Publications -- Regulations

May 14, 2008

BA #617 – Capping CO2 Emissions, Boosting Energy Costs

The United States has refused to ratify the 1997 Kyoto Protocol intended to limit and eventually reduce emissions of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. The treaty did not meet two requirements Congress deemed necessary for a worthwhile international climate change policy — that it: 1) do no harm to the U.S. economy and 2) include developing nations in emissions regulation. Congress should apply these criteria to proposed domestic climate change legislation.

Oct 29, 2007

BA #600 – The Coming Tax Tsunami

Over the next 25 years American taxpayers will face a fiscal tsunami.  The first of the baby boomers will be eligible for early retirement beginning next year, and will be eligible for Medicare in 2011.  The last of the Baby Boom generation, born in 1964, will reach normal retirement age (67 years) in 2031.  Most baby boomers are approaching their peak earning years when they have the greatest capacity to save for retirement. 

Oct 29, 2007

BA #599 – The Surtax: Worse Than the Alternative Minimum Tax

The individual alternative minimum tax (AMT) was originally designed to tax wealthy households who paid little income tax due to deductions and credits they claimed.  However, today's AMT is hitting more and more middle-class households in spite of temporary fixes (such as raising the threshold of income not subject to the AMT).  The last temporary patch expired at the end of 2006. 

Oct 22, 2007

BA #598 – A Clean Air Regulation Hazardous to Health

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has proposed a new federal standard for ozone air pollution that is much stricter than the current limit.  If the proposal is adopted, the EPA will reclassify most regions of the United States as “nonattainment” areas.  This means they violate the EPA standard and will be required to implement costly measures to comply with the new limits.  Cities unable to meet the new standard could face federal restrictions on development, road-building and construction of new commercial and industrial facilities.

Oct 18, 2007

BA #597 – Repairing Bridges without Raising Gas Taxes

In the wake of the August 1, 2007, Minneapolis bridge collapse, Rep. Jim Oberstar (D-Minn.), chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, proposed a 5-cents-per-gallon increase in the federal excise tax on gasoline.  Oberstar believes the hike would raise $25 billion over three years for critical bridge repairs across the United States.  But his proposal flies in the face of growing public concern over sustained high gas prices. 

Aug 09, 2007

BA #592 – Electricity Deregulation: Taking the Next Step

A new technology called "smart" metering and innovative residential pricing plans have the potential to revolutionize the electric power industry and reduce monthly electricity bills for many consumers.  Utilities in the states that have deregulated electric power have the strongest market incentives to implement these new features, and customers in some states are beginning to reap the benefits.

Aug 02, 2007

BA #591 – The Environmental Costs of Ethanol

There is growing bipartisan political support for increased use of ethanol.  An energy bill recently passed by the U.S. Senate would increase mandated ethanol use in blended fuels from 8 billion gallons to 36 billion gallons.  Concern about global warming and the desire to improve air quality are stoking the demand for government action. 

Aug 02, 2007

BA #590 – Increasing America's Domestic Fuel Supply

High gasoline prices and concern about energy security are driving entrepreneurs to explore a variety of ways to produce transportation fuels.  For example, researchers are experimenting with technologies to turn turkey, chicken and pig litter, and used tires, into gasoline.  On the less exotic side, Congress is pushing ethanol. 

Jul 16, 2007

BA #588 – How to Fix the Alternative Minimum Tax

The Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) is an income tax monstrosity that denies middle-to-high-income people deductions that would otherwise be legitimate.  The AMT requires an increasing number of taxpayers to compute their tax liability under the standard tax rules.  Then, they compute it under the AMT.  Then, they pay the greater of the two; minimum does not mean minimal. 

May 21, 2007

BA #587 – Texas Health Care Reform

Policymakers are debating changes to the state's Medicaid program - the joint federal-state health care program for the poor - and discussing ways to provide coverage to the state's large uninsured population through the private insurance market.  Medicaid now takes 26 percent of the state budget, double the portion it consumed a little more than a decade ago.