tax reform

Beshear May Still Call Special Session for Redistricting, Tax Reform

Kenny Colston — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 14:00:00 +0000

Despite passing some pension and tax reforms in this year's Kentucky General Assembly session, state lawmakers aren't out of the clear when it comes to another special session.

A few big issues still remain for lawmakers—mainly redistricting and more tax reform.

Gov. Steve Beshear has the sole authority to call a special sessions and to set their agenda. And with Beshear continuing to express a need for more tax reform to pay for education, he's not ruling out calling a special session sometime this year.

Citing Bleak Economic Outlook, Beshear Pushes for More Tax Revenue for Education, Pensions

Kenny Colston — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 02:49:06 +0000

FRANKFORT — Gov. Steve Beshear is encouraging lawmakers to take bold stances in reforming the state's tax code, before past budget decisions and cuts cripple Kentucky.

Beshear made the pleas Wednesday night in his annual State of the Commonwealth address.

(Read the State of the Commonwealth address.)

Lawmakers Ready for Tax Reform Legislation, but Bill Unlikely This Session

Kenny Colston — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 22:15:25 +0000

Kentucky lawmakers seemed eager to dig into another tax reform bill this year, but the chair of the latest tax reform commission says reform isn't likely coming soon.

Lt. Gov. Jerry Abramson—who chaired the commission—and Mary Lassiter, the secretary of the cabinet, addressed lawmakers on the budget committees about the recommendations of the Blue Ribbon Tax Commission.

President Obama to Discuss Spending Cuts, Tax Reform; WFPL to Carry Special Coverage

Joseph Lord — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 17:50:27 +0000

President Obama will hold a news conference Tuesday to discuss fiscal matters. WFPL will carry NPR's live special coverage starting at 1 p.m.

NPR says:

Read | Who Pays?

Joseph Lord — Wed, 30 Jan 2013 20:53:24 +0000

The Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy has released a report that says Kentucky's tax system is unbalanced. Read the report below:

Report: Kentucky Tax System Unbalanced On Backs of the Poor

Kenny Colston — Wed, 30 Jan 2013 18:27:00 +0000

A new report by the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy shows a big gap between Kentucky’s income levels on who pays taxes.

The report says Kentucky’s top 1 percent income bracket pays roughly 5 percent of the state’s income, while the bottom 20 percent pays 9 percent.

(Read the report here.)

With Tax Reform on the Table, Youth Advocates Push for Anti-Poverty Measures

Gabe Bullard — Fri, 28 Dec 2012 05:02:00 +0000

It's hard to find a lawmaker, pundit or political prognosticator who believes the recommendations from the governor's Blue Ribbon Commission on Tax Reform will pass in the upcoming legislative session (even Gov. Steve Beshear has said 2014 may be the year). But the head of Kentucky Youth Advocates says this could be the time for one particular tax reform.

Governor Steve Beshear Plans to Tinker with Tax Reform Recommendations

Kenny Colston — Mon, 10 Dec 2012 15:52:49 +0000

Kentucky's Blue Ribbon Tax Commission has wrapped up its work, but Governor Steve Beshear says the biggest challenge to revising the tax code still remains.

Tax reform is on the tip of the tongue every few years in Frankfort. But historically, not much has been accomplished. Beshear will get the commission's latest recommendations for tax reform this week. And it'll be up to him to convince lawmakers that the panel's work is worth turning into law.

Abramson: Tax Reform Commission Needs More Time

Alan Lytle Kentucky Public Radio — Tue, 30 Oct 2012 21:38:00 +0000

The Kentucky Commission on Tax Reform is planning to ask for an extension.

That's according to commission chair and Lieutenant Governor Jerry Abramson, who says there are too many options for reforming the state tax code to fully consider by the November 15th deadline.

“I think at our next meeting unless we solve the whole thing in five hours I’ll probably ask the group to give me the authority to request of the governor an extension of time and I feel very confident we’ll be able to get that,” says Abramson, adding that the final report could be complete by mid-December.