A 2008 report by the Better Government Association and National Freedom of Information Coalition graded Alaska’s performance on responding to public record requests as an “F”, only above Alabama and South Dakota. Out of 16 possible points, Alaska got 0.5.
Source: Excerpted From: National Freedom of Information Council 1/12/2012
“A comprehensive new study that profiles 265 consistently profitable Fortune 500 companies finds that 68 of them paid no state corporate income tax in at least one of the last three years and 20 of them averaged a tax rate of zero or less during the 2008-2010 period. These are among the findings in “Corporate Tax Dodging in the Fifty States, 2008-2010” released today by the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy (ITEP) and Citizens for Tax Justice (CTJ).
“Our report shows these corporations raked in a combined $1.33 trillion in profits in the last three years, and far too many have managed to shelter half or more of their profits from state taxes,” said Matthew Gardner, Executive Director at the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy and the report’s co-author. “They’re so busy avoiding taxes, it’s no wonder they’re not creating any new jobs.”
Among the 20 corporations who paid zero or less in state corporate income taxes over the three year period are: Utility provider Pepco Holdings (DC); pharmaceutical giant Baxter International (IL); chemical maker DuPont (DE); fast food behemoth Yum Brands (KY); high tech manufacturer Intel (CA).
“Corporate Tax Dodging in the Fifty States, 2008-2010” concludes that these 265 corporations cost states $42.7 billion in lost revenues in the last three years, and Gardner identifies three chief causes for state corporate tax revenues steadily declining for two decades.
Source: Excerpted from www.ctj.org 12/7/2011
Over the last decade, grassroots opposition to wage theft has grown dramatically across the country. Wage theft, the illegal underpayment of wages primarily affects the working poor. It is widespread and occurs in various forms and industries. It is estimated that millions of low wage workers annually are not paid at legally required overtime rates, at minimum wages or for total hours worked. In response workers’ rights organizations have engaged in increasingly sophisticated and successful campaigns to strengthen enforcement and make sure that monies due employees are repaid.
In a new report: “A Fair Day’s Pay: The Movement to End Wage Theft”, Nik Theodore, an Associate Professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago, examines over a dozen organizations that utilize innovative tactics to combat this illegal practice. Commissioned by the Discount Foundation, the report reviews a variety of local, state and federal strategies driven by grantee organizations to address violations of employment laws. Read the report (PDF) now!
Source: Excerpted From: discountfoundation.org
