April 15, 2004 * Issue 78 _____ INSTITUTE INDEX * Taxing Times Percent by which audits of largest corporations have dropped since 1992: 20 Percent of IRS tax audits in 2001 that targeted the working poor: 55 Estimated amount of federal revenue lost annually from corporate tax shelters, in billions: $70 Amount lost to state revenues, in billions: $12.4 Percent of U.S. corporations that paid zero income tax from 1996 to 2000: 60 Percent of corporations in Florida that paid zero tax in 2002: 98
Sources on file at the Institute for Southern Studies. _____ DATELINE: THE SOUTH * Top Stories Around the Region RELIGION IS BIGGEST ELECTION-YEAR DIVIDE The religion gap is fast becoming the country's widest political division. Those who regularly attend religious services vote Republican by a margin of 2-1, and those who don't vote Democratic by the same margin. (Knight-Ridder, 4/8) http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/business/national/8387712.htm?1c REPORT BLASTS PRIVATIZED PRISON HEALTH CARE South Carolina's plan to privatize health care services in prisons will result in lost jobs, poorer quality care, and open the door to accountability problems, according to a new report by Grassroots Leadership and S.C. Fair Share. The report came as the state is closing a bidding process for outsourcing care in state prisons. (Associated Press, 4/12) http://www.thestate.com/mld/thestate/news/local/8414769.htm URBAN LEAGUE INDEXES THE "EQUALITY GAP" More than two centuries ago, African-Americans were counted as three-fifths of a person. A new Equality Index unveiled by the National Urban League shows that Blacks today are less than three-quarters of the way toward reaching equality with whites on measures including economics, health care, education, social justice and civic engagement. (NNPA, 4/04) http://www.blackpressusa.com/News/Article.asp?SID=3&Title=Hot+Stories&NewsID=3270 UNION MAKES INROADS AT TOYOTA PLANT IN KENTUCKY Union organizers say that as of last month, 37% of workers at a Toyota plant in Georgetown, Kentucky had signed cards to be represented by the United Auto Workers. Federal law only requires 30% to authorize a union election. The plant, which opened in 1985, was the first of several international automakers to open in the South. (Associated Press, 4/15) http://www.courierpress.com/ecp/gleaner_business/article/0,1626,ECP_4481_2809409,00.html GEORGIA SIGNS LANDMARK PAYDAY LENDING LAW Governor Sonny Perdue signed landmark legislation that passed the Georgia legislature reigning in payday loans. The law, which takes effect May 1, caps advance loans on paychecks at 60% and imposes harsh penalties on companies that break the rules. (Atlanta Business Journal, 4/9) http://atlanta.bizjournals.com/atlanta/stories/2004/04/05/daily44.html EPA MANDATES SMOG REDUCTION IN 31 STATES Smog cleanups affecting about 470 counties in 31 states are being set in motion now that the government, after years of court wrangling, is deciding where and how to require compliance with tougher air quality standards. Parts of Alabama, Georgia and Tennessee are expected to be among those most out of compliance. (Associated Press, 4/15) http://www.enn.com/news/2004-04-15/s_22844.asp VOTING SYSTEMS HAVEN'T IMPROVED SINCE 2000 When the nation turns out to vote this fall, the voting system will be in no better shape than it was in 2000, a panel of voting experts at the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights announced. Problems with electronic voting machines in this year's primaries illustrated that changes have been slow, despite the implementation of new standards meant to improve the system. (Associated Press, 4/9/04) http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/breaking_news/8396861.htm?1c STUDY NOTES DRAMATIC SPIKE IN ANTI-GAY LEGISLATION An unprecedented number of antigay measures were introduced during current legislative sessions in 44 states, according to a new study by the Human Rights Campaign. At least 230 gay-related bills were put forth in 2003-2004, compared with 140 in the 2002-2003 legislative sessions. (The Advocate, 4/13) http://www.advocate.com/new_news.asp?id=12020&sd=04/13/04
