January 12, 2024
Week in Review: January 12, 2024
Alabama Policy Institute released a message to celebrate its 35th year of upholding conservative principles in the state of Alabama.
California Policy Center announced its upcoming virtual event, The Free Speech Case Against LA County with July Hamill, which will take place on January 23, 2024.
Empire Center released a series of statements in reaction to New York Governor Hochul’s “State of the State” address and policy book.
Frontier Institute launched a campaign to defend the passage of the “Montana Miracle” legislation, an unprecedented slate of pro-housing reforms to address Montana’s affordable housing crisis which is now under attack via the courts.
Georgia Center for Opportunity released its goals for 2024, goals which include safety-net reform, educational opportunity expansion, breaking down employment barriers, and more.
Institute for Reforming Government released a new report that shows how to quickly increase access to mental health care providers for Wisconsin residents. By allowing out-of-state licensed providers to care for Wisconsinites via telehealth, Wisconsinites will be able to access providers from around the country.
James Madison Institute released a statement in honor of James Gwartney, a scholar and economist who passed away this week.
John Locke Foundation released an analysis of Duke Energy’s concerning text message urging customers to reduce power consumption during peak hours (6:00-9:00 am) to manage energy demand effectively.
Josiah Bartlett Center for Public Policy announced that it would be hosting a New Hampshire Primary party on Wednesday, January 17, 2023.
Kansas Policy Institute published data refuting the claims that Governor Kelly’s subsidies programs are working to bring about economic growth. Instead, the data shows that states with lower taxes have superior economic growth.
Maine Policy Institute submitted testimony before state legislators in support of occupational licensing reform for physician’s assistants, protecting small businesses in rural Maine, and in opposition of a national popular vote policy.
Rhode Island Center for Freedom & Prosperity petitioned Governor McKee to issue a proclamation declaring February 6th as “Ronald Reagan Day” in the state.
The Buckeye Institute argued in a filing in Trumbull County v. Purdue Pharma (National Prescription Opiate Litigation) that Ohio law does not allow the government to profit—through monetary damages—from “public nuisances.”
Freedom Foundation’s appeal in Quinn v. Washington, which challenges the state of Washington’s new capital gains tax, was rescheduled by the U.S. Supreme Court for a second time, showing that SCOTUS Justices are giving more attention to the petition–a hopeful sign.
Goldwater Institute filed a pair of petitions with the Arizona Supreme Court urging the high court to amend its rules surrounding lawyer regulation—rules that violate lawyers’ First Amendment rights and their right to earn a living. The Institute also filed a brief urging the U.S. Supreme Court to give parents their day in court when school officials violate their constitutional right to control and direct the education and upbringing of their children.
Liberty Justice Center filed an amicus brief in John and Jane Parents 1 v. Montgomery County Board of Education, urging the Supreme Court to uphold parents’ right to direct the upbringing and education of their children. The Center also filed an amicus brief urging the Oklahoma Supreme Court to reject a petition attacking the first religious charter school in the United States. This amicus brief argues that the Oklahoma Attorney General’s opposition to the school is motivated by animus against minority religions—in violation of the First Amendment.
The Buckeye Institute recommended that Ohio lawmakers open the state’s regulatory sandbox to innovators across all regulated sectors, allow indefinite participation in Ohio’s sandbox, and create a state-to-federal sandbox reciprocity program. These improvements will cut government regulations and attract more innovators to the Buckeye State.
Empire Center released a brief pointing out that New York Governors’ practice of making “State of the State” speeches violates the state constitution.
Iowans for Tax Relief Foundation issued a brief unpacking the incredible strides the state has made in the past six years and charting a path for how to make Iowa’s tax code even more competitive.
John Locke Foundation’s Kaitlyn Shepherd provided an insightful overview of the updated second draft of North Carolina’s Healthful Living Standards, highlighting the significant revisions and advocating for the incorporation of Locke’s suggestions to enhance these standards further. Locke’s Bethany Torstenson unpacked the notable changes in North Carolina’s voter registration trends and explores their potential impact on voter participation and election outcomes.
Mississippi Center for Public Policy’s Matthew Mitchell wrote a brief showing how eliminating Certificate of Need laws in Mississippi would improve health outcomes and guiding legislators how to make these changes.
Mountain States Policy Center published a brief which shows our education choice policy options are not vouchers, rebutting the popular refrain of anti-choice opponents.
Platte Institute released a brief explaining how full expensing is the ideal tax policy to help Nebraska catalyze economic growth, attract capital investment, and re-shore supply chains in 2024.
Washington Policy Center issued a brief showing how a proposed policy that bans gas-powered power equipment will drive up costs and destroy jobs in Washington State.
Georgia: Governor Brian Kemp called for expanding school choice options this year during his 2024 State of the State address–a move that prioritizes the best interests of students (Georgia Public Policy Foundation).
Idaho: Governor Little announced that his priorities for the 2024 Legislative Session include outcome-based funding for schools, eliminating red tape for charter schools, and additional property tax relief. Meanwhile, State Representative Horman and State Senator Hartog announced they will be introducing an education choice bill that would permit refundable tax credits of up to $5,000 for families to offset the cost of school tuition and other education-related expenses (Mountain States Policy Center).
Iowa: Governor Reynolds proposed a new round of income tax cuts as a part of her pro-growth policy agenda which includes implementation of a 3.65% flat tax this year–if passed her policies would amount to $3.9 billion in savings for taxpayers (Iowans for Tax Relief Foundation).
Topics:
West Virginia Hope Scholarship: Funding Students, Not Systems
Cardinal Institute
Three Ways Oregon Can Help Kids Get the Education They Deserve
Cascade Policy Institute
Minnesota’s Charter School Law: Unconstitutional Religious Discrimination?
