October 18, 2024
Week in Review: October 18, 2024
Alabama Policy Institute announced that the organization will take part in the National Day of Prayer and Fasting on Nov. 3, 2024.
America First Policy Institute published a two-page fact sheet advocating for stronger state-level regulations, including foreign agent registration. Coming in response to increasing foreign influence in state governments, this initiative would mimic the federal law that requires individuals representing foreign entities to disclose their affiliations and activities when interacting with state officials, aiming to protect state capitals from malign influence and closing a loophole that allows much of this advocacy to go undetected. The Institute also published a paper outlining why state legislatures cannot rely on universities to govern themselves when it comes to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. University-led efforts are often illusory and end up masking DEI on campus rather than effectively abolishing it.
Beason Center of Tennessee released its next installment of the Beacon Poll, a statewide survey of 1,200 registered Tennessee voters comprised of questions about political races, policy issues, and more. This installment found that while Trump still leads Harris by 21 points in the state, Democrats made a good decision to replace President Joe Biden on the ticket as Harris polls seven points higher than Biden would have if he were still in the race.
Bluegrass Institute’s Jim Waters was a featured speaker at an engaging community conversation on Amendment 2, a crucial school choice constitutional amendment that will be on the ballot this fall. In addition, Bluegrass’ research showing how states like Florida have improved their students’ academic performance by implementing school choice policies was highlighted on Fox and Friends.
Cardinal Institute released — in the advent of its 10th anniversary — a recap of the organization’s drive towards creative discovery with the aim of solving problems, expanding freedom, and centering every Mountaineer in his own life story.
Garden State Initiative’s (GSI’s) Audrey Lane testified at an off-site hearing held by US Congressman Van Drew, during which Lane laid out GSI’s criticism of the New Jersey Energy Master Plan which mirrors many of the progressive Federal energy initiatives—the testimony resulted in good exposure for GSI’s Energy Report.
Iowans for Tax Relief Foundation applauded Iowa Gov. Reynolds for receiving the Tax Foundation’s distinguished service award and once again garnering recognition from the Cato Institute as the most fiscally conservative governor in the nation.
John Locke Foundation released the official trailer for their upcoming film, A Letter to the King, which tells the story of a group of 51 women stood up to the British crown in 1774, making their voices heard through a bold letter published as The Edenton Resolves.
Mountain States Policy Center announced the launch of its Sawtooth Leadership Academy, a program dedicated to broadening the perspectives of emerging young minds in the principles of free markets, civics and civility.
People United for Privacy Foundation announced that Michael Bowman has joined the organization’s board of directors.
South Carolina Policy Council released its 2025-26 legislative agenda, which outlines a set of 18 strategic reforms that align with the Council’s commitment to limited government, individual liberties, and free-market principles.
Virginia Institute for Public Policy has been distributing an interactive map of state election-related ballot measures scheduled for the upcoming general election. Created via a national coalition project of which the Institute is a part, the map provides state-by-state insights into the specific measures voters will face.
Hoover Institute released a new podcast episode, “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly” of Election Integrity, which examines whether battleground states are better prepared this election cycle than in recent election cycles, plus explores possible legal challenges that might happen before, during, and after the vote-count — relevant analysis to some of the Network’s recent work on election integrity.
The Buckeye Institute sent a final letter to a university which Buckeye declined to name here (aka That School Up North) demanding that the university comply with The Buckeye Institute’s freedom of information request and immediately turn over requested documents or face a lawsuit to compel the unnamed university to follow state law. In a letter to Ohio Chief Justice Sharon L. Kennedy, The Buckeye Institute also proposed improvements to the Ohio Supreme Court’s rules to extend the deadline to file amicus briefs, which will benefit the court in deciding which cases are of public or great general interest to Ohioans.
Goldwater Institute attorneys were in federal appellate court in Boston defending a Maine mom’s constitutionally protected parental rights after public school officials purposefully concealed important information about her 13-year-old daughter’s health and wellbeing. Goldwater also issued a letter to the local government of Gilbert, Arizona, warning officials to stop illegal taxpayer-funded electioneering.
Liberty Justice Center issued a demand letter to two Kentucky public schools, warning that their joint board meeting may violate Kentucky law and urging the schools to lift their restrictions on constituents’ free speech on social media and at the event. In an interview with the Center Square, Dean McGee discussed the the Center’s lawsuit against the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU). After four years without an audit, four members of the CTU are suing for transparency—and have faced intimidation and threats from union leadership just for asking to see the audits.
