{
    "href": "/post/2012/11/21/end-this-deduction/",
    "relId": "2012/11/21/end-this-deduction",
    "title": "End This Deduction",
    "author": "pmjones",
    "markup": "html",
    "tags": [
        {
            "href": "/tag/taxes/",
            "relId": "taxes",
            "title": "Taxes",
            "author": null,
            "created": null,
            "updated": [],
            "markup": "markdown"
        }
    ],
    "created": "2012-11-21 14:52:21 UTC",
    "updated": [
        "2012-11-21 14:52:21 UTC"
    ],
    "html": "<blockquote>\n<p>What\u00e2\u0080\u0099s the least defensible special break in the U.S. tax code? With so many distortions to choose from, it\u00e2\u0080\u0099s hard to name just one. If forced to pick, I might say the deduction for state and local taxes, which cost $67 billion in fiscal 2011, according to the congressional Joint Committee on Taxation.</p>\n<p>This one overwhelmingly benefits upper-income households in a handful of upper-income states, while rendering the entire nation\u00e2\u0080\u0099s finances less transparent. It\u00e2\u0080\u0099s also a potential source of friction in the \u00e2\u0080\u009cfiscal cliff\u00e2\u0080\u009d negotiations between President Obama and the Republicans (but we\u00e2\u0080\u0099ll get to that in a moment).</p>\n</blockquote>\n<p>While we're at it, get rid of the mortgage deduction as well. Via <em><a href=\"http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/charles-lane-the-best-deduction-to-chop/2012/11/19/38e28dc2-326a-11e2-bb9b-288a310849ee_story.html?wprss=rss_opinions\">Charles Lane: The best deduction to chop - The Washington Post</a></em>.</p>\n"
}