Publications -- Policy Backgrounder

Dec 04, 1997

BG #143 – Making Welfare Work

Welfare reform that emphasizes putting welfare recipients to work is the most successful public policy initiative of this century.

Jun 27, 1997

BG #142 – The Case for Abolishing Death Taxes

The estate tax is a bad tax. It raises little revenue. It does not redistribute wealth. It imposes large costs on the economy. And it is complicated and unfair. It should be abolished.

Jan 14, 1997

BG #141 – An Environmental Report Card on the 104th Congress

Some environmentalists portrayed congressional attempts to modify clean air, clean water and safe drinking-water laws as giving corporations license to pollute and to endanger America's children. Others saw these efforts as bringing common sense and sound science to bear on environmental policy.

Sep 25, 1996

BG #140 – The Case For An Across The Board Tax Rate Reduction

Federal taxes have reached their highest level in history. To bring federal taxes to a tolerable level will require not just tax reform, but a complete overhaul of the federal budget as well.

Feb 16, 1996

BG #139 – Tax Reform's Third Rail: Mortgage Interest

The mortgage interest deduction has long been considered the untouchable third rail of tax reform. However, a close look at a flat-rate tax suggests that, on balance, homeowners would gain more from it than they would lose.

Jan 29, 1996

BG #138 – What's Happening To Americans' Income?

April 1995 marked the beginning of the fifth consecutive year of U.S. economic expansion.  Despite this good news, media reports often paint a bleak picture of the average American worker's prospects. Such reports cite studies that claim wages and incomes are falling, the pace of economic progress is slower than in the past and not everyone is sharing equally in the economy's gains. In light of these contrasting views on the economy, it is understandable that many people are seeking clarification.

Sep 14, 1995

BG #137 – Tax Fairness for the Elderly: Eliminating the Social Security Earnings Penalty

Social Security recipients under age 70 who earn more than a modest amount from wages or salary are America's most heavily taxed citizens. 

May 11, 1995

BG #136 – Myths About Our Health Care System: Lessons for Policy Makers

Critics of the American health care system have propagated a number of myths to justify greater government control over our health care system.  This backgrounder identifies 10 of the most common myths and exposes the fictions that underlie each.

Nov 25, 1994

BG #135 – Two Cheers For GATT

One purpose of the GATT is to limit the power of U.S. politicians over the choices of American consumers. The agreement seeks to protect trade from exploitative politicians and heavy-handed bureaucrats. Since the GATT must be ratified by politicians, it will certainly be far from perfect. Yet the real question is whether people will have more or less freedom with the GATT. The answer is, they will have more.

Aug 24, 1994

BG #134 – Senator Mitchell's Last Stand

The Senate is now in open debate on the health care reform bill proposed by Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell (D-ME). A composite, the proposal is based on bills written by the Senate's Finance and Education and Labor committees and on President Clinton's original proposal.

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