Announcements

• The Alliance for Opportunity, the three-state project led by the Georgia Center for Opportunity, the Pelican Institute, and Texas Public Policy Foundation, launched the roadmap for poverty relief, a resource for states to equip policymakers and those in civil society working on safety net, workforce, and criminal justice reforms. 
• Center of the American Experiment launched the Give It Back campaign to persuade the  Minnesota Governor and the Minnesota Legislature to return the $7.7 billion state budget surplus to taxpayers. 
• The Georgia Center for Opportunity was named one of the Atlas Network’s top 10 nonprofit partners to watch in 2022. Atlas acknowledges GCO as an organization working “to make the world a better place for countless everyday people.”
• The Institute for Reforming Government released an election reform poll that finds only one-third of Wisconsin voters support the current elections oversight system, with a plurality of Wisconsinites supporting‚—by a 38-33 margin—vesting elections oversight with a statewide elected official. 
• The Mississippi Center for Public Policy announced their involvement with the Mississippi Secretary of State’s 29 by ’29 Plan, which looks to review all 118,000+ regulations in Mississippi’s regulatory code and all 29 occupational licensing boards and commissions by 2029. MCPP is looking forward to helping reduce burdensome regulations, with the anticipation that reducing the heavy hand of government leads to greater prosperity.

This Week on SPN.org

• Americans’ Trust In Government Falls To Disturbing Low
• America At Its Best – Live at LaunchPad 2021: Using Data Science to Transform Government Affairs
• Declining trust in government shows why local politics matters

Success Stories 

• The Alabama Legislature is considering a bill, the Parent’s Choice Act, that would offer school choice to every student in Alabama, regardless of Zip code or income. The Alabama Policy Institute explained how the program would work and noted it would bring real and meaningful change to families and individuals across the state.
• The South Dakota Legislature passed a school choice expansion bill. The American Federation for Children noted the legislation expands the eligibility and funding for the Partners in Education Tax Credit Program. 
• The Arizona Senate Education Committee passed legislation developed by the Goldwater Institute that would require public schools to publish their learning materials online.
• The Goldwater Institute testified before the Arizona Senate Health and Human Services Committee on the need to expand Right to Try to include individualized treatments. This essential reform will empower patients who seek personalized medicine to work with their physicians to pursue tailored, best-fit treatments. The bill passed successfully out of committee.
• Center of the American Experiment highlighted how Minnesota lawmakers are considering a bill that would permanently cut income tax rates for most Minnesotans.
• The Mississippi House passed legislation that would ensure Mississippians are protected from government intrusion as they pursue opportunities through home-based businesses. The Mississippi Center for Public Policy noted the time has come for Mississippi to enact policies to protect home-based businesses from excessive local regulations. Empower Mississippi added the bill removes the irrelevant regulations that do nothing but limit economic growth in the state.
• The Wisconsin Legislature introduced a K-12 education reform package that includes: Dramatic expansion of school choice and educational options; breaking up Milwaukee Public Schools into smaller districts so that the school system can be more responsive to teachers, parents, and students; and holding school districts accountable if they are not open five days a week. The Institute for Reforming Government worked on parts of this reform package noted it is a bold, unprecedented agenda of parental empowerment.

Solutions from the states: This week’s policy briefs

Federal Rates are Temporary, But Expansion is Forever: The Significant Financial Risks for States Considering Medicaid Expansion
In its latest policy brief, The Buckeye Institute outlines the permanent consequences for Wyoming should it opt into Medicaid expansion and later seek to opt-out. “Obamacare’s Medicaid expansion is the Hotel California: ‘You can check out anytime you like, but you can never leave.’

Ohio’s Data Privacy Tradeoff
In a new policy memo, The Buckeye Institute outlined how lawmakers can improve the Ohio Personal Privacy Act (House Bill 376) to make good policy even better. 

Convicting CON: Putting West Virginia’s Certificate Of Need Laws On Trial 
The Cardinal Institute for West Virginia Policy published a comprehensive look into the various effects that certificate of need (CON) laws have on the healthcare system in West Virginia.

