Podcasts about urban brookings tax policy center

Last week, President Trump fired 6,700 IRS employees, while the chronically underfunded agency, is in the midst of tax season. In a New York Times guest essay, seven former IRS commissioners, who served in both Democratic and Republican administrations, decried the cuts, which constitute 7% of the agency's work force, as bad policy that would make the agency less efficient and effective. We talk to tax experts and former IRS commissioner Daniel Werfel, who oversaw efforts to overhaul the agency during the Biden administration, about the impact of these cuts to the agency and to the federal budget and Trump's policy towards the IRS. Guests: Vanessa Williamson, senior fellow, Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center; she is the author of "Read My Lips: Why Americans Are Proud to Pay Taxes'; she is also a senior fellow in the Governance Studies department at Brookings Daniel Werfel, former IRS commissioner, Werfel served as the 50th Commissioner of the IRS from March 2023 to January 2025

Few of the provisions of the tax code this year have garnered as much attention from industry as the about-to-sunset pass-through deduction. In their 2017 tax overhaul, Republicans allowed owners of pass-through businesses such as partnerships, S-corporations, and LLCs to deduct 20% of certain business income from their taxes. Businesses and their lobbyists say it gives those firms small and large parity with traditional corporations. Critics say its benefits largely flow to the wealthy. That deduction—along with the rest of the individual provisions of that 2017 law known as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act—expires at the end of 2025 absent congressional action and President Donald Trump's signature. On this episode of Talking Tax, Bloomberg Tax reporter Zach Cohen spoke with two guests about what the deduction does and prospects for renewal by Congress this year. Jeff Brabant is a vice president of federal government relations at the National Federation of Independent Businesss, and Elena Spatoulas Patel is a nonresident senior fellow at the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center and the Sorenson Assistant Professor in the Division of Quantitative Analysis of Markets and Organizations at the University of Utah's David Eccles School of Business. Do you have feedback on this episode of Talking Tax? Give us a call and leave a voicemail at 703-341-3690.

The 2017 Tax Cut and Jobs Act was among the most sweeping realignments of the U.S. tax code in over three decades. It lowered tax rates, simplified taxes, raised the government debt, and was regressive, benefitting people who are well off more than the middle-class and the poor. But many of the Act's provisions are set to expire at the end of 2025 unless action is taken to preserve them. What would the expiration, or the continuation, of these provisions mean for people's tax burdens, government debt, and the performance of the American economy? Bill Gale joins EconoFact Chats to discuss these questions. Bill is an economist at the Brookings Institution, and is co-director of The Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center. His most recent book is 'Fiscal Therapy: Curing America's Debt Addiction and Investing in the Future.'

The 2017 Tax Cut and Jobs Act was among the most sweeping realignments of the U.S. tax code in over three decades. It lowered tax rates, simplified taxes, raised the government debt, and was regressive, benefitting people who are well off more than the middle-class and the poor. But many of the Act's provisions are set to expire at the end of 2025 unless action is taken to preserve them. What would the expiration, or the continuation, of these provisions mean for people's tax burdens, government debt, and the performance of the American economy? Bill Gale joins EconoFact Chats to discuss these questions. Bill is an economist at the Brookings Institution, and is co-director of The Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center. His most recent book is 'Fiscal Therapy: Curing America's Debt Addiction and Investing in the Future.'

Send us a textDo you have questions about tax policy in the 2024 election? Submit your questions here.Steve Rosenthal of the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center and Don Susswein of RSM discuss how Congress should handle agency delegation following the Loper Bright decision. For more from Rosenthal and Susswein, read the following:Congress Can Maintain IRS Rulemaking AuthorityWhat About Vague ‘Delegated' Tax Regulations?For additional coverage, read the following articles in Tax Notes:DOJ, FedEx Contest Loper Bright's Effect in Offset Earnings CaseLoper Bright Casts Doubt on SECA Guidance Plan, Tax Pros SayFollow us on X:David Stewart: @TaxStewTax Notes: @TaxNotes***CreditsHost: David D. StewartExecutive Producers: Jasper B. Smith, Paige JonesShowrunner: Jordan ParrishAudio Engineers: Jordan Parrish, Peyton RhodesGuest Relations: Alexis Hart

This week on Facing the Future, we'll take a preliminary look at the tax policy proposals of former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris. In addition, we'll consider the tax policy implications of a case recently decided by the U.S. Supreme Court. Our guest is Steven Rosenthal, senior fellow at the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center.

This week on Facing the Future, we'll take a preliminary look at the tax policy proposals of former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris. In addition, we'll consider the tax policy implications of a case recently decided by the U.S. Supreme Court. Our guest is Steven Rosenthal, senior fellow at the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center.

Guest Hosts: Adam Gardiner & Greg Skordas Our country is currently on an unsustainable track when it comes to our national debt. We started 2024 at $34 trillion dollars, and have added $720 billion dollars in just 6 months. Gene Steuerle from Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center shares that by the end of the year we will cross the $35 trillion dollar mark, with no end in sight to get on a sustainable path. It will take more than just spending cuts and nominal tax increases to fix this. So what needs to happen before our country feels the full effects of a national debt crisis?

Why do people hate taxes but seem proud to pay them? When did taxation in the US become such a lightning rod issue? And are American feelings about taxes unique? Today Zachary and Emma talk to Vanessa Williamson, senior fellow in Governance Studies at the Brookings Institution and a senior fellow at the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center. The discussion weaves through taxation, redistribution, and political participation.  What Could Go Right? is produced by The Progress Network and The Podglomerate. For transcripts, to join the newsletter, and for more information, visit: theprogressnetwork.org Watch the podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/theprogressnetwork And follow us on X, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok: @progressntwrk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As the United States faces into a number of consequential elections including the Presidential Election in 2024, along with elections to Congress as well as several gubernatorial elections, the shape of the political landscape in the United States both during the election campaigns and after the political dust has settled will be highly significant for the future of the country's democracy. In her address to the IIEA, Vanessa Williamson, Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution, assesses the possible consequences of the 2024 elections for the resilience of the institutions which underpin the US' democracy. About the Speaker: Vanessa Williamson is a Senior Fellow in Governance Studies at Brookings, and a Senior Fellow at the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center. She studies taxation, redistribution, democracy, and political participation. She is the author, with Theda Skocpol, of The Tea Party and the Remaking of Republican Conservatism.

