U.S. Drops Out of Top 10 in Latest Legatum Prosperity Index

Latest Legatum Prosperity Index Flags the ‘American Dream’ at Risk. In an unprecedented fall, the US drops out of the top ten of the 2012 Legatum Prosperity Index. 

• US drops out of global prosperity ‘top ten’ ranking for the first time.
• Falling confidence in elections prompts drop in Governance rankings.
• US falls eight places in Entrepreneurship & Opportunity sub-index, as fewer citizens agree that working hard is the key to success.
• Asia’s emerging economies overtake US in Economy sub-index.

Credit: Legatum Prosperity Index

The latest findings from the Legatum Prosperity Index expose a United States in decline. In an unprecedented fall, America drops to 12th position in the worldwide prosperity rankings – with weakening performance across five of the Index’s eight sub-categories.

Falling confidence in elections and a declining Government approval rate has triggered a

“Crony Capitalists” Challenged at Shareholder Meeting

Exelon Asked to Return $200 Million Grant from Obama Administration to Taxpayers; Declines. Corporate Chairman “Doesn’t See Any Link” Between $200 Million Obama Administration Grant and “Our Own Public Policy Positions” — Which Happened to Support Obama’s

Tom Borelli

Deneen Borelli

Chicago, IL/Washington, DC – Shareholder activists with the National Center for Public Policy Research challenged corporate executives with the energy giant Exelon about their firm’s participation in so-called “crony capitalism” at Exelon’s shareholder meeting this week in Chicago.

Incoming Exelon Chairman Mayo A. Shattuck

PPACA Two Years Later: Small Business Readying for Higher Taxes and Penalties

Dan Danner, CEO, NFIB

WASHINGTON, D.C., March 22, 2012 — Tomorrow will mark two years since the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) became law and the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) continues to work to educate both its members and Congress about the heavy financial burden small business will carry as a result of this law.

“The healthcare law is financially devastating for small business,” said Dan Danner, CEO of NFIB.  “The employer mandate and health insurance tax will be job-killers, and

Supreme Court Unanimously Upholds Landowners’ Rights

A Big Win for Small Business

Washington, D.C. – Karen Harned, executive director of the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) Small Business Legal Center, today lauded the Supreme Court’s unanimous decision in Sackett v. EPA, to uphold landowner rights.

“Property rights are of enormous import to the

Senator Rand Paul Steps Up to Protect Property Owners from Outlaw Federal Agencies

By Tom DeWeese, President, American Policy Center

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Sen. Rand Paul

U.S. Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) has just introduced legislation designed to reign in out-of- control federal agencies such as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Army Corps of Engineers. The bill, if enacted, will be a vital blow to the enforcement of radical environmental/Agenda 21- inspired

Tax Preparers Sue the IRS, Fight Unlawful Licensing Scheme

Sweeping new regulations could impact millions of taxpayers

Elmer Kilian hangs a wooden shingle outside his home during tax season, as he has for the past 30 years. Photo via IJ

Arlington, Va.—The IRS has imposed an unlawful licensing scheme that benefits powerful industry insiders and could affect millions of taxpayers—and more than 350,000 independent tax return preparers.

That is why today three independent tax preparers—Sabina Loving of Chicago, John Gambino of Hoboken, N.J., and Elmer Kilian of Eagle, Wisc.,—have joined forces with the Institute for Justice in filing suit against the IRS in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.

Small-Business Owner to Congress: Keep Tax Rates Low, Eliminate Complexity

Maine accountant warns against disparity between corporate, individual rates

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Small-business owner Dewey Martin testified recently before the House Committee on Ways & Means on the impact of federal tax reform on small businesses. Mr. Martin owns a small accounting firm based in Hampden, Maine, and is a member of the

Free Speech on Trial in Bulldog Investors v. State of Massachusetts

Crackdown on Speech and Information Available to Ordinary Citizens

Washington, D.C. by Christine Hall, CEI – The Competitive Enterprise Institute (CEI) today filed an amicus brief in support of hedge fund Bulldog Investors and free speech rights.  Bulldog is suing the state of Massachusetts for violating the company’s First Amendment free speech rights after the state filed an administrative complaint against the company for responding to a citizen’s request for information.  Following an adverse ruling by the state supreme court, the case is now on appeal to the U.S.

The Cost of Dining Out: Meals Taxes in Major U.S. Cities

Highest in Minneapolis, Chicago, Virginia Beach, Seattle, and Washington, D.C.

Washington, D.C. – As many tourists and business travelers have learned, taxes on meals are sometimes higher than taxes on other goods. Of the 50 largest U.S. cities, 15 charge an additional meals tax on top of the regular sales tax, according to a new analysis by the Tax Foundation. The combined rates are highest in Minneapolis, Chicago, Virginia Beach, Seattle, and

When It Comes to Business Taxes, Location Matters

New Study Has the Bottom Line on Tax Costs in All 50 States

Washington, D.C. – Taxes are a big cost for many businesses, and vary widely based both on state and market sector. Now, for the first time, the Tax Foundation has created a measurement of the bottom-line tax liability a firm would face doing business in each of the fifty