Americans for Prosperity-NJ action and education

Rally at Sweeney’s

NJ Senator Sweeney is in a huff about Governor Christie’s Nominee, Anne Murray Patterson, to the NJ Supreme Court.  Christie decided not to reappoint Justice John Wallace, the Governor’s option under the New Jersey Constitution.  To understand why, view Wallace’s liberal record.

On Tuesday, May 18^th we can join in support of Governor Christie by rallying at Sweeney’s office.

Americans for Prosperity sponsored buses (register here) will be leaving from the following locations:

Bogota - 9:30am
Monmouth/Ocean - 10:00am
Sparta - 9:00am
Whippany - 9:30am

If you prefer to drive Senator Sweeney’s office is located at 935 Kings Highway, West Deptford, NJ.‎ The rally is at 12 noon.

Taxpayer’s Budget Hearings

The AFP Taxpayers’ Budget is $2.4 billion less than the proposal from Governor Christie. Yet, state aid so important to reduce property taxes is preserved.  It also includes tax cuts and downsizing of government that would make New Jersey more affordable and competitive for taxpayers and businesses.

New Jerseys’ Taxpayer Budget 2011

To learn how this could be done attend an Americans for Prosperity-NJ seminar.

Please check the AFP site for changes and updates before attending.

Wednesday, May 19th, 7:00pm - Clinton, NJ
Holiday Inn Select, 111 West Main St.

Thursday, May 20th, 7:00pm - Cranford, NJ
VFW Post #335, 479 South Ave East

Tuesday, May 25th, 7:00pm - Parsippany, NJ
Parsippany PAL, 33 Baldwin Rd.

Wednesday, May 26th, 7:00pm - Paramus, NJ
Paramus VFW Hall, 6 Winslow Place

Wednesday, June 2nd, 7:00pm - Newton, NJ
Newton VFW, 85 Mill Street, Newton, NJ 07860

“YouCut”

  Republican Whip Eric Cantor has introduced YouCut where each week one can choose which item they would cut from federal spending.  Some of the choices are over multiple years, so be sure to read the descriptions.  I had to try several times before the server was available to record my vote.  You can enter your email on the upper right.  Great idea to engage citizens and educate us as well.

Signing on to the ObamaCare program is folly

When looking around for health care coverage my search was through an agent.  Maybe because I grew up in a time when there was more independence my search never thought to include looking to government.  Insurance agents representing various companies often visited my parents to discuss the various options and cost of plans.   Now we have bureaucracy that increasingly thinks they can do everything better.

The NJ Department of Banking & Insurance lists health insurance programs under their Buyer’s Guide.

The Individual Health Coverage Program (”IHC”) and the Small Employer Health Benefits Program (”SEH”) have reformed the individual and small employer (employers with 2-50 employees) health insurance markets.

There is a third program to subsidize people who’s claimed low income qualifies them for NJ FamilyCare.

Lawsuit

With the advent of the some 2,700-page ObamaCare bill government bureaucracy becomes even more pervasive into lives of individuals and businesses.  Nineteen states have joined the lawsuit (Virginia has filed separately) to protect their citizens against the power of the federal government to demand they purchase health care, or be fined.  New Jersey is not among them, with Governor Christie stating he is “nowhere near” deciding and will be waiting for a report from his cabinet.

High-risk pools

One action Christie has decided was to send a letter of intent to the Department of Banking & Insurance. The letter does not bind New Jersey to join the high-risk pool program, but is of concern because it signals that New Jersey is open to the idea.  This Wall Street Journal piece written by Grace-Marie Turner explains and describes many concerns with signing on to the national program.  One of the alarming issues of joining is the cost to the states, which will be passed to its citizens.

The high-risk program is essentially insurance for individuals who have pre-existing conditions and are expensive to insure. The new health law allocates $5 billion for insuring them until 2014 when enrollees would be transferred to new health-insurance exchanges. But Richard Foster, chief actuary of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, reported last week that the high-risk program will run out of money next year or in 2012. Therefore, if states sign up for the program, they’ll end up shouldering the burden for about two years after it runs out of federal money.

If states sign on to cover high-risk individuals then they will be agreeing to be bound to the federal mandates of the program.  Congress passed ObamaCare and any action to pass mandates down to state levels should be fought.  To sign on will add costs and responsibility to the states that are already facing major budgeting challenges.

