2009 June Budget & Tax News: Obama Budget Little Change from Bush

The June 2009 issue of Budget & Tax News leads with a report on the federal budget introduced by President Barack Obama ... which builds on the spending precedents set by President George W. Bush and would boost non-defense outlays to a record share of the U.S. economy.

Also in this issue:

* The federal tax on cigarettes soared 156 percent on April 1, and state officials are worrying about the impact on their budgets as smokers change their behavior to save money.

* The economic recession has activists in Florida, Maine, and other states confident about prospects for tax and expenditure limitations.

* Sen. Arlen Specter has changed his position, leaving Democrats one vote short of passing their bill to make unionization much easier.

* Maryland’s governor and key lawmakers are backing a move to use eminent domain to seize the horse racing track famous for the Preakness Stakes.