This week, on Facing the Future, we began with a review of the oral arguments before the U.S. Supreme Court in Moore vs. United States, a case that could have a big effect on federal government revenues. Our guest was Steven Rosenthal, Senior fellow at the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center. Then, Tori Goman, Steve Robinson and I looked at some new numbers on U.S. life expectancy and whether there may be a glimmer of hope that a government shutdown can be avoided in January.

This week, on Facing the Future, we began with a review of the oral arguments before the U.S. Supreme Court in Moore vs. United States, a case that could have a big effect on federal government revenues. Our guest was Steven Rosenthal, Senior fellow at the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center. Then, Tori Goman, Steve Robinson and I looked at some new numbers on U.S. life expectancy and whether there may be a glimmer of hope that a government shutdown can be avoided in January.

There's a very good chance that your taxes are about to go up. That's because the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, a massive overhaul of the tax code for both businesses and individual taxpayers that reduced taxes for many people, may expire if Congress doesn't act to extend it. In this episode of Edelman Financial Engines' Everyday Wealth™, Jean and wealth planner Isabel Barrow discuss ways to start planning for the possibility of higher taxes, including different strategies that could help reduce your tax burden. Then, Jean interviews Howard Gleckman, a senior fellow at the Urban Institute, about how the political climate will affect the outcome of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and what the fiscal ramifications could be. Next, Jennifer Chomicki, senior director of advanced planning strategies at Edelman Financial Engines, joins Jean and Isabel to discuss new tax technology that helps identify ways to potentially reduce your taxes.    Ms. Chatzky receives cash compensation for acting as host of the Everyday Wealth podcast and for related activities and therefore has an incentive to endorse Edelman Financial Engines and its planners. That compensation is a fixed sum paid on an annual basis; and reimbursement for certain expenses. The amount paid each year does not vary, is not based on show content or any results-dependent factors (e.g., popularity of the show). This show is prerecorded and any callers are prescreened. The views and opinions expressed by Howard Gleckman, a senior fellow in the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center at the Urban Institute, are solely his own and may not reflect the views or opinions of EFE or its planners. The information provided is for educational purposes only and should not be construed as investment or tax advice. Although some of the statistical and market information has been gathered from sources believed to be reliable, we do not guarantee its accuracy or completeness. You should consult with a financial advisor and tax professional to help determine the best options for your particular circumstances.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A year ago, the tax world was pleasantly surprised when Congress granted the chronically underfunded IRS an $80 billion windfall in the Inflation Reduction Act. Now that surprise is turning into dismay among some as Congress starts to claw back that money bit by bit. President Joe Biden agreed to reallocate about a quarter of that funding as a part of this spring's debt ceiling deal. And now Republican appropriators on Capitol Hill are proposing to take away even more of the money. On the first part of a two-part podcast series looking at Congress as it returns from its August recess, we sort out what this means with Janet Holtzblatt, a senior fellow at the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center and former unit chief for tax policy studies at the Congressional Budget Office. She spoke with Bloomberg Tax reporter Chris Cioffi about just how much the IRS could lose through this year's appropriations process and about what that would mean for the agency's grand modernization plans. Do you have feedback on this episode of Talking Tax? Give us a call and leave a voicemail at 703-341-3690.

Steve Rosenthal of the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center reviews the GOP tax package approved by the House Ways and Means Committee, specifically the proposed individual and business tax cuts. For additional coverage, read these articles in Tax Notes:House Tax Bill Racing Toward Floor Vote but Has a SALT ProblemWays and Means GOP Votes to Advance Tax PackageGOP Introduces Tax Package to Kick Off Tax Bill NegotiationsHouse Tax Bill to Focus on TCJA ExtensionsFollow us on Twitter:Cady Stanton: @cady_stantonDavid Stewart: @TaxStewTax Notes: @TaxNotes***CreditsHost: David D. StewartExecutive Producers: Jasper B. Smith, Paige JonesShowrunner: Jordan ParrishAudio Engineers: Jordan Parrish, Peyton RhodesGuest Relations: Alexis Hart

This week on Facing the Future, we hear from two experts on the federal budget process and the search for more revenue which mamy fiscal policy experts believe we are going to need - along with spending cuts - if we expect to truly address the historic imbalance between what the  government spends and what it takes in. Our guests are Howard Gleckman of the Urban Brookings Tax Policy Center, and Tom Kahn, Faculty Fellow at the Center for Congressional and Presidential Studies at American University who for 20 years was staff director for Democrats on the House Budget Committee

This week on Facing the Future, we hear from two experts on the federal budget process and the search for more revenue which mamy fiscal policy experts believe we are going to need - along with spending cutd - if we expect to truly address the historic imbalance between what the government spends and what it takes in. Our guests are Howard Gleckman of the Urban Brookings Tax Policy Center, and Tom Kahn, Faculty Fellow at the Center for Congressional and Presidential Studies at American University who for 20 years was staff director for Democrats on the House Budget Committee.

Most Americans need help to file our tax return each year - about 90% of people use technology like Turbo Tax, or hire a human tax preparer.  Why does it feel like it takes degree in accounting, or the money to pay someone with a degree, or computer software, just to comply with the law? We talk about why our income tax system is the way it is: full of complexity, difficult to navigate, and extremely personal. It's a system where things like who you work for, what kind of resources you have, and how you spend your money, are directly connected to how much you owe the government each year, and what the government provides for you in return. So how did we get here? Helping us untangle this history is Eric Toder, Institute fellow in the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center at the Urban Institute, Beverly Moran, Professor of Law at Vanderbilt University, where she focuses on federal income taxation, including individuals, partnerships, tax-exempt organizations and corporate, and Joe Thorndike, Director of the Tax History Project at Tax Analysts.  Stay tuned for our follow up episode on how to do your taxes successfully, and correctly - we'll talk about the IRS, enforcement and compliance, and the rise of tax preparation software. 