Center of the American Experiment
Solving Cell Phones in Schools
Libertas Institute
How Unions Choose School Board Candidates with Michael Hartney
Show-Me Institute
“Solar Will Supply Almost All Growth”: Bad News for Energy Reliability
Center of the American Experiment
Xcel Energy Shuts Down Sherburne County Unit 2 Coal Unit as Grid Reliability Worsens
Center of the American Experiment
Electricity Prices Are Soaring: It’s Time to Hold the ‘Energy Transition’ Accountable
Center of the American Experiment
Budget Woes Force Cities to Limit Utopian Climate Programs
Pacific Research Institute
Connecting Texas to Other States Won’t Solve Its Electric Grid Problems
Texas Public Policy Foundation
Governor Youngkin Joins the “No Car Tax” Movement
Thomas Jefferson Institute for Public Policy
Biden Proposals Call for Shift from Essential to Unlimited Health Benefits, Strips State Control Over Insurance Exchanges
Center of the American Experiment
Action to Improve Mississippi Health Care
Mississippi Center for Public Policy
New Avenues for Price Transparency
Show-Me Institute
Drug Discount Distortions: How Middlemen Increase Costs and Reduce Access
Pioneer Institute
Session Preview: Property Taxes
Iowans for Tax Relief Foundation
Fix Chicago’s Affordable Housing Needs Without Tax Hikes
Illinois Policy
Minnesota’s Big and Growing Government Is Bad for Everyone
Center of the American Experiment
Minnesota and Its Neighbors Have Very Different Economic Policies but Very Similar Employment Outcomes
Center of the American Experiment
UN Climate Summit Includes Session on ‘Responsible Yachting’
Freedom Foundation of Minnesota
Biden Administration Continues Its Assault on American Workers
Goldwater Institute
Promise Zones Fall Short of Their Promise
Mackinac Center
Legislators Turn Up Heat on Wisconsin Home Bakers
Badger Institute
Idaho Lawmakers Receive Update on State’s Fiscal Outlook
Mountain States Policy Center
New Year’s Wish for the ’24 Legislature: Yield Not to Spending Temptations
Bluegrass Institute
Minneapolis City Council – An Inauspicious Start to 2024
Center of the American Experiment
Goldwater to Congress: Cut Taxes—and Don’t Micromanage the Economy
Goldwater Institute
Public Employee Pay Savings Must Be Part of Budget Solution
Pacific Research Institute
Three Things to Watch in Governor’s Budget Rollout
Pacific Research Institute
No Love for Taxpayers in State Budget
Rio Grande Foundation
A Fiscal To-Do List for Houston’s New Mayor
Texas Public Policy Foundation
Successful Tax Reform Requires Allies and a Path Through the Mines
Thomas Jefferson Institute for Public Policy
Car Tax Repeal Task Force Floats Tax the Rich Scheme
Yankee Institute
Taxpayer Advocates Push Fixes for Chicago’s Massive Pension Debt
Illinois Policy
Pennsylvania Musician Challenges Union Mandates in Petition to Supreme Court
Commonwealth Foundation
New York’s Union Landscape: The Dawning of Individual Choice
Freedom Foundation
Clark County Teachers’ Union Puts Duplicity on Full Display
Nevada Policy
Washington State Should Stop Collecting Dues for Unions and Help Protect Worker Rights Instead
Washington Policy Center
California’s Troubled Community-College System Just Got Worse
California Policy Center
Even Emergency Housing Panel Unable to Act Quickly
Grassroot Institute of Hawaii
UT Supreme Court Favors Privacy
Libertas Institute
At RealClear Pennsylvania, the Commonwealth Foundation’s Elizabeth Stelle calls for regulatory reform in Pennsylvania.
In The Daily Caller, the Foundation for Government Accountability‘s Mimi Singleton highlights how blue states are on a warpath against school choice.
In the Yale Journal, the Free State Foundation’s Randolph May argues that, in considering whether to overrule Chevron, SCOTUS might also consider whether the “independent” agencies should receive less deference on judicial review.
At The Daily Wire, the Freedom Foundation‘s Aaron Withe considers how a new Florida law is shaking up the state’s largest teachers’ union.
In The Center Square, the Illinois Policy Institute‘s Dylan Sharkley highlights Chicago’s amusement tax.
In The Hill, the Independent Institute’s Adam Summers notes how increased prices in California are linked to the state’s recent minimum wage hike.
In the Des Moines Register, the Iowans for Tax Relief Foundation’s John Hendrickson and the National Federation of Independent Businesses’ Matt Everson argue for further income tax relief.
At Florida Politics, The James Madison Institute‘s Robert McClure points out Florida’s success is no accident.
In her column for Forbes, the Pacific Research Institute‘s Sally Pipes encourages states to say ‘no’ to Medicaid expansion.
In the Journal Courier, the Pioneer Institute‘s Jamie Gass and Chris Sinacola note education is failing America’s future by forgetting its past.
In the Las Cruces Sun-News, the Rio Grande Foundation’s Paul Gessing calls on legislators to apply the principle of “do no harm” to fiscal policy as well.
At Fox News Online, the Texas Public Policy Foundation‘s Robert Henneke notes that despite the spin, Americans know this truth about Bidenomics.
In The Federalist, the Virginia Institute for Public Policy‘s Kerri Toloczko highlights how Democrats are forcing Ranked-Choice Voting on Alaskans who oppose it.
In The Spokesman Review, the Washington Policy Center’s Pam Lewison takes a critical look at a bill that would ban single use plastics.
