Announcements

• The Mackinac Center for Public Policy sent a letter demanding Michigan’s jobs agency produce documents that are key to validating the effectiveness of its Pure Michigan tourism promotion program.

This Week on SPN.org

• Kickstart Your Nonprofit Career Through SPN’s Generation Liberty Fellowship
• Introducing State Voices: SPN’s New Public Opinion Tracker
• Laboratories of Democracy: citizens have an appetite for local decision-making
• Let our communities lead

Success Stories 

• In Ohio, The Buckeye Institute-championed Senate Bill 9 was signed into law after passing both chambers of the General Assembly with overwhelming support. The bill requires government officials to eliminate some of the more than 270,000 government regulations that keep Ohioans from starting and expanding businesses, and will make it easier for Ohioans to start new careers—all while still protecting the health and safety of Ohio’s citizens.
• The Foundation for Government Accountability (FGA) applauded the Florida House of Representatives for passing legislation, coupled with the election integrity measures passed in last year’s Senate Bill 90, that will make Florida’s elections among the most transparent and trusted in the country.
• A Georgia Senate committee advanced a school choice bill that would create state-funded Promise Scholarships of up to $6,000 a year. The Georgia Center for Opportunity noted Promise Scholarships step far beyond a typical voucher by fully putting parents in the driver’s seat when it comes to their child’s education.
• The Goldwater Institute won a victory for taxpayers when the Arizona Supreme Court struck down Pinal County’s illegal transportation excise tax. Goldwater represented a group of taxpayers and businessowners in challenging the tax, which, among other things, only applied to purchases of less than $10,000, with the consequence that the tax burden fell primarily on lower- and middle-income taxpayers, as opposed to the wealthy.
• The Wisconsin Senate passed a historic K-12 education reform package backed by the Institute for Reforming Government that would give every child access to a voucher, break-up the failing Milwaukee Public School district, create a statewide charter authorizer, and enact a Parental Bill of Rights. The legislation, having already passed the Assembly, moves to the Wisconsin Governor’s desk. 
• Utah passed a law that creates a property tax deferment program for older Utahns across the state—allowing homeowners, over the age of 75, with an income of less than $65,000 a year, to apply to forgo the payment of property tax until the sale of their home or a transfer of ownership takes place. The Libertas Institute noted they are excited for the establishment of this program and applaud lawmakers for taking the necessary actions to ensure this population does not face housing insecurity. 

Solutions from the states: This week’s policy briefs

Sticker Shock: The Impact of a ‘Single-Payer’ Health Plan on New York Taxes
A new report by the Empire Center analyzes the tax consequences of New York Health Act, which would switch all state residents into a single state-operated and taxpayer-financed health plan. The report finds that New York’s combined state-and-local tax collections, which are already the highest of any state, would almost double to more than $17,000 per capita, which is three times higher than the national average.

New Data: District-by-District NY School Enrollment Change
New York’s K-12 public school enrollment has dropped substantially for a second year in a row, for a total decline of five percent since the start of the pandemic in 2020. The Empire Center created interactive maps to give New Yorkers a district-by-district comparison of enrollment rates in individual public school districts.

Manufacturing A Medicaid Crisis: How Ohio Mismanaged Its Way Into A Disaster
A new study by the Foundation for Government Accountability finds Ohio’s Medicaid Program is in dire need of reform.

Pro-Worker, Pro-Growth
A new report by the John Locke Foundation argues the time is now for North Carolina to solidify its right-to-work law in the state constitution.

Affordable Housing and Kentucky’s Workforce
A new report by the Pegasus Institute notes Kentucky must address the lack of affordable housing in the state.

Why the Legislature Would Likely Use the Proposed Tax Amendment As A Blank Check
Revenue from a ballot initiative to amend the state Constitution and raise income taxes on households and businesses by adopting a graduated income tax structure would supposedly provide resources for transportation and public education, but a new study published by Pioneer Institute finds that, were the tax amendment to pass, the money would be fungible and much of it likely spent on general budget measures.

