April 14, 2023
Week in Review: April 14, 2023
Nationally renowned scholar George F. Will was announced as the featured speaker at the Ethan Allen Institute’s Thirtieth Anniversary Celebration to be held on Wednesday, May 31.
The Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty submitted testimony on seven pieces of legislation, providing important insight to lawmakers as they consider efforts to rein in wasteful government spending.
The Buckeye Institute filed public comments on the Federal Trade Commission’s proposed rule prohibiting employers from utilizing noncompete clauses, noting that the proposed rule violates section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission Act, exceeds the commission’s constitutional authority to regulate interstate commerce, supplants well-established state policy preferences, and undermines federal due process protections.
The Foundation for Government Accountability’s Center for Excellence in Polling surveyed likely voters to gauge their opinions on work requirements in welfare and government spending. Results indicate that work requirements and federal spending limits are widely supported, regardless of party affiliation.
On behalf of dozens of Arizona businesses, the Goldwater Institute sent a letter demanding that Phoenix City Council repeal the “prevailing wage” ordinance passed last month which restricts qualified businesses from competing for taxpayer-funded public-works projects.
The Iowans for Tax Relief Foundation released the data from its most recent poll, showing a majority of Iowans want to see restraints applied to government’s ability to grow.
The Kansas Policy Institute released the 2023 version of its Legislator Briefing Book, a quick-reference guide that provides background and perspective on state spending, taxes, education, and general economic conditions.
The Maine Policy Institute provided testimony in favor of exempting towns from unworkable state housing mandates, common sense income tax reform, and automobile sales tax reform.
The Texas Public Policy Foundation provided testimony before the Texas Senate Subcommittee on Higher Education.
The Buckeye Institute filed an amicus brief in Ohio v. Yellen with the U.S. Supreme Court calling on the court to protect taxpayers against President Biden’s tax mandate which prohibits states from directly or indirectly using American Rescue Plan Act funds to offset a reduction in taxes.
The North Dakota House passed a bill creating the state’s first school choice program. The bill now goes to the governor’s desk for signing.
The Kansas Legislature passed a $1.4 billion tax relief bill (Kansas Policy Institute).
The Texas Public Policy Foundation announced a victory for property rights when a Michigan Court of Appeals struck down a Canton township’s ordinance, concluding that it violates the Constitution.
The Georgia Public Policy Foundation released a new report on the cost of regulations in multifamily developments in the Peach State. On average, the report found that an average of 23.4 percent of the cost of multifamily housing can be attributed to federal, state, and local regulation.
As energy companies across the country hit customers with significant rate hikes, new research from The Buckeye Institute found that customers in Ohio would see an increase of $810 on their energy bills per year and that customers in California would see an increase of $665 annually. The report’s authors analyzed four scenarios to estimate the impact of a new Clean Power Plan—which would be necessary to achieve President Biden’s call to reduce carbon emissions 52 percent below 2005 levels—would have on jobs and the economies of Ohio and California.
The Foundation for Government Accountability released a paper outlining why states should reject the false promises of Medicaid expansion. Their data exposes shattered enrollment projections, massive cost overruns, and the prioritization of able-bodied adults over the truly needy.
The Foundation for Government Accountability outlined how the Biden Administration unilaterally changed healthcare laws and could cause new federal spending to soar to $45 billion over the next 10 years as a result.
The Illinois Policy Institute published a brief that uncovers how Illinois politicians allow government unions to rewrite state law.
On the heels of Tuesday’s election results that shifted the balance of power on the Wisconsin Supreme Court to a new liberal majority, the Institute for Reforming Government released a memo detailing how to save critical Walker-era reforms by amending the Wisconsin Constitution.
To keep Iowans from getting lost in all of the calculations that go into determining a property tax bill, the Iowans for Tax Relief Foundation simplified property valuations and rates.
As the 2023 Florida Legislative Session moves into the second half and budget negotiations take hold of the process, The James Madison Institute presented The Conservative Florida Budget: Fiscal Year 2024.
The John Locke Foundation examined how the North Carolina Senate’s school choice expansion bill could revolutionize school choice in the state.
Washington Policy Center published information on SB 5103, which would make Washington state pay more of its way for healthcare services incurred by the state.
