Week in Review: March 10, 2023

Announcements

The Caesar Rodney Institute released a new poll that reveals the majority of Delaware Voters would not vote for a legislator in the next election if they favored banning gas-powered vehicles.
Goldwater Institute is working across the nation to introduce its Right to Try for Individualized Treatment Act (Right to Try 2.0). Currently, this reform has been introduced in Iowa, Nevada and Texas, and efforts are underway to introduce the legislation in several other states this year.
The Mackinac Center is currently fighting against an active effort to repeal right-to-work in Michigan.
On the Overton Window podcast, the Mackinac Center’s James Hohman interviewed John Hendrickson of ITR Foundation on the positive reforms made in Iowa.
A new video by the Nevada Policy Research Institute explains the basics behind how laws are made in the Silver State.
Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy commended WILL and its client, Fred Luehrs, for standing up to the Biden Administration’s new ESG rule.

Success Stories

Arkansas passed a universal school choice bill.
The Mackinac Center for Public Policy was the whistleblower for taxpayers across the country after discovering the state’s largest teachers union and its health insurance affiliate took $12.5 million in PPP loans that they were not eligible for. The Mackinac Center uncovered this misconduct and filed a lawsuit under the federal False Claims Act to hold the Michigan Education Association and its affiliate accountable. The MEA and MESSA have already paid back the loan and will now pay the U.S. over $200,000 in reimbursements and fines. The Mackinac Center will receive $77,000 in attorneys fees from the MEA and MESSA, along with a portion of the fines paid from the U.S. government. The award and fees will be used to advance school choice and educate Michigan teachers about their right to opt out of union membership and dues.

Freedom through the Courts: The Latest Litigation Efforts across the Network

The Buckeye Institute filed an amicus brief in the U.S. Supreme Court in Tyler v. Hennepin County, urging the court to protect people against governmental equity theft through property seizures. Buckeye was joined on its brief by the Competitive Enterprise Institute, Manhattan Institute, Platte Institute, National Federation of Independent Business, and Illinois Policy Institute.
The Buckeye Institute, along with the Cato Institute, filed an amicus brief in Dakota Finance v. Naturaland Trust, urging the U.S. Supreme Court to hear the case and protect the “principles of federalism embodied in the Clean Water Act.”

Solutions from the States: This Week’s Policy Briefs

The Commonwealth Foundation outlined the key takeaways from the Pennsylvania Governor’s 2023 budget address.
In a new paper, the Foundation for Government Accountability notes Congress could boost economy by allowing Medicaid work requirements without bureaucratic intervention.
FGA released another paper that argues State Attorneys General should challenge H.R. 2617’s new continuous Medicaid coverage requirement.
A new report by The James Madison Institute, “Improving Campus Culture: Florida Higher Ed is Facing Challenges,” builds upon JMI’s 2017 and 2020 reports and measures how much progress Florida’s universities are making in promoting free expression and viewpoint diversity.
The Kansas Policy Institute released a report that explores the relationship between the size of government and economic growth.
Maine Policy Institute released the third edition of Scoring Emergency Executive Power in All 50 States (2023), a 50-state analysis of the balance of power between lawmakers and governors during declared emergencies
The Pelican Institute for Public Policy released “Louisiana’s Comeback Agenda,” a bold vision for policy change in Louisiana and a statewide campaign to support the effort.

Tracking Positive Reforms in the States: Updates from State Think Tanks

Georgia: The Georgia General Assembly is considering two bills this legislative session that address barriers to work. House Bill 155 would require licensing boards to recognize most occupational licenses obtained in other states when an individual moves to Georgia, and Senate Bill 157 would clarify the standards for licensure eligibility for people with criminal records (Georgia Public Policy Foundation).

North Carolina: North Carolina senators introduced a bill last week to repeal the redundant and antiquated privilege license tax, which requires certain professionals who need a state license to pay an annual amount to the state.

Texas: Texas lawmakers are considering legislation which would implement efficiency audits of all state agencies to improve the quality and performance of public services and better utilize taxpayer dollars (Texas Public Policy Foundation).

Utah: The Utah Legislature passed a bill that reduces regulations surrounding mobile business owners (Libertas Institute).

Utah: Utah is also considering legislation that will reduce barriers to obtaining an occupational license and will make it easier for workers to move to Utah and immediately enter their professional field (Libertas Institute).

