TheRepublic.com - Government finance News

College tuition hike bill scrapped for session

Wed, 22 May 2013 18:19:36 -0400

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana - Attempts to raise tuition at Louisiana's public colleges appear dead for the session, despite concerns about repeated rounds of budget cuts to schools.

Kan. lawmakers' tax negotiations hit new snag

Wed, 22 May 2013 18:15:41 -0400

TOPEKA, Kansas - Kansas lawmakers have hit a new snag in their negotiations on tax issues.

After steady heckling, Perry meets with protesters

Wed, 22 May 2013 17:56:16 -0400

AUSTIN, Texas - Hecklers demanding that Texas expand the Medicaid program under the White House-backed health care law repeatedly interrupted a speech by Gov. Rick Perry on Wednesday, then descended on his office for a meeting to keep pressing their case.

Broke no laws, IRS official says - then takes 5th

Wed, 22 May 2013 17:46:09 -0400

WASHINGTON - At the center of a political storm, an Internal Revenue Service supervisor whose agents targeted conservative groups swore Wednesday she did nothing wrong, broke no laws and never lied to Congress. Then she refused to answer lawmakers' further questions, citing her Fifth Amendment right not to incriminate herself.

NH House rejects latest effort to allow gambling

Wed, 22 May 2013 17:38:11 -0400

CONCORD, New Hampshire - In line with decades of opposition to casinos, the House turned aside lobbying by the governor and arguments that New Hampshire should compete with Massachusetts for gambling dollars to vote down yet another casino bill Wednesday.

Obama threatens veto of House student loan plan

Wed, 22 May 2013 17:37:25 -0400

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama on Wednesday threatened to veto legislation by House Republicans that would avert a doubling of student loan interest rates on July 1 but allow them to vary with the markets going forward.

Pa. control may limit Harrisburg election's impact

Wed, 22 May 2013 17:29:59 -0400

HARRISBURG, Pennsylvania - Pennsylvania's debt-laden capital city will have a new mayor next year, but he could have little role in sorting out the pressing financial problems that dragged Harrisburg to the brink of bankruptcy after an unprecedented takeover by the state.

Snyder: Mich. could still get Medicaid expansion

Wed, 22 May 2013 17:29:01 -0400

LANSING, Michigan - Republican Gov. Rick Snyder says he is hopeful he can still broker an agreement with the Republican-led Legislature to expand Medicaid coverage to low-income Michiganians.

Ind. woman wounded in shooting had admitted fraud

Wed, 22 May 2013 17:10:35 -0400

SOUTH BEND, Indiana - Police are investigating whether a South Bend woman who was shot twice and wounded during a pre-dawn home invasion may have been targeted because she had agreed to testify against others accused in a scheme to file for $3.5 million in bogus tax refunds.

Cuomo: Create tax-free zones around SUNY campuses

Wed, 22 May 2013 17:07:54 -0400

ALBANY, New York - High-tech businesses from other states and abroad that move onto or next to college campuses in New York would operate free of all business, property and personal income taxes for 10 years under a proposal released Wednesday by Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

NC Senate spending plan given initial OK

Wed, 22 May 2013 17:03:59 -0400

RALEIGH, North Carolina - The North Carolina government budget written by Senate Republicans has passed following a fiercely partisan debate that mostly focused upon a yet-to-be-detailed tax overhaul plan and on Medicaid.

State report: Bell faces crisis after scandal

Wed, 22 May 2013 16:55:23 -0400

LOS ANGELES - The modest Los Angeles suburb that became the poster child for municipal corruption when it was discovered three years ago that its municipal leaders had looted millions of dollars from its treasury remains deeply in debt and on the verge of financial crisis, according to a report released Wednesday by the state Controller's Office

2 Ore. timber counties reject public safety levies

Wed, 22 May 2013 16:44:19 -0400

GRANTS PASS, Oregon - Voters in two Oregon timber counties with the lowest property taxes in the state - Curry and Josephine - turned down tax increases Tuesday that would have funded law enforcement, but a jail levy passed in a third, Lane County.

Board OKs petition form for abortion proposal

Wed, 22 May 2013 16:36:56 -0400

LANSING, Michigan - An anti-abortion group seeking to ban Michigan health insurance plans from covering abortions without a supplemental policy cleared an early hurdle Wednesday in its effort to take the proposal to voters, even without Republican Gov. Rick Snyder's approval.

Tennessee recoups unemployment benefits

Wed, 22 May 2013 16:23:32 -0400

NASHVILLE, Tennessee - State Labor Department officials say they have recouped about $15.3 million worth of fraudulently collected unemployment benefits by garnishing tax refunds and other federal payments to people who were not entitled to receive the assistance.

Cleveland fair-housing advocate facing tax counts

Wed, 22 May 2013 16:22:05 -0400

CLEVELAND - A fair-housing advocate in Cleveland has been charged with tax fraud for allegedly trying to avoid taxes on $500,000 in income and keeping $80,000 in federal taxes withheld from employees.

IRS hits Miccosukee tribe with $170M tax bill

Wed, 22 May 2013 16:08:21 -0400

MIAMI - The Internal Revenue Service has hit the Miccosukee Indians with a $170 million bill for failing to report and withhold taxes from its distribution of gambling profits to tribal members.

Mass. Senate begins debating state budget plan

Wed, 22 May 2013 15:50:32 -0400

BOSTON - The Massachusetts Senate has begun debating hundreds of proposed amendments to its $34 billion state budget proposal.

Arizona Senate advances bills for religious groups

Wed, 22 May 2013 15:43:19 -0400

PHOENIX - A little religion could soon go a long way in avoiding unpopular government mandates.

New Chevy Sonic is RS hatchback

Wed, 22 May 2013 15:11:41 -0400

The newest Chevrolet Sonic is a peppy, stylish, versatile and good handling RS hatchback with standard turbo engine, leather-trimmed seats and smartphone infotainment link - all for a starting price tag of less $21,000.

Fiat Industrial aims to shift tax home to Britain

Wed, 22 May 2013 15:01:17 -0400

MILAN - Fiat Industrial disputed as "absolutely false" reports Wednesday that Italy would lose 500 million euros ($646 million) in tax revenues if it moves its tax base to Britain after it completes a merger with its U.S.-based subsidiary CNH Global NV.

Iowa House OKs more money for economic development

Wed, 22 May 2013 14:55:33 -0400

DES MOINES, Iowa - House lawmakers have approved more money for the state to spend on tax credits to entice new businesses to Iowa and help others expand.

EU steps up fight against tax evasion by end 2013

Wed, 22 May 2013 14:49:38 -0400

BRUSSELS - The European Union's leaders took a major step in tackling tax-dodgers Wednesday by pushing to end bank secrecy across the bloc's 27 members by the end of the year.

Iowa lawmakers close to ending legislative session

Wed, 22 May 2013 14:24:50 -0400

DES MOINES, Iowa - Iowa lawmakers are moving toward adjournment, taking action on a number of budget bills including a compromise plan to cut commercial property taxes.

Iowa Senate approves compromise property tax plan

Wed, 22 May 2013 14:14:04 -0400

DES MOINES, Iowa - The Iowa Senate has approved a compromise plan to cut commercial property taxes in the state.