Alabama lawmakers introduced the Parental Rights in Children’s Education (PRICE) Act that creates a universal education savings account (ESA). The bill will allow parents to use approximately $7,000 of their state tax dollars to educate their children the specific way they choose. (Alabama Policy Institute)
The Minnesota Legislature is considering three proposals that are likely to pass: Metropolitan Council reform, literacy reform, and an addition of an Inspector General at the Department of Education. (Center of the American Experiment)
The Florida House State Affairs Committee approved a bill to end government collection of union dues from teachers’ paychecks, sending Senate Bill 256 to the House floor. (Freedom Foundation)
The Montana House Local Government Committee heard SB 528, a bill that would require local governments to broadly restore the right of landowners to build affordable starter homes like Accessory Dwelling Units. (Frontier Institute)
The Nevada Governor proposed expanding Nevada’s Opportunity Scholarship program through Assembly Bill 400, which would bolster education options for families seeking schools best suited to their children’s needs. (Nevada Policy Research Institute)
Members of an Oklahoma Senate committee approved legislation that would put the state on the path to eventually reduce the personal income tax to 2.75 percent. (Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs)
School Choice, School Politicking and Public School Legislation
Bluegrass Institute
MN Teachers’ Union Still Pulling Political Strings to Re-Erect Licensure Barriers
Center of the American Experiment
How The Next Mayor Can Help Philadelphia’s Schools
Commonwealth Foundation for Public Policy Alternatives
Education Successes from the 2023 Georgia Legislative Session
Georgia Center for Opportunity
Florida Politics: Florida Budget Needs a School Choice Guarantee
The James Madison Institute
Parental Rights Don’t Come from the Government
Libertas Institute
Who’s Afraid of Measuring Teacher Performance?
Mackinac Center for Public Policy
Oklahoma: How Much it Costs to Educate a Child
Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs
Lawmakers To Consider Increased K-12 Education Spending
Pelican Institute for Public Policy
How To Bring the Success Sequence to Utah Students
Sutherland Institute
End Con and Unleash Healthcare in West Virginia
Cardinal Institute
Let Pharmacists Provide More Medical Services
Mackinac Center for Public Policy
Free-Market Solutions to Improving American Health Care
Pacific Research Institute
California: Cleaning Bay Source Pollution Will Enable More Delta Diversions
California Policy Center
Biden Blackouts: EPA’s Mercury Rules Could Mean Lights Out for Minnesota, No Measurable Environmental Benefits
Center of the American Experiment
North Carolina: Massive Offshore Wind Turbines with Flashing Lights Would Be Major Features on the Coastal Horizon
John Locke Foundation
The British Model for Nuclear Energy – Is California Watching?
Pacific Research Institute
Nuclear Energy in Modern Missouri
Show-Me Institute
Bill Will Help Ensure Affordable, Reliable Electricity for Texas Families
Texas Public Policy Foundation
Bounty Hunter Provision Drives California Civil Rights Dept. Litigation Strategy That Hurts Plaintiff Workers & Drives Businesses Out of State
California Policy Center
New Data Show That Businesses Are Fleeing Downtown Minneapolis
Center of the American Experiment
Mississippi Climbs Economic Outlook Rankings in New Report
Empower Mississippi Foundation
Youth Employment is a Recognized Path to Greater Prosperity
Freedom Foundation of Minnesota
Regulatory Sandboxes will Encourage Innovation
Frontier Institute
Companies “Lyft” and “Better Work” Unite in Georgia
Georgia Center for Opportunity
North Carolina Ranks 2nd Best in Economic Outlook, 10th Best in Economic Performance, in New National Report
John Locke Foundation
Kansas Ranks 38th Nationwide for Earnings Growth
Kansas Policy Institute
A Small Tweak to Maine Law Could Bring Billions to Western Maine
Maine Policy Institute
Oregon Legislature Lines Up a Spending Blow-Out
Cascade Policy Institute
Minnesota: With A $17.5 Billion Surplus, We Should Be Cutting Taxes, Not Raising Them
Center of the American Experiment
Hawaii: Helton Suggests Three Scenarios for Kauai Property Tax Relief
Grassroot Institute of Hawaii
