Staff > Scott A. Hodge
Scott A. Hodge
President
tf@taxfoundation.org
Scott A. Hodge is president of the Tax Foundation in Washington, D.C., and is recognized as one of Washington's innovative thinkers on tax policy, the federal budget and government spending. Over the past 20 years Scott has been a leader in many successful efforts to change public policy. During the 1990s, he led the campaign to include the $500 per-child credit and capital gains tax cuts in the Contract with America. These tax cuts were the eventual centerpieces of the 1997 tax bill and the Bush tax cuts in 2001 and 2003.
He has been the creative force behind the Tax Foundation’s Putting a Face on America’s Tax Returns project and the State Business Tax Climate Index, two programs that are changing the terms of the tax debate at the federal and state level. Scott has written and edited three books on the federal budget and streamlining the government and has authored over 100 studies on tax policy and government spending. He has also authored dozens of editorials and opinion pieces for publications such as The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, USA Today, The New York Post and The Washington Times. Hodge has conducted over 600 radio and television interviews—including NBC Nightly News, CBS Nightly News, CNN, Fox Network, Hardball with Chris Mathews, and C-SPAN. In addition, he has contributed to stories on wasteful spending aired by ABC's "Prime-Time Live" and "20/20," and NBC's "Fleecing of America."
Before joining the Tax Foundation, Scott was Director of Tax and Budget Policy at Citizens for a Sound Economy. He also spent ten years at The Heritage Foundation, including eight years as Heritage’s Grover Hermann Fellow in Federal Budgetary Affairs. Scott began his career in Chicago where he helped found the Heartland Institute in 1984. He holds a degree in political economy from the University of Illinois at Chicago.
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Recent Media Appearances
- Video: Scott Hodge on Deductions, Non-Payers, and the Nation’s Tax Burden (WUSA9), April 15, 2008
- Audio: Scott Hodge on Economic Stimulus, March 17, 2008
- Video: Hodge on Who Receives Government Spending (CNBC), April 2, 2007
- WIBA (Madison, Wisconsin) -- Who Pays Federal Income Taxes?, October 3, 2006
Contributions
- Hard Numbers on Obama’s Redistribution Plan, by Scott A. Hodge, June 25, 2008
- Unique Opportunity Is at Hand for Far-Reaching Federal Tax Reform, by Scott A. Hodge, June 6, 2008
- America Celebrates Tax Freedom Day, by Gerald Prante and Scott A. Hodge, March 26, 2008
- U.S. States Lead the World in High Corporate Taxes, by Scott A. Hodge, March 18, 2008
- Buffett’s Facts Are Wrong: Top 1% Now Paying Record Level of Taxes, by Scott A. Hodge, December 13, 2007
- Personalizing the Corporate Income Tax, by Gerald Prante and Scott A. Hodge, October 25, 2007
- Congress Finally Considers Lower Corporate Tax Rate but Underestimates International Tax Competition, by Chris Atkins and Scott A. Hodge, October 25, 2007
- Tax Reform: Flat Tax or FairTax?, by Scott A. Hodge, August 20, 2007
- U.S. Still Lagging Behind OECD Corporate Tax Trends, by Chris Atkins and Scott A. Hodge, July 24, 2007
- Who’s Paying for Low-Income Transfer Payments?, by Scott A. Hodge, July 6, 2007
- Testimony of Scott A. Hodge Before the Senate Committee on Finance, May 10, 2007
- Federal Transfer Payments to Low-Income Households Top $17,000, by Scott A. Hodge, April 25, 2007
- Who Pays What on Tax Day, by Scott A. Hodge and Brian Phillips, April 15, 2007
- Tax and Spend: Who Wins?, by Brian Phillips and Scott A. Hodge, March 29, 2007
- 2007 Tax Freedom Day Press Conference Remarks by Scott Hodge, by Scott A. Hodge, March 28, 2007
- Who Pays America's Tax Burden, and Who Gets the Most Government Spending?, by Andrew Chamberlain, Gerald Prante and Scott A. Hodge, March 26, 2007
- The Cost of Closing the Tax Gap, by Scott A. Hodge, March 19, 2007
- Roundtable Discussion on the Tax Gap and Ways to Improve Tax Compliance, by Scott A. Hodge, March 13, 2007
- Married Couples with Children No Longer in Statistical "Middle Class", by Scott A. Hodge, January 29, 2007