Citizens have overwhelmingly rallied, petitioned, written, and called Congress against ObamaCare.  Signing on to accept state burden for a nationally imposed program would be folly and against the voice of a majority.

New Jersey Corn Snake

This snake was found inside a business.  After some research it was determined to be a Corn Snake.  We decided to take some photos after the ‘rescue’ before release to the outdoors.  They are also known as a Red Rat Snake.  There weren’t any pictures found on the web as nice as these so I wanted to share them.  Relief from the news.  Enjoy.

Notice the black and white pattern on the underside.

Mandates and taxes destroy job creation

I have become most concerned with the continuing decline of the profitability in the small business sector.  Stress factors of operating a small business have been taking a toll on the owners. The number of entrepreneurs who I see stressed to the point of desperation far outnumbers those doing well.

Demand is weak for products and services and the evidence is all around us.  Many businesses have closed which has passed more opportunity for the remaining to stay open.  Even with this too many owners are struggling to survive.  Consumers are purchasing the most necessary products, while other items sit on the shelf for extended time.  This ties up the cash flow necessary for a business to continue efficient operations.

The latest small business profile I can locate for New Jersey provides the data pointing to the importance of small enterprises in job creation.  Smaller businesses generally are at a disadvantage against large corporations.  The money pot is smaller, meaning less is available to ride out the hard times.  Also, purchasing power to bargain with manufactures is minimal because the quantities bought are smaller and typically not under contract.

The federal government and the State of New Jersey both have attempted programs to assist small businesses.  In an endeavor stimulate hiring, credits are offered if certain conditions are met.  But without purchasers, who needs another employee on the payroll?  Banks are being encouraged to loan to small businesses.  The proclamation was that this would aid businesses to weather the economic storm, invest in inventory and capital purchases, and hire.  The problem with this approach is the business now has a loan to pay and with the down economy the customers are not spending enough to justify and pay added debt.  This puts businesses at an even greater risk of failure.

Cumulatively small businesses fuel our state and federal governments not only by paying business taxes and employer taxes, but also by their collections of sales taxes and employee taxes.  The collection of taxes, performed with no state or federal compensation to the business, is a demanding responsibility.  Over the years, the amount of labor required to comply with the additional laws has increased.  The costs are passed on to consumers, much the same as government mandates that are passed to taxpayers.  They both entail labor-intensive duties that require significant time and money to administer.

A recent post describes the disposition of $5.4 billion diverted from the Unemployment Trust Fund (UTF). Both employees and employers paid into this fund.  Employers are facing a $1 billion tax to replenish the UTF.  Beginning on July 1st, shortfall bills will be sent with a levy for each employee.  When businesses face penalties such as this, hiring is stymied.  It is counter productive and hopes of NJ economic recovery dim.

NJ Senator Joe Pennacchio is imploring Senate President Stephen Sweeney to release a bill he is sponsoring (S-1854) that would reduce the impact on businesses.  Prior to a bill being released it is unavailable for the general public to analyze.  Pennacchio explains another consequence of allowing the fund to be raided, “Sadly, past diversions have depleted the fund forcing the state to borrow from the federal government. To date we have borrowed more than $1.4 billion to cover our obligations.”

Another job destroying mandate businesses will face is National Health Care.  The National Federation for Independent Business reviews five complexities in their publication, The Unaffordable Facts about the New Healthcare Law.  Governor Christie and Attorney General Paula Dow continue to decline joining the lawsuit against forced purchase of health care.  Although I heard him say that he had enough to do in NJ, Christie does participate in issues at a national level, examples here, and here, and here.  This is just one more national matter he needs to address that will adversely impact citizens and businesses.

The Health Care Freedom Amendment (SCR-81) sponsored by NJ Senator Michael Doherty and Assemblywoman Alison McHose, “Proposes amendment to Constitution to prohibit State or federal law or regulation from compelling a person to obtain, provide, or participate in health care coverage”.

We can contact Governor Christie to appeal he join the lawsuit and support the freedom of New Jersey citizens to direct their own health care. Contact the NJ Legislature and Sweeney to request S-1854 be released here, and your NJ Representatives to show support for SCR-81.

