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PRESS RELEASE FROM AMERICANS FOR TAX REFORM
Contact: Christopher Butler ( cbutler@atr.org or 202-785-0266)

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5/1/02

Capital Gains Taxes: Not Only Bad Economic Policy, Bad Source of Revenue, Too (See Maine)
Maine governor announces that massive drop in cap gains tax revenues is hurting state's budget

WASHINGTON - Proving once again that capital gains tax revenue is an unstable revenue source that leads to budget deficits, Maine Governor Angus S. King Jr announced today state revenues may drop as much as $90 million by June 30th. And according to one of the governor's aides, the revenue shortfall is a direct result of less than expected capital gains tax revenue.

This problem is not just new to Maine. States all across America continually relied upon capital gains revenue throughout the booming 1990s to fund permanent programs. And as the markets headed south, states are stuck with paying the bill for new spending with and no capital gains revenue to pay for it.

"The situation in Maine proves that capital gains taxes are not only bad tax policy, but extremely poor budgetary policy as well," said taxpayer advocate Grover Norquist, who heads Americans for Tax Reform in Washington. "When the bubble bursts, all taxpayers have to pay."

Revenue from capital gains taxes is highly volatile and unstable because it is closely associated with year-to-year fluctuations in the stock market. During the previous boom, stock prices increased significantly and capital gains revenue also increased. This revenue was often treated by state legislatures as a permanent increase in the tax base, and was used to fund permanent programs.

But when the economy slowed and stock prices fell, capital gains revenue declined significantly. As a result, the slowdown of volatile capital gains revenue is exacerbating the revenue shortfall in Maine and thus, places more pressure on lawmakers to increase taxes in other areas to pay for spending they previously committed themselves to. Capital gains tax revenue is also nearly impossible to forecast, as conventional techniques of revenue estimation are less applicable, because the acquisition of such income depends on decisions by the taxpayer, such as when to sell those shares of stock.

Thus, the reliance on capital gains revenue by the federal and state governments has significantly increased budget deficits. In California, for example, capital gains tax revenue declined by $10.5 billion in one year, which has led to Governor Gray Davis offering massive increases in taxes to offset the difference.

"Bad policy equals bad politics," continued Norquist. "Capital gains taxes should be abolished on both the state and federal levels."

Americans for Tax Reform is a non-partisan coalition of taxpayers and taxpayer groups who oppose all federal and state tax increases.  For more information or to arrange an interview with Mr. Norquist please contact Christopher Butler at (202)785-0266 or by email at cbutler@atr.org.