Elaine Maag of the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center looks at lessons learned from the 2021 advance child tax credit and its potential political future.  Listen to our other episodes on the child tax credit:The Advance Child Tax Credit: Changes Coming?The Advance Child Tax Credit: What Lies AheadFor additional coverage, read these articles in Tax Notes:Analysis: Resolving the Child Tax Credit ConundrumBoosted Child Credit Helped More Parents Feel Financially SecureGAO Suggests Tax Credits Contribute to Racial and Gender DisparitiesInflation, Child Tax Credit Rollback Endanger Business Tax BreaksIn our “In the Pages” segment, Omri Marian, professor of law and academic director of the graduate tax program at the University of California, Irvine School of Law, chats about his Tax Notes piece, “Law, Policy, and the Taxation of Block Rewards.” Follow us on Twitter:Marie Sapirie: @MarieSapirieDavid Stewart: @TaxStewTax Notes: @TaxNotes**For more information about the Christopher E. Bergin Award for Excellence in Writing, visit taxnotes.com/students.This episode is sponsored by SafeSend. For more information, visit safesend.com.For more information about the Tax Analysts Public Service Fellowship, visit our press release at taxnotes.com/fellowship.***CreditsHost: David D. StewartExecutive Producers: Jasper B. Smith, Paige JonesShowrunner and Audio Engineer: Jordan ParrishGuest Relations: Alexis Hart

As the deadline to file federal taxes approaches Monday in most states, questions remain for many about what to expect this tax season, and when to expect their refunds. The IRS is warning that refunds may be delayed for many this year due to budget constraints, staffing shortages and backlogs. Elaine Maag, a senior fellow at the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center, joins John Yang to discuss. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

Stephen Henderson talks with Elaine Maag, a senior fellow in the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center at the Urban Institute, as well as Rachel Richards, Fiscal Policy Director for the Michigan League for Public Policy.

Gasoline prices have reached record highs in recent weeks, spurring lawmakers across the country to look for ways to offer some relief. A popular target: the excise taxes the federal government and states collect to fund transportation programs. Some congressional Democrats have floated a suspension of the 18.3 cent-per-gallon federal gas tax, while many governors are pursuing state holidays that could provide some temporarily relief to drivers. Temporarily ditching the gas tax would offer some obvious political benefits for lawmakers running for re-election this year. But how much would it actually help consumers with the national average for regular gasoline up to well over $4 a gallon and gas prices nearing $6 a gallon in California? Lucy Dadayan and Howard Gleckman of the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center appear on the latest episode of our weekly Talking Tax podcast to talk about proposed gas tax holidays. Gleckman argues that suspending the federal excise tax could actually fuel further price increases, while Dadayan suggests states should instead look at targeted tax rebates to help low-income families struggling with inflation. Do you have feedback on this episode of Talking Tax? Give us a call and leave a voicemail at 703-341-3690.

At the start of 2022 panelists join to discuss the anticipated path of the US economy, inflation, interest rates, the impact COVID-19 continues to have, and whether state and local governments face a “fiscal cliff” as federal pandemic budget aid is expended. This special briefing features a panel of experts, including Lucy Dadayan, senior research associate with the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center at the Urban Institute; Larry Johnson, Commissioner, DeKalb County (Georgia) Board of Commissioners and president, National Association of Counties; Eric Kim, senior director, Fitch Ratings Inc.; Torsten Slok, chief economist, Apollo Global Management, and Mark Zandi, chief economist, Moody's Analytics. Notable Quotes: “From a county perspective, we look at the funding we've received so far from Cares. For instance, for us in DeKalb, this past weekend we gave out about 10,000 free at-home COVID tests to residents in our community,” Larry Johnson “For 2022, Fitch is projecting US GDP growth of 3.7%, that's down from the 5.7% we estimated for 2021, but still well ahead of the 2% average we were seeing pre-pandemic,” Eric Kim “What is promising is that we see that local governments are also putting aside money in rainy-day funds. Of course, it all depends on what happens next. We have been seeing a growth in natural disasters, in the number of wildfires, the number of hurricanes, and my advice would always be it is better to be prepared than to be sorry,” Lucy Dadayan. “The year should be a solid one, I expect a GDP growth of about 4%. That means we will create enough jobs to get the economy back to full employment by the end of the year,” Mark Zandi Be sure to subscribe to Special Briefing to stay up to date on the world of public finance. Learn more about the Volcker Alliance at: volckeralliance.org Learn more about Penn IUR at: penniur.upenn.edu Connect with us @VolckerAlliance and @PennIUR on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn Special Briefing is published by the Volcker Alliance, as part of its Public Finance initiatives, and Penn IUR. The views expressed on this podcast are those of the panelists and do not necessarily reflect the position of the Volcker Alliance or Penn IUR.

Happy New Year from the SALT Shaker Podcast! In the first episode of 2022 SALT Shaker Podcast focused on policy issues, host and Eversheds Sutherland Partner Nikki Dobay welcomes Lucy Dadayan, senior research associate with the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center at the Urban Institute, where she is leading the State Tax and Economic Review project. Lucy is an expert on state government revenues. And, during their discussion, they discuss where state tax revenues were before the pandemic, what happened during the pandemic, and where the states are coming into 2022.  Then, they wrap up with Nikki's surprise non-tax question – what's your New Year's Eve ritual? The Eversheds Sutherland State and Local Tax team has been engaged in state tax policy work for years, tracking tax legislation, helping clients gauge the impact of various proposals, drafting talking points and rewriting legislation. Partner Nikki Dobay, who has an extensive background in tax policy, hosts this series, which is focused on state and local tax policy issues. Questions or comments? Email SALTonline@eversheds-sutherland.com.

On January 11, the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center hosted an event on this divergence between economic and taxable income and its implications for tax policy. Results from new research using the Survey of Consumer Finances will be presented with an eye towards understanding which forms of income do not show up on tax forms, where in the income distribution that divergence is occurring, and the revenue implications of broadening the business income tax base. Subscribe to Brookings Events on iTunes, send feedback email to events@brookings.edu, and follow us and tweet us at @policypodcasts on Twitter. To learn more about upcoming events, visit our website. Brookings Events is part of the Brookings Podcast Network.  

Jim Crow laws that prevented Black citizens from voting are clearly racist, as are redlining practices that excluded Black homebuyers from white neighborhoods. But what about laws and regulations that don't rely on disparate treatment based on race? Can such policies still be racist? Bill Gale explores these questions in his new research, including in a paper titled “Public Finance and Racism.” He is the Arjay and Frances Fearing Miller Chair in Federal Economic Policy, a senior fellow in Economic Studies, and co-director of the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center. Also on this episode, Senior Fellow David Wessel, director of the Hutchins Center on Fiscal and Monetary Policy, addresses President Biden's renomination of Jay Powell to be chair of the Federal Reserve, his nomination of Lael Brainard to be vice chair, and the big question confronting the Fed: inflation. Show notes and transcript:   Follow Brookings podcasts on Apple or Google podcasts, or on Spotify. Send feedback email to , and follow us and tweet us at  on Twitter. The Brookings Cafeteria is part of the .

