Articles By: jthompson

Conformed Definition of Medical Expenses

Conformed Definition of Medical Expenses—Tax Years Beginning 2011 or Later. In 2011, the definition of medical expenses for the itemized medical expenses deduction will be extended to apply to health savings accounts, Archer Medical Savings Accounts (MSAs), health flexible spending arrangements, and...
July 9th, 2010 | National Health Care Reform Legislation, tax changes, Uncategorized | Read More

How Expiration of the Bush Tax Cuts Affects Typical Families

The tax cuts implemented in the first term of President George W. Bush are set to expire this year, with little hope that they will be reauthorized by the current Congress.
July 9th, 2010 | Fiscal Policy | Read More

Impose new tax on insurers with high value plans

Impose an excise tax on insurers of employer-sponsored health plans with aggregate values that exceed $10,200 for individual coverage and $27,500 for family coverage. (Effective January 1, 2018) Source: Kaiser Family Foundation
July 7th, 2010 | National Health Care Reform Legislation, tax changes, Uncategorized | Read More

Reduce Medicare payments to certain hospitals for hospital-acquired conditions by 1%.

Reduce Medicare payments to certain hospitals for hospital-acquired conditions by 1%. (Effective fiscal year 2015) Source: Kaiser Family Foundation
July 7th, 2010 | National Health Care Reform Legislation, new programs, Uncategorized | Read More

Allow states to form healthcare choice compacts

Permit states to form health care choice compacts and allow insurers to sell policies in any state participating in the compact. (Compacts may not take effect before January 1, 2016) Source: Kaiser Family Foundation
July 7th, 2010 | National Health Care Reform Legislation, new programs, Uncategorized | Read More

Government Contracts Should Be Easier to Access

By Jeremy Thompson July 7, 2010 It shouldn’t be this difficult. Earlier this year, the Alaska Policy Forum submitted public records requests to local governments and school districts looking for any sole-source contracts they may have, asking for the name of the vendor, date of the contract, and...
July 7th, 2010 | Fiscal Policy, Recent News, Transparency | Read More

Transparency yields government accountability

Transparency yields government accountability
While true transparency is more than just making information available on the internet, websites are a good first step. The Alaska Policy Forum is attempting to fill the need for transparency by making available to the public information about contracts and public bargaining agreements with schools,...
June 30th, 2010 | Featured | Read More

Rates adjusted to address unfunded PERS/TRS gap

Kirsten Adams Friday, June 18 After two full days of presentations, discussions and review, the Alaska Retirement Management Board approved pension contribution rates today for fiscal year 2012 in an effort to reduce the multi-billion dollar unfunded liability. The rates are based on 2009 valuations...
June 27th, 2010 | Fiscal Policy, Recent News | Read More

Audio: Anchorage School District’s next big spending project

David Boyle from the Alaska Policy Forum asks how the West Romig renewal will affect student achievement. (5:40) ASD's next big spending project - Click here to listen
June 22nd, 2010 | Education, Recent News | Read More

San Diego ballot initiative would bring contract transparency

Battle lines are being drawn in San Diego over a possible November ballot measure that supporters say would ensure competitive bidding for municipal contracts, but which opponents argue is deceptive and has hidden consequences. Councilman Carl DeMaio plans to submit more than 138,000 signatures to the...
June 16th, 2010 | Recent News | Read More

Public transit: higher cost, emissions

(Tennessee Center for Policy Research) By Randal O’Toole: Public transit is frequently depicted as both a more environmentally friendly and cheaper alternative to our everyday reliance on the automobile. Almost every major city n the United States, including those in Tennessee, has launched its...
June 10th, 2010 | Recent News | Read More
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