Care to cough up a $100 donation on top of the cost of popcorn?
washington
6 Weird New Taxes You Might Have to Pay (If You’re Not Already)
Why is it that government officials seem inspired to reach the heights of creativity coming up with new taxes? Who knows. But their efforts could mean you’ll be paying new taxes on everything from bicycles to bowling, 2-by-4s to marijuana.
187,000 Lb. of Marijuana Annually? Legal Pot Business to Bloom in Washington
Voters in Colorado and Washington recently approved the legalization of marijuana for recreational — not “medical” — purposes. But this hardly means that the business of growing and dispensing of pot will be all fun and games.
Restaurants at Car Dealerships? Jungle Gyms and Water Parks at Malls? New Reasons to Go Shopping
Businesses will go to great, and sometimes unusual, lengths in order to entice customers into going shopping. With the goal of becoming a “destination,” rather than just another place to shop, malls and car dealerships are getting creative. They’re installing new features and additions in order to woo consumers and set themselves apart …
Gas Prices Get Screwy, Dropping 14¢ in One State, Rising Over 14¢ in Others
A week ago, a federal agency announced its latest forecast for gas prices, which are expected to remain stable through the summer, averaging under $3.80 nationwide. While the overall average may indeed stay fairly flat, prices in …
Imagine No Electricity Bills: The Rise of ‘Net-Zero’ Homes
If done properly, a smartly built green home featuring solar power, energy-efficient appliances, and proper insulation can result in the owner facing monthly electricity bills amounting to $0, or thereabouts. Now, one homebuilder …
Mortgage-Skipping Masters: Couple Lives in $1.29 Million Home Without Making Payments for 5 Years
Guess what happens when you stop paying the mortgage? For quite some time, the answer is: Nothing much. In many states, while the foreclosure process drags on for years, homeowners who have stopped paying their bills can live in …
Buffett Rule Shares Flaw with Tax it Would Replace
Say goodbye to the much-loathed Alternative Minimum Tax and hello to the Buffett Rule. Sweet relief. The AMT has perplexed taxpayers and agonized accountants for decades. But wait: Are the AMT and the Buffett Rule really so different?
U.S. Unemployment Falls to 8.6%: Amazing News, But Is It a Game Changer?
Just when we were expecting the economy to go boom it went zoom. The unemployment rate in November dropped faster than it has in more than 11 years.
The Tragic Death of the Temporary Tax Cut
I love the holidays in Washington. Christmas trees at the Capitol, carols at the National Cathedral–and another partisan catfight over taxes.
Drop in Housing Prices Continues to Slow
Housing prices of 20 cities were flat from July to August, according to the latest S&P/Case-Shiller housing index. Year-over-year and on a seasonally adjusted basis, the composite 20 index was down 3.8% from August of last year. …
Why Bankers May Regret Elizabeth Warren Isn’t Running the CFPB
Elizabeth Warren announced plans to run for Senate in Massachusetts next year, moving from one politically charged battle of wills to … another contentious tangle with the GOP.