The continual onslaught of mandates and taxes destroys jobs that citizens rely on to feed their families and ultimately lowers the amount all government levels collect to fund services and programs.  NJ has used its small business community as a cash cow, and heaped many fees, taxes, and collection duties on it to fund various programs, and plug holes in the budget.

New EPA lead rules

More information here.

From decades of NJ budget insanity-A way to sanity

Update-Here is the link to read the Americans for Prosperity -New Jersey Taxpayers’ Budget FY 2011

Tomorrow morning Americans for Prosperity-NJ (AFP-NJ) is releasing their budget ideas for New Jersey.  It is different from the decades of budgets as we have seen them, including the current proposal by the Christie administration.  NJ has a long history of budget insanity, repeating the same mistakes and getting the same results.

The AFP budget will provide us insight into a budget that would give our state citizens more transparency, fund the essentials, and sort the spending items.  It is a budget presented through a Conservative, free enterprise lens.

In listening tomorrow morning and reading the AFP budget analysis, when released, many must learn a new way of understanding.  We have been so mired and indoctrinated by the same old ways that one needs to tap into concepts that may not be familiar.

I have been listening all day on the NJ Legislative site to the state budget testimony. Mayor after mayor is regretfully announcing that their residents will be hit with a cut in services from loss of municipal aid yet are strangled by state mandates and existing contracts.  Property tax increases up to 25% were discussed also due to cuts in school aid.

Below is the announcement from AFP with the links to listen and learn.

AFP’s Taxpayer’ Budget: A Blueprint for Fixing Our Broken State

I am proud to announce that Americans for Prosperity will be introducing a model Taxpayers’ Budget for New Jersey this Tuesday morning, April 20th, at 11:00am in Trenton.

We invite you to watch our presentation via a live Internet stream as we formally introduce our Taxpayers’ Budget to the public. To do so, click the link here: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/americans-for-prosperty-new-jersey

Tuesday’s presentation marks the culmination of several months of tireless effort on the part of a team of AFP experts who spent countless hours dissecting New Jersey’s budget department by department and line by line.

The goal of our Taxpayers’ Budget has been to set a clear course for putting New Jersey’s fiscal house in order, with budget priorities that put you, the taxpayer first. Our Taxpayers’ Budget does just that while spending only $25.9 Billion — $2.4 Billion less than Governor Christie’s proposal.

In contrast to the Governor’s budget proposal, our Taxpayers’ Budget outlines real cuts to state government, preserves state aid to school districts across the state, and delivers much needed tax relief to New Jersey’s businesses and taxpayers.

These cost-cutting measures and tax cut proposals will be critical in making New Jersey competitive again.

Here are some of the highlights of our Taxpayers’ Budget:
·    Provides real property tax relief by restoring cuts in school aid, and increasing that aid by $500 million above the FY2010 level through cuts to the Trenton bureaucracy
·    Takes the first step towards equalizing the distribution of aid on a per pupil basis by providing the same amount of funding to Abbott and non-Abbott Districts
·    Applies $284 million in restored funding to the Abbott Districts for a school voucher program
·    Reduces the size of government by consolidating departments such as the Department of Children and Families and Department of Human Services ($35 million in administrative costs alone)
·    Eliminates the Department of the Public Advocate (approximately $16 million in savings)

The Taxpayers’ Budget also calls for a number of tax and fee cuts:
·    Eliminates Cap and Trade style carbon tax permits under the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), projected to increase energy costs $65 Million for consumers.
·    Drops the top end income tax rate of 8.97% and returns to the pre-McGreevey marginal rate of 6.37%.
·    Eliminates the harmful gross receipts tax on businesses
·    Eliminates the estate tax (or death tax)
·    Rolls back the real estate transfer fee to pre-McGreevey rates.
·    Eliminates the Hotel/Motel Tax passed in 2003 to assist the struggling tourism industry
·    Eliminates the need to unilaterally overturn the Bergen County Blue Laws, a decision that should be made by Bergen County voters, not the state.

On Monday, Americans for Prosperity will meet with the Governor and his staff to present our alternative budget. On Tuesday, we will formally introduce our Taxpayers’ Budget to the public which, again, you will be able to watch via our live Internet stream.

And over the course of the next two months, Americans for Prosperity’s team will be holding a series of hearings across the state where we will present our Taxpayers’ Budget to the citizens of New Jersey.