Alabama: A new legal research tool, StateConstitutionTool.org, was cited in an Alabama Supreme Court opinion to explain why its due process clause is unique from the U.S. Constitution and other states. The Court used the research tool to compare the text of all 50 state constitutions (American Juris Link).
South Carolina: A generous donor has stepped forward to offer funding for private school students who were impacted by the recent decision of the South Carolina Supreme Court in Eidson et al. v. SC Department of Education et al whichgutted the Education Scholarship Trust Fund program and devastated many low-income families who had settled into new schools that better fit their children only to have their scholarships ripped away in the middle of the school year. This donor’s generosity will allow these students to remain in these schools at least through 2024 (Palmetto Promise Institute).
Bluegrass Institute issued a brief examining facts and trends in public school districts which affirm the need for more education freedom in Kentucky.
Kansas Policy Institute published a brief giving an analysis of a state audit on the efficacy of an economic development subsidy program, noting that the dismal conclusion is considerably worse than stated because the auditors did not take opportunity costs into account.
Mountain States Policy Center released briefs which examine the irony found in data relating to the Idaho Launch program, question Washington state’s decision to spend millions of taxpayer dollars to block the merger of Albertson’s and Kroger, and report on a legal brief that calls for Federal courts to overturn a controversial energy-related decision involving a proposed railway system that would transport crude oil.
Washington Policy Center posted briefs that forecast more misery for workers via the state’s minimum wage fever and expose how the WA Cares program harms low-income workers today for a possible benefit sometime in the future.
Iowa: Gov. Reynolds is now targeting an overhaul of the state’s tangled property tax system. If successful, it will provide a roadmap for other states to tackle their own pro-growth reforms (Iowans for Tax Relief Foundation and National Taxpayers Union).
Topics:
California Student Test Scores Fall Short but Education Officials Ignore Root Causes
California Policy Center
What the City of Santa Ana Does Not Want the Public to Know
California Policy Center
Accountability in Education
Cardinal Institute
The Kids Are Not All Right
Commonwealth Foundation
EITC Student Economic Data
Commonwealth Foundation
5 Ways to Expand Education Opportunities in Georgia
Georgia Public Policy Foundation
Chicago Public Schools Sees Uptick in Enrollment, But Still Lower Than 10 Years Ago
Illinois Policy
Teshka: Demystifying School Funding
Indiana Policy Review Foundation
It’s Time for Supt. Underly to Answer for Test Score Chaos
Institute for Reforming Government
What North Carolina Could Learn from California About School Finance
John Locke Foundation
Michigan Needs New Ideas for High Absenteeism and Falling Student Scores
Mackinac Center
‘A Lot’ Was Done for Maine Schools, But Nothing Good
Maine Policy Institute
Why We Must Win for School Choice
Mississippi Center for Public Policy
Oklahoma School-Choice Programs Save the State Millions
Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs
As Legal Threats Wither, Expert Urges Private-School Growth
Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs
Pioneer Institute Study Finds MCAS, Education Reform Have Significantly Improved Academic Attainment
Pioneer Institute
How Much Does My School District Spend?
Show-Me Institute
SLPS and MoSchoolRankings
Show-Me Institute
Does Access to Information Impact Parent Involvement in Education?
Sutherland Institute
Education Funding Reform Needs to Build Accountability to Help Those Who Need It
Thomas Jefferson Institute for Public Policy
Price Tag of Paris Agreement Up to $1.5 Trillion per Year
Center of the American Experiment
Is Smart Money Moving into Nuclear Power?