Controversial US tax rules (e.g. carried interest, step up in basis) mean that billionaire tech titans and hedge fund managers pay arguably relatively low amounts of tax, as Steve Rosenthal, Senior Fellow at the Urban Institute, explains to show host Gene Tunny in Economics Explored episode 114. Steve also talks about former President Trump's tax affairs.About this episode's guest - Steven M. RosenthalSteve Rosenthal, a senior fellow in the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center at the Urban Institute, researches, speaks, and writes on a range of federal income tax issues, with a particular focus on business taxes. In 2013, he was the staff director of the DC Tax Revision Commission.Before joining Urban, Rosenthal practiced tax law in Washington, DC, for over 25 years, most recently as a partner at Ropes and Gray. He was a legislation counsel with the Joint Committee on Taxation, where he helped draft tax rules for financial institutions, financial products, capital gains, and related areas. He is the former chair of the Taxation Section of the District of Columbia Bar Association.Rosenthal holds an AB and JD from the University of California, Berkeley, and an MPP from Harvard University.Links relevant to the conversationTax Fairness: President Donald Trump, a Case Study (Steve's testimony before the U.S. House Ways and Means Oversight Subcommittee)Buy, borrow, die: How rich Americans live off their paper wealth (WSJ article)Thanks to the show's audio engineer Josh Crotts for his assistance in producing the episode. Please get in touch with any questions, comments and suggestions by emailing us at contact@economicsexplored.com or sending a voice message via https://www.speakpipe.com/economicsexplored. Economics Explored is available via Apple Podcasts, Google Podcast, and other podcasting platforms.

On October 27, ahead of the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Glasgow (October 31 to November 12), the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center and the Brookings Center on Regulation and Markets brought together climate and tax policy experts to examine recent proposals for U.S. energy tax policy. Catherine Wolfram, deputy assistant secretary of climate and energy economics at the U.S. Department of the Treasury, shared her perspective on the Biden administration's climate strategy. Following her keynote, an expert panel consisting of Gilbert Metcalf (Tufts University), Carole Nakhle (Crystol Energy), and Kurt Van Dender (OECD), moderated by Thornton Matheson (Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center), further discussed the U.S. approach to energy tax policy.   Subscribe to Brookings Events on iTunes, send feedback email to events@brookings.edu, and follow us and tweet us at @policypodcasts on Twitter. To learn more about upcoming events, visit our website. Brookings Events is part of the Brookings Podcast Network.

