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States and localities should carefully evaluate the effectiveness of the incentives they offer to attract or retain businesses. 

Policymakers should retain estate and inheritance taxes as important components of our tax structure. 

Federal and state estate and inheritance taxes should affect only the largest transfers. 

When considering bond financing, state and local policymakers should: 

Policymakers should take action to raise revenues, promote energy conservation, and reduce climate change.

Carbon taxes or cap-and-trade systems that would increase energy-related and other prices must include measures to compensate for regional differences in energy costs and to adequately protect cons

Motor fuel taxes should be indexed for inflation and increased as necessary to fund transportation infrastructure and services.

Excise taxes on individual commodities, such as tobacco or alcohol, should at least keep pace with inflation. One way to do this is by levying them on an ad valorem basis. 

A progressive income tax is the preferred method of raising revenue at the federal and state levels. Other sources, such as a consumption tax, may be needed. 

Due to their regressive nature, raising state and local sales taxes should not be the first choice for increasing tax revenues.