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Missing the signals
While Des Moines turns on its revenue cameras, including one at the 9th and Grand intersection downtown, Los Angeles prepares to shut its red-light cameras down: The Los Angeles Police Commission...
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Making Des Moines safer, one collision at a time
It’s about safety, not money, right? A mobile speed camera in use for about a week is out of commission after a traffic accident. Des Moines police said an 18-year-old driver lost control about 4 p.m....
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Revenue cameras raise $39,000 for Des Moines, $27,000 for Gatso
The Des Moines red-light camera racket announced its take for its first month. The key point: The City of Des Moines pays the vendor of the red light cameras $27 from each $65 red light ticket. It pays...
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Revenue cameras lose in West Des Moines election
While Des Moines and suburban Clive have installed red light cameras, they are being soundly defeated today in West Des Moines. How do I know that before the first vote is cast? Because all three...
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Des Moines revenue cameras: $32,305 per accident ‘prevented’
Des Moines’ red light cameras cost motorists at least $32,000 per accident “prevented” in the last six months of 2011, according to a lame statistics release by the Des Moines Police yesterday reported...
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Amazon Tax, Field of Dreams subsidy pass Iowa Senate
The Iowa Senate outdid itself yesterday in bad tax policy. - It passed a bill (SF 2329) to allow a private business to keep sales taxes it collects for ten years. This bill is a subsidy to a...
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Tax Roundup, 5/2/2012
In case you need more evidence that your Iowa public officials hold you in contempt: “Two decisions made in favor of mobile speed cameras; Supervisors OK them for busy Polk roads, while legislators...
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Tax Roundup, 8/10/12: Herbert Hoover birthday edition!
Herbert Hoover was born 138 years ago in West Branch, Iowa. They haven’t elected another Iowan as President since for some reason. Arnold Kling ponders the Hoover presidency: Price V. Fishback and...
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The city needs to pick your pockets for four more years to be sure you are safe.
The Des Moines Register looks at a year of red light revenue cameras: City leaders today say the cameras must stay in place four more years before enough data can be collected to draw conclusions on...
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Tax Roundup, 6/27/2013: All apologies edition. And DOMA Carnival!
Taxpayer Advocate Nina Olsen Apology payments? The Taxpayer Advocate’s office issued a special report yesterday blasting the IRS treatment of 501(c)(4) exemption applications. The report also said...
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Tax Roundup, 7/18/2013: Cincinnati, D.C. edition. And: the Redflex auto...
I didn’t know the IRS Chief Counsel worked out of Cincinnati. The “nothing to see here” apologists for the IRS harassment of right-wing exempt organizations have always said that nothing wrong...
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Tax Roundup, 7/19/2013: You can run a red light edition. And saving the...
The first central Iowa town to install revenue cameras has turned them off. The Des Moines Register reports: The Clive City Council on Thursday night voted to discontinue the use of red-light cameras...
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Tax Roundup, 8/15/2013: Turning on the revenue cameras honestly. And mink...
But I thought it was about safety, not money. The Des Moines Register reports: The Clive City Council today is likely to reactivate its dormant red-light camera program, but only through June 30,...
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Tax Roundup, 8/16/2013: Red light cameras, fleeing the country, and suing the...
Clive red-light cameras to go live again Monday (Des Moines Register): The cameras will be turned back on Monday at 12:01 a.m. In addition to approving the contract the council signed off on language...
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Tax Roundup, 8/26/2013: The corporation that’s gone no longer protects you.
Most people set up corporations at least partly to protect themselves from being liable for liabilities incurred in the business. And it usually works that way. But not always, as a case out of...
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Tax Roundup, 1/22/14: Let’s pay it for Hollywood! And: choosing a preparer.
Taking your money and giving it to Hollywood. Oscar Nominees Cash In On State Tax Subsidies (Howard Gleckman, TaxVox): Each of the nine movies nominated for this year’s Oscar for best film may already...
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Tax Roundup, 3/10/14: Sioux City $afety Edition. And: rogue dentistry!
Sioux City Revenue Camera Windfall. The Des Moines Register today lists the winners from revenue cameras around the state. Public safety isn’t up there: Tickets from automatic traffic cameras totaled...
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Tax Roundup, 10/13/14: Appeals Court holds CRP payments not Self-employment...
Not farming isn’t farming. That is one way to look at Friday’s decision by the Eighth Circuit in Morehouse that Conservation Reserve Program payments to non-farmers are not self-employment income....
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Tax Roundup, 3/18/15: In Spite of all the Danger, state shuts down revenue...
Flickr image by Robert Couse-Baker used under Creative Commons license Des Moines to lose freeway revenue cameras. The Iowa Department of Revenue moved to reduce the tax on strangers driving through...
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Tax Roundup, 5/13/15: Des Moines tries to speed through a red light. And: Tax...
Des Moines plans to sue to keep revenue camera revenue flowing. The Des Moines tax on unwary out-of-town motorists driving past Waveland Golf Course lost another battle yesterday. The Iowa Department...
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