March 15, 2024
Week in Review: March 15, 2024
Cardinal Institute released its 2024 West Virginia Legislative Session Recap, showing that, while there were heated debates, this was a slower year than others of recent date.
Empower Mississippi’s Wil Ervin was selected in this year’s class of the Top 50 Most Influential Mississippians in the “Emerging Leaders” category.
Institute for Reforming Government named Courtney Mullen to the role of Director of External Affairs. In her new role, Courtney will oversee day-to-day external communications and marketing strategies and help build bridges throughout the state.
James Madison Institute announced that taking on challenges associated with recent advancements in Artificial Intelligence (AI) would be a main topic at its upcoming 2024 Florida Tech and Innovation Summit.
Liberty Justice Center celebrated a major milestone, announcing that it had filed its 100th case to defend Americans’ constitutional rights.
Mackinac Center examined collective bargaining agreements in 200 of the state’s largest school districts and released a report that will help prepare school boards for newly enacted policy changes that will impact their future negotiations with unions.
Opportunity Arkansas hosted a policy briefing for state legislators to discuss needed reforms to meet the state’s corrections crisis and scandal.
Pioneer Institute observed Sunshine Week by calling for reform in the state government so as to give greater government transparency.
Sutherland Institute released the findings of a new survey which showed that most likely voters in Utah view housing affordability, education funding and taxes as most important to their vote.
Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty partnered with Americans for Prosperity-Wisconsin to host presentations on the Institute’s Citizens Guide to Open Government, providing attendees with valuable insights on making public records requests, managing delays and responses, navigating open meetings challenges, and other best practices for civic engagement and holding government accountable.
The Buckeye Institute is looking at discriminatory legal programs at Ohio’s largest bar associations, legal firms, and public law schools. While the sentiments of these programs may be laudable, excluding students from fellowships and scholarships because of their race is wrong, not to mention illegal.
Florida: Leaders of a fledgling union dubbed the Miami-Dade Education Coalition (MDEC) gathered at the state capitol in Tallahassee to turn in signature cards to ensure MDEC a spot on the ballot for the recertification election later this year, an election that will offer a chance to replace the manifestly corrupt and indifferent representation that school district employees get from United Teachers of Dade (Freedom Foundation).
Ohio: An Ohio union agreed to stop withholding dues from a school district employee who had been forced to pay them in violation of her First Amendment rights – an important win for worker’s rights (Liberty Justice Center).
Wisconsin: The state’s Joint Committee on Finance approved the four highest-quality curriculum options for kids, as recommended by the expert educators on the Early Literacy Curriculum Council – a first step in improving Wisconsin’s shamefully low reading scores (Institute for Reforming Government). Also, after receiving a letter threatening legal action, the University of Wisconsin-Madison removed the unprecedented demand for payment of event security costs made to the Young America’s Foundation – a victory for constitutional rights (Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty).
Empire Center published briefs that raise concerns against a proposed $4 billion tax on health insurance plans in the upcoming state budget, point out that New York’s post pandemic recovery lags behind national trends, and analyze current progress in transparency and accountability from 66 state agencies.
Platte Institute released a brief unpacking Nebraska’s Opportunity Scholarship Act, pointing out that it is the ideal vehicle to meet the need for education freedom in the state.
Washington Policy Center issued briefs that give analysis to the little that was done for salmon recovery due to major missed opportunities of the legislative session, recap outgoing Gov. Inlee’s COVID response policies, and call for legislators to ban income taxes via a constitutional amendment.
Connecticut: The Government Administration and Elections Committee held a public hearing to hear testimony on new legislative measures aimed at increasing transparency in state government – a welcome step toward accountable governance. Also, a bill sponsored by Gov. Ned Lamont successfully cleared the Public Health Committee – a step towards combatting the ongoing nursing shortage in the state (Yankee Institute).
Georgia: The Georgia House passed a bill that creates the state’s first education scholarship account program (Georgia Center for Opportunity and Georgia Public Policy Foundation).
Idaho: The state House proposed a bill that would establish an Artificial Intelligence Advisory Council that creates a balanced approach that fosters innovation while ensuring accountability and limited oversight are upheld – an example of how legislative bodies should approach oversight in this area (Mountain States Policy Center).
Missouri: The Senate held a hearing on bill that would define how to apply licensing reciprocity when Missouri requires a license for an occupation but another state does not (Show-Me Institute).
New Hampshire: The City of Manchester, the state’s main metropolitan area, is considering changes to the city’s zoning ordinances that would make the city’s zoning rules more friendly to new housing development (Josiah Bartlett Center for Public Policy).
Oklahoma: The House passed a bill which replaces the bracket system for personal income tax with a 4.75 percent flat tax beginning tax year 2025, and raises the threshold for imposition of the tax to income above $13,350 for single filers or $27,100 for joint filers, heads of households and qualifying widowers – sending the opportunity to enact major savings for state taxpayers to the Oklahoma Senate. Meanwhile in the Senate, members have voted overwhelmingly to limit brick-and-mortar schools’ use of virtual days to emergency situations, saying children need as much in-person learning as possible (Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs).
South Dakota: The Mount Rushmore State expanded its tax credit scholarship program (American Federation for Children).
Utah: The Legislature passed a bill which would further improve the state’s regulatory sandbox by requiring agencies to provide a written reason for rejecting an applicant’s request for a regulatory waiver and amended a law that legalized cold plunges for spa owners in the state (Libertas Institute).
Wisconsin: The legislature passed bills would strengthen the state’s separation of powers, protect taxpayers, and ensure that all Wisconsinites are treated equally by our government. If passed again next year, these proposed constitutional amendments could be on the ballot in April 2025 (Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty).
Wyoming: The Wyoming Legislature passed a bill that would establish the state’s first education savings account program.
Topics:
Neal McCluskey on Educational Freedom
Platte Institute
What a School Choice Constitutional Amendment Will and Won’t Do
Bluegrass Institute
More Money is Not the Solution
Cascade Policy Institute
Circle (Spiral?) of Education Funding, Minneapolis Edition
Center of the American Experiment
Chicago Teachers Nearly Triple Private-Sector Salary Growth
Illinois Policy
North Carolina Gets Low Marks on Education Entrepreneur Freedom Index
John Locke Foundation
House Takes Up Two Bills That Would Yank Education Freedom Accounts from Kids
Josiah Bartlett Center for Public Policy
Yes! You Can Customize Your Child’s Education
Libertas Institute
Families Stymied as Idaho Committee Shuts Down Ed Choice Debate
Mountain States Policy Center
School Choice Coda: Let Them Lick Toes
Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs
Senators Vote to Restrict School Virtual Days
Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs
Add Alabama to the List
Show-Me Institute
Getting Education Right with Mike McShane and Rick Hess
Show-Me Institute
Why Funding More Microschools in Utah Makes Sense
Sutherland Institute
Dallas-Area Schools Aren’t Broke, They’re Just Misspending Their Money
Texas Public Policy Foundation
Texas is One Step Closer to School Choice
Texas Public Policy Foundation
Should I Opt Out of Xcel Energy’s “Smart Meter?”
Center of the American Experiment
Minnesota Wind Generation Fell in 2023
Center of the American Experiment
Come on Down to Sticker Shock: Owatonna!
Center of the American Experiment
Green-Plating™ the Grid: How Utilities Exploit the “Energy Transition” to Rake in Record Profits
Center of the American Experiment
Biden’s EV Dictates Face Two Big Problems: Buyers and Sellers
John Locke Foundation
Three Dead Whales in Three Days
John Locke Foundation
The End Has Been Nigh for More Than 50 Years Now
MacIver Institute
Bad Bill Would Hike Utility Costs for Consumers
Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs
Yet Again, Less Power to the People
Pacific Research Institute
Gas Car Ban Roadmap Due Right After Election Day
Yankee Institute
Here’s How Lawmakers Could Improve Healthcare in Our State
Mississippi Center for Public Policy
Due to Medicaid Expansion, Many Rural Hospitals Face Closure
Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs
Genetic Therapy Revolution: Benefits and Barriers for Medicine’s New Horizon
Pioneer Institute
TPPF Announces Health and Family Policy Priorities for the 89th Legislative Session
Texas Public Policy Foundation
The Real Monster Is Our Housing Crisis
Grassroot Institute of Hawaii
Manchester Considers First Housing-Friendly Zoning Changes to Come from Major Zoning Review
Josiah Bartlett Center for Public Policy
Which Bay Cities Need to Improve Their Fiscal Status?
California Policy Center
‘Shrinkflation’ Is Just Inflation
Center of the American Experiment
The Money Supply Stopped Shrinking and Inflation Stopped Falling
Center of the American Experiment
Lies, Damn Lies, and Two Weeks to Flatten the Curve
Commonwealth Foundation
Modern Mining, Outdated Permitting: Black Butte Copper Mine
Frontier Institute
How Many Chicagoans Are Homeless?
Illinois Policy
Utah’s Sandbox Continues to Improve
Libertas Institute
Utah to Train Employees on Cybersecurity Best Practices
Libertas Institute
Cities Should Think Twice Before Embracing ‘Fare-Free’ Transit
Pacific Research Institute
Proposed H-2A Rule Changes Will Make the Program More Difficult for Everyone
Pacific Research Institute
CT’s Economic Health in 2023 Had Positives, But Still Ways to Go
Yankee Institute
Tennessee: The Asterisk State—An Excerpt from “Modern Davids”
Beacon Center of Tennessee
Chorus of Concerns Raised in Hearing About Crime Bill’s Cost, Consequences
Bluegrass Institute
Rose Quarter I-5 Project Testimony on ODOT AVT Proposed Partnership Agreement
Cascade Policy Institute
County Wants Feds to Pay Up for Land Taken Off Tax Rolls
Center of the American Experiment
Here’s How Much MN Lawmakers Spent on Welfare in 2023
Center of the American Experiment
DFLers Push Pointless, Extreme Corporate Tax Bill
Center of the American Experiment
Willmar Broadband Plan is Wired to Fail
Freedom Foundation of Minnesota
The Conditions Are Right for Serious Tax Reform
Georgia Public Policy Foundation
Illinois Supreme Court: Votes Count on ‘Bring Chicago Home’ Referendum
Illinois Policy
Proposed Tax Hike and Flavor Prohibition Recipe for Lawlessness
Mackinac Center
Pension Debt Payments Save Taxpayers on the State’s Largest Creditors
Mackinac Center
Free Community College Will Cost Taxpayers — and Hurt Students
Mackinac Center
Testimony: Opposing Corporate Welfare for the Portland Sea Dogs
Maine Policy Institute
The Necessity of Transparent Tax Revenue Reporting: MA Provides a Shining Example
Pioneer Institute
The Sausage Factory Produces a Digital Sales Tax with Little Explanation or Debate
Thomas Jefferson Institute for Public Policy
Testimony in Opposition to Proposed S.B. No. 35 – An Act Establishing a Capital Gains Surcharge
Yankee Institute
Pennsylvania AFSCME Locals Expose Their Own Greed
Freedom Foundation
Johnson’s ‘Bring Chicago Home’ Tax Hike Could Fund Chicago Teachers Union’s Contract Demands
Illinois Policy
The Constitution and Elections, Part I: The Founders’ Design
Independence Institute
Trump as Andrew Jackson
Indiana Policy Review Foundation
Pulitzer Winner Joan Hedrick on Harriet Beecher Stowe & Uncle Tom’s Cabin
Pioneer Institute
In The New York Post, the Empire Center‘s Ken Girardin highlights how the costs to New Yorkers of Cuomo’s crazy climate law keep rising.
In The Hill, the Georgia Center for Opportunity’s Randy Hicks highlights how we can ease the labor shortage by fixing the social safety net.
In the Chicago Tribune, the Illinois Policy Institute‘s Paul Vallas notes the CTU’s priorities for a new contract further limit competition and accountability.
In The Orange County Register, the Independent Institute’s Lloyd Billingsley points out that Gov. Newsom’s PaneraGate scandal concedes that business owners dislike government mandates to hike their employees’ wages.
At The Hill, the Independent Institute’s William F. Shughart II calls for states to join Arizona and Hawaii in permanently adopting Standard Time.
In The Center Square, the Iowans for Tax Relief Foundation’s Chris Ingstad and John Hendrickson unpack the need for discussion and reform of the state’s Area Education Agencies.
In The Center Square, the Mississippi Center for Public Policy‘s Douglas Carswell notes certificate of need reform could help boost healthcare outcomes.
In the Washington Examiner, the Pacific Research Institute‘s Sally Pipes criticizes Massachusetts’ request to use Medicaid to pay for housing.
In Real Clear Policy, People United for Privacy’s Matt Nese explains recent state efforts to violate nonprofit donor privacy through new disclosure laws, regulations, and ballot initiatives.
In the Albuquerque Journal, the Rio Grande Foundation‘s Paul Gessing points out public health laws need reform to prevent more abuses by governor.
