In this episode of the SALTovation podcast, we speak with Jared Walczak, Vice-President of State Projects at the Tax Foundation, and our very own Judy Vorndran. Jared talks about his work with the Tax Foundation, a non-profit, independent tax policy organization. He shares how he came into his role there and how he works with legislation about tax issues in a nonpartisan way. Listen as he shares what he sees will happen with tax policies as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Questions asked and answered in this Episode:
- How did Jared make his way to the Tax Foundation?
- What does he focus on at the Tax Foundation?
- Where does the Tax Foundation gather their data for analysis?
- How are they structured to cover all 50 states?
- How does he see states changing tax policies due to the effects of COVID-19 pandemic?
- What does he enjoy the most in his job?
What You Will Discover:
- [01:00] How Jared joined the Tax Foundation and his first job in legislature
- [03:08] Where he focuses his efforts and energy at the Tax Foundation
- [04:41] An overview of the organization’s state tax team
- [06:58] Where Tax Foundation gathers their data for analysis
- [15:45] What is the Colorado Sales And Use Tax Simplification Task Force
- [19:32] How the Tax Foundation strays from advocacy
- [26:47] Jared’s “I told you so” moment
- [31:32] How Judy learned about the Tax Foundation
- [31:17] The Tax Foundation’s publications
- [33:24] How state taxes vary and other tax issues
- [42:26] How state tax policies can change due to the COVID-19 pandemic
- [50:27] What Jared enjoys the most about his job
Quotables:
- “We’re a small team. I’d like to think that ” - Jared Walczak [05:02]
- “State lawmakers, they’re smart people, but they can’t all be experts on every issue. In many cases, they’re part-time. They honestly usually do not have significant full-time staff or if they do, it’s like a legislative assistant. I’ve been one. It’s not a huge policy research team that they have access to, so there’s this enormous need for serious but also digestible research and analysis, and I think it makes a huge difference. And we can provide that.” - Jared Walczak [14:07]
- “I think that we have found the right approach. We do education.” - Jared Walczak [20:20]
- “I found the Tax Foundation's maps, and I’ve been relying on them ever since, because it’s a way to see that snapshot of America and all the bits and pieces that you guys share.” - Judy Vorndran [31:57]
- “We have a relationship with lawmakers that I think sets us apart from a lot of other organizations.” - Jared Walczak [50:49]
Relevant Links:
Website: https://taxfoundation.org/
LinkedIn:
