Announcements
American Experiment recorded a new episode of its podcast from the Minnesota State Fair discussing fair news, tasting foods, and interviewing Corey Roberts of The Minnesotan.
The Commonwealth Foundation released new polling indicating that inflation, the economy, taxes, and crime are top concerns for voters.
The Goldwater Institute notes that a state law creating privacy challenges for nonprofit supporters has prompted a case now before the Arizona Supreme Court.
The Grassroot Institute of Hawaii highlighted a significant reform proposal, which aims to exempt Jones Act carriers from federal taxes.
The Independence Institute highlighted that three U.S. appeals courts cited Senior Fellow Rob Natelson’s research, adding to his 39 citations at the Supreme Court.
The Mackinac Center reported that courts sided with colleges over students in lockdown disputes, highlighting the gap between promised campus life and virtual education.
The Mississippi Center for Public Policy highlighted the state’s income tax repeal and school choice push, casting Mississippi as a free-market leader.
Success Stories
Arkansas: The Arkansas Supreme Court will hear the case of small business owner Steven Hedrick, after action from The Goldwater Institute challenged an illegal government monopoly.
Kansas: Nearly two-thirds of taxing entities in Kansas chose not to raise property taxes this year, thanks to the Revenue-Neutral law implemented in 2021. (Kansas Policy Institute)
Freedom through the Courts: The Latest Litigation Efforts across the Network
In National Republican Senatorial Committee v. Federal Election Commission (NRSC v. FEC), The Buckeye Institute called on the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn Federal Election Commission v. Colorado Republican Federal Campaign Committee (Colorado II) arguing that coordinated expenditures between political parties and candidates pose no particular threat of corruption.
The Buckeye Institute joined the Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty (WILL) in filing an amicus brief with the U.S. Supreme Court in Gilliam v. Gerregano, calling on the court to hear the case to clarify the scope of the “government speech doctrine” and end government censorship of vanity license plates.
The Buckeye Institute urged the U.S. Supreme Court to quash a New Jersey attorney general’s subpoena demanding First Choice Women’s Resource Centers turn over its donors’ private and constitutionally protected information.
The Buckeye Institute filed its third amicus brief with the Ohio Supreme Court in Bowling v. DeWine, urging the court to hear the case (again) and affirm that Ohio’s Cooperation Statute does not require the governor to accept federal money every time it is offered.
The Liberty Justice Center has filed an amicus brief in First Choice v. Platkin, urging the U.S. Supreme Court to allow the targets of abusive and discriminatory investigations to have a Federal forum to challenge these actions.
On August 29th, the Liberty Justice Center celebrated a victory for Nebraskan’s rights and federalism in NFOA v. Lincoln. The Supreme Court of Nebraska ruled that LJC’s plaintiffs do indeed have standing to sue the city of Lincoln.
On August 28th, the Liberty Justice Center filed an amicus brief with the U.S. Supreme Court in favor of equal free speech. The plaintiffs in National Republican Senatorial Committee v. Federal Election Commission argue that current campaign advertising regulations unduly restrict their First Amendment rights while creating a tiered system of speech.
Solutions from the States: This Week’s Policy Briefs
The Alabama Policy Institute reported that the state health department embeds DEI and gender ideology across its programs and plans.
The Freedom Foundation explained to new teachers their right to opt out of union membership, noting that thousands across the country have already exercised this option.
The Illinois Policy Institute highlighted that Illinois ranks first in per-student spending on higher education but has lost over 106,000 students due to declining enrollment and rising costs.
The Mackinac Center warned that Marquette’s new housing earmarks could backfire, urging fewer restrictions on builders instead.
The Mountain States Policy Center noted that protecting public lands has gained bipartisan support this year, emphasizing the need for both preservation and future flexibility.
The Show-Me Institute found that Missouri cities could facilitate more apartment construction by reevaluating outdated fire code requirements.
The Texas Public Policy Foundation argues that the EPA’s requirements regarding carbon dioxide emissions do not effectively address public health concerns.
The Thomas Jefferson Institute for Public Policy emphasized the need to end Northern Virginia’s outdated vehicle emissions program, pointing out that it has been in effect since 1982.
School administrator’s strikes are slowing down Washington students. New analysis from the Washington Policy Center highlights why this is happening and why it’s still illegal.
Policy News from the States
Topics:
State Budgets
John Moorlach: The predictably harmful consequences of Assembly Bill 218
California Policy Center
Public Recommendations to Idaho’s DOGE Task Force to Increase Government Efficiency
Idaho Freedom Foundation
Selling every NBA team wouldn’t be enough to fill Illinois’ pension hole
Illinois Policy Institute
Illinois sets U.S. record: over 2 years late with state spending audit
Illinois Policy Institute
Kim Reynolds is America’s ‘Iron Lady’ reflecting Margaret Thatcher’s spirit
ITR Foundation
A Conversation with Assemblyman Joe Patterson
Pacific Research Institute
Why Texas Taxpayers Need Senate Bill 10
Texas Public Policy Foundation
The Taxman Cometh: City of Kerrville
Texas Public Policy Foundation
K-12 Education
API to AHSAA: Don’t Sideline School Choice Families – Follow the Law!
Alabama Policy Institute
Minnesota lawmakers expand free prekindergarten seats, enlarging childcare options
American Experiment
States are announcing they intend to opt into federal tax-credit scholarships. Will Gov. Walz?
American Experiment
Woke or a joke? Study finds students admit to pretending to be more progressive
American Experiment
Separate but Equitable at Portland Public Schools
Cascade Policy Institute
Illinois state university prices up 66% in 16 years
Illinois Policy Institute
Conservatives have opportunity to win teacher support
John Locke Foundation
New federal school choice law is a historic breakthrough for children
Mountain States Policy Center
From Jerome to your town: Time for every meeting on camera
Mountain States Policy Center
Federal Judge Strikes Down Oklahoma’s In-State Tuition for Illegal Immigrants
Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs
Oklahoma Joins Multi-State Push for Parents’ Rights, Child Safety
Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs
How OSSAA Undermines Oklahoma’s Open-Transfer Law
Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs
Florida’s John Kirtley on School Choice
Pioneer Institute
Most Teachers Don’t Like Equitable Grading Practices Either
Show-Me Institute
“Superhero” Special Education Teacher Challenges Madison’s Race-Laden Scoring System
Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty
More School Strikes in Southwest Washington
Washington Policy Center
Energy and Environment
Taxpayer money pulled from ‘doomed’ offshore wind
John Locke Foundation
It’s Time To Let The Electric Vehicle Industry Grow Up
Pacific Research Institute
Healthcare
Attorney General Lynn Fitch: Breaking Barriers & Defending Life
Empower Mississippi
Boosting American pharmaceutical innovation
John Locke Foundation
Republicans Furious with Wisconsin DHS Language on Mothers
MacIver Institute
Should the Government Control Drug Prices? No…
Pacific Research Institute
A conversation on New Mexico’s health care provider shortage w/ RGF’s Paul Gessing & Think New Mexico’s Fred Nathan
Rio Grande Foundation
Want to Be in a Relationship with WA Cares? It’s Complicated
Washington Policy Center
Housing Affordability
How Georgia Can Fix Its Housing Shortage
George Public Policy Foundation
Allow home henneries as food and income source for residents
Grassroot Institute
Dwellings outside residential zones could support housing demand
Grassroot Institute
Increase property tax savings for homeowners below age 64
Grassroot Institute
Brighter days ahead forecasted for Hawaii’s permitting conundrum
Grassroot Institute
Infrastructure-improvement rules will make Lahaina recovery more costly
Grassroot Institute
L.A. homeless counts fall before World Cup, Olympics
Pacific Research Institute
Jury Still Deliberating On California’s Push To Build More Homes
Pacific Research Institute
A Free-Market Guide to Zoning with David Stokes
Show-Me Institute
Jobs and State Economies
Beyond the Beach: Honoring the Dignity of Work
Alabama Policy Institute
Non-working adults concentrated in Georgia’s distressed communities
For Opportunity
Defund the MEDC. Period.