New Drug for Alzheimer's Disease "Don't let yourself be sucked in by all of the publicity and marketing about the new drug for Alzheimer's. Think about whether it's got any benefit, the side effects— which can be very severe, and think about where that money otherwise would go." Howard Gleckman, Senior Fellow, Consultant, and Editor, TaxVox Blog ________________________________________________ Aducanumab (brand name AduhelmTM) received expedited approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on June 7, 2021, making it the first Alzheimer's disease drug approved after 18 years.    Since then, the FDA has changed the approval's original wording to suggest that it be used exclusively in select individuals with moderate cognitive decline or early Alzheimer's disease.   Further research is now being done because of the FDA's recent approval of Aduhelm, which sparked worries about its safety, efficacy, and cost.    In today's episode of This Is Getting Old: Moving Towards An Age-Friendly World, we will be talking about The New Drug for Alzheimer's Disease known as Aducanumab (marketed as AduhelmTM). Today, I am joined by Howard Gleckman, a Senior Fellow with the Urban Institute, who will shed some light on the newest drug available for Alzheimer's disease. Part One Of 'New Drug for Alzheimer's Disease' Understanding Alzheimer's Disease In A Nutshell Alzheimer's disease is only one form of dementia; there are many other types, including Vascular disease, Lewy Body disease, Frontotemporal Degeneration (FTD), Parkinson's, and mixed pathologies. Alzheimer's disease is the most common form – 60-80% of all cases of dementia, but many people do have mixed pathologies, meaning they have more than one form of the disease. This is complicated because confirming what type or types of dementia a person has can only be done by autopsy (I've done a previous podcast on how Alzheimer's disease is diagnosed if you would like to learn more).    You can also learn more about Alzheimer's Facts and Figures (2021), an annual report published by the Alzheimer's Association, to learn more about the different types of dementia and associated characteristics (pages 6 and 7 of the 2021 report).  Signs And Symptoms Of Alzheimer's Disease Early symptoms of Alzheimer's disease are trouble with your memory – remembering recent conversations, names, or events – or being depressed or apathetic, which means having a general lack of interest or enthusiasm about things you were formerly excited about.   As the disease progresses and moves into the moderate and advanced stages, symptoms include difficulty communicating with words, being disoriented, confused, having poor judgment, behavioral changes, and ultimately, in the end stages, difficulty speaking, walking, and swallowing.  "Not all people with MCI transition into Alzheimer's disease. We don't know or understand the mechanism of why that happens, why some people transition, or some people don't. So then you could be potentially giving a drug to a group of people that would have never progressed to Alzheimer's disease."  Melissa Batchelor, PhD, RN, FNP-BC, FGSA, FAAN The Brain Changes From A Grape To A Raisin With Alzheimer's In Alzheimer's disease, the brain shrinks – can be seen on a head CT; and two proteins called beta-amyloid and tau develop and somehow become toxic to the brain. The beta-amyloid clumps into plaques, which slowly build up between neurons, and abnormal tau accumulate, eventually forming tangles inside the neurons. As the level of amyloid reaches a tipping point, there is a rapid spread of tau throughout the brain. These plaques and tangles cause the neurons to lose their ability to communicate. The NIH has a great 4-minute video that shows you this process visually. Drugs For Alzheimer's: What's On The Horizon? Acetylcholine is a neurotransmitter that also plays an essential role in cognitive function related to memory and paying attention.  Acetylcholinesterase is an enzyme that breaks down acetylcholine – so cholinesterase inhibitors are oral medications that prevent the breakdown of acetylcholine.   Right now, we have at least 3 Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors drugs approved by the FDA that work for a certain period but don't modify the disease course.   Scientists are working on new treatments for Alzheimer's that include  anti-amyloid therapy, anti neuroinflammation therapy, Anti-Tau therapy, Neuroprotection, cognitive enhancers, and medications that relieve the behavioral and psychological symptoms often seen in dementia.   Part Two Of 'New Drug for Alzheimer's Disease' Aducanumab (Brand Name AduhelmTM) The Newly Approved Alzheimer's Drug. Should You Take It? How Aducanumab (AduhelmTM) Works (Or Suppose To Work)? Aducanumab (Aduhelm) is a monoclonal antibody developed in a facility to bind to the amyloid molecule that causes plaques in Alzheimer's patient's brains. According to most experts, the plaques develop first and harm brain cells, prompting tau tangles to grow within them, eventually killing the cells.  When Aducanumab binds to the plaque, the body's immune system attacks it, mistaking it for a foreign intruder and removing it. The goal is that after the plaques are eliminated, the brain cells would stop dying, and thought, cognition, function, memory, and behavior will improve. How Aducanumab (AduhelmTM) Is Administered? The newly approved Aducanumab (AduhelmTM) is a Medicare part B drug. Most of us are familiar with the Part D drugs, which are the pills that we buy in the pharmacy. Part B drugs, on the other hand, are injectables or infusion drugs. That means you generally get this drug at a physician's clinic, an infusion center, or a hospital. Simply put, to take the drug, you need an intravenous infusion every four weeks — forever. Who Qualifies For Aducanumab (AduhelmTM)? Physicians may prescribe the medication for treatment in people with early-stage Alzheimer's disease based on the clinical studies that were conducted.  Early-stage Alzheimer's disease patients refer to people with Alzheimer's disease in the early stages of the disease, such as moderate cognitive impairment or mild dementia. People living with early stage Alzheimer's disease may be able to operate normally, or they may need assistance with more complex tasks such as bill payments, grocery shopping, cooking, or managing their checkbook. Those who need help with bathing, grooming, or other basic tasks are not in the early stages of the disease, and the medication is not recommended for them.   However, it's best to note that Alzheimer's disease does not affect anyone with moderate cognitive impairment or mild dementia. There are a variety of additional factors that contribute to these issues. Alzheimer's can only be diagnosed by an amyloid PET scan or lumbar puncture, both of which confirm the presence of Alzheimer's amyloid plaques. Most insurance plans now cover a lumbar puncture; however, an amyloid PET scan (which costs about $5,000) is not. Furthermore, what makes Alzheimer's disease different from other chronic conditions is the blood-brain barrier. How do you get the drug through that blood-brain barrier that's meant to protect the brain? "FDA's decision is giving people false hope. It's making them believe that if they scrape together somehow all of this money, there's going to be this magic cure for this disease, and we don't have the evidence that that's true."    Howard Gleckman, Senior Fellow, Consultant, and Editor, TaxVox How Much Does Aducanumab (Aduhelm) Cost? Howard Gleckman explained that Aducanumab is estimated to cost $56,000 per year by Biogen, the company that manufactures it. It is unknown if this medicine will be covered by Medicaid, Medicare, or private insurance. Biogen said they're working on a deal with the Veterans Health Administration (VA) to pay for this drug for veterans receiving VA treatment. However, VA said they would not include it in their formulary, and private insurance companies are all over the place.    Similarly, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is still not sure if they will cover the drug. And if they do, AduhelmTM would be covered by Medicare Part B (because it's an infusion) rather than Medicare Part D (prescription drug coverage). And even if they do decide to cover the medication, Medicare only pays 80% of Part B costs and 20% is out-of-pocket for consumers. Annual out-of-pocket costs would be over $11,000 -these costs  make the drug out of reach for many Americans. Howard asks that when considering the cost being $56 000 a year per person, what will it cost Medicare annually? When the drug has not been found to be effective,  we could be investing in the Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) that we have evidence do work. The bottom line is that geriatricians and healthcare providers are left to explain to patients why they are not eligible to take this medication, and why  it's considered a "scam" by scientists and healthcare professionals alike. But, Does Aducanumab (AduhelmTM) Work? Briefly stated, there were two major clinical studies to determine the drug's efficacy, side effects, and overall safety. One of the trials returned positive, indicating that the medication helped to halt the loss in cognition, memory, and functioning that is so common in Alzheimer's disease.    The results of the other extensive research were negative. The findings indicate that there's no evidence to prove whether the drug is working or not.   Another element to decide is that the perceived upside — if the medication performs as much as it did in the successful trial — is next to nothing.    The Role Played By The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) The FDA was established in 1906 to protect consumers from unsafe medications and unsafe substances that falsely claimed efficacy for some treatment without proof.  Long-standing FDA Approval Process for all drugs built on how clinical trials are conducted to move medication from the laboratory into use by human beings. With that, FDA approval can take 12-15 years at an average cost of $2.6 billion to a manufacturer. Biogen spent about 18 billion dollars to develop this drug.    Moreover, in 14 clinical trials, after significantly reducing beta-amyloid, this drug did not result in a significant change in Mini-Mental State Examination scores. In other words, there has been no convincing clinical evidence that clearing beta-amyloid from the brain results in any benefit to the patient. The FDA ignored the recommendation of an Independent Data Monitoring Committee that found zero evidence that this drug slowed down AD progression; in fact, patients given Aducanumab in the trials did worse than patients who received the placebo.  The Independent Data Monitoring Committee recommended that the Phase III trial of Aducanumab be terminated.   These actions made by the FDA in ignoring the recommendations of the Expert Alzheimer's Disease Panel and approving the drug for use caused three members to quit and raised several controversies.  About Howard Gleckman, Senior Fellow, Consultant and Editor, TaxVox Blog Howard Gleckman is a senior fellow in the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center at the Urban Institute. He is also affiliated with Urban's Program on Retirement Policy and is the author of the book Caring for Our Parents. He also writes two regular columns for Forbes.com, on tax policy and eldercare.   Connect with Howard by checking out his Personal Blog   About Melissa Batchelor, PhD, RN, FNP-BC, FGSA, FAAN:   I earned my Bachelor of Science in Nursing ('96) and Master of Science in Nursing ('00) as a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) from the University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW) School of Nursing (SON). I genuinely enjoy working with the complex medical needs of older adults. I worked full-time for five years as an FNP in geriatric primary care across many long-term care settings (skilled nursing homes, assisted living, home, and office visits), then transitioned into academic nursing in 2005, joining the faculty at UNCW SON lecturer. I obtained my Ph.D. in Nursing and a post-master's Certificate in Nursing Education from the Medical University of South Carolina College of Nursing ('11). I then joined the faculty at Duke University School of Nursing as an Assistant Professor. My family moved to northern Virginia in 2015 and led to me joining the George Washington University (GW) School of Nursing faculty in 2018 as a (tenured) Associate Professor. I am also the Director of the GW Center for Aging, Health, and Humanities. Please find out more about her work at https://melissabphd.com/.  