Policy News from the States

Checking in on Legislative Sessions

Bill To Boost Chicago Police Pensions Would Cost Taxpayers $3 Billion
Illinois Policy Institute

Initiatives, Referenda Allow Voters A Chance To Make, Change Laws
Nevada Policy Research Institute

Education

Alaska’s K–12 Spending Increase
Alaska Policy Forum

VIDEO: The Biggest Education Innovation Is The Growing Use Of School Choice
Alaska Policy Forum

School Transparency Wars
California Policy Center

Intrusive Student Surveys Should Be ‘Opt In’
Center of the American Experiment

30,000+ Students Displaced As Minneapolis Teachers Union Strikes
Center of the American Experiment

School Choice Support Overwhelmingly High At 72%
Center of the American Experiment

When The Love And Joy Of Learning Is Sucked Out Of The Classroom
Empower Mississippi

Media Misleads Americans To Fuel War On Parents
Goldwater Institute

News Media Joins The War Against Academic Transparency
Goldwater Institute

I’m A Teacher. My Position On Curriculum Transparency Might Surprise You.
Goldwater Institute

Learning Loss: Time To Try Something Different?
John Locke Foundation

Education Gets The Sandbox Treatment In Utah
Libertas Institute

Oklahoma School-Choice Bill Gets National Endorsements
Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs

The Parent Bill Of Rights Would Help This Mom Protect Her Daughter
Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty

Energy And Environment

VT To Ban Gas-Powered Vehicles By 2035
Ethan Allen Institute

The Environmental Law That Is Strangling California
Pacific Research Institute

State Analysis Shows Switching To EVS Is Expensive, Even With Very High Gas Prices
Washington Policy Center

Election Integrity

Election Reforms Bills Moving
Palmetto Promise Institute

Government Accountability

Madigan Pleads ‘Not Guilty’ To 22-Count Corruption Indictment
Illinois Policy Institute

After 2 Years, It’s Time To Limit Pritzker’s Emergency Powers
Illinois Policy Institute

More Transparency From State Agencies Desperately Needed This Sunshine Week
Mackinac Center For Public Policy

Michigan Supreme Court Shouldn’t Immediately Reverse Its Emergency Powers Decision
Mackinac Center For Public Policy

Bill To Require Video Archive Of Legislative Hearings And Floor Debate Advances
Platte Institute

Healthcare

Viewpoint: When Will Enough Be Enough? Why Physicians Are Quitting Medicare
Frontier Institute

Fixing America’s Healthcare System
Iowans for Tax Relief Foundation

Why A Public Option Would Not Be Successful
Pacific Research Institute

The True Cost Of Restrictive Healthcare Licensing Laws: Mother’s Lives
Pacific Research Institute

Prior Authorization: When Insurers Practice Medicine
Texas Public Policy Foundation

Housing Affordability

Sen. Chang Hears How ‘Light Touch Density’ Could Solve Hawaii Housing Crisis
Grassroot Institute of Hawaii

Addressing Three Myths That Block New Apartment Construction
Josiah Bartlett Center for Public Policy

Inflation

Inflation Jumps To 7.9 Percent In February — Highest In 40 Years
Center of the American Experiment

Inflation Hits Home: Housing Prices Are Going Up, Up, Up
John Locke Foundation

Jobs And State Economies

Portland’s Parking Price Hike Proves City Council Hates You
Cascade Policy Institute

Study: Minimum Wage Hikes May Cause Rents To Rise
Center of the American Experiment

With “Benchmark” Adjusted, NY Jobs Level Rises Closer To Pre-Pandemic Level
Empire Center for Public Policy

New Poll: Taxes Are Top Reason Residents Looking To Leave New York
Empire Center for Public Policy

Business Leaders Call For Income Tax Repeal
Empower Mississippi

Inflation & War Demand A Suspension Of New Jersey’s Gas Tax
Garden State Initiative

