Week in Review: April 28, 2023

Announcements

The Connecticut Inside Investigator, a project of the Yankee Institute, celebrated its one-year anniversary and the publication of their 600^th article covering corruption and news in Connecticut.

The Empire Center for Public Policy interviewed Tony Woodlief, State Policy Network’s Senior Executive Vice President, about federalism in the United States.

As Ohio’s budget moves from the Ohio House to the Ohio Senate, The Buckeye Institute urged senators to enact reforms that will further expand school choice, flatten Ohio’s income tax, reduce government spending, and close tax loopholes.

Babylon Bee CEO Seth Dillon spoke at the Georgia Public Policy Foundation’s 2023 Georgia Freedom Dinner this week.

The Idaho Freedom Foundation explained the criteria behind their Idaho Freedom Index, which rates legislators based upon votes on policies that grow or shrink the government, add or subtract regulations, increase or reduce taxes, and other key metrics.

The Illinois Policy Institute released the findings of recent polls that revealed 58 percent of Illinois voters said their property taxes don’t provide enough value in public services, 56 percent support constitutional pension reform, and 62 percent support school choice.

The Maine Policy Institute testified before state legislature to advocate for abolishing the COVID-19 vaccine mandate for healthcare workers, prohibiting state COVID-19 vaccine mandates, establishing focused protection in public health, and more.

In a new weekly video series, the Mississippi Center for Public Policy will be highlighting ways that Mississippi and America are promoting freedom in “Liberty Wins.” This week’s “Liberty Wins” discussed how Mississippi’s economic prospects have improved significantly, and in terms of economic outlook, the Magnolia State state now ranks 22nd out of all 50 states.

The Texas Public Policy Foundation testified before the Texas Legislature on behalf of improving the quality of instructional materials in the state’s public schools, implementing innovation waivers for insurance laws and regulations, and more.

The Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty Policy Director, Kyle Koenen, testified before the Wisconsin Senate in support of a bill which would move Wisconsin to a 3.25% flat-tax over several years.

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

The Mackinac Center for Public Policy submitted an amicus brief with the National Taxpayers Union in the case Tyler v. Hennepin County brought by Network Partner the Pacific Legal Foundation, a case for which the US Supreme Court heard oral arguments this week.

The Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty announced the filing of new case against the FBI for withholding Nashville shooter Audrey Hale’s manifesto, despite filing a request under the Freedom of Information Act.

Success Stories

Florida: The Florida Legislature passed paycheck protection for public sector employees. This bill will ensure that teachers and other public workers know their rights and have direct control over whether union dues can be taken from their paychecks. The James Madison Institute, Freedom Foundation, and the Mackinac Center’s Workers for Opportunity Initiative played a role in this win. 

Ohio: In Doe v. Columbus, The Buckeye Institute racked up several wins for its clients and the Ohio Constitution. The court granted Buckeye’s request to put enforcement of the unlawful city ordinance on hold while the case is heard and denied Columbus’s attempts to dismiss the case or transfer it to a more friendly court.  

Tennessee: While its session received much infamous national attention, the 113^th Tennessee General Assembly closed with much important work accomplished to protect Tennesseans’ freedoms, including tax cuts, expansion of parental choice, protection of worker freedoms, and more (Beacon Center of Tennessee).

Tennessee: The Tennessee Legislature voted to eliminate the state’s obligation to collect union dues from teachers. This victory gives teachers more control over their paycheck. The Mackinac Center for Public Policy’s national Workers for Opportunity initiative noted they look forward to seeing the Tennessee Governor sign the bill into law.

Virginia: The Thomas Jefferson Institute website refresh project has been awarded a Pollie Award by the American Association of Political Consultants.

Solutions from the States: This Week’s Policy Briefs

The California Policy Center exposed the policy that undergirds California’s proposed bullet train, which now projects to spend a staggering $200 million per track mile on high-speed rail.

The Center of the American Experiment analyzed the Minnesota state Senate’s, House’s, and Governor’s budgets, finding nothing “good” but pointing out ways that Minnesotans can hope to reduce the “bad and the ugly.”

The Foundation for Government Accountability released a brief that found the US House’s proposed work requirements would limit dependency, save taxpayer resources, and grow the economy.

The Frontier Institute released the first installment of their “Green Gold Rush” series. This installment makes the case that rare earth mining is good for America, Montana, and the environment.

The Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs unpacked a recently unveiled compromise education proposal released by the Oklahoma Governor which contains significant elements generated by both the state House and Senate.

The Pacific Research Institute released data that studied the causes of movement out of larger cities like Detroit, Baltimore, San Francisco, and New York City.

The Pelican Institute for Public Policy “unearthed” nearly $1.7 billion in additional discretionary revenue in the Louisiana state budget.

