819545729403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4967493160083538278.post-843279073265740882009-04-09T20:31:00.000-07:002009-04-09T20:43:28.091-07:00

Richard Rahn is a founder of the ACCF and served as its first executive director. He still serves as a current director today and continues to fight the good fight on important issues including the capital gains tax. In his most recent Washington Times column, he dispels myths and downright whoppers about the capital gains tax.Apologists for the present capital gains tax, including many members

Buritahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06956711819545729403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4967493160083538278.post-77681233397191655742009-04-03T06:36:00.000-07:002009-04-03T06:40:21.634-07:00

As I drove home last night, I was listening to President Obama's post G-20 news conference. Two key points made during his Q&A struck me...I think that there's always been a spectrum of opinion about how unfettered the free market is. And along that spectrum, I think there have been some who believe in very fierce regulation and are very suspicious of globalization, and there are others who

Buritahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06956711819545729403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4967493160083538278.post-36993740754003781732009-03-16T06:39:00.000-07:002009-03-16T06:53:55.509-07:00

In his recent column for Forbes, Bruce Bartlett has some good advice for those seeking to preserve low rates on capital gains--an indexing provision that differentiates real gains versus inflationary ones. With anticipated inflation around the corner, this may be a fight worth pursuing...Some will say that paying 15%, the current capital gains tax rate, isn't much of a burden. But this ignores

Buritahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06956711819545729403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4967493160083538278.post-54308961290931260062009-02-25T11:51:00.000-08:002009-02-25T15:21:03.352-08:00

Many thanks to Senator Jon Kyl (R-AZ) for making the case to President Obama at the White House fiscal summit for preserving the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts.According to The Bureau of National Affairs Daily Tax Report:Senate Republican Whip Jon Kyl (R-AZ) seized the opportunity to attack the president's intention to allow the expiration of some of the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts for wealthier households

Buritahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06956711819545729403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4967493160083538278.post-61027589506825505632009-02-25T11:28:00.000-08:002009-02-25T11:34:52.486-08:00

In yesterday's Wall Street Journal, Silicon Valley exec Tom Hayes and ABCNews.com columnist Michael Malone warn that the U.S. economy isn't built for the new world and that the path to new prosperity is through entrepreneurs who have the flexibility, the freedom and the risk-everything ambition in this rapidly changing global marketplace and they should be the focus of stimulus measures. Their

Buritahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06956711819545729403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4967493160083538278.post-30139220949006830872009-02-10T07:31:00.000-08:002009-02-10T07:58:30.628-08:00

WSJ's Steve Moore asks a very important question in his column today, "The Missing Obama Tax Cut." As we've said before, the economy needs to be stimulated, but so does investor confidence. Lower rates on capital gains, even if they are limited to small businesses and start-ups, will encourage risk-taking in the business community and put us on more of an even playing field with other major

Buritahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06956711819545729403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4967493160083538278.post-90450566267804165342009-01-28T08:03:00.001-08:002009-01-28T08:08:26.991-08:00

In case you missed Sunday's Meet the Press, Top Economic Advisor to President Obama indicated in no uncertain terms that the Bush tax cuts will have to expire, which of course would include elimination of lower rates on capital gains. Summers said "I don't think there's any question they have to be repealed. The country can't afford them for the long run. ... They have to be allowed to expire.

Buritahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06956711819545729403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4967493160083538278.post-54713365866863134062009-01-22T04:05:00.000-08:002009-01-22T04:12:54.849-08:00

In case you missed it, a very astute analysis of the current financial meltdown was offered in an op-ed in yesterday's WSJ by Alberto Alesina, professor of economics at Harvard, and Luigi Zingales, professor of finance at the Chicago Booth School of Business. Moreover, they suggest that rather than investing in highway projects, the economy needs the proper antidote to promote more saving and

Buritahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06956711819545729403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4967493160083538278.post-24061084134347190602008-12-10T10:28:00.000-08:002008-12-10T21:08:07.902-08:00

WASHINGTON - Government bailout or bankruptcy for automakers? How about the third option presented in an op-ed in the WSJ's OpinionJournal today by Congressman-elect Jared Polis (D-CO)?The incoming congressman-elect from Colorado has a savvy business background as the founder of proflowers.com and bluemountain.com and has this idea which certainly has merit:If we as a society place a public

Buritahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06956711819545729403noreply@blogger.com0