October 31, 2008
23 States to Have Tax-Related Measures on the Ballot Next Tuesday
New Report Summarizes, Provides Information to Voters on Several Fiscal Initiatives
Washington, DC, October 31, 2008 - In an effort to provide more information to voters, the Tax Foundation released a new report today summarizing several tax-related ballot initiatives in 23 states, headlined by proposals in Massachusetts to repeal the state income tax outright, a North Dakota measure to reduce personal and corporate income taxes, a Colorado initiative to effectively end "Taxpayer Bill of Rights" (TABOR) spending restrictions, and an Oregon proposal to expand deductibility of federal income taxes.
In Tax Foundation Fiscal Fact No. 154, "Voters Will Consider Tax-Related Ballot Initiatives in 23 States," Tax Foundation Tax Counsel Joseph Henchman provides an overview of tax-related initiatives and summarizes general arguments from proponents and opponents.
"With an election where the media is so focused at the national level, we want to provide voters with state-specific information on ballot initiatives that might affect their pocketbooks and their state's coffers," Henchman says. "Tax Foundation will be monitoring these proposals before and after the 2008 election."
In Massachusetts, Question 1 would cut the state income tax in half for 2009 and repeal it completely beginning in 2010 If the initiative passes, Massachusetts would become the tenth U.S. state with no general state tax on incomes, joining Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming. In North Dakota, Measure 2 would lower the state's corporate income tax by 15 percent and the state's personal income tax by 50 percent.
Fiscal Fact No. 154 can be found at http://www.taxfoundation.org/publications/show/23887.html.
The Tax Foundation is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that has monitored fiscal policy at the federal, state and local levels since 1937.
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To schedule an interview to discuss tax-related ballot initiatives, please contact Matt Moon, the Tax Foundation's Manager of Media Relations, at (202) 464-