ABSTRACT
Taxes and tax policy have been among the most dominant domestic federal public policy issues of the past twenty-five years, taking a back seat perhaps only to post-9/11 national security concerns. Legislation concerning tax policy is debated constantly in Congress, and individuals, outside groups and corporations spend countless hours and dollars attempting to convince legislators to alter the tax codes in their favor. As one respected policy analyst noted, throughout the 1980s there were more frequent and detailed changes to the tax code than in any other period in U.S. history (Steuerle 2008), and the pace of tax legislation has not diminished in succeeding decades. Both Presidents Clinton and George W. Bush’s initial major domestic policy proposals dealt with taxes. Similarly, President Obama’s stimulus plan contained significant tax relief for certain income classes. Taxes and tax policy continue as a major focus of campaigns, policy debates and legislation.
