TheRepublic.com - Government finance News

Minn. lawmakers wrap up historic session

Tue, 21 May 2013 01:08:24 -0400

ST. PAUL, Minnesota - Minnesota lawmakers worked right up to the end Monday before adjourning a session that produced $2 billion in tax hikes and a historic vote on gay marriage.

Average credit card debt, late payments fall in 1Q

Tue, 21 May 2013 00:13:05 -0400

LOS ANGELES - Americans got better about paying their credit card debt on time in the first three months of the year, a period when many borrowers use income tax returns to tackle their holiday season debt.

Kan. Legislature stalemated on tax, budget issues

Mon, 20 May 2013 23:28:22 -0400

TOPEKA, Kansas - Kansas legislators were stalemated Monday on spending and tax issues as Republican leaders publicly bickered over GOP Gov. Sam Brownback's plan to stabilize the budget by canceling a scheduled decrease in the state sales tax.

More Obama aides knew of IRS audit; Obama not told

Mon, 20 May 2013 23:07:29 -0400

WASHINGTON - White House chief of staff Denis McDonough and other senior advisers knew in late April that an impending report was likely to say the IRS had inappropriately targeted conservative groups, President Barack Obama's spokesman disclosed Monday, expanding the circle of top officials who knew of the audit beyond those named earlier.

Inslee signs $8.7 billion transportation budget

Mon, 20 May 2013 22:31:58 -0400

OLYMPIA, Washington - Gov. Jay Inslee signed off on an $8.7 billion transportation budget Monday that puts money toward maintaining state roadways and continues spending on existing big-ticket projects.

Alabama governor signs both state budgets

Mon, 20 May 2013 21:10:39 -0400

MONTGOMERY, Alabama - Gov. Robert Bentley has signed the state General Fund budget and state education budget into law.

Lew taps government retiree pension fund

Mon, 20 May 2013 20:54:07 -0400

WASHINGTON - Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew said late Monday he will begin tapping into two government employee retirement funds to buy more time before the U.S. Treasury is faced with the prospect of defaulting on the national debt.

Ala. Legislature rejects Bentley's 2-year-delay

Mon, 20 May 2013 20:49:30 -0400

MONTGOMERY, Alabama - The Republican majority in the Alabama Legislature handed the GOP governor a major defeat Monday night by rejecting his proposal to delay the start of private school tax credits for two years.

Bill adds community college classes at higher cost

Mon, 20 May 2013 20:49:06 -0400

SACRAMENTO, California - Students at California community colleges could see additional class options for short summer and winter sessions under a bill that passed the state Assembly on Monday, but those courses would come with a higher price tag.

Proposals would limit cuts in Medicaid program

Mon, 20 May 2013 19:58:26 -0400

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana - Proposals that would make it more difficult to cut the rates paid to private hospitals and nursing homes for taking care of Medicaid patients are nearing final passage in the Louisiana Legislature.

Rainy Day Fund eyed for $1.75B school payment

Mon, 20 May 2013 19:22:10 -0400

AUSTIN, Texas - A top House Republican says using the state's Rainy Day Fund is being considered for $1.75 billion owed to public schools as part of a complex Texas budget package.

Kemper overruns claim Miss. Power's president

Mon, 20 May 2013 19:12:38 -0400

JACKSON, Mississippi - Ed Day said his main job as president of Mississippi Power Co. was to successfully complete the company's Kemper County power plant.

Primary hopefuls put in final day of campaigning

Mon, 20 May 2013 19:05:15 -0400

HARRISBURG, Pennsylvania - Candidates for public offices, including a seat on a state appellate court and mayoralties in several cities, made their final pitches for support Monday - the last full day before the Pennsylvania primary.

Brewer bill signing halt stays after vote

Mon, 20 May 2013 19:02:18 -0400

PHOENIX - Gov. Jan Brewer is refusing to begin signing bills passed by the Legislature again even though the Arizona Senate has passed a budget that includes the Medicaid expansion she's demanding in return for her signature, her spokesman said.

Attempt to repeal Nebraska sales tax law rejected

Mon, 20 May 2013 19:01:48 -0400

LINCOLN, Nebraska - Lawmakers on Monday rejected an attempt to repeal a new Nebraska law that lets cities raise their local option sales tax rates as long as they secure voter approval.

NC Senate budget plan heavy on Medicaid spending

Mon, 20 May 2013 18:54:42 -0400

RALEIGH, North Carolina - Senate Republicans said Monday their two-year budget proposal demonstrates how Medicaid keeps siphoning away money from other priorities, but critics assert that the GOP spending plan keeps taking from the needy and the middle class.

Del. panel updates revenue forecast

Mon, 20 May 2013 18:49:17 -0400

NEW CASTLE, Delaware - The panel that sets Delaware's official financial projections increased its revenue estimates by about $20 million Monday, giving budget writers in the General Assembly a little more money with which to work.

Inslee speaks at transportation revenue rally

Mon, 20 May 2013 18:47:59 -0400

OLYMPIA, Washington - Gov. Jay Inslee spoke at a rally at the Capitol in support of a transportation funding package, saying it's "crunch time" to pay for road projects and maintain existing roads and bridges.

Board to take another look at tuition rate plans

Mon, 20 May 2013 18:28:45 -0400

FARGO, North Dakota - The president of the North Dakota Board of Higher Education said Monday he's not sure if the group gave a fair hearing to plans on tuition increases and wants to revisit the idea.

Small company stock are a bright spot

Mon, 20 May 2013 17:55:35 -0400

NEW YORK - Small-company stocks were a bright spot in a subdued start to the week for Wall Street.

Mantoloking storm damage ups tax rate, lower bills

Mon, 20 May 2013 17:13:23 -0400

MANTOLOKING, New Jersey - Fears of a massive tax hike brought on by Superstorm Sandy might not come to pass in the hardest-hit Jersey shore town.

Excerpts from recent Minnesota editorials

Mon, 20 May 2013 17:09:33 -0400

Duluth News Tribune, May 20

Panel: Apple uses firms outside US to avoid taxes

Mon, 20 May 2013 17:01:04 -0400

WASHINGTON - Apple Inc. employs a group of affiliate companies located outside the United States to avoid paying billions of dollars in U.S. income taxes, a Senate investigation has found.

NJ Senate panel OKs open space ballot question

Mon, 20 May 2013 16:35:43 -0400

TRENTON, New Jersey - A proposal to let voters decide whether to direct a fraction of sales tax revenues toward land preservation for the next 30 years cleared another hurdle Monday when a Senate committee signed off on legislation to put the question on the ballot this November.

Court rules for Fannie, Freddie in Oakland lawsuit

Mon, 20 May 2013 16:35:25 -0400

DETROIT - A federal appeals court overturned a lower court ruling and threw out tax claims by Oakland County against the federally charted mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.