West Virginia: A partial repeal of certificate of need laws (CON) has been passed by the West Virginia House (Cardinal Institute for WV Policy)

Policy News from the States

Checking in on Legislative Sessions

MTLEG Weekly Debrief: Halftime Report
Frontier Institute

What’s Still Alive After Crossover Day?
Georgia Public Policy Foundation

Good News, Bad News At Legislature’s Halfway Mark
Grassroot Institute of Hawaii

Legislative Wrap-Up: Education Policy’s New Pluralism Paradigm
Sutherland Institute

K-12 Education

Public School Exodus Sustained Following Pandemic
Center of the American Experiment

The Focus Should Be On What Children Need
Georgia Public Policy Foundation

States Winning on School Choice, Tee Up Academic Transparency
Goldwater Institute

State Board of Education Members Get Update on Review of Academic Standards
John Locke Foundation

Why Universal School Choice Would Help All N.H. Students — And The Public Schools
Josiah Bartlett Center for Public Policy

Education Choice a Solution to Changing School Boundaries?
Libertas Institute

What The MAEP Are Our Lawmakers Up To?
Mississippi Center for Public Policy

It’s Public School Choice Month In Louisiana!
Pelican Institute

Now is the Time to Empower East Texas Parents
Texas Public Policy Foundation

Funding Intensive Tutoring Is The Best Way To Help Students Recover From COVID Lockdown Learning Loss
Washington Policy Center

State Think Tanks in the News

In his recent column, the Bluegrass Institute’s Jim Waters highlights two bills moving through the General Assembly would remove government from being the direct funder for public sector unions.
In the Star News Network, the California Policy Center notes the difficult truths about unrenewable ‘renewables.’
In the California Globe, the California Policy Center argues unionized public education is destroying California.
At RealClearPolicy, the Center of the American Experiment outlines the lessons from Winter Storm Elliot.
In the Duluth News Tribune, Center of the American Experiment encourages lawmakers to be realistic before throwing cash at childcare.
At RealClearPennsylvania, the Commonwealth Foundation notes Pennsylvania’s education-funding lawsuit opens the floodgates for reform.
In the New York Daily News, the Empire Center points out questions on Cuomo’s COVID memoir need answers.
In Newsweek, the Foundation for Government Accountability highlights the Top 10 Florida policies other states should emulate
In the Washington Examiner, the Goldwater Institute notes a federal safety net program is failing the vulnerable patients it was intended to help.
In the Honolulu Star-Advertiser, the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii highlights a new program that incentivizes local governments to streamline permitting, increase housing density and allow more multifamily homes by-right.
In his recent column, the Independence Institute’ Jon Caldara notes Governor Polis must cash in his political capital.
At National Review, Iowans for Tax Relief Foundation points out that Iowa is proof that fiscal conservatism works.
In The Center Square, Iowans for Tax Relief Foundation notes US Sen. Mike Braun (R-Ind.) is one of a select few policymakers who is trying to seriously address the debt crisis.
In a piece for InsideSources, the Kansas Policy Institute argues fixing FCC’s maps is the first step for broadband expansion.
The Mackinac Center was cited in a Wall Street Journal editorial discussing Michigan’s tax cut surprise.
In the County Press, the Mackinac Center considers if more money the answer to learning loss in Michigan.
In The Detroit News, the Mackinac Center notes telehealth across state lines boosts access to care.
In The Center Square, the Mississippi Center for Public Policy notes Mississippi lawmakers should reform school funding formula.
In his recent column, the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs’ Jonathan Small highlights how Oklahoma is pushing back against a proposed federal regulation related to declaring a “public health emergency.”
In the Washington Examiner, the Pacific Research Institute highlights the benefits of physician-owned hospitals.
In The Daily Signal, the Rhode Island Center for Freedom & Prosperity highlights a new ‘Ministry of Truth’ in Rhode Island.
In The Hill, State Policy Network’s Erin Norman notes the student loan bailout turns a blind eye to struggling Americans.
In The Federalist, the Texas Public Policy Foundation argues our nation’s monuments reflect the people who made it their home, the struggles they endured, and the values that made it possible.
In National Review, the Texas Public Policy Foundation notes red states are taking the lead to protect teens from big tech.

Events and Opportunities

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

Categories: News

Organization: State Policy Network

Announcements

Success Stories

Freedom through the Courts: The Latest Litigation Efforts across the Network

Solutions from the States: This Week’s Policy Briefs

Tracking Positive Reforms in the States: Updates from State Think Tanks

Policy News from the States

Checking in on Legislative Sessions

K-12 Education

Energy and Environment

Government Accountability

Healthcare

Jobs and State Economies

State Budgets

Workplace Freedom

Other

State Think Tanks in the News

Events and Opportunities

Additional Posts