February 21, 2025
Week in Review: February 21, 2025
The Buckeye Institute was recognized as a Power Player at the US Supreme Court in Dr. Adam Feldman’s recent analysis of who’s shaping the US Supreme Court docket. The analysis tabulated Buckeye’s impressive numbers—#2 in briefs filed and #5 in briefs filed in cases that the US Supreme Court accepted. In a Valentine’s Day love letter to the First Amendment, Buckeye called on the Judicial Conference of the United States to protect the free speech rights of Americans and reject proposed changes to court rules mandating that organizations filing amicus briefs in federal cases expose the private information of their donors.
Caesar Rodney Institute sent an open letter to Delaware’s governor, stating that increased funding is not the solution to improving educational performance. The Institute also joined with the Committee for a Constructive Tomorrow to urge U.S. Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum to immediately revoke letters of authorization permitting the incidental take of endangered and threatened marine species by offshore wind projects.
Cardinal Institute, Empower Mississippi, Illinois Policy Institute, Sutherland Institute and the Archbridge Institute joined the Alliance for Opportunity, a coalition of state think tanks dedicated to advancing upward mobility and reducing poverty.
Liberty Justice Center Senior Counsel Reilly Stephens and client Stephen Kleinschmit discussed the Center’s lawsuit against the University of Illinois Chicago, which fired Professor Kleinschmit for speaking out against the university’s racially-motivated and discriminatory hiring practices, on an interview on Newsmax. In a letter to the editor of the Wall Street Journal, the Center’s Senior Fellow Mark Janus asks just how slowly Justice Sotomayor would have the Supreme Court act.
Mountain States Policy Center posted a special edition of its Peak Policy video series, featuring leadership of the Idaho Legislature.
Opportunity Arkansas released a new poll, finding Arkansans strongly support welfare reform. These results are particularly timely as congressional leaders and the Trump administration in Washington, DC contemplate major changes to America’s largest welfare programs as part of the reconciliation budget process.
Texas Public Policy Foundation announced its Texas Family Success Agenda to support family formation, lasting marriages, and successful child development in Texas.
Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty announced that Deputy Counsel, Dan Lennington, in addition to his litigation role, will assume the position of Managing Vice President and oversee day-to-day operations as the Institute continues to expand its litigation and policy work beyond Wisconsin.
Yankee Institute’s Frank Ricci testified against a bill that would provide unemployment benefits for striking workers in Connecticut.
The Buckeye Institute filed an amicus brief in Federal Communications Commission v. Consumers’ Research, calling on the U.S. Supreme Court to revive the not-quite-dead nondelegation doctrine and tell Congress it cannot abdicate its lawmaking responsibilities. Buckeye also filed an amicus brief in The Gym 24/7 Fitness v. Michigan and Mount Clemens Recreational Bowl v. Hertel, calling on the U.S. Supreme Court to hear the cases and overturn Penn Central, a nearly 50-year-old case that allows the government—in violation of the U.S. Constitution—to take private property from Americans without just compensation.
Institute for Free Speech filed a new suit, protecting the rights of privacy, free speech and association to those individuals who make small dollar donations through a conduit like WinRed or ActBlue.
Liberty Justice Center urged the California Court of Appeals to hear its lawsuit holding Attorney General Rob Bonta accountable for violating state law and abusing his position of power by providing a misleading and biased title to a proposed ballot initiative. The Center also issued demand letters on behalf of a small business decimated by government overreach. If the Consumer Product Safety Commission fails to address abuses of power by Commissioner Richard Trumka Jr., the Liberty Justice Center will pursue legal action.
Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty and a coalition of civil rights and liberties organizations filed a Title VII charge with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) against the American Bar Association (ABA).
California: A victory for parents’ rights in California — Attorney General Rob Bonta failed to appeal a court ruling finding the terms of the Chino Valley Unified School District’s updated parental notification policy constitutional (Liberty Justice Center).
Utah: Governor Cox signed a law that bans labor unions from collective bargaining. This marks a significant victory for government union reform proponents (Freedom Foundation).
Wisconsin: A Milwaukee judge ordered School Resource Officers in Milwaukee schools by February 27th — a win for a Milwaukee mom who filed a lawsuit with her local school district to protect kids going to school (Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty).
