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Sunday July 6, 2008

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RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY

Save to My PortfolioThe Tax System: Too Complex, Unfair and Outdated

William G. Gale, May 15, 2008, The Sacramento Bee

The Tax System: Too Complex, Unfair and OutdatedStimulus checks are a bright note in this year’s tax season. But, William Gale asserts, the annual tax-filing ritual is otherwise complicated and outdated. He recommends that the presidential candidates advocate changes like streamlining tax incentives and allowing some taxpayers to pay without filing returns. Read More

VIDEO

Save to My PortfolioOpportunity 08: Better Direction on Main Street

Ron Haskins, Bruce Katz, William G. Gale, Jim Bognet, Austan Goolsbee and Leo Hindery, December 03, 2007

The next President will need to promote policies that will maintain and expand a sound middle class. A panel of Brookings experts, including Ron Haskins, Bruce Katz and William Gale, examined some of the major issues America’s middle class faces. A second panel of bipartisan representatives from major campaigns, including Jim Bognet, Romney for President, Inc.; Austan Goolsbee, Obama for America; and Leo Hindery, John Edwards for President discussed those policy issues that cut the widest swath across the majority of voters. ABC's Rick Klein moderated the discussion.

PAST EVENT

Save to My PortfolioOpportunity 08: Better Direction on Main Street

Monday, December 03, 2007
10:15 AM to 12:00 PM
Washington, DC

Reuters/Fred Prouser - Main Street in Park City, Utah.From the individual alternative minimum tax (AMT) to an unstable mortgage market, many middle-class American families are at risk of losing their footing in today’s economy. Saving rates are at an all-time low and rising health premiums can render basic care unaffordable to even full-time workers. Opportunity 08 explores what the next President can and should do to promote individuals’ economic success and a sound middle class. Read More

RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY

Save to My Portfolio2016: Too Long to Wait for Tax Reform

Jason Furman, November 07, 2007, The Brookings Institution

Simplifying a complex and inequitable tax system can take years, history has shown. Jason Furman urges prompt action now that the new Ways and Means tax reform proposal offers a solid starting point. Read More

RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY

Save to My PortfolioFixing the Tax System: Support Fairer, Simpler, and More Adequate Taxation

William G. Gale, February 28, 2007, Opportunity 08

Fixing the Tax System: Support Fairer, Simpler, and More Adequate TaxationA good tax system raises the revenues needed to finance government spending in a manner that is as simple, equitable, stable, and conducive to economic growth as possible. But the challenge for the next President will be to make reform work not just in the abstract, but in the real world, where special interests often rule the roost. The next President should support reforms that would tax all income once (only) at the full tax rate, simplify and streamline the tax code, and, of course, raise sufficient revenues. Read More

RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY

Save to My PortfolioOptions to Fix the Alternative Minimum Tax

William G. Gale, January 19, 2007, Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center

The individual alternative minimum tax (AMT) was originally designed to limit the amount of tax sheltering that taxpayers could pursue and to assure that high-income filers paid at least some tax. The current AMT, however, has strayed far from those original goals. Under current law, the tax will affect over 23 million taxpayers in 2007—many of them solidly middle-class—and mainly for reasons that have little or nothing to do with what most people would consider tax sheltering. Read More

PAST EVENT

Save to My PortfolioThe Tax Reform Panel Report: "Blueprint for Change?"

Thursday, November 03, 2005
9:00 AM to 11:30 AM
Washington, DC

The Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center hosted a presentation and discussion on the findings of the President's Advisory Panel on Federal Tax Reform, assessed their potential impact on American taxpayers and the chance of success in Congress. Participants included William Frenzel and Charles O. Rossotti, senior members of the panel. Read More

RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY

Save to My PortfolioTax Reform Options in the Real World

William G. Gale, October 01, 2005, Toward Fundamental Tax Reform

The basic description of a desirable tax system is broadly accepted: It should raise the revenues needed to finance government spending in a manner that is as simple, equitable, stable, and conducive to economic growth as possible. Although people agree that the current system clearly falls short of at least some of these goals, it is not easy to point to examples around the world that work much better. In addition, how the system should be reformed is subject to enormous controversy. People define the underlying goals differently—notions of fairness, for example, are clearly "in the eyes of the beholder." People disagree on the most effective policies for attaining a particular goal, such as more economic growth. And most importantly, people have differing value judgments, which make agreement on policy almost impossible in the nearly ubiquitous case where there are tradeoffs among the goals. Read More

RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY

Save to My PortfolioThe Cost of Tax Cuts

Peter R. Orszag and William G. Gale, September 19, 2004, Minneapolis Star-Tribune

Article by William G. Gale and Peter R. Orszag, Minneapolis Star Tribune (9/19/04) Read More

RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY

Save to My PortfolioOverdrawn Account

Peter R. Orszag and William G. Gale, February 04, 2004, The New Republic

William Gale and Peter Orszag examine the president's 2004 budet proposal, his tax cut proposals, and offer their own suggestions for balancing the budget over time. Read More

RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY

Save to My PortfolioThe Federal Budget Outlook

Peter R. Orszag, February 03, 2004, House Committee on the Budget

Testimony by Peter R. Orszag (2/3/04) Read More

RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY

Save to My PortfolioKey Points on the Alternative Minimum Tax

Jeffrey Rohaly, Leonard E. Burman, Matthew Hall and William G. Gale, January 21, 2004, Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center

Opinion by Leonard E. Burman, William G. Gale, Jeffrey Rohaly, and Matthew Hall, Tax Policy Center (1/21/04) Read More

RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY

Save to My PortfolioKey Points on Making the Bush Tax Cuts Permanent

Matthew Hall, Peter R. Orszag and William G. Gale, January 21, 2004, The Brookings Institution

William Gale and co-authors examine the effects of making President Bush's tax cuts permanent. Read More

RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY

Save to My PortfolioThe AMT: Projections and Problems

Jeffrey Rohaly, Leonard E. Burman and William G. Gale, July 07, 2003, Tax Notes

William Gale and co-authors provide new projections of AMT taxpayers and revenues, and use the projections to examine some broader implications for tax policy and the AMT. Read More

RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY

Save to My PortfolioThinking Through the Tax Options

Leonard E. Burman, Peter R. Orszag and William G. Gale, May 13, 2003, Tax Notes

This article evaluates the 3 tax cut proposals by President Bush, the House of Representatives, and the Senate Finance Committee, and considers alternatives. Read More

In Brief

The Alternative Minimum Tax, in force since 1970, was originally designed to prevent high-income households from using loopholes to avoid paying taxes. But the tax was not indexed for inflation, and today many upper-and middle-class families are affected.

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Research ProjectLatin America Initiative

The Latin America Initiative provides high-quality, in-depth, and independent research across a range of economic and political issues, and offers policy recommendations aimed at U.S. and Latin American policymakers. Read More

ExpertSarah A. Binder

Sarah Binder is an expert on Congress and legislative politics.  Her current projects focus on the politics of federal judicial selection and the consequences of partisan polarization.

ExpertBruce Katz

Bruce Katz, vice president and founding director of the Metropolitan Policy Program, regularly advises national, state, regional and municipal leaders on policy reforms that advance the competitiveness of metropolitan areas.

Policy CenterEngelberg Center for Health Care Reform

The Engelberg Center for Health Care Reform provides practical solutions to achieve high-quality, innovative, affordable health care with particular emphasis on identifying opportunities on the national, state and local levels.

ExpertSuzanne Maloney

Suzanne Maloney studies Iran, the political economy of the Persian Gulf and Middle East energy policy. A former U.S. State Department policy advisor, she has also counseled private companies on Middle East issues.

ExpertHugh B. Price

Former president and chief executive officer of the National Urban League, Hugh Price is an expert on education, civil rights, equal opportunity and criminal justice. His 40-year career spans journalism, philanthropy, the law, and social advocacy.

ExpertMartin Neil Baily

Martin Baily, a former chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers, focuses on issues of globalization, productivity and competitiveness, Social Security reform and U.S. economic policy.

ExpertRebecca Blank

Rebecca Blank is an expert on the interaction between the macroeconomy, government anti-poverty programs, and the behavior and well being of low-income families. She has just been named the Robert V. Kerr senior fellow at Brookings.

ExpertAlice M. Rivlin

Alice Rivlin, the first director of the Congressional Budget Office, is an expert on urban issues as well as fiscal, monetary and social policy. She directs the Greater Washington Research project. 

Policy CenterWolfensohn Center for Development

The Wolfensohn Center seeks effective solutions to key development challenges in order to create a more prosperous and stable world with a focus on aid effectiveness, early childhood development and Middle East youth.

ExpertDavid B. Sandalow

A former assistant secretary of state and White House staffer, Sandalow is author of "Freedom from Oil" and an expert on energy policy and global warming.

ExpertBenjamin Wittes

Benjamin Wittes, a New Republic online columnist, focuses on the Supreme Court; judicial nominations and confirmations; and legal issues surrounding the war on terrorism.

ExpertWilliam Galston

Bill Galston, the Ezra K. Zilkha Chair in Governance Studies, is an expert on domestic policy, political campaigns and elections. His research focuses on designing a new social contract and the implications of political polarization.

ProgramGovernance Studies

Governance Studies explores political institutions of the United States and other democracies to assess how they govern, how their practices compare and how citizens and public servants can advance sound governance.

ExpertWarwick J. McKibbin

An international economics expert based in Australia, Warwick McKibbin focuses his research on global climate change; the emergence of China and India into the world economy; and global economic modeling.

Research ProjectManaging Global Insecurity

MGI provides recommendations to the next U.S. president, the UN and key international partners to launch a strategic effort to build global partnerships and international institutions to meet twenty-first century trans-border challenges.