This week, the Tax Foundation released its 2005 report on tax burden by state, showing Arkansas to be ranked 11th in the country for state and local tax burden. However, there are questions concerning the accuracy of the foundation’s report. The Washington, D.C.-based Center on Budget and Policy Priorities released a report which points to […]

Few people would dispute that the local property tax on real estate and personal property is the most unpopular tax in Arkansas. The long history of political controversy around the property tax – with its continual constitutional amendments changing previous amendments – dates back almost 50 years to Amendment 47, which abolished the longstanding state-level […]

Many of us have seen the signs which advertise “Fast Cash: All it Takes is your Good Word. No Credit Check!” I’m sure many of us have been tempted to use such a service or, indeed, have used such a service for convenience, for fear of a late fee, or for fear of bouncing a […]

n 1997, Arkansas created the ARKids First Program, an expansion of Medicaid to cover children in low-income working families up to 200 percent of the federal poverty line. Since that time, Arkansas Advocates for Children & Families (AACF) has worked with the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and other statewide partners to reduce […]

Executive Summary In 1997, Arkansas established the ARKids First program to provide health insurance for lowincome children up to 200 percent of the federal poverty line. Arkansas Advocates led an eight-year direct outreach campaign to ensure families had access to the program. This initiative, in conjunction with the Department of Human Services media campaign, promoted […]

This guide is designed to help citizens track the voting records of their legislators on important issues relating to children.

Because of federal tax changes, the Arkansas’ estate tax expires on December 31, 2004 leaving Arkansas with yet another revenue gap. It is not too late to make the changes necessary to ensure that this fair tax remains a part of the Arkansas tax system. The estate tax is one of the fairest taxes that […]

In 1996, the lack of health care coverage was a critical problem for Arkansas children. Nearly one in five Arkansas children lacked health insurance coverage. Children in low-income families were especially vulnerable, with nearly three out of 10 children lacking access to basic health care. At the time, there appeared to be no end to […]

President Reagan called the Earned Income Tax Credit the “best anti-poverty, the best pro-family, the best job creation measure to come out of Congress.” The federal EITC rewards work by adding almost $2 per hour to the pay of low income working families with children. Eighteen states have their own EITCs. Eleven states have adopted […]

The 2003 Arkansas General Assembly defied the odds and passed a 3 percent state income tax surcharge to help plug a $110 million dollar budget shortfall for Medicaid, a critical state program that provides health care for children and other vulnerable populations. Under the law establishing the surcharge, however, it could disappear if certain revenue […]