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A recent US Bureau of Economic Analysis report on State Personal Income reveals the extent to which the West Virginia relied on Transfer Payments to support total Personal Income between 2008 and 2009, a time when the Great Recession was wrecking havoc on state budgets and employment outlook was particularly bleak. Transfer Payments, primarily Unemployment…

While there is a plenty of disagreement over how to handle the federal deficit and debt, one area almost everyone agrees on is the need for corporate tax reform. But while everyone agrees that the loopholes, deductions, and giveaways in the corporate tax code should be reigned in, both sides of the aisle also say…

Last week it was announced that Macy's would be building a $150 million distribution center in Berkeley County. Macy's negotiated with Berkeley County for a payment in lieu of taxes (PILOT) deal to entice the company to build in the county. The PILOT deal calls for Macy's to pay $11.25 million over 15 years; Macy's…

As the debate over the federal budget deficit and federal debt heat up, many, including plenty in West Virginia, have argued that the policies enacted since 2009 have pushed the deficit to its current heights, and only by reigning in this out of control spending can the deficit be reduced. But, the fact remains, the economic…

Ever wonder why the we pay so much for health care in the U.S.? Is it because we eat and drink too much? Or is it those darn lawyers suing doctors? Nope. Not really HT: Ezra Klein Via: Medical Billing And Coding

With the April 18 tax filing deadline fast approaching, we've the CBPP assembled these charts to provide a big-picture look at the U.S. tax system.

Last week, members of Congress avoided a government shutdown and came to an agreement to fund the federal government for the rest of the fiscal year. Over all the agreement contains a $38 billion reduction in appropriations for FY 2011, compared to FY 2010. Included in the agreement is a 0.2 percent across the board…

A former Wisconsin Secretary of Development under Gov. Lee Dreyfus (R) has a great op-ed in the Milwaukee Journal saying what (unfortunately) can't be said enough times:  "The things that create the conditions that lead to the growth of good jobs are a skilled, educated, stable and dedicated workforce, a substantial group of highly educated…

A recent editorial in the Daily Mail claims that West Virginia's recent business tax cuts have resulted in surplus revenues for March 2011 ($25.7 million) and fiscal year to date ($79.5 million). Following a similar pattern, there was no evidence provided for this assertion other than anecdotal platitudes. In making its case, the Daily Mail…