- New Congress Should Call Truce on Tax Credits, by Scott A. Hodge, December 28, 2006
- Tyranny of California's Nonpayers, by Scott A. Hodge, June 6, 2006
- Who Really Benefits from the Extended Tax Cuts?, by Scott A. Hodge, May 17, 2006
- U.S. Lagging Behind OECD Corporate Tax Trends, by Scott A. Hodge and Chris Atkins, May 5, 2006
- America Celebrates Tax Freedom Day, by Scott A. Hodge and Curtis S. Dubay, April 12, 2006
- 2006 Annual Survey of U.S. Attitudes on Tax and Wealth, by Andrew Chamberlain and Scott A. Hodge, April 5, 2006
- Number of Americans Paying Zero Federal Income Tax Grows to 43.4 Million, by Scott A. Hodge, March 30, 2006
- Michigan Should Fear Indiana, Not India, by Curtis S. Dubay and Scott A. Hodge, March 2, 2006
- State Business Tax Climate Index (Third Edition), by Scott A. Hodge and Curtis S. Dubay, February 27, 2006
- Audio Commentary: Are Windfall Profits Taxes Good Economics?, by Scott A. Hodge, February 1, 2006
- Large Oil Industry Tax Payments Undercut Case for Windfall Profits Tax, by Jonathan Williams and Scott A. Hodge, January 31, 2006
- CBO Forecast Shows Rising Spending Continues to Drive Federal Deficits, by Curtis S. Dubay and Scott A. Hodge, January 27, 2006
- Audio Commentary: Oil Industry Profits and Tax Policy, by Scott A. Hodge, January 26, 2006
- The Rising Cost of Complying with the Federal Income Tax, by Scott A. Hodge, J. Scott Moody and Wendy P. Warcholik, Ph.D., January 10, 2006
- We're Number One!, by Scott A. Hodge and Chris Atkins, January 3, 2006
- It's Still Patriotic to Cut Government Spending, by Scott A. Hodge, December 20, 2005
- Reliance on Capital Gains and Dividend Income Tends to Rise with Age, by Scott A. Hodge, December 14, 2005
- Majority of Seniors Benefit from Reduced Capital Gains and Dividend Tax Rates, by Scott A. Hodge, December 6, 2005
- Who Profits at the Pump?, by Jonathan Williams and Scott A. Hodge, November 16, 2005
- The U.S. Corporate Income Tax System: Once a World Leader, Now A Millstone Around the Neck of American Business, by Chris Atkins and Scott A. Hodge, November 15, 2005
- Oil Company Profits and Tax Collections: Does the U.S. Need a New Windfall Profits Tax?, by Jonathan Williams and Scott A. Hodge, November 9, 2005
- Putting a Face On America's Tax Returns, by Scott A. Hodge, November 1, 2005
- Countdown to Tax Reform, Part VI: Cost of Living and Tax Burdens, by Scott A. Hodge, October 27, 2005
- State and Federal Treasuries "Profit" More from Gasoline Sales than U.S. Oil Industry, by Jonathan Williams and Scott A. Hodge, October 26, 2005
- Countdown to Tax Reform, Part V: High-Income Taxpayers and the Entrepreneurial Class, by Scott A. Hodge, October 25, 2005
- Countdown to Tax Reform, Part IV: Life Cycle and Income Inequality, by Scott A. Hodge, October 20, 2005
- Countdown to Tax Reform, Part III: Who Pays Income Taxes in America?, by Scott A. Hodge, October 18, 2005
- Shrinking Pool of Taxpayers a Puzzle for Tax Reform Panel, by Scott A. Hodge, October 14, 2005
- Countdown to Tax Reform, Part II: Taxpayers and Non-Payers, by Scott A. Hodge, October 13, 2005
- Countdown to Tax Reform, Part I: Not Your Father's Middle Class, by Scott A. Hodge, October 11, 2005
- Countdown to Tax Reform, by Scott A. Hodge, October 7, 2005
- Don't Let Judicial Spending Mandates Ruin Tax Climate, by Scott A. Hodge and Curtis S. Dubay, June 30, 2005
- Number of Americans Outside the Income Tax System Continues to Grow, by Scott A. Hodge, June 9, 2005
- The Case for a Single-Rate Tax: Why Our Progressive Tax Code is Inconsistent with the Changing Face of American Taxpayers, by Scott A. Hodge, April 29, 2005
- 2005 Annual Survey of U.S. Attitudes on Tax and Wealth, by Scott A. Hodge and Andrew Chamberlain, April 14, 2005
- Poll Shows We're Ready for Tax Reform, by Scott A. Hodge, April 14, 2005
- Stock Market Investing: Good Enough for Public Employee and Union Pension Funds, by Scott A. Hodge and Curtis S. Dubay, February 2, 2005
- CBO Forecast Shows Runaway Spending—Not Tax Cuts—Causing Deficits, by Scott A. Hodge, January 26, 2005
- Is Anyone Left in the Middle Class?, by Scott A. Hodge, November 3, 2004
- Tax Policy and the 2004 Elections, by Scott A. Hodge, November 3, 2004