Ukraine Crisis Highlights Need For Hawaii Jones Act Relief
Grassroot Institute of Hawaii

Utah Consolidates Its Regulatory Sandboxes
Libertas Institute

Fix Roads Faster Than They Fall Apart
Mackinac Center for Public Policy

AB 5 Is Taking Away Opportunities For Communities Of Color & Low-Income Communities
Pacific Research Institute

The Real Cost Of Pandemic-Era Policies
Texas Public Policy Foundation

Legislative Majority Can’t Spell Broad-Based Tax Relief
Washington Policy Center

State Budgets And Spending

Government Can’t Prevent Death
Badger Institute

Frankfort’s Arrival At A Bipartisan “Rainy Day Fund” Consensus Is Impressive
Bluegrass Institute

The Surplus Is Huge Because Our Taxes Are High
Center of the American Experiment

A Brief History Of Gov. Tom Wolf’s Tax Hike Proposals
Commonwealth Foundation

Budget Gimmicks Do Nothing To Address Affordability
Garden State Initiative

Taxes Nearly 25% Of What Illinois Drivers Pay At The Pump
Illinois Policy Institute

Honesty Is The Best Policy
Iowans for Tax Relief Foundation

How Do Iowans Want ARPA Funds Used?
Iowans for Tax Relief Foundation

Thinking Responsibly About The Kansas Budget
Kansas Policy Institute

What Would Tax Reform Mean For You?
Mississippi Center for Public Policy

Latest Tax Revenue Stats Make Case For Income Tax Elimination
Mississippi Center for Public Policy

Nebraska Forecasting Board Raises 2022 And 2023 Tax Revenue Projections Again
Platte Institute

Property Taxes In Texas Must Go
Texas Public Policy Foundation

Record Gas Prices Highlight The Need To Repeal Minimum Markup
Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty

Workplace Freedom

Unions Exist To Look After Their Members, Nobody Else
Center of the American Experiment

Amendment 1 Would Cement Strikes As Go-To Weapon For Chicago Teachers Union
Illinois Policy Institute

Have Teacher Unions In Rhode Island Been Unlawfully Collecting Dues For Years?
Rhode Island Institute for Law & Liberty

Think Tanks in the News

Georgia Healthcare Legislation Would Increase Drug Costs
Citizens Against Government Waste in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Expanding Parental Choice In Education
Ethan Allen Institute in Vermont Biz

New Legislation Will Help Businesses And Local Governments Work Together
Foundation for Government Accountability in the Naples Daily News

The Sun Is Shining In Florida, Thanks To A Sweeping Entrepreneurship Agenda
Foundation for Government Accountability in the Washington Examiner  

Isles need Jones Act waiver for oil imports
Grassroot Institute of Hawaii in the Honolulu Star Advertiser

Polis Must Stop Empowering Russia
Independence Institute in The Denver Gazette

Numbers matter in political debate
John Locke Foundation in the Rocky Mountain Telegram

Give High Schoolers More Access To Career Training Options
Mackinac Center in The County Press

Physical Therapist Battles CON Law
Mississippi Center for Public Policy in Emmerich News

Unicameral Videos Can Strengthen First Amendment Freedoms
Nevada Policy Research Institute in the Nebraska Examiner

Put Patients in Charge to Keep Healthcare Spending in Check
Pacific Research Institute in Newsmax

Light starts to shine on opaque drug pricing tactics
Pacific Research Institute in the Washington Examiner

Are Neighborhood Doctors Going Extinct?
Pacific Research Institute in South Central Florida Life

Civics Education is More Important than Ever
Pioneer Institute at RealClearPolicy

Let Our Communities Lead
State Policy Network at National Review

The CDC’s Mask Mandate For Airplane Passengers Is A Never-Ending Illegal Power Grab
Texas Public Policy Foundation in the Washington Examiner

Events and Opportunities

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