Nationwide: A victory for US taxpayers — the US Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit ruled that the administration’s student loan forgiveness efforts were unconstitutional. The ruling effectively declares illegal the vast majority of the $188.8 billion in loan forgiveness granted to 5.3 million borrowers (Mackinac Center).
Caesar Rodney Institute posted briefs warning Delawareans and legislators that electricity rates will rise even further if green policies in the Delaware Climate Action Plan move forward and scrutinizing proposed spending increases to Governor Meyer’s proposed education plan.
California Policy Center released a brief, Fighting Crime: Certainty of Punishment, Certainty of Rehabilitation, which offers a common sense strategy to reduce crime in California.
Iowans for Tax Relief Foundation issued briefs calling for the Iowa DOGE task force to focus on addressing cost drivers like Medicaid and education as it explores reforms at the state and local level and suggesting how Iowa’s courts can follow the example set by SCOTUS’ end of Chevron deference and level the scales of justice instead of biasing them in favor of bureaucrats.
Mountain States Policy Center released briefs that show how it is time to end the East/West divide on control of state lands, map out for how to use Idaho Governor Little’s SPEED Act to navigate the current maze of bureaucratic red tape, examine the research that reveals how homeschooling won’t be hurt by education choice, and provide steps Idaho legislators can take to fund students, not systems.
Sutherland Institute published a brief showing how Utah can elevate its status as a leader in education choice by implementing reforms to its open enrollment law along with adjusting its implementation.
Arkansas: A bill that would reduce fraud and improve the integrity of the ballot initiative process passed the Senate and moved to the House. In addition, lawmakers introduced a bill which would ensure school boards hear from the people they serve at every meeting (Opportunity Arkansas).
Arizona: A proposed bill that provides parents greater control over public school districts’ ability to release students’ personal information to third parties was approved out of committee by a unanimous, bipartisan vote (Goldwater Institute).
Colorado: Legislators introduced bills that would provide crucial steps towards creating a more sustainable state budget, as well as putting broad-based income tax relief for Coloradans ahead of special interest loopholes. If implemented, Colorado would be on a path to eventually zero out its state income tax (Independence Institute).
Idaho: In a groundbreaking move that was applauded by the White House, the Idaho Senate gave final approval to legislation that provides a $5,000 tax credit for all families who need education options outside of the public school system. The bill now moves to the governor’s desk for approval (Mountain States Policy Center). In addition, a bill that states that Idaho is not required to enforce mandates from the World Health Organization passed the Senate, while the House banned ideological, non-US flags from being displayed outside the state house (Idaho Freedom Foundation).
Minnesota: A bill working its way through the state House of Representatives would ban government-funded nonprofit corporations from spending that cash on election campaign work (Center of the American Experiment).
Missouri: Lawmakers proposed a bill which would expand charter access by allowing any state-approved sponsor to authorize a charter school in districts located within a charter county or in any municipality with greater than 30,000 inhabitants. This bill would be a major step toward increasing educational options, fostering competition, and driving innovation in Missouri (Show-Me Institute).
Montana: Representative Gregg introduced a resolution which would request that the US Congress remove any requirements or obligations to purchase electric vehicles (Mountain States Policy Center). In addition, lawmakers received statements of support in favor of proposed legislation that would reform healthcare licensing to alleviate Montana’s healthcare worker shortage, give landowners in Montana city centers more freedom to build denser starter homes, cut red tape and improve implementation of the Montana Environmental Policy Act process without compromising environmental protections, address harmful local zoning regulations that mandate excessive parking requirements and drive up housing costs, and ensure Montanans are free to use crypto (Frontier Institute).
North Carolina: Legislators introduced a bill which would address concerns to the NCInnovation fund by ensuring that state funds are properly accounted for and returned to the General Fund (John Locke Foundation).
Oklahoma: Senator Bergstrom proposed a bill which would make it illegal for the governor or any local government officials to prohibit any “activity in a place of worship during a declared state of emergency that is otherwise legal under state law.” In addition, legislation making it slightly easier for Oklahoma families to access a scholarship program for children with special needs has cleared its first legislative hurdle. Finally, legislation that reins in unelected state bureaucrats is moving through the houses (Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs).