- Married Couples Pay Majority of Federal Income Taxes, Received Majority of Bush Tax Cuts, by Scott A. Hodge, October 25, 2004
- Revise California's Tax Code, by Scott A. Hodge and Andrew Chamberlain, October 19, 2004
- Good Tax Policy Could Help Keep Work in New York, by Andrew Chamberlain and Scott A. Hodge, October 16, 2004
- State Business Tax Climate Index (Second Edition), by J. Scott Moody, Scott A. Hodge and Wendy P. Warcholik, Ph.D., October 1, 2004
- Bush Tax Cuts Erased Income Tax Burden for 7.8 Million Families, by J. Scott Moody and Scott A. Hodge, August 17, 2004
- Cautionary Notes for Comparing CBO’s Household Data to Standard Tax Data, by Scott A. Hodge, August 13, 2004
- New CBO Study Confirms Wealthiest Americans Bear Income Tax Burden, by Scott A. Hodge, August 13, 2004
- Wealthy Americans and Business Activity, by Scott A. Hodge and J. Scott Moody, August 1, 2004
- Nonresident State and Local Income Taxes in the United States: The Continuing Spread of "Jock Taxes", by David Hoffman and Scott A. Hodge, July 1, 2004
- Expanding the Child Tax Credit, Part II: A Profile of the 4.6 Million Taxpayers Who Would Benefit from Raising the Phase-Out Threshold to $250,000, by Scott A. Hodge and J. Scott Moody, May 20, 2004
- Expanding the Child Credit Part I: A Profile of the Families Benefiting from the $1,000 Per-Child Credit, by Scott A. Hodge and J. Scott Moody, May 20, 2004
- A Profile of the 70 Million Taxpayers Benefiting from the Wider 10-Percent Tax Bracket, by Scott A. Hodge and J. Scott Moody, May 12, 2004
- A Profile of Couples Benefiting from Marriage Penalty Relief, by Scott A. Hodge and J. Scott Moody, April 27, 2004
- The Growing Class of Americans Who Pay No Federal Income Taxes, by Scott A. Hodge and J. Scott Moody, April 14, 2004
- In "Battleground" Ohio, Tax Politics Are Local, by Scott A. Hodge, March 1, 2004
- Reforming Virginia's Tax Code, by Scott A. Hodge, January 10, 2004
- Ranking California, by Scott A. Hodge, September 1, 2003
- 40 Million Filers Pay No Income Taxes, Many Get Generous Refunds, by Scott A. Hodge, June 5, 2003
- Own a Business? You May be Rich: Two-Thirds of Taxpayers Hit by Highest Tax Rate Have Business Income, by Scott A. Hodge, May 5, 2003
- State Business Tax Climate Index (First Edition), by Scott A. Hodge, Wendy P. Warcholik, Ph.D. and J. Scott Moody, May 1, 2003
- Married Couples File Less Than Half of All Tax Returns, But Pay 74 Percent Of All Income Taxes, by Scott A. Hodge, March 25, 2003
- Have the Stars Aligned for Tax Reform?, by Scott A. Hodge, March 1, 2003
- Taxable Dividends Vary Dramatically by State, by Scott A. Hodge, January 16, 2003
- How the Bush Tax Cuts Affect Families with Children at Different Income Levels, by Scott A. Hodge, January 7, 2003
- Putting a Face on Dividend Earning Taxpayers, by Scott A. Hodge, January 6, 2003
- Who Benefits From A Tax Cut, by Scott A. Hodge, November 1, 2002
- The Economics of H.R.5095, by Scott A. Hodge, September 24, 2002
- Celebrating Our 65th Year, by Scott A. Hodge, September 1, 2002
- Defending the "Indefensible", by Scott A. Hodge, June 1, 2002
- States That Use Tax Hikes to Close Budget Gaps Could Open Employment Gaps, by Scott A. Hodge, March 1, 2002
- Protecting Taxpayer Interests Just as Important as Protecting Shareholders, by Scott A. Hodge, January 5, 2002
- Tax Simplification: Time to Raise the Noise Level, by Scott A. Hodge, September 1, 2001
- Social Security Commission Lays Out the Painful Facts, by Scott A. Hodge, July 15, 2001
- It's Not the Luck of the Irish -- It's Their Low Corporate Taxes, by Scott A. Hodge, May 15, 2001
- One-Time Tax Rebates Will Fall Short of Political Promises and Public Expectations, by Scott A. Hodge, April 1, 2001
- Lexus Versus Layoffs, by Scott A. Hodge, March 1, 2001
- Periodic Tax Cuts a Necessary Companion to a Progressive Tax Code, by Scott A. Hodge, January 15, 2001
- Bipartisanship Will be Key to Solving Nation's Toughest Public Finance Issues, by Scott A. Hodge, November 3, 2000
- Tax Law Meets Moore’s Law, by Scott A. Hodge, October 15, 2000
- Struggling to Compare the Candidates' Tax Plans, by Scott A. Hodge, September 15, 2000
- For Social Security, the Greatest Risk is the Status Quo, by Scott A. Hodge, August 15, 2000