The Tax Foundation recently released a study of states and the per capita burden of excise taxes on their citizens. Vermont came in first (that's bad) with an average Vermonters paying $1,029 in state and local excise taxes per year. We blew away second place Nevada, which came in at $878 and last place Wyoming at just $285.
The Tax Foundation explains, "excise taxes are collected on specific types of transactions, not a wide range of general goods. Some of the most common excise taxes include gas taxes, cigarette taxes, and taxes on the purchase of beer, wine, and liquor. Others include taxes on the purchase of amusements, insurance premiums, and pari-mutuels."
In another year, parents may notice a change in emphasis in the history and social studies curricula at their children's schools. Where once American history courses focused on our country's founding principles, their roots, and their application, soon such courses may start to emphasize political activism and the grievances of various subgroups in American society.
These changes are taking place on the recommendation of a small, stealth committee appointed in 2014 by the chair of the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE). The changes are intended to dramatically alter the Massachusetts History and Social Science standards, which enjoyed broad bipartisan support when adopted in 2003.