South Carolina: A bill which would re-instill the state’s Education Scholarship Trust Fund, establishing accounts to be used on the school of the students’ choosing advanced out of committee to the House floor (South Carolina Policy Council).
Texas: The House introduced a bill, a companion bill to a similar one introduced in the Senate, which would provide universal ESAs to Texas students (Texas Public Policy Foundation).
Utah: Legislators introduced bills that would allow young entrepreneurs to claim a nonrefundable tax credit, mandate that juveniles have legal counsel assist them when facing legal proceedings, and allow for integrating artificial intelligence (AI) for better mental health outcomes (Libertas Institute).
Washington: State Senator Gildon introduced a bill which would streamline permitting for professionally produced building projects by limiting the amount of changes cities and counties can make to permit applications (Washington Policy Center).
Wisconsin: The Wisconsin Supreme Court denied a bypass petition in Abbotsford Education Association v. WERC, which would have allowed the state’s highest court to rule on the merits of Act 10, a law which helps to keep property taxes down (Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty). In addition, lawmakers teed-up a series of education reforms on Wednesday, pushing them closer to Gov. Evers’ desk (MacIver Institute).
Topics:
Illinois Democrats Again Attack Parents’ Rights to Choose Best Education for Their Children
Illinois Policy
Spend $93K Per Student and What Happens? None Can Read at Grade Level.
Illinois Policy
NC Ed Spending and NAEP Scores: It’s Difficult to Ignore These Trends
John Locke Foundation
$36,200 Per Student? What About Student Outcomes?
John Locke Foundation
Utah’s Catalyst Program is a Game-Changer
Libertas Institute
Demand for Oklahoma School-Choice Tax Credits Remains Strong
Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs
Nebraska Tops Charts for K-12 Property Tax Reliance
Platte Institute
Hanging Up on Smartphones in Missouri Public Schools
Show-Me Institute
What Does the New PALM Pilot Program Bill Do for Teachers?
Sutherland Institute
The Profiteers – An Inside Look at Education Spending in Texas
Texas Public Policy Foundation
New Virginia Polling Shows Overwhelming Support for Parental Choice in Education
Virginia Institute for Public Policy
Wildfires and the Efficient Government Trap
California Policy Center
75 Percent of Indonesian Nickel Mining Dominated by China
Center of the American Experiment
Pennsylvania’s Governor Puts ‘Green’ Messaging Ahead of Realistic Solutions
Commonwealth Foundation
Unwind the Green New Deal
Mackinac Center
State Courts Are Not the Place to Set Climate Policy
Mackinac Center
Expedite the Approval Process for Line 5 Improvements
Mackinac Center
Testimony S.B. 1293: An Act Requiring a Study of Electric Utilities
Yankee Institute
Years in the Making, Free-Market Dental Solution Has Wisconsin Grinning
Badger Institute
Immigrant Enrollment in ‘Emergency Medicaid’ Surges to 480,000
Empire Center
The Doctor Is Out—States Are Blocking Your Access to Mental Healthcare
Goldwater Institute
The One-Way Property Tax Ratchet
Frontier Institute
If We’re Not Careful, Nearly Everything Will Become ‘Historic’
Grassroot Institute of Hawaii
Rockford Declared Hottest Housing Market in US, But Low Supply Is Real Story
Illinois Policy
Read a Sneak Preview: Are Urbanists Right — Do Cities Subsidize the Suburbs?
Pacific Research Institute
Pioneer Institute Study Says MA Housing Permitting Process Needs Systemic Reform
Pioneer Institute
Twelve Scarcity-Enabling Laws to Scrap
California Policy Center
Universal Licensing Recognition and Why West Virginia Needs It
Cardinal Institute
‘Culture of Risk Aversion’ Drives MN Permitting
Center of the American Experiment
New Report Says Businesses Should Ask: What Would Micron Get?