Pennsylvania Fiscal Chart Book 2022
The Commonwealth Foundation released eight charts summarizing how much state government spends and how to strengthen the fiscal health of the commonwealth.

States Can Unlock the Federal Medicaid Handcuffs Without Fear of a Clawback
A new report by the Foundation for Government Accountability argues state lawmakers should unlock the federal handcuffs to retake control over their Medicaid programs.

Profiting From A Pandemic: How Ineligible Unions Collected Millions In Federal COVID Relief Funds
Hundreds of labor unions—including numerous teachers’ unions—and related organizations received $36.7 million in federal funds through the federal Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) for which they were legally ineligible, according to a new Freedom Foundation report.

Illinois Forward 2023: Only Pension, Budget Reform Can Save Taxpayers When Federal Aid Ends 
In a new report, Illinois Policy Institute offers common-sense strategies to limit tax burdens, close deficits, reduce debt and spur economic growth.

How America Ended Up Underpoliced and Overincarcerated
As crime rates continue to rise across the US there are lessons from the late 20^th century that policymakers should take to heart, especially if they want to ensure that individuals in poor communities are protected, according to a new John Locke Foundation analysis. 

Scoring Emergency Executive Power in All 50 States
Maine Policy Institute released the second edition of a report that examines the balance of power between the executive and legislative branches in every state during states of emergency.

Approve a Sustainable Michigan Budget
The Mackinac Center released the Sustainable Michigan Budget plan, which would set limits for how much revenue politicians can spend. The plan factors in inflation and population changes. 

Zapped! How California’s Punishing Energy Agenda Hurts the Working Class
A new study by the Pacific Research Institute finds Californians are being zapped with higher electricity bills—averaging $1450 per year—thanks to state government energy regulations, taxes, and subsidies.

A Blueprint For Better Broadband In Nebraska 
In a new report, the Platte Institute recommends three primary actions to accelerate access and adoption of broadband in Nebraska.

Policy News From The States

Checking In On Legislative Sessions

Mike Nichols 2022 Federal Spending Testimony
Badger Institute

One-Third Of The Session Is Over; Tax Reform Will Be The Defining Issue Of Kyga22
Bluegrass Institute

Education

Homeschooling: What The Research Shows
California Policy Center

St. Paul Teachers’ Union Gears Up For Potential Strike
Center of the American Experiment

Go Big Or Go Home: The Best Kind Of School Choice Policy? 
Bluegrass Institute

Walz Wants To Increase Spending On Public Pre-K, But Research Says This Might Do More Harm Than Good 
Center of the American Experiment

Teacher Blows The Whistle On Critical Race Theory In California Schools
Goldwater Institute

IRG Applauds Bold Education Reform Legislation That Empower Parents 
Institute for Reforming Government

What Can Mash And Ted Lasso Tell Us About School Choice? 
ITR Foundation

Should Conservatives Support Book Bans In Public Schools? 
John Locke Foundation

After School Choice Week, Legislators Consider Bills To Limit Choice
Josiah Bartlett Center 

Classical Education Is A Teacher’s Joy 
Texas Public Policy Foundation

School Finance Reform Is Integral To School Choice Progress In Wisconsin
Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty

Canary In The Coal Mine: The Risk Of Unionizing Charter Schools 
Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty

Energy And Environment

Delaware Climate Plan Misses On Facts And Policy Path
Caesar Rodney Institute

Walz’s Proposed “California Fuel Standard” Would Increase Costs Of Gas And Diesel By 20 Cents Per Gallon 
Center of the American Experiment

Election Integrity

Follow The Money: How Lawsuits Are Trying To Drive Your 2022 Elections 
John Locke Foundation

North Carolina Is Not A 50-50 State: What That Means For Redistricting
John Locke Foundation

Government Accountability

Extreme Injustice
John Locke Foundation

Healthcare

Doctors Say Schools Can Make Masks Optional
Center of the American Experiment

Temporary Licenses Offer Life Support For N.H. Health Care System As Permanent Fix Proves Elusive 
Josiah Bartlett Center

Mississippi Has A Soviet-Style Healthcare Law
Mississippi Center for Public Policy