Earlier this month, ProPublica made waves when it published what it said was verified IRS information showing that billionaires, like Jeff Bezos and Warren Buffett, pay little in income tax compared to their massive wealth. ProPublica described the info as “an unprecedented look inside the financial lives of America's titans.” The article caused quite a stir, both because of how they got the data and the larger discussion regarding wealth and taxes. Recent discussions of taxing the rich or even proposing a wealth tax have sparked plenty of philosophical conversations-- but what would that realistically look like for America's uber-wealthy?   On today's episode of the Taxgirl podcast, Kelly is joined by Steve Rosenthal to chat about tax and wealth and how they intersect. Steve is a senior fellow in the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center at the Urban Institute, where he researches, speaks, and writes on a range of federal income tax issues, with a particular focus on business taxes. In 2013, he also was the staff director of the DC Tax Revision Commission.   Before joining Urban, Rosenthal practiced tax law in Washington, DC, for over 25 years, most recently as a partner at Ropes and Gray. He was a legislation counsel with the Joint Committee on Taxation, where he helped draft tax rules for financial institutions, financial products, capital gains, and related areas. He is the former chair of the Taxation Section of the District of Columbia Bar Association.   Listen to Kelly and Steve talk about billionaires and taxes: The ProPublica piece mentioned has been criticized for supposedly conflating wealth with income. Steve shares the difference between earned income and unearned income, and why we tax them differently. Simply: income tax only taxes income, not wealth. We often assume that billionaires and millionaires are in the highest tax bracket, but that's not always the case. Income is the basis of tax liability in the American system, so wealth without income is not taxed as heavily. In 2007, Jeff Bezos famously said he paid no income tax, even though Amazon stock more than doubled in the same year. Steve says about the 16th amendment, “We have an income tax, not a wealth tax.” How do these tax principles apply to all taxpayers? Kelly and Steve discuss taxable events and how investments like stocks and real estate aren't considered taxable income until those assets are sold. What the Biden Proposal says about gains-at-death for the mega wealthy, and what the threshold really is. As a W-2 earner, all income is reported to the IRS, and many of these folks are not reliant on investments or asset growth for their wealth. But the wealthy are usually not reliant on a wage or salary. How are investment sales taxed differently than income? What are the arguments that the tax system isn't “fair,” versus the arguments that it is fair? Should the wealthy be taxed more heavily? Would changing the top tax rate alter how much the uber wealthy would realistically pay in overall taxes? In the philosophical discussion of whether billionaires should be taxed more, what would that even look like? There is so much opportunity in the U.S. for financial success, although recently wealth inequality has been “exacerbated.” What would happen to dynastic wealth if assets were taxed upon death? The 25 richest Americans are collectively worth over $1 Trillion. It would take over 14 million working class Americans to match that kind of wealth. Does taxing appreciated assets target small business and upper middle class more than it does the billionaires? The top 1% of Americans own 50% of the stock market. Most Americans would identify themselves as middle class, and a lot of folks don't have an abundance of assets. Addressing wealth inequality is complicated with the way the tax code sits right now. Does Steve think the ProPublica story helped or harmed the odds of Biden's proposal going through? What would the next steps potentially look like for the proposal?   More about Kelly Phillips Erb:   Kelly is the creator and host of the Taxgirl podcast series. Kelly is a practicing tax attorney with considerable experience and knowledge. She works with taxpayers like you every day. One of the things that she does is help folks out of tax jams, and hopefully, keep others from getting into them. Links mentioned: Kelly's Website – TaxgirlSteve's Twitter -- stevertax

Zvi and Bob interview Eugene Steuerle, a highly noted economist and expert on budget, tax, and social benefit programs. Gene is an Institute Fellow and Richard B. Fisher Chair at the Urban Institute. He has served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for Tax Analysis (1987-1989), President of the National Tax Association (2001-2002), and co-director of the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center. He is the author of 18 books and over 1,000 articles. He discusses how he became an economist, people who influenced his career, and disturbing trends in patterns of federal spending and budget deficits.

There's excitement — and controversy — surrounding Biogen's new Alzheimer's drug. What are doctors saying? Dr. Jason Karlawish and Dr. Gayatri Devi discuss the drug's promise and peril. And, ProPublica revealed a trove of tax records showing the megarich pay next to nothing in income taxes. Robert McClelland of the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center weighs in.

You might remember our episode on the tax gap, the billions unpaid by some of the richest Americans. Better enforcement of the existing tax law could yield big returns, but that’s just for individuals. Corporations pay taxes too — that is, when they aren’t parking their money in overseas tax havens. To stave off a “race to the bottom” and fund its infrastructure plan, the Biden administration is pushing for a global corporate tax minimum of around 15%. On today’s show, Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center senior fellow Thornton Matheson talks us through who benefits from the tax trends of the past 30 years, which countries are on board with Joe Biden’s proposed 15% minimum and the chances of it actually happening.

You might remember our episode on the tax gap, the billions unpaid by some of the richest Americans. Better enforcement of the existing tax law could yield big returns, but that’s just for individuals. Corporations pay taxes too — that is, when they aren’t parking their money in overseas tax havens. To stave off a “race to the bottom” and fund its infrastructure plan, the Biden administration is pushing for a global corporate tax minimum of around 15%. On today’s show, Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center senior fellow Thornton Matheson talks us through who benefits from the tax trends of the past 30 years, which countries are on board with Joe Biden’s proposed 15% minimum and the chances of it actually happening.

A discussion with Howard Gleckman, senior fellow in the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center at the Urban Institute, on how the Biden administration will impact you and your taxes.

