Announcements

  • The Alabama Center for Law and Liberty, the legal arm of the Alabama Policy Institute, filed a lawsuit challenging OSHA’s vaccine mandate on behalf of FabArc Steel Supply, Inc., an Alabama construction company, and its President, Tony Pugh.
  • The Alabama Policy Institute awarded API Founding Board Chairman Tom Bradfordwith its annual “Policy Warrior Award,” given to individuals who have made a difference in working to improve the direction of the state of Alabama.
  • The Badger Institute and Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty sent a letter to Wisconsin lawmakers, encouraging them to oppose a tax increase on Wisconsin families.
  • The Ohio Supreme Court recently voted to hear Bowling v. DeWine, a case where The Buckeye Institute has argued that Governor Mike DeWine has the authority to withdraw Ohio from the federal unemployment bonus program, a step Buckeye recommended Ohio take as part of its Policy Solutions for the Pandemic series.
  • The John Locke Foundation’s Carolina Journal just released a new, investigative, true-crime style podcast called Extreme Injustice, which exposes the plot to overturn decades of precedent in North Carolina and undermine the constitutional order. You can listen to Extreme Injustice at extremeinjustice.com, iTunes, and Spotify.
  • The John Locke Foundation launched the Civitas Partisan Index (CPI), a tool that measures the partisan leanings of state legislative districts to give politicos, journalists, and other interested parties insight into the political makeup of specific districts and regions. Although not formally a predictive model, if someone were to have relied upon the CPI, alone, to make forecasts during the 2020 election, they would have predicted election outcomes in 94% of the races.

Success Stories

  • The Hawaii Supreme Court ruled against a long-standing but deceptive legislative practice called “gut and replace”—a procedural loophole that allowed the Hawaii Legislature to pass laws without a full set of public hearings. The tactic generally involved taking a bill with a vague title that had already been heard by one of the Legislature’s two chambers, removing its language, and replacing that language with new and unrelated content. The Grassroot Institute of Hawaii long criticized the practice and noted this new court decision is a great victory for transparency and accountability in Hawaii.
  • The Freedom Foundation celebrated a major milestone this week as it assisted its 100,000th public employee in opting out of union membership. In total, the Freedom Foundation estimates that the resignations have already cost government unions a whopping $150 million in lost dues revenue. RedState celebrated the Freedom Foundation’s efforts in a feature piece.
  • As a result of a legal challenge brought by Liberty Justice Center and the Pelican Institute for Public Policy, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals has suspended enforcement of the Biden Administration’s federal OSHA vaccine mandate. Louisiana business owner, Brandon Trosclair and six employees of CaptiveAire Systems are represented by attorneys from the groups. The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the OSHA mandate cannot be enforced “(b)ecause the petitions give cause to believe there are grave statutory and constitutional issues with the Mandate.” An order on a more permanent stay is expected soon.
  • The Kenosha Unified School District (KUSD) agreed to allow a parent to observe her son’s classroom after the Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty issued a letter reminding the district of the requirements spelled out in federal law. WILL issued the letter to KUSD on behalf of a parent concerned that persistent classroom disruptions may be causing a drop in her son’s academic performance.
  • The Wisconsin Governor signed public school spending transparency legislation into law, initiating a new process to shed more light on how public schools spend public dollars. The Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty an Institute for Reforming Government supported the bipartisan legislation to establish a commission of public-school representatives to determine how to collect and display the information online.

Solutions from the states: This week’s policy briefs

Rethinking the Evaluation of Police Shootings: A Proposal to Enhance Public Credibility
A new report from the Badger Institute encourages Wisconsin to enact a civil rights law that changes the inquiry on fatal police shootings from whether the officer committed a homicide to whether the officer willfully used excessive force in violation of the US Constitution.

Opening Doors II: Occupational Licensing Reform in Ohio After Senate Bill 255
As the Ohio House continues its review of Ohio occupational licenses, The Buckeye Institute released a new policy brief that identified 63 licenses that the state should eliminate or reform to make Ohio more economically competitive and make it easier for people to earn a living. This review is required under the Buckeye-championed policies in Senate Bill 255, which, among other things, requires all licensing boards be renewed at least once every six years or they will automatically expire.

Altered State: A Checklist for Change in New York State
The Empire Center for Public Policy released a slate of policy recommendations that would make New York State a better place to live and work.  

The 2023 Conservative Iowa Budget
The Iowa for Tax Relief Foundation and Texas Public Policy Foundation released a report that encourages policymakers to keep government spending from excessively burdening taxpayers. The Conservative Iowa Budget helps limit government spending so that there are more opportunities for tax relief and for widespread prosperity for Iowans now and for generations to come.

