Californians pay the highest sales tax in the nation. Their top-bracket earners have the second-highest income tax rate in the country. The middle class to upper class — those making $48,000 to $1 million — are right up there among the most highly taxed, too. California’s gas tax, at 35.3 cents per gallon, is third-highest in the nation. Corporations face the highest tax rates in the West.

California is famous for having high taxes, but they’re still a subject of perennial debate. Outside of California, the facts are pretty stark: state residents take home less of their paychecks than almost anyone else, and more gets taken out of the after-tax money they spend. Add that… Read more…

Via MauledAgain, I found a fascinating story about New Jersey’s tax on telephone poles owned by the ‘dominant provider’ in the state. As Maule points out, it’s a hard law to understand: it’s not just about revenue or beautification, because this would apply to taxing any phone company, not just the largest. He adds:

One wonders why a tax would be imposed only on the dominant provider. Was it an attempt to disadvantage the market leader in order to boost the competition and level the playing field? It is a rather interesting way to spread the wealth. Imagine an income tax imposed only on the largest software company, the biggest bank, the top-paid

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Although most people were paying closer attention to the Presidential election, some local votes might have a bigger impact in the long run:

• Massachusetts voted against a ballot initiative to end their state income tax, surprisingly basically nobody. According to the AP, “virtually every elected official in the state” opposed the initiative. Interestingly enough, one third of the voters supported it, even though opponents spent ten times as much on ads. Apparentlty the voters in Massachusetts have a hard time electing anyone who feels the way they do about taxes.
• On the other hand, Maine voters decided to abolish taxes on beer and soda, thanks in no part to funding from the

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