Center of the American Experiment
SMRs: Powering NJ Progress
Garden State Initiative
‘Go Green,’ No Matter the Cost? Arizona Says No Way
Goldwater Institute
Lighting the Path: Meeting North Carolina’s Coming Energy Needs
John Locke Foundation
One Way Missouri Could Keep Its Energy Grid Reliable
Show-Me Institute
Ameren to Shut Down Rush Island
Show-Me Institute
Ratepayers Waiting for Gov. Lamont to Check His Inbox
Yankee Institute
The Band-Aid Isn’t Working
Center of the American Experiment
Cuomo’s House Testimony Added New Misinformation about Covid in Nursing Homes
Empire Center
GLP-1s in the “Barbecue Belt Buckle”
John Locke Foundation
Wisconsin Medicaid Enrollment Continues to Fall in 2024
MacIver Institute
Permitting Nightmare on Big Island
Grassroot Institute of Hawaii
Squatters’ Blues
Pacific Research Institute
More Property Taxes to Come? Will Informs Wisconsin Property Taxpayers About Upcoming Referenda
Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty
Newsom’s Empty Comparison: The Real Difference Between California and Texas Shoplifting Laws
California Policy Center
Montana Trailblazers: Aurora Innovation with Trent Berg
Frontier Institute
Unlocking Opportunity: How Occupational Licensing Reform Would Promote Equitable Empowerment in Illinois
Illinois Policy
Florida Politics: Time to Trim the Tax Burden for Florida Salons, Barbershops
James Madison Institute
Michigan Development Program Not a Pretty Site
Mackinac Center
Licensing Reforms Would Ease Michigan’s Pain
Mackinac Center
SpaceX Delaunched in California
Pacific Research Institute
Rise of The Machines
Pacific Research Institute
County Fairs Incubators for Our Next Leaders, Business Owners
Pacific Research Institute
Free Market Policies for Better Local Government with David Stokes
Show-Me Institute
Rochester District Doubles Down on Threatened Cuts if Voters Reject Referendum
Center of the American Experiment
Mayor Carter Is Right, St. Paul Has No Money for Childcare
Center of the American Experiment
Gov. Walz Gets ‘F’ on Fiscal Policy Report Card
Center of the American Experiment
Eight Reasons to Vote Against the Lottery Amendment
Center of the American Experiment
Minneapolis Cannot Tax Its Way Out of Its Downward Spiral
Center of the American Experiment
Part I: Gov. Walz Earns a Failing Grade of ‘F’ on the Fiscal Policy Report Card
Freedom Foundation of Minnesota
Release: NJ Public School Teachers Should Be Given Pension Plan Options – Adding a Defined Contribution Model Along with the Defined Benefit Model Would Benefit All
Garden State Initiative
Illegal Immigrants a Drain on Idaho’s Taxpayers
Idaho Freedom Foundation
CTA Ridership 60% of Pre-COVID Levels While Budget 30% Higher
Illinois Policy
Don’t Miss This Tax Question on Your Nov. 5 Ballot
Illinois Policy
Platte County Children’s Services Fund Tax
Show-Me Institute
Schools Closed Two Days This Week so Teachers’ Union Can Push Ideological Agenda
Center of the American Experiment
September Opt-Outs Maintain Blistering Pace in New York
Freedom Foundation
Chicago Teachers Union Funds $700,000 for School Board Endorsements
Illinois Policy
West Virginia 2024 Special Session Recap
Cardinal Institute
Happy Columbus Day! Now Return the Statue
Center of the American Experiment
Kayla Hulett: Finding Freedom After Addiction
Empower Mississippi
How to Be the Smartest Person in the Room Without Going to College
Frontier Institute
Lowering the Stakes of Presidential Elections
Georgia Public Policy Foundation
AI of the Storm
Pelican Institute
Award-Winner Tom Segev on Israel’s Founding Father, David Ben-Gurion
Pioneer Institute
Those Who Treat Politics as Religion Undermine the Constitution They Claim to Love
Sutherland Institute
In the Columbus Bar Association’s Lawyers Quarterly magazine, David C. Tryon, director of litigation at The Buckeye Institute, evaluates the impact of the end of Chevron Deference.
In The American Spectator, the Independent Institute’s Lloyd Billingsley expose how unelected bureaucrats rejected the Space Force plan to launch more rockets from Vandenberg Space Force Base because some commissioners don’t like Elon Musk.
In The Center Square, Stephen M. King and the Iowans for Tax Relief Foundation’s John Hendrickson examine the history of progressivism in the US, which gives a glimpse of what a Harris presidency would be.
Douglas Carswell, president and CEO of the Mississippi Center for Public Policy, in an op-ed for American Thinker lays out the reason why the state ‘must win for school choice.’
In the Capital Press, US Sen. Mike Crapo and Mountain States Policy Center’s Madi Clark point out the disastrous consequences of poor federal land management.
In the Telegraph Herald, the National Taxpayers Union Foundation’s Pete Sapp and the Iowans for Tax Relief Foundation’s John Hendrickson call for a simple solution to lowering property taxes: pare back unnecessary local expenditures.
