The Blog at MSPC

The direction of the evidence is remarkably consistent. Lower and flatter income taxes are associated with faster growth, higher incomes, improved compliance, stronger competitiveness, and greater protection against future tax increases.

If states want tax relief that does more than provide temporary relief—if we want a tax cut that changes the state's long-term economic trajectory—then reducing the individual income tax should be near the top of the list. And Montana is front and center in the current conversation.

The underlying study explains that lower marginal rates can encourage additional economic activity as businesses invest, employment expands, wages rise and personal income grows.

Seattle’s threat of an illegal strike should be a warning. Washington’s education system should put children at the center of every spending decision.

Had the bit tax been adopted, what was once framed as a trivial tax—half a cent to download a photo, or a cent to send 100 emails—would now cost the average American household an estimated $784,000 per year.

Rapidly increasing property tax bills are a real concern. The question is which property tax reforms offer the best path to foster fairness, stability, transparency, and fiscal restraint.

The vivid contrast between Seattle and Bellevue is a lesson every municipality in the country can learn from. Imposing high local taxes and onerous regulations incentivizes individuals and businesses to look to neighboring jurisdictions for relief.

Idaho holds a distinction that should concern policymakers in Boise: Idaho has the highest flat individual income tax rate in the country.

Before Idaho's next property-tax debate becomes another argument about assessments, exemptions and tax shifts, let's put government spending on the table too.

How does repealing a brand-new income tax that won’t be collected for another three years impact any government services today? It doesn’t. This dubious crystal-ball fiscal clairvoyance has dismayed policy experts and government transparency advocates.

Maintaining a competitive economy requires constant attention to workforce development, business investment, tax and regulatory restraint, and the policies that encourage innovation and opportunity.

Idaho is being rewarded for its prudent budget policies. The Evergreen State is facing a business climate in distress from self-inflicted wounds. Unless Washington changes course, expect more of its citizens and businesses to head east to enjoy the benefits of the Gem State’s fiscal discipline.

Montana has become one of America's economic success stories, but a new study released today by the Mountain States Policy Center argues the Treasure State risks falling behind unless it continues reforming its tax code.

Every year, millions of Americans make one of the biggest decisions of their lives: whether to stay where they are or move somewhere they believe offers greater opportunity. They aren’t just choosing a new home. They’re choosing a different set of public policies.

Montana's prudent fiscal management and tax reforms to improve economic competitiveness have positioned the state well.

By automatically increasing gas taxes each year, Washington policymakers are ensuring voters will pay even more without the normal public accountability or public debate for a tax increase. This yearly automatic gas tax increase should be towed back to the legislative garage for major repairs.

Over the past decade, individual income tax collections increased from $1.06 billion in Fiscal Year 2014 to $2.24 billion in Fiscal Year 2024. That's an increase of more than 111 percent.

The study, Tax increase ballot measures: How to increase voter participation, authored by Policy Fellow Sam Cardwell, finds that local tax increases are frequently decided during special elections that attract significantly fewer voters than primary or general elections.

Government officials should strive to maximize voter participation on important issues, and requiring tax increases to be considered at a primary or general election does just that.

Recently, Washington state and Idaho reported success in aggressively pursuing fraud in their respective Medicaid programs.