William Gale is the Arjay and Frances Miller Chair in Federal Economic Policy and a senior fellow in the Economic Studies Program at the Brookings Institution. He is the author of "Fiscal Therapy: Curing America’s Debt Addiction and Investing in the Future." He is also the Co-Director of the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center and served as senior economist for the White House Council of Economic Advisers under President George H.W. Bush from 1991-1992. The dominant narrative around our national debt is all too familiar: every dollar of federal spending is bankrupting the U.S.; harsh austerity will soon be unavoidable; taming deficits means crippling cuts to crucial programs. In this episode, Dr. Gale turns the orthodoxy of fiscal responsibility on its head, offers insights into the economics of federal spending during a pandemic, and discusses his progressive approach to reducing the national debt. Our discussion centers around Dr. Gale’s most recent book, "Fiscal Therapy." We begin by examining the origins of federal borrowing habits and exploring the history of deficit spending during economic booms – a fiscal pattern that emerged during the Reagan era and has since become the norm. Today, the gap between revenue and expenditures has as much to do with under-taxing as it does with overspending on entitlements such as Social Security and Medicare. While Medicare and Social Security are considered political “sacred cows,” an aging population and rising healthcare costs will bankrupt these programs, making significant reform a bipartisan political necessity. Turning to the future of the federal budget, Dr. Gale’s emphasis on raising revenue provides a fresh perspective to a largely stale discourse around debt reduction. There is a possibility for consensus, he contends, around several central features of his approach to taxation. He sees potential in a progressive VAT (value-added tax) – a tax on all consumption of consumer goods that funds Universal Basic Income (UBI) for the poor and the lower middle class. Former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers famously said that VAT faces political hurdles because “liberals think it’s regressive, and conservatives think it is a money machine.” Paired with a UBI, however, a VAT might be on the horizon, argues Dr. Gale. He is also optimistic about his proposal for a tax on all carbon emissions – a market-based compromise between Republicans wary of climate spending and Democrats hungry for tax revenue and climate action. Dr. Gale’s insights on fiscal policy offer important lessons for today’s spending debates. He makes a strong case for choosing economic relief over fiscal restraint in the current economic climate, promoting a return to economic growth in the short term, and finding a path to a balanced budget in the long term. Specifically, he praised recent congressional funding for education, public transportation, and programs such as SNAP. He notes, however, that falling state and local tax revenue, growing entitlement spending, and state balanced budget requirements make more federal aid to state and local governments essential. We concluded our conversation with a fascinating discussion about the evolving role of the Federal Reserve in the Covid economy, asking some of the most pressing questions in monetary policy: What are the flaws and contradictions in Modern Monetary Theory? How important were the corporate and municipal lending facilities created by the CARES Act? How long can today’s low interest rates last, and what implications do future rate hikes have for paying down the national debt? Dr. Gale left us with one hopeful comment, amidst the turbulence and rancor of today’s politics and the structural impediments to fiscal responsibility: that future generations will ultimately prevail over this generation’s debt addiction.

While it took time for congress and President Trump to agree on the $900 billion pandemic relief bill, one thing has been certain for a while. Many mayors and governors did not get the money they requested. Tracy Gordon, a senior fellow at the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center, explains that while states will get funding for things like public education and vaccine distribution, what mayors and governors really want are unrestricted funds to spend how they'd like. NPR's Ailsa Chang reports on how public transit has been hit especially hard during the pandemic. And scaled-back services, while saving some money, hurt passengers who rely on them.

While it took time for congress and President Trump to agree on the $900 billion pandemic relief bill, one thing has been certain for a while. Many mayors and governors did not get the money they requested. Tracy Gordon, a senior fellow at the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center, explains that while states will get funding for things like public education and vaccine distribution, what mayors and governors really want are unrestricted funds to spend how they'd like. NPR's Ailsa Chang reports on how public transit has been hit especially hard during the pandemic. And scaled-back services, while saving some money, hurt passengers who rely on them.

At the beginning of the pandemic the federal government sent nearly every American a check for $1,200 as part of the CARES Act. Now, a second stimulus bill has been approved.  The slimmed-down package provides $600 direct payments for Americans earning up to $75,000 and revives a weekly jobless payment — this time of $300 — through March 14. It also provides new funds for COVID-19 vaccine distribution and loans for small businesses through a continuation of the Paycheck Protection Program.  Before signing it into law on Sunday, President Trump called for larger direct payments to individuals, sowing chaos among Republicans who had originally backed smaller checks. On Monday, the House voted to increase payments to $2,000, but Republican leaders in the Senate blocked an effort to vote on the bill on Tuesday.  Is the $900 billion package enough? Will the benefits last long enough? And, will money go to those who need it most or to individuals and businesses who don’t need a lifeline? MPR News host Kerri Miller spoke with a political scientist and an economist about what’s in the new stimulus bill and the politics of getting it passed. Guests: Tracy Gordon is a senior fellow with the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center. Julian Zelizer is an author and professor of political history at Princeton University. Subscribe to the MPR News with Kerri Miller podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify or RSS To listen to the full conversation you can use the audio player above.

Tax Notes senior reporter Paul Jones talks with Richard C. Auxier, senior policy associate at the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center, about tax issues raised by the gig economy and how policymakers are working to address them. Note: This episode was recorded prior to a California court decision mandating Uber and Lyft to reclassify drivers in the state as employees. For additional coverage, read these articles in Tax Notes:California Chamber Backs Labor, Payroll Tax Exemption for App-Based CompaniesLabor, Payroll Tax Law Exemption for App-Based Companies on California BallotBusinesses, Lawmakers Urge Suspension of Pending Tax PoliciesRide-Sharing Companies Fight California Labor Law on 2 FrontsTax Pros Seek Clarity on California Insurance Mandate, Employment Law California FTB Mulls Gig Economy Tax ChallengesCalifornia Governor Signs Employment Reclassification LawIn the segment “In the Pages,” Tax Notes Executive Editor for Commentary Jasper B. Smith interviews Tax Notes contributing editor Nana Ama Sarfo about her recent piece, “Rwanda Leading African Sustainable Investment Drive.”***CreditsHost: David D. StewartExecutive Producers: Jasper B. Smith, Faye McCrayShowrunner: Paige JonesAudio Engineers: Derek Squires, Jordan ParrishGuest Relations: Nicole White

Chase is joined on the show by Howard Gleckman, senior fellow at the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center at the Urban Institute, Andrew Biggs, a resident scholar at the American Enterprise Institute, Concord Coalition Executive Director, Bob Bixby, and Concord's Policy Director, Tori Gorman. They discuss COVID-19 relief legislation, President Trump’s executive actions concerning payroll taxes, their potential implications and Social Security.

Chase is joined on the show by Howard Gleckman, senior fellow at the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center at the Urban Institute, Andrew Biggs, a resident scholar at the American Enterprise Institute, Concord Coalition Executive Director Bob Bixby and Concord's Policy Director Tori Gorman. They discuss COVID-19 relief legislation, President Trump’s executive actions concerning payroll taxes, their potential implications and Social Security.

Today we bring on several people who are far more interesting than Ally and James including Janet Holtzblat a senior fellow at the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center and David from pride legal to talk about the Tittle ix reforms. It turns out the moon isn't made out of cheese but Trump still wants to mine it.   Thanks for listening!

Local governments' approach to providing relief for renters unable to pay due to the impact of COVID-19 & impact of revenue loss on states. Guests: Margaret Abe-Koga, mayor of Mountain View, California; Lucy Dadayan, senior research associate with the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center.

