Congress' Lame-Duck Legislators Want To Spend Money Like We're Still in a Pandemic
It's especially outrageous when considering the billions of dollars in fraud that took place thanks to COVID-19 relief programs.
Tax credits
A Lame-Duck Congress Should Reject the Extended Child Tax Credit
The policy has some bipartisan support, despite the fact that it has mostly been a failure since its inception.
A GOP-Led Congress May Focus on Owning the Libs. Instead, It Should Focus on Owning Inflation.
If the midterms favor Republicans, their top priority needs to be the fight against inflation—whether or not they feel like they created the problem.
Ohio Pledges Over $150 Million in Taxpayer Money for Honda Factories
Honda, one of the world's largest automakers, announced it would spend $4 billion building and upgrading factories in Ohio. The state is showering it with public funds anyway.
Divided Government Is Good. In 2023, Bipartisanship Would Be Better.
From immigration to drug reform, there is plenty of potential for productive compromise.
The Government Should Be Pro-Market, Not 'Pro-Business'
Businesses are all in favor of competition, tax cuts, and deregulation only until they aren't—meaning only until subsidies might benefit them.
IRS Sent $1.1 Billion in Child Welfare Payments to the Wrong People
Possibly the federal government's most efficient pandemic spending effort.
A Few Ideas for the Better Government Americans Desperately Want
From cronyist subsidies to an unfair tax code, there are several key fixes Congress could make to better serve the public.
How To Waste $1 Trillion
Why should we believe that this boondoggle will produce better results than hundreds of other corporate welfare programs?
The Disappearing Differences Between Republicans and Democrats on Federal Family Spending
Many conservatives no longer appear to care much for fiscal conservatism.
The Democrats' New Inflation Bill Includes Tax Credits for Electric Vehicles That Don't Exist
Even Democrats are criticizing the bill's unrealistic expectations.
The CHIPS Act Is Corporate Welfare Disguised as Industrial Policy
If you believe that moving most of our chip production onshore is good for national security, you should labor for regulatory reforms rather than subsidies.
Biden Says the Deficit Is Falling. Actually, It's Rising.
Under Biden, Trump, and Obama, government federal spending almost doubled.
Biden's Plan for Reducing Inflation Will Actually Make It Worse
The president's argument is amazing for its tone-deafness, inconsistent thinking, and sheer economic ignorance.
Blame Insane Government Spending for Inflation
Some want to solve the problem with subsidies for gas, housing, child care, and more. That only risks greater stagnation.
When 'Pro-Worker' Policies Hurt Workers
Both Republicans and Democrats want to address poverty with big government.
In 2022, Pay Attention to Right-Wing Authoritarianism
For decades, libertarians have focused on illiberalism coming from the political left. But authoritarianism has taken root among many conservatives across the world.
Private Property Rights Made the First Thanksgiving Possible
Something to be grateful for.
The Build Back Better Bill Will Give You $12,000 for Buying an Electric Car. Unless It's a Tesla.
Only vehicles made in unionized U.S. factories qualify for the full amount.
Joe Manchin Isn't the Fiscal Conservative We Need, but He's the Best We've Got
"Spending trillions more on new and expanded government programs, when we can't even pay for the essential social programs...is the definition of fiscal insanity."
The $700 Billion Gimmick at the Center of Biden's Tax Plan
Biden's plan will raise taxes on individuals earning as little as $30,000 annually by 2027, but that's just a trick to make the overall cost of the bill look lower than it really is.
Big Government Is Back, Baby!
And hope for the future (still) lies outside of the state.
The Bipartisan War on Work
Urban Democrats may be leading the charge, but Republicans, too, have enlisted.
Expanding the Child Tax Credit Will Do Very Little To Help the Poor. Here's Why.
No country gets out of poverty through redistribution of income.
Stop Using the IRS To Subsidize Parenting
In response to Biden's child tax credits, Sen. Josh Hawley proposes paying parents $1,000 per month—if they're married—and $500 per month if they're single.
Bipartisan Support of Child Tax Credits Is Too Hasty
The jury is still out about whether broad parental subsidies improve outcomes for children
Have Kids? Mitt Romney and Joe Biden Want the Government To Pay You Thousands Every Year
In most circumstances, parents would be eligible to receive $3,000 per child annually, doled out in monthly checks. It could be a major overhaul of how the federal government handles welfare.
Biden's $1.9 Trillion COVID Relief Package Includes More Stimulus Checks, State Government Bailout, $15 Federal Minimum Wage
On the brighter side, Biden wants 100 million vaccinations in 100 days and will push for immediate school reopenings.
There's Something for Everyone To Hate in Sen. Martha McSally's Plan for Federally Subsidized Vacations
The Arizona Senator would give families an $8,000 tax credit, plus $500 for each child, to take a trip that's at least 50 miles from their home but not outside the United States.
Congress' Budget Deal Kills Solar Industry Tax Credits
The solar industry has benefited from "temporary" tax credits for decades. These might finally be allowed to lapse.
Bipartisan 'Bucket of Garbage' Budget Bill Contains $50 Billion in Special Interest Tax Breaks
On their own, some of those tax breaks might be defensible. Dumping them into a must-pass budget bill is not.
U.S. Fertility Falls to Lowest Rate Ever
The number of children that families choose to have is none of the government's business.
'Temporary' Solar Tax Credits Have Persisted For Decades. Now Senate Dems Can't Let Them Go.
There's nothing more permanent than a temporary solar investment tax credit.
Kamala Harris' Proposed 'Tax Cut' for the Middle Class Manages to Cost Both Money and Jobs
The California senator's plan to create a new refundable tax credit is bad policy, but it says a lot about her politics heading into 2020.
Remy: It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas
Government plays Santa Claus with your tax money.
Amazon Welcomes You to "National Landing": Reason Roundup
In addition to tax credits, Virginia is giving Amazon the right to rename the area around its new headquarters.
Report: Federal Low Income Housing Program Lacks Basic Anti-Fraud Safeguards
The Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program is on the receiving end of yet another negative government watchdog report.
We Should Eliminate Federal Electric Vehicle Subsidies for Rich People
79 percent of the EV tax credits go to households with adjusted gross incomes of $100,000 or higher
New Jersey's 'Snooki Amendment' Brings New Attention to Film Tax Credits
Skeptics question the economic benefits of the Garden State Film and Digital Media Jobs Act.
Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan Takes Cronyism to the Next Level With $5 Billion Bid for Amazon Headquarters
The PRIME Act would fork over millions to one of the world's wealthiest corporations.
Should the Government Try to Bribe You Into Having More Babies?
Increased wealth and technological progress give people greater liberty to decide when, how, with whom, and if they want to reproduce.
Desperate Mayors Compete for Amazon HQ2 (Sketch)
Local politicians clash as they try to lure Amazon's new headquarters to their towns.
Republicans Want to Cut Taxes, But Not the Size of Government
The tax reform effort is flailing because the GOP doesn't want to reckon with the consequences of tax reductions.
Congress Could Make It Harder for Local Pols to Blow Your Money on Stadiums
Bipartisan proposal would prohibit the use of tax exempt municipal bonds for stadium projects. That won't end stadium giveaways, but might reduce them.
Taxpayer Weaned SolarWorld Comes to an End
U.S. taxpayers lavished over $100 million in government aid on the now insolvent SolarWorld.
Trump's Tax Plan: Lower Tax Rates, Fewer Tax Breaks
Some good news, but will there be any spending cuts?