The Platte Institute synthesized the findings of the Archbridge Institute’s State Occupational Licensing Index with an eye for policy in Nebraska, showing that Nebraska’s position is precarious compared to bordering states. 

Pioneer Institute published a study that finds that COVID led to significant declines in Massachusetts school enrollments.

The Washington Policy Center looked at the bills that will shape agriculture in the state moving forward, noting the importance of remembering why supporting food production matters.

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

Missouri: A bill was passed by the House that would require the state’s department of revenue to develop a mobile application for claiming gas tax refunds, making it easier to claim a refund of which currently very few Missourians are taking advantage (Show-Me Institute).

Nevada: Hope is on the horizon for Nevadans with rare diseases after Nevada legislators voted to advance the Goldwater Institute’s Right to Try for Individualized Treatments reform out of the state Assembly.

Nevada: A key education reform bill went before committee. The bill is designed to bolster education options for families (Nevada Policy Research Institute).

Oklahoma: The House of Representatives advanced an education reform package that includes school choice expansion, graduated teacher pay raises, and additional formula funding and innovative operational funding for public schools (Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs).

Texas: The Texas House passed a proposal that would introduce the strongest protections in the nation for children online. The bill now heads to the Texas Senate for consideration (Texas Public Policy Foundation).

Policy News from the States

K-12 Education

Pulaski School Choice Market Largest in State
Advance Arkansas Institute

Importance of Meaningful Standardized Testing Labels
Alaska Policy Forum

Arieale Munson and Steven Cole: Hope for the Future Because of the ESA Program
Beacon Center of Tennessee

Bring Traditional Discipline Back into Delaware Schools 
Cesar Rodney Institute

High School Graduation Rate Ticks Up Despite Proficiency Declines
Center of the American Experiment

The Moving Goal Post of “Proficiency”
Empire Center for Public Policy

Teacher Salaries, Tax Breaks, and TIF
Libertas Institute

Don’t Means-Test Education
Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs

How Family Impacts Education – And Why We Should Track It
Sutherland Institute

Lawmakers Must Make Student Transfers Easier—and Tuition-Free
Texas Public Policy Foundation

Parent Empowerment Safeguards our Future
Texas Public Policy Foundation

Other

Bring Greatness Back to Life
Georgia Public Policy Foundation

Florida is Wisely Welcoming New College Entrance Exam
James Madison Institute

U.S. Progressives Would Be Wise to Learn from Europe’s Shift Away from Socialism
Pacific Research Institute

Let Free Market Forces Ease the Cost of Housing
Texas Public Policy Foundation

Washington State: The 2023 Legislature Finished Its Work on Affordable Housing, But What Did They Actually Change?
Washington Policy Center

State Think Tanks in the News

At RealClear, the Commonwealth Foundation considers the “Bootleggers and Baptists” of Pennsylvania’s energy markets.

In the Press of Atlantic City, the Garden State Initiative notes New Jersey must let tax surcharge expire as planned.

In The Federalist, the Libertas Institute considers if public schools are broken.

In The Republican Standard, the Thomas Jefferson Institute notes government protects itself from inflation, just not you.

In the Anderson County Review, the Kansas Policy Institute and Americans for Tax Reform note Kansas Senate’s flat tax bill makes sense for Kansas taxpayers.

In National Review, the Mississippi Center for Public Policy considers if the South will become America’s economic powerhouse.

In the Quay County Sun, the Rio Grande Foundation considers the Affordable Connective Program (ACP)’s impact on New Mexico.

In the Deseret News, Sutherland Institute explains why some diversity, equity and inclusion programs fail to get off the ground.

In The Federalist, the Texas Public Policy Foundation notes the intelligence leak shows us nothing new or surprising about Ukraine.

In the Vermont Chronicle, the Ethan Allen Institute encourages residents to pay attention to corporate climate profiteering.

At Complete Colorado, the Independence Institute points out the Colorado Legislature is paying off special interests with taxpayer refund dollars.

In National Review, the Libertas Institute notes America’s schools are worse than mediocre.

In his recent column, Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs’ Jonathan Small considers an Oklahoma bill which would require public schools to focus more on Martin Luther King’s work.

In The Federalist, the Texas Public Policy Foundation argues our current immigration system is a modern-day slave trade.

In his recent column, the Independence Institute’s Jon Caldara considers Colorado’s housing market.

In The Hill, the Mackinac Center considers America’s transition to green energy.

In The Daily Caller, the Texas Public Policy Foundation notes Biden’s border chaos fuels child trafficking.

In the Hartford Courant, the Yankee Institute examines a Connecticut energy proposal.

Announcements

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

Success Stories

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

K-12 Education

Healthcare

Energy and Environment

Jobs and State Economies

State Budgets

Workplace Freedom

Other

State Think Tanks in the News

Related Content