Jobs And State Economies

Unemployment Insurance Indexing: A Solution
Alaska Policy Forum

Home Businesses Are As American As Apple Pie
Beacon Center of Tennessee

Restaurant Employment Is Down 8 Percent Statewide, 16 Percent In Twin Cities
Center of the American Experiment

Minnesota Ranks 8th For Loss Of People From The Labor Force 
Center of the American Experiment

Pennsylvania’s Stalled Economy
Commonwealth Foundation

As Food Prices Soar, It Is Time For Idaho To Repeal The Grocery Tax 
Idaho Freedom Foundation

State Budgets And Spending

Fact-Checking Gov. Walz On The Budget Surplus
Center of The American Experiment

Cities Reluctant To Let Local Sales Taxes Expire At End Of Projects 
Center of The American Experiment

How Government Overspending Hurts Pennsylvania Families
Commonwealth Foundation

Pritzker Claims $1.7b Surplus While His Budget Shows $1.5b Deficit 
Illinois Policy Institute

Pritzker Pitches $1b In Temporary Tax Cuts After $5.4b In Permanent Tax Hikes 
Illinois Policy Institute

If Illinois Uses Covid-19 Funds For Operations, Expect Financial Pitfall 
Illinois Policy Institute

Lawmakers Ought To Lower Taxes 
Mackinac Center

Lawmakers Delay The Unpopular Long-Term-Care Entitlement Program; Paid Family Leave Faces Similar Problems 
Washington Policy Center

Other

Transit Update: The “It” City Is Becoming A Smart City
Beacon Center of Tennessee

Portlanders Are Fed Up With Homelessness, Crime, And Their Elected Officials.
Cascade Policy Institute

Court: Goldwater Challenge To Illinois Gun Permit Delays May Proceed 
Goldwater Institute

How The Supreme Court Rewrote The Constitution Part Iii: The Court On The Brink 
Independence Institute

Cooper Order Would Forcibly Transform Nc Auto Industry
John Locke Foundation

Top Tech Companies Then And Now 
John Locke Foundation

Should Wa Restrict Election Speech? Senate Committee Holds Hearing On Governor’s Bill To Restrict First Amendment Rights 
Washington Policy Center

Think Tanks In The News

Here’s Why We Shouldn’t Have Been Surprised By Inflation This Time
Center of the American Experiment in the Pioneer Press

Chicago’s Lessons for Philadelphia Schools
Commonwealth Foundation in The Philadelphia Citizen

Is Democracy Down for the Count in New York?
Empire Center for Public Policy at RealClearPolicy

Why All Single Member Legislative Districts?
Ethan Allen Institute in the Caledonian Record

Income Tax Cuts Can Equal Big Economic Boosts
Georgia Public Policy Foundation inThe Brunswick News

Editorial: Pritzker’s budget offers relief, but the need for long-term fiscal stability still haunts Illinois 
The Chicago Tribune Editorial Board cites Illinois Policy Institute

K-12 Opposition To Computer Science Requirement Underscores Need For School Choice In Kansas
Kansas Policy Institute in The Topeka Capital-Journal

Time For Greater Accountability In Education In Iowa
Iowans for Tax Relief Foundation and Goldwater Institute in the Sioux City Journal

Economic Outlook: Nobody Knows Nuthin
Nevada Policy Research Institute in Nevada Business

Senate Leader Offers School Freedom For All
Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs in The Journal Record

What Science And History Tell Us About The Future Of COVID-19
Pacific Research Institute in the Washington Examiner

The Importance of Virtual Learning for Families and At-risk Students
Pioneer Institute at RealClearPolicy

Declining Trust In Government Shows Why Local Politics Matters
State Policy Network in the Washington Examiner

How to Reclaim American Self-Governance
State Policy Network on the Dawn Stensland Show

Make Regulatory Reforms to Keep Expanded Access to Care
The James Madison Institute at RealClearPolicy

Miami’s school-choice partnership will strengthen Florida’s tech economy
The James Madison Institute in the Miami Herald

Events and Opportunities

Please see SPN’s Network Calendar for a full list of events.