It’s Raining Money in Idaho – FY24 Sees the Biggest State Government Spending Increase In 22 Years
Idaho Freedom Foundation
Iowa: March Revenues Continue to Exceed Forecast
Iowans for Tax Relief Foundation
New JMI Report on the Conservative Florida Budget
The James Madison Institute
Three Areas of Pension Risk — and Reform
John Locke Foundation
Wisconsin: Your Property Tax Bill Is Higher Because Of TIF Districts, Legislative Council Confirms
MacIver Institute for Public Policy
Debunking Tax Migration Myths
Pioneer Institute
New Mexico: Final Tax Package Analysis – Actual Tax Cuts Account for 1.4% of $3.6 Billion Surplus
Rio Grande Foundation
Washington State Overpaid Unemployment Benefits During the Pandemic and Now Doesn’t Want the Money Back
Washington Policy Center
Washington State: Just in Time to Avoid 2/3 Vote Requirement, New Property Tax Increase Bill Introduced
Washington Policy Center
Nearly 1 in 5 Leave Illinois Government Union Since Getting a Choice
Illinois Policy Institute
Washington State: The Legislature Has Bypassed the Will of the Voters and Passed Expensive and Unnecessary Ergonomics Legislation
Washington Policy Center
How To Enshrine Critical Policy Wins In The Wisconsin Constitution
Institute for Reforming Government
Alaska’s Charity Regulations, Ranked
Alaska Policy Forum
The Boston Globe Agrees: Local Regulations are the Root of the Housing Shortage
Josiah Bartlett Center for Public Policy
Wisconsin: Elections Have Consequences: Supreme Court Edition
MacIver Institute for Public Policy
Let’s Talk About Zoning
Show-Me Institute
Why I Love Living in America
Mississippi Center for Public Policy
In the Washington Examiner, SPN’s Ray Nothstine outlines how the REINS Act will halt the Biden Administration’s regulatory spending spree.
At RealClearPolicy, The Buckeye Institute notes the revived clean power plan would shock customers with higher energy bills.
In the Arizona Capital Times, the Goldwater Institute considers how to solve Arizona’s affordable housing crisis.
In the Washington Times, the Freedom Foundation highlighted how the Chicago Teachers Union spent historic money to install one of their own as mayor.
In The Baltimore Sun, the Maryland Public Policy Institute notes the best fix for the shrinking city is a tax cut.
In his recent column, John Hood notes few institutions inspire public trust.
At Fox Business, the Texas Public Policy Foundation highlights a simple solution to reduce inflation.
In the Deseret News, the Libertas Institute notes ChatGPT uncovers the shortcomings of our licensing exams.
On Fox News, the Mackinac Center’s Jason Hayes considers Biden’s new electric vehicle proposal.
In The Center Square, the Mississippi Center for Public Policy’s Douglas Carswell explains why he loves living in America.
In his recent column, OCPA’s Jonathan Small outlines how school choice helps black students.
In the Times of San Diego, the Pacific Research Institute notes Newsom’s latest homeless plan likely won’t work.
At National Review, the Texas Public Policy Foundation highlights how Texas lawmakers are striving to make their electrical markets work despite federal meddling.
In his recent column, John Hood notes the Legislature ought to enact big pay increases for educators in North Carolina’s public schools.
In the Oregon Catalyst, the Cascade Policy Institute noted Portlanders are voting with their feet.
In her recent column for The Philadelphia Inquirer, the Commonwealth Foundation’s Jennifer Stefano explained how the next mayor can help Philadelphia’s schools.
In the Vermont Daily Chronicle, the Ethan Allen Institute considers how America can diminish the culture of violence.
At Townhall, the Goldwater Institute notes big government and its union enablers are keeping secrets to stay in power.
In the Tallahassee Democrat, The James Madison Institute argues Florida’s Civic Education Initiative eradicates political bias.
In the Chicago Tribune, the Illinois Policy Institute notes Brandon Johnson needs to unite Chicago with a balanced approach to governance.
In The Gazette, the Independence Institute’s Jon Caldara considers while Colorado will arm ‘racist’ cops, but not citizens.
In the Santa Fe New Mexican, the Rio Grande Foundation highlights a small but significant victory for free speech during New Mexico’s recent legislative session.
Please see SPN’s Network Calendar for a full list of events.