The United States is dealing with an acute crisis, unique in our recent economy history. In order to address the COVID-19 pandemic, policymakers and business leaders are bringing major elements of everyday life and commerce to a temporary halt. The US economy is almost certainly already in recession. The effects of the pandemic, including the public health response, will place enormous strain on many families and businesses. It will also pose a tremendous challenge to state and local governments, who will see demands for services spike just as revenues fall. Effectively confronting the public health and economic challenges posed by COVID-19 may demand Federal policy intervention into looming state and local budget shortfalls. Tracy Gordon (https://www.taxpolicycenter.org/author/tracy-gordon), Senior Fellow at the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center, joins to discuss the risk COVID-19 poses for state and local budgets, what the Federal government is or should be doing about it, and what we have learned from the lessons of the Great Recession.

Alcohol, gambling, cigarettes, and much more—states are implementing “sin taxes” on a range of activities and behaviors these days. Host Justin Milner talks with Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center researchers Richard Auxier and Lucy Dadayan about how states are experimenting with sin taxes and key things policymakers should keep in mind when implementing them. Related links: State and Local Finance Initiative Data Subscriptions Are States Betting on Sin? The Murky Future of State Taxation States Learn to Bet on Sports: The Prospects and Limitations of Taxing Legal Sports Gambling

On November 15, the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center hosted an event to discuss methods of increasing taxes on capital income provide as an alternative approach for addressing inequality through the tax system. Subscribe to Brookings Events on iTunes, send feedback email to events@brookings.edu, and follow us and tweet us at @policypodcasts on Twitter. To learn more about upcoming events, visit our website. Brookings Events is part of the Brookings Podcast Network.

The language of racism and white supremacy is all around us; people are getting hurt, and also killed. But racism also pervades our public policies. To address these issues and how to move forward, this episode features a discussion with two Brookings experts: , David M. Rubenstein Fellow in the Metropolitan Policy Program, and , senior fellow in the Governance Studies Program and also in the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center. Subscribe to Brookings podcasts  or on , send feedback email to , and follow us and tweet us at  on Twitter. The Brookings Cafeteria is part of the .

The recently passed Tax Cuts and Jobs Act made dramatic, permanent changes to business taxation. Host Justin Milner chats with Mark Mazur, director of the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center, to understand how businesses are affected by the new law.

On this edition of Press Conference USA, Host Carol Castiel and VOA Economics editor Jim Randle interview Steven Rosenthal, Senior Fellow in the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center at the Urban Institute about the politics and substance of Republican-led efforts to overhaul the US tax code, which if successful, would be the first piece of significant legislation under the Trump administration.

Now that the U.S. Senate and House have passed their own tax bills, a conference committee will reconcile differences before each chamber votes again. Mark Mazur from the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center discusses the differences between the two bills and how they would each affect small, medium, and large businesses and the economy in general.

New York subway riders and commuters, already mired in a miserable year, are bracing for a summer like no other amid rising delays, service cuts and overcrowding. It all underscores the perils of under-investment in rail systems that should be key drivers of growth. What the heck is going on? Can anything be done? Two guests think they have the answers: Jim Venturi, creator of the ReThinkNYC plan to overhaul regional transport links, and Tracy Gordon, senior fellow at the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center. Scott hosts along with Bloomberg City Hall reporter Henry Goldman.

Mark Mazur from the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center discusses current tax reform proposals and why tax reform is so difficult politically.

Hi everyone! Welcome back to the PolicyViz Podcast! On this week's episode, I'm excited to welcome my Urban Institute colleague Tracy Gordon to the show. Tracy is a senior fellow with the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center, where she researches and writes... The post Episode #71: Tracy Gordon appeared first on PolicyViz.

Hi everyone! Welcome back to the PolicyViz Podcast! On this week's episode, I'm excited to welcome my Urban Institute colleague Tracy Gordon to the show. Tracy is a senior fellow with the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center, where she researches and writes... The post Episode #71: Tracy Gordon appeared first on PolicyViz.

In this week’s podcast of The Lange Money Hour: Where Smart Money Talks, we welcome to the show Roberton Williams, Sol Price Fellow at the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center at the Urban Institute, where he focuses on communicating the Tax Policy Center’s broad range of work through papers, blog posts on TaxVox, extensive interaction with the media, and a broad range of features on the website. With the presidential election less than three months away, Americans are preparing to choose between two very different candidates. In this episode Jim and Roberton take a look at what might be in store for Americans in terms of Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump’s economic policies. TOPICS COVERED: 1. Introduction of Roberton “Bob” Williams of the Tax Policy Center 2. No Ax to Grind: Tax Policy Center Provides Unbiased Information to Inform the Discussion 3. The Clinton Plan: Big Hikes on the Wealthy Would Raise $1 Trillion Over a Decade 4. Would the Wealthy Change Their Behavior to Avoid Paying Higher Tax Rates? 5. The Trump Plan: More Americans Would Pay No Income Tax; Deep Cuts for Wealthy 6. Trump Plan Would Slash Corporate Taxes, Add $9.5 Trillion to Deficit Over a Decade 7. More Clarity on Tax Plans Is Needed, Expected From Both Candidates 8. Trump Has Not Outlined Spending Cuts to Offset Severe Revenue Losses 9. With Huge Tax Cuts and No Spending Cuts, Government Would Have to Borrow More 10. Would Clinton’s Increases Curb Economic Growth? It Depends on Economic Opportunity 11. The Role of Congress: No President Can Unilaterally Dictate Tax Policy 12. We’re All in Agreement: Complicated U.S. Tax System Needs Reform 13. Where to Go to Learn More About How Taxes Affect You 14. Taxes Are Just a Small Factor in the Decision to Get Married 15. U.S. Is a ‘Relatively Low-Taxed Country Compared to Others’ 16. Retirement of Baby Boomers Is Likely to Put Upward Pressure on Tax Rates 17. Alternative Ways to Raise Revenue: Federal Sales Tax and Value-Added Tax

“Anger at the IRS for the complexity of the tax system is misplaced,” says Senior Fellow  in this podcast. “The IRS does not legislate the tax code; Congress does. And if the tax code is complicated, that is Congress’s fault.” Gale, co-director of the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center, explains one reason why the complicated tax code might be a good thing. Gale also addresses a variety of issues, including: what tax reform means; whether reform is good for economic growth; what are meant by a flat tax and consumption tax; and political rhetoric about abolishing the IRS. "You can argue about whether you want lower taxes or higher taxes, but I don’t think there should be an argument about whether we want an effective enforcement agency. It’s just a good government thing." - Bill Gale Show Notes:  (event w/ IRS Commissioner Koskinen) Subscribe to the Brookings Cafeteria on , listen on , and send feedback email to .