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Fiscal Focus

Fiscal Focus is our bimonthly publication providing news, analysis, and commentary on tax and spending topics in the headlines.


March 12, 2019

January / February 2019

Minnesota Tax and Spending Rankings and the Policy Questions They Provoke

Findings from our comparative tax and spending studies generate a number of questions relevant to the 2019 session.

The Case For A Bigger Standard Deduction

Love or hate the TCJA, its principal simplification effort presents an opportunity for Minnesota that shouldn’t be wasted.

December 18, 2018

November / December 2018

Showtime! 2019 Session Preview

The cast of characters has undergone a change but the storylines will look very familiar.

Greatest Tax Research Hits of 2018

Behaviors prompted by federal reform, the unintended consequences of eliminating tax havens, and new insights into tax compliance are some of the topics covered in our review of tax research in 2018.

Questions Beleaguered Property Taxpayers Should Be Asking

‘Tis the season for trying to figure out just why property tax bills are going up​

October 23, 2018

September / October 2018

The Wayfair Decision – “Do They Have Just What They Need?”

Our distinguished panel of national experts examined the Supreme Court’s Wayfair ruling, its implications, and what it means for large business, small business, marketplace providers, and state and local governments.

Minnesota’s Unfinished Business

Our annual meeting panel of Minnesota capitol veterans took a closer look at the tax issues and debates likely to generate headlines in the 2019 session.

Reframing the Tax and Budget Debate

Annual meeting luncheon speaker and author of Dead Men Ruling, Dr. Eugene Steuerle, argues that presenting an opportunity cost perspective on government budgets is not just a way to make budget debates more productive, it’s also essential to allow citizens to regain control over their fiscal destiny.

Five Questions: The Candidates on Taxes

We posed five questions to the gubernatorial candidates on some tax matters outside of the usual “how much” debate that tends to dominate the discussion.  With thanks to each candidate for providing their thoughts and perspectives, here are their unedited responses.