Empire Center
The Micron Test
Empire Center
Tort Reform: The Georgia Law That Business Owners Hate the Most
Georgia Public Policy Foundation
Food Assistance Need Grows 12% in Illinois Since 2019
Illinois Policy
Iowa’s Franchise Fees: An Overview
Iowans for Tax Relief Foundation
A Tale of Two LA’s
Pacific Research Institute
Legislature Should Invest in Economic Prosperity While We Still Can
Rio Grande Foundation
Why Texas Needs a Right to Repair Law
Texas Public Policy Foundation
SB 5671 Would Make Broadband Internet Expansion Less Efficient
Washington Policy Center
‘We Win’ but Taxpayers Lose When Politics, Nepotism and Nonprofits Meet
Center of the American Experiment
Governor Shapiro’s Budget is Nothing New
Commonwealth Foundation
State Republicans ask DOJ to Investigate Walz’s ‘Continuous Inaction’ on Fraud
Freedom Foundation of Minnesota
Minnesota House Republicans Shed Light on Massive Fraud in State Government
Freedom Foundation of Minnesota
Staying the Course the Wise Thing to Do
Georgia Public Policy Foundation
The Pay Raise Fire Hose Is Wide Open
Idaho Freedom Foundation
Pritzker’s Magic Beans: Growing a Record-Setting $55B Illinois Budget
Illinois Policy
State Lawmakers Want to Add $30B to Illinois’ Public Pension Debt
Illinois Policy
Pritzker at 50% Approval Ahead of Illinois Budget Address
Illinois Policy
Bill Introduced to Again Try for Progressive Income Tax in Illinois
Illinois Policy
A Rule for Curbing Wasteful Spending
Independence Institute
How Can Kansas Cut Waste and Protect Taxpayers?
Kansas Policy Institute
Fix Roads Without Raising Taxes
Mackinac Center
Wisconsin’s Next State Budget Likely to Spend $50 Billion, or More
MacIver Institute
Rep Born: Evers’ Budget Numbers “Are Shocking”
MacIver Institute
Where Your Tax Dollars Are Going in 2025
Mackinac Center
A Tale of Two Tax Plans – House vs. Senate
Mississippi Center for Public Policy
Education Service Units Property Tax Relief
Platte Institute
Missouri Must Protect Taxpayers from Sports Subsidies
Show-Me Institute
Taxpayer Funded Lobbying | Fast Facts
Texas Public Policy Foundation
Analysis Act 10 Repeal: What It Will Cost You
Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty
Ending the Free Ride: How School Tax Dollars Subsidize Union Activity and Politics in Missouri
Freedom Foundation
Analysis: 93% of Idaho Teachers Union Political Spending Benefited Democrats in 2024
Freedom Foundation
Pennsylvania Union Exodus Reaches Two-Year High
Freedom Foundation
Remembering a Famous Camera
Fronter Institute
Washington’s Lost Lesson: How “Presidents’ Day” Misses the Point
Goldwater Institute
Franke: Signs of an Early Spring?
Indiana Policy Review Foundation
Cornell’s Margaret Washington on Sojourner Truth, Abolitionism, & Women’s Rights
Pioneer Institute
In the York Dispatch, the Commonwealth Foundation’s Elizabeth Stelle notes Gov. Shapiro’s budget is nothing new.
In the New York Post, FGA’s Hayden Dublois highlights how Democrats far outnumber conservatives in government.
At Townhall, the Independence Institute’s Rob Natelson argues that key figures in the Biden administration have undermined the strength of the executive branch by concentrating power in a small group.
At InsideSources, the Illinois Policy Institute’s LyLena Estabine points out housing regulations hold America back from racial equality.
In The Gazette, Iowans for Tax Relief Foundation’s John Hendrickson and Meg Tuszynski consider what spurs economic growth—tax incentives or tax freedom.
In the Washington Times, Liberty Justice Center President Jacob Huebert argues that Trump should exert executive power as unions continue to fight against reform.
For The Detroit News, the Mackinac Center’s Mike Reitz encourages Michigan policymakers to prioritize policies that empower individuals to live the good life.
In The Center Square, the Mountain States Policy Center’s Amber Gunn highlights rent control’s record of ruin.
In the Hartford Courant, the Yankee Institute’s Carol Platt Liebau explains why Connecticut should reject the green amendment.
In his recent column, John Hood considers how to reform the North Carolina Legislature.
