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Time Bandits? State Income Taxes Surge in April

Federal “non-withheld” income tax payments surged by 37 percent in April and May of this year—compared to the same months in 2012. This appears to be a one-shot event, as wealthy households cashed out investments in late 2012, before the “fiscal cliff” tax increases went into effect. It also casts a new light on recent increases in state tax revenues. These revenue increases may not persist, and future state revenues are very uncertain.
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Strong Tax Revenue Growth Heightens State Fiscal Uncertainty

Despite the strong growth in overall tax collections in the fourth quarter of 2012, there is no light at the end of the tunnel. The strong growth in personal income tax collections and, particularly, in estimated payments is a strong indicator that some income was accelerated into tax year 2012. This would contribute to the uncertainties in making accurate projections of the personal income taxes in the coming quarters.
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America’s Health Care Cost Crisis and What to Do About It

A new paper by Rockefeller Institute Senior Fellow Richard Nathan examines the difficulty in implementing the Affordable Care Act in the face of so many uncertainties. Nathan proposes the creation of a new institutional mechanism to monitor and react to changing conditions and to provide feedback to Congress and the president on necessary adjustments to meet the goals of the legislation.
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From Our Experts...

Is the US Too Reliant on Foreign Talent?

By Jason E. Lane and Kevin Kinser
Deputy Director for Research Jason E. Lane and Institute Fellow Kevin Kinser examine the growing reliance by the United States on foreign students and foreign workers to fuel our knowledge economy. They suggest that the recent decline in interest from Chinese students may portend a long-term problem for the nation’s economic vitality if fewer foreign students come to the U.S. for their education.

Signs of Change in New York’s Community College System?

By David Shaffer
The nation’s “skills gap” is threatening to rewrite our expectations of community college systems — in New York as elsewhere. Where might the SUNY system be going as it faces the challenge of taking a lead role in workforce development?

Proposed Changes Will Improve Reimbursement for HIV Testing

By Erika Martin
Proposed changes by the U.S. Preventative Services Task Force in HIV testing guidelines will remove financial barriers to receiving HIV tests, according to Institute Fellow Erika G. Martin and Bruce R. Schackman, Weill Cornell Medical College.


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