Profiting from 340B: A Review of Charity Care and Financial Performance at 340B Hospitals
So-called 340B hospitals whose mission is to help the vulnerable are more profitable and provide less charity care, finds a new brief released by the Pacific Research Institute.

An “Impending Tsunami” in Mortality from Traditional Diseases?
Pioneer Institute released a study that examines how the COVID-19 pandemic has created another unrelated public health crisis. The Pioneer analysis examines how a single-minded public health focus on COVID-19, social distancing, and lockdowns drove reductions in screenings, diagnoses, and early treatment for complex conditions such as heart disease.

Policy News From The States

Build Back Better

“Build Back Better” Expanded Aca Subsidies Will Hurt Those With Pre-Existing Conditions
Center of the American Experiment

Democrats New Spending Plan Will Include A Huge Tax Break For The Rich
Center of the American Experiment

Criminal Justice Reform

Tony Kitchens: Prisoner Reentry Vs. Community Reintegration 
Georgia Center for Opportunity on Civil Squared podcast

Education

Part-Time Public-School Enrollment Is School Choice
Alaska Policy Forum

NAEP Versus The Act College Entrance Test Reading Scores – Kentucky Isn’t Doing A Good Job Of Teaching Reading 
Bluegrass Institute  

How Covid-19 Turned 2021 Into “The Year Of School Choice” 
Cascade Policy Institute

How Testing Killed Creativity
Empower Mississippi

What Is An Education Scholarship, And How Can It Allow Families To Customize Education To Fit Their Child’s Needs?
Idaho Freedom Foundation

Governor Kim Reynolds Stands With Parents And Educational Freedom 
ITR Foundation  

Of Course Parents Have A Role In Public Education
Josiah Bartlett Center for Public Policy

When Public Schools Face Competition From School Choice Programs, Their Students Do Better
Josiah Bartlett Center for Public Policy

Gov. Whitmer’s Veto Denies Students Opportunity
Mackinac Center for Public Policy

School Materials Get Parents’ Attention
Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs

Oversimplification Of Virginia Election Results Could Hinder Student Learning
Sutherland Institute

Public Schools Are Squandering Covid-19 Relief Money
Texas Public Policy Foundation

Election 2021

As Virginia Goes, So Goes The Nation!
California Policy Center

Making A Difference After Election Day
Frontier Institute

Schools Swear They Don’t Teach Crt. They’re Lying.
Goldwater Institute

Virginia Election Result Highlights Opportunity For Michigan Parent Power
Mackinac Center for Public Policy

School Freedom: Virginia Shows That We Need A New Approach If We Are Going To Win 
Mississippi Center for Public Policy

Election Integrity

FGA Condemns The DOJ’s Frivolous Lawsuit Against Texas Election Integrity Reforms 
Foundation for Government Accountability

Energy And Environment

Five Graphs That Show How The High-Cost Wind And Solar Are Driving Up Xcel Energy Costs For Minnesotans
Center of The American Experiment

Despite Surging Energy Prices, Biden Explores Shutting Down Line 5 Oil Pipeline
Center of The American Experiment

Unintended Consequences Of Climate Plan Coming Clear
Ethan Allen Institute

Government Accountability

Webinar: Bringing Government Secrets Into The Light 
Goldwater Institute  

Amendment 1 Could Make It Harder To Root Out Corruption In Illinois 
Illinois Policy Institute

Healthcare

Making Telehealth Permanent Will Increase Access To Care 
The Buckeye Institute

Democrats’ Cruel Cuts To Health Care For Low-Income Patients 
Texas Public Policy Foundation

Housing Affordability

St. Paul Already Seeing The Consequences Of Rent Control
Center of the American Experiment

Analysis: Average-Priced Missoula Homes Seeing Massive Property Tax Increases
Frontier Institute

Inflation

Bls: Inflation Rate Highest Since 1990
Center of the American Experiment

Ignoring Inflation Nation
Texas Public Policy Foundation

Jobs And State Economies

Federal Unemployment Insurance Benefit Slowed Employment Growth
Badger Institute

Rental Car Companies Attempt To Manipulate Tax Policy, Drive Up Competitors’ Costs
Bluegrass Institute

Research Finds That Companies Locate Headquarters In States With Lower Corporate Income Taxes
Center of the American Experiment

Let’s Raise A Glass….To Liquor License Reform
Garden State Initiative

Propane Prices Hit The Gas, The Wallets
Georgia Public Policy Foundation

How To Win The Battle For Jobs
Mackinac Center for Public Policy

People Returning To Work, For Less
Texas Public Policy Foundation

State Budgets And Spending

Playgrounds, Pools And More: Latest List Of Lawmaker Pork Projects
Empire Center for Public Policy

Cut Wasteful Spending To Eliminate The Food Sales Tax
Kansas Policy Institute

How Are North Carolina Cities Spending “Emergency” Funds?
John Locke Foundation

Survey Shows Concern About Government Spending And Debt
Grassroot Institute of Hawaii

Chicago’s ‘Netflix Tax’ Revenues More Than Triple In Five Years
Illinois Policy Institute

It’s Now Or Never For Income Tax Repeal
Mississippi Center for Public Policy

Get Ready For Another Big California Spending Spree
Pacific Research Institute

Statement On Gov. Lamont’s Property Tax Remarks 
Yankee Institute for Public Policy

Vaccine Mandate

Biden Vaccine Mandate Could Impact Auburn And Alabama But They Should Not Give In
Alabama Policy Institute

Tennessee Ag Is Right To Challenge Biden’s Vaccine Mandate
Beacon Center of Tennessee

Pritzker’s Choice: Get Covid-19 Shot, Or Lose Your Job
Illinois Policy Institute

A Message From Aaron Rice On The Pending Vaccine Mandate Case
Mississippi Center for Public Policy

To Champion Employees, Louisiana Man Challenges Vax Mandate
Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs

Ascension Parish Business Owner Sues Biden Administration Over Vaccine Mandate 
Pelican Institute for Public Policy

Release: Federal Appeals Court Suspends Federal Vaccine Mandate
Pelican Institute for Public Policy

TPPF, AFL Challenge Biden’s Unconstitutional Vaccine Mandate 
Texas Public Policy Foundation

Veterans Day

We Owe A Debt Of Gratitude To Our Nation’s Veterans
Goldwater Institute

A Veterans Day Story Of Transformation
Pacific Research Institute

Veterans Day 2021
Show-Me Institute

Other

Judge Lee’s Leandro Ruling Is Not A Moral Crusade. It’s A Money Grab.
John Locke Foundation

Saving Souls
John Locke Foundation

Government Control Has Aggravated The Supply Chain
Mississippi Center for Public Policy

Think Tanks In The News

I Am Challenging the Vaccine Mandate to Protect My Workers’ Jobs
The Buckeye Institute at RealClearPolicy

Solid Recovery A Roadblock For Gas-Tax Hike
Bluegrass Institute at the Western Kentucky Star

Five Reasons Why Making LA Businesses Into Vaccine Cops Won’t Work
California Policy Center in the Los Angeles Daily News

Shoot Down This New Military Entitlement
Foundation for Government Accountability at The Hill

Mcauliffe’s Choice Of Weingarten Exposes Vast Divide On Unions’ Credibility
Freedom Foundation in the Washington Times

Government Unions Note Important Milestone, but Not One They Want
Freedom Foundation featured at RedState

2022 Midterm Lessons from Jersey: It’s About The Economy. And Listening to Voters.
Garden State Initiative at RealClearPolicy

Why NJ’s Not Yet Ready For Roads Teeming With Electric Vehicles
Garden State Initiative at NJ Spotlight News

The Values in the Declaration of Independence
Independence Institute at The Epoch Times

The Values in the Constitution
Independence Institute at The Epoch Times

A Look At North Carolina’s New Congressional Maps
John Locke Foundation on Spectrum News

Iowa’s Big Chance for Tax Reform
Iowans for Tax Relief Foundation at RealClearPolicy

Gov Reynolds Stands With Parents And Educational Freedom
Iowans for Tax Relief Foundation at The Center Square

Why We Need to Combat Critical Race Theory
Mississippi Center for Public Policy at RealClearPolicy

Mississippi Needs Bolder Action for School Choice
Mississippi Center for Public Policy at RealClearPolicy

School System, Not Pay, Drives Teacher Shortage
Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs at The Journal Record

U.S. Bureaucrats Are An Impediment To Pandemic Recovery
Pacific Research Institute at Forbes

Note to Policymakers: Homeschooling is Here to Stay
Pioneer Institute at RealClearPolicy

Election 2021 Analysis 
State Policy Network on Fox News Radio

Pathways to Personal Prosperity and Achieving Your Dreams: Government Programs or Free Enterprise
Steamboat Institute’s Campus Liberty Tour featured on Making Money with Charles Payne

Events and Opportunities

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