Announcements
Alabama Policy Institute released its latest edition of Blue Print for America.
The MacIver Institute noted that inadequate policy choices are undermining potential for cost relief in Wisconsin’s healthcare system.
The Palmetto Promise Institute highlighted the new Education Scholarship Trust Fund program, which enhancespublic school choice in South Carolina.
The Show-Me Institute noted that Missouri is facing a reading crisis, with 42% of fourth-graders struggling to read, marking some of the lowest literacy rates in the nation.
The Washington Policy Center highlighted flaws in the Washington Senate Democrats’ tax arguments, emphasizing that increased government spending isn’t justified.
The Wisconsin Institute for Law & Libertyannounced the hiring of Erin Gamble as Associate Counsel, citing her role in combating bureaucratic overreach in Wisconsin and the rest of the country.
Success Stories
Investigative journalists at the Kansas Policy Institute exposed an obvious violation of state law, showing that DEI policies remain in place in higher education despite a statutory ban.
Freedom through the Courts: The Latest Litigation Efforts across the Network
The Buckeye Institute argued its case in Ream v. U.S. Department of Treasury, which seeks to overturn the federal ban on home distilling, before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.
The Buckeye Institute filed its second amicus brief in Columbus City School District v. Ohio, defending school choice and rebutting the school districts’ claim that Ohio’s school choice program violates the equal protection clause of the Ohio Constitution.
The Buckeye Institute, joined by several allied organizations, filed an amicus brief in Pung v. Isabella County urging the U.S. Supreme Court to end home equity theft and reaffirm its Tyler v. Hennepin County ruled that the practice violates homeowners’ constitutional rights.
The Goldwater Institute filed a brief in the Arizona Supreme Court urging justices to enforce the state constitution’s right to a jury trial.
Mackinac Center Legal Foundation submitted an amicus brief to the U.S. Supreme Court regarding the Michigan home equity case.
Solutions from the States: This Week’s Policy Briefs
The Goldwater Institute noted that Arizona’s Court of Appeals struck down Sedona’s home-sharing ban allowing homeowners to participate in the short-term rental market.
Illinois’ pension debt remains a critical issue, the Illinois Policy Institute found, as it exceeds $100 billion, emphasizing the need for substantial reforms to protect taxpayers.
New analysis from the Independence Institute breaks down how state lawmakers set the stage for Colorado and what ratepayers can expect for their energy costs moving forward.
The ITR Foundation highlighted stronger fiscal rules are necessary to protect taxpayers and sustain recent tax reforms during economic growth and uncertainty.
Kansas Policy Institute explained how the City of Wichita could reallocate spending rather than increase the local sales tax.
The Pacific Research Institute emphasized that promoting competition in healthcare markets is vital for innovation and affordability—contrasting the negative trends observed in California.
The Texas Public Policy Foundation pointed out that while Texas has improved its grid reliability since Winter Storm Uri, vulnerabilities remain.
The Thomas Jefferson Institute found that proposed investments in utility-scale batteries could lead to $54 billion in new expenses for ratepayers over 20 years.
Jobs in the Network
Policy Research & Comms Associate — Palmetto Promise Institute (South Carolina)
Vice President of Strategic Communications — Do No Harm (Remote)
Recruiter — Institute for Justice (Virginia)
Policy News from the States
Topics:
K-12 Education
Liability insurance makes up 0.2% of teacher union budget
American Experiment
Does higher spending increase student outcomes?
Mountain States Policy Center
Oklahoma regents cut some low-graduate programs, keep most
The Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs
Education a National Security Issue: Instill Freedom In Youth : Palmetto Promise Institute
Palmetto Promise Institute
A New Frontier for Public School Choice in South Carolina : Palmetto Promise Institute
Palmetto Promise Institute
Empty Schools, Empty Wallets: How ESSER Pandemic Aid Led to More School Referenda
Reforming Government
Right Makes Might: Hayek, Part II
Texas Public Policy Foundation
Energy and Environment
Will Advocates for More Water Supply Projects Find Unity?
California Policy Center
Jake Fogleman Discusses the PUC’s Plan to Phase Out Natural Gas on Free State Colorado
Independence Institute
The Data Center Debate Continues in Festus
Show-Me Institute
Healthcare
Email Confirms Early Contact Between NY Officials and CDPAP Contractor
Empire Center
It Should Not Be This Difficult to Be Healthy — Especially in Idaho
Idaho Freedom Foundation
Listen: Steve Robinson & Matt Gagnon on WGAN
Maine Policy Institute
Put Unused Pension Plan Dollars to Work for South Carolina Employees
Palmetto Promise Institute
Care is Better When Patients Get a Choice
Texas Public Policy Foundation
Housing Affordability
Increase apartment floor-area ratios to boost housing stock
Grassroot Institute
Lessons from Lahaina could help Hilo recover
Grassroot Institute
Massachusetts Subsidized Housing Inventory Update Shows Record Number of Communities Exceed Critical Threshold
Pioneer Institute
Nebraska Zoning Permitting Process: Recommended Adjustments in Nebraska
Platte Institute
Jobs and State Economies
How an illegal immigrant stole a Minnesotan’s identity and ruined his life
American Experiment
Commissioner Andy Gipson: Family, Food Security, and Mississippi’s Future
Empower Mississippi
Georgia candidates for governor should make welfare reform a top priority
For Opportunity
The 2025 Journal
James Madison Institute
Florida’s Rural Renaissance
James Madison Institute
Wisconsin Unemployment Holds Steady, Labor Participation Falls
MacIver Institute
Minimum-wage hikes don’t magically cut evictions—they shift who gets…
Mackinac Center
Did Dan Gilbert keep Detroit subsidy promises? The Freep is suing to find out
Mackinac Center
Fast food jobs at risk with high minimum wages
Mountain States Policy Center
OPINION: New Mexico’s economic freedom is now dead last
Rio Grande Foundation
Tipping Point New Mexico episode 767: Hoodies, SNAP Controversy, New Mexico Last in Economic Freedom – Errors of Enchantment
Rio Grande Foundation
Webster Groves Should Not Institute an Economic Development Sales Tax
Show-Me Institute
State Budgets
In a Stunning Turn of Predictability, the Ford Idaho Center Goes to the College of Western Idaho
Idaho Freedom Foundation
Transit sales tax hike makes suburbs pay for Chicago problems
Illinois Policy Institute
Split Decision: Two New TABOR Cases – Independence Institute
Independence Institute
FDR’s forgotten blueprint for property tax reform
ITR Foundation
Cutting Through the Red Tape — Bringing Personal Accountability Back to Florida
James Madison Institute
Wichita should reallocate spending rather than add a new (rushed?) 1% sales tax
Kansas Policy Institute
The Choice that will determine Gretchen Whitmer’s future — and Michigan’s
Mackinac Center
Which states have the most debt? New report shows big divide
Mountain States Policy Center
New Mexico revenue remains very strong (but explosive growth can’t go on forever) – Errors of Enchantment
Rio Grande Foundation
Why CT’s Treatment of Faith-Based Nonprofits Matters for Its Civic and Fiscal Future
Yankee Institute
Workplace Freedom
SEIU 503 asks members to do its political dirty work
Freedom Foundation
Other
Walz wants more Somali migrants
American Experiment
Week in Review: The Invasion of Idaho
Idaho Freedom Foundation
Former Illinois House Speaker Madigan asks President Trump for pardon
Illinois Policy Institute
Franke: ‘Listening to the Law’
Indiana Policy
John Calvin and the Foundations of American Constitutionalism
ITR Foundation
SCOTUS should ‘destroy’ bad piece of government structure
John Locke Foundation
Justice Department drops ‘disparate impact’ lawsuits
John Locke Foundation
SCOTUS focuses on campaign finance, First Amendment
John Locke Foundation
Brennan Becomes Latest Democrat to Join Wisconsin Governor’s Race
MacIver Institute
Evers Signs 34 New Laws
MacIver Institute
Sen. Wanggaard Blasts Evers’ WEC Veto
MacIver Institute
Second OU instructor accused of discrimination
The Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs
With California election system, no Governors Bellmon, Bartlett,…
The Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs
New York group seeks to overhaul Oklahoma election system
The Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs
Latest loan plan won’t fix transit’s fundamental problems
Pacific Research Institute
Government Shutdowns Are a Reminder To Privatize
Pacific Research Institute
Keller wins 3rd term despite poor track record: council moves left – Errors of Enchantment
Rio Grande Foundation
The Network in the News
In The Center Square, the Freedom Foundation’s Matthew Hayward points out unions are the true playground bullies in today’s schools.
In the New York Post, FGA’s Jonathan Ingram notes Democrats have a big fraud problem.
In The Center Square, the John Locke Foundation’s Kelly Lester notes food should never have been a bargaining chip in the tariff debate.
At Complete Colorado, the Independence Institute’s Nash Herman highlights what Colorado’s state treasurer gets wrong about ‘austerity.’
In The OC Register, the Independent Institute’s Christopher J. Calton notes the widely promoted Housing First approach has not actually solved homelessness.
In Human Events, the Liberty Justice Center’s Brendan Philbin points out public schools are failing students by obstructing free speech rights.
In his column for The Detroit News, the Mackinac Center’s Mike Reitz highlights America’s recent flirtation with socialism.
The Washington Examiner featured the Mississippi Center for Public Policy’s free-market reforms transforming the Magnolia State.
In The Center Square, the Mountain States Policy Center’s Jason Mercier and Reason Foundation’s Mariana Trujillo consider which states carry the highest levels of state and local government debt.
At Townhall, Pacific Research Institute’s Sally C. Pipes argues that a new GAO report shows the enhanced Obamacare subsidies are rife with fraud and should be allowed to expire.