Clearly, this is a crucial time for our state. The fiscal irresponsibility of the past has resulted in enormous debt and a massively underfunded pension system that threatens to break New Jersey’s bank. The tax climate in New Jersey remains the worst in the nation. Billions of dollars in wealth have been lost through an exodus of businesses and talent.

We cannot afford to continue on the same path.

Our Taxpayers’ Budget is merely the starting point. The next step is for you to join with us in putting pressure on our representatives in Trenton to enact our proposals.

With your help, I know we can succeed in this endeavor of making New Jersey, once again, a place to live and prosper.

I look forward to seeing you at our budget hearings in the coming weeks.

On to Victory,
Steve Lonegan
State Director
For upcoming AFP events, check our calendar HERE!
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To follow AFP-NJ on Facebook, click here!

April-Tax month from hell

About 300 gathered yesterday for the Flemington Tea Party tax protest Thursday April 15th. I joined them because of my ‘own taxed’ out situation.  It takes about six weeks for me to gather and catalog the information for business, personal, and employer/employee taxes, and sales taxes all due in April.  When the business and personal taxes are finally dropped off at the accountant, fingernails are chewed awaiting the results.  After three hours just to review the yard of pages, some adjustment is needed as a result of my questions on a few matters.  Finally, the tax is submitted to that giant unseen, but well known, bureaucratic enforcement agency…the IRS.

It is not our imagination.  The tax code system is out of control.  Hiwa Alaghebandian provides the gory details in this video.

A small handful of counter-protestors were present, one came with this toy T-bucket displaying a sign-“Health Care for All”.  Surely, anyone that feels that way can donate their toys to charity and shouldn’t mandate the productive workers in our country and industries be strapped with the bill when there are better options.

Another, obviously wanting to draw attention to himself, garnered a gas mask and shouldered a canvas bag.  He was advocating that the Tea Party groups were wasting their time and should basically storm Washington.

For many of us, there is no spring season.  We are strapped to our chairs with back pain from computer entry and the ligaments in our necks are like guitar strings.  After six weeks of preparing for
the April from hell I emerge from my paper prison.  This is my view…..

Gone are the daffodils and crocuses.  Glimpses of their beauty and fragrance captured only during the back and forth trips to work.  Unable to gather any sunshine, as many of us are relegated to the mire if tax codes and paperwork, the soul and body will take weeks to begin a mend.  There was no spring break or vacation to finalize the information.

The hours of sunshine also rescued me from taking vitamin D in a pill.  As I panned the assembly I wondered about the taxing situations of others.  But, whatever each individuals personal tax hell entails, we all knew it has morphed beyond what is manageable.

Our State of the Unions

By Marlowe, Guest Blogger

It is a well-known fact that labor unions have long contributed to the campaigns of politicians both on a National and State level. Union donations to the Democratic Party reached an unprecedented level in the last National election, and at the state level especially here in N.J. as Jon Corzine ran for a second term.

PAC (Political Action Committee) donations at the national level were greatly skewed to the Democrats, with Obama getting 89.3% of that money from labor unions, and Jon Corzine, while funding his own campaigns, gave loans to a CWA union boss with whom he was at one time romantically involved. He later forgave that loan, among others, and was given the endorsement of the CWA. A union that represents some 40,000 state workers and more than 15,000 county and municipal workers, had essentially been bought.   A controversial move at best that would haunt him as he campaigned for a second term as Governor.

Also on a state level here in New Jersey, we have the ever-present NJEA, representing over 200,000 members, and collecting some $130 million in dues annually . The NJEA wields enormous power both politically and financially, and their books are closed.  We may never know the extent of their monetary and political influence, but it is there for sure at all levels of state and in townships.

The union’s donations support their agenda…..survival. The dues they collect are ultimately paid by us through higher costs for goods and services in a private sector company that has to abide by prevailing wage and union rules; and through our taxes that we pay to fund teacher’s and other government sector workers.

A taxpayer has some choice which companies he does business with, and may not be able to afford the increased costs of goods or services due to the union pressures for ever-increasing wages and benefits. Not so with the public unions. We involuntarily fund them, and most of the time that money is used against us to extract more and keep their heads in the trough.  This barrage of demands slams consumers, industries, and taxpayers.

The politicians have been generous, mostly because of the voting block unions represent. It is estimated that union members and their families represent 30% of the voters in this state. Quite a lot when you consider they need only another 20% or so to win an election. The voters spoke loudly, regardless of numerous visits by Obama to try and carry the vote for our then Governor Corzine.

This ultimately brings us to the recent gubernatorial election, and our financial condition here in the Great Garden State.

I think it is safe to say, myself included, that no one is against the majority of union members. They are our neighbors, brothers and sisters, Police, Fire, EMT’s, and Teachers. We interact with them every day, and for the most part all is well. What we don’t like is the machine they are part of, the way it operates, and its effect on our economy and lifestyle.  Most union workers in the state, county, and township level receive generous benefits along with pensions and health care at retirement. Government salaries and employment has increased over years, while the private sector unemployment hovers around 10% on average. This estimate is only based on those seeking benefits. Workers who have gone off unemployment, or have just given up are not counted and the real number hovers around 17%.

State and local governments actually cut jobs in March by 9,000, but the Federal government added 48,000 to its payrolls….a net gain of 39,000, mostly union represented.  Government workers average over 43% union membership versus an average of approximately 15% in the private sector.

Not only has hiring in the government sector increased, so too have their salaries and benefits, sometimes to the extreme.  The burden of support rests mostly on private sector taxpayers and consumers, many who are now unemployed or slipping to a survival mode lifestyle. The private sector carries the weight of this large workforce and also pay for numerous public sector benefits, while often struggling to afford even minimal coverage. When government needs more to pay the bills the money is borrowed often in a roundabout way, so we pay interest on loans.

The cost of administrating the various pension and benefit programs protect the “status quo” and has been a party to placing our states and government in a financial black hole that will take years to emerge from, if ever.

As this is written Governor Chris Christie is endeavoring to correct and reverse some of the practices that have sent us down this dark road.  There is already stiff resistance, and while most New Jerseyans realize steps must be taken, the unions are crying foul.  Of course it will affect “The Children”, who have the least rights of any citizen in this state but are continually used like tokens in the entitlement game, but get the least benefit from it.

The NJEA is using a lot of their (our) money to solicit sympathy for members and speak of the impending doom that cuts to the schools will create.  This may be one of Christie’s largest nuts to crack, and although I believe he has the blessing of the taxpayers, the union has dug in and will not budge easily. Once again our money is working against us, and the battle will be long and hard, and may set the tone for the next election depending on the outcome.  Some school boards have given raises even in this failing economy, with retroactive payments going back 2 years. The NJEA has been hard at work.

A great amount of the cost of education in this state is from mandates, such as the Abbott districts, based on NJ court decisions. Our prior sessions of legislators and governors have dropped the ball by allowing this to happen without challenge. Salaries and benefits skyrocketed at the taxpayers expense with no restraint as the money flowed in. Concessions to the unions, bloated entitlement programs, and concepts like prevailing wages along with excessive borrowing have broken our bank.

Locally, towns are preparing for the cuts in school aid, mostly by cutting jobs, and services. Students may find that they have less after school activities, 50% less field trips, and some sports programs for under classmen being cut back or eliminated. There has also been mention of increased financial participation by parents for some programs, and charging students that drive to school additional parking fees. Essentially a parking tax to use the public property we pay for already.

These are just some of the cuts, and towns will also need to cut services and in most cases again raise taxes to make up the shortfall.

We citizens of New Jersey have been accused by some of being “asleep at the wheel”, and in some respect this may be true, but essentially the problems have been created in Trenton, and in the Towns as costs escalate and no one wants to buck the unions and associated organizations.

Our new Governor has a big job ahead of him, and it will be a battle to say the least. As Chris Christie moves forward with the cuts in services and aid to school districts, we will all feel the pain in our wallets. The Legislators in Trenton need to be reminded that they work for us, and that according to our State Constitution (Section 1, Article 1) they make the laws, not the court judges.

Our NJ Senators and Assembly members should heed the years damage from excessiveness and apply a Conservative mindset of cutting spending and lowering taxes.  Our Governor needs to surround himself with people that share this ideology and heed their counsel.

We can only hope that Mr. Christie will learn fast to respect conservative values, and let those values guide him as he attempts to put our NJ on the right track to regaining our prosperity.  I find it unfortunate that his resume did not include credentials that would have qualified him with the wisdom to see the entire interactive picture.

The union bureaucracy, the bosses, and their agenda are only one part of the economic equation.  But, it must be understood that the union leaders who proclaim half-truths and falsehoods hurts its members and creates an “us and them” mentality that injures us all.

Tax expenditures

I remember my early days of learning about accruals and deferrals in college accounting.  Tax expenditures remind me of the thought process needed to conceptualize why they are actually spending.  The wording “tax expenditures” is naturally confused with “expenses”.  I turned to Google to better pass on an understanding.  “Tax expenditures are an alternative to direct government spending on policy programs.”

Tax expenditures could be placed on the budget as line items, but instead are administered through the tax codes by the Treasury Department.  They are off budget because they are not direct government expenses, grants, aid or other expenses that are listed by department or another government entity or program.  But they are revenue losses as it is money not collected that could be if the tax code did not ‘excuse’ them.  Lost revenue must be absorbed by placing more taxation on those who do not qualify for the breaks, or by decreasing spending elsewhere.  So it is an important concept to examine and understand an expenditure’s effectiveness, or lack thereof.

Tax expenditures have many forms such as; tax breaks, credits, rebates, exclusions, exemptions, or deductions. The tax expenditures are often called; revenue losses, or tax code provisions.

So, why do we have such a system?  Perhaps the main goal is to reach policy objectives considered important by governments.  Helping the needy, promoting savings and capital investment, persuading certain economic or other activity, some avoidance of double taxation, cost effectiveness that eliminates need for government administration, and collecting political points are priorities that drive special treatment via the tax codes.  Tax exemptions can also be used to discourage or control certain activities.

We are familiar with common tax expenditures, such as the tax deduction taken on income tax for mortgage interest.  Groups or individuals often qualifying for special exclusions, deductions, credits, exemptions, or varied rates as directed through the tax laws.  Sometimes the provisions also allow taxes to be cast into some future period of time.  Through these special tax code provisions, benefits are granted for eligible individuals, groups, or businesses.  Tax expenditures occur at all government levels and often have an interactive effect on each political entity, such as specific mandates.

I have not seen much coverage on New Jersey’s new tax expenditure report.  It was released in March along with Governor Christie’s proposed FY 2011 budget.  For me it is an interesting report because it is a first for New Jersey and should ultimately lead us to a better picture of spending in New Jersey.  Virtually on his way out the door of the Governor’s Office, former Governor Corzine signed bill A2139 requiring this new report.

By the reports own admission it lacks in the following areas:

Description of the expenditure objective
Analysis of reaching the objective compared to the purpose
Analysis of those who benefit
Fairness and equity of the tax burden
Cost of administering the tax expenditures

The report is first divided by each tax and then by categories of tax expenditures or revenue losses.  Even though the report is lacking important information in its debut, I find a lot that enlightens my understanding of why our state is so economically trashed.  If all of the tax expenditures reported in NJ under the FY11 column (pgs 5-8) were placed on budget, it would drastically increase.  I question if this report is inclusive of all NJ tax expenditures.

There are numerous issues in using tax expenditures as a way to achieve policy goals.  Their transparency is illusive.  ‘Loss’ of tax revenue through expenditures can be more difficult to scrutinize than budgeted expenses that are reviewed and questioned. This upcoming Office of Legislative Services schedule for 2010 announces the hearings for the 2011 budget due July 1st.  There is no such oversight for tax expenditures.  Another problem is the difficulty of dissecting the costs of each against the benefits they achieve and identifying whom receives the benefits.

There is no strict cost ceiling under tax codes.  The cost of tax expenditures is only limited by the number of filings for each ‘tax break’ along with the associated allowable amounts.  Tax expenditures usually do not have a time limit, so once enacted they remain.  Many of them could attain status of ‘antiquity’ as they sit for decades without any proof of success or measurements of cost to the state citizens.

After reviewing the NJ information provided, my outlook is that there are a number of the listings that should be eliminated if they prove not meet the goals originally intended or inequitable opportunities are for some at the expense of others.  Some should be considered for a move to on-budget spending if analysis shows this would be cost effective.  I look forward to the next report having more detail, especially a cost-benefit analysis.  It is my hope that the NJ Legislature seizes this opportunity to thoroughly examine each tax expenditure prior to the release of the next report.

For a comprehensive report on tax expenditures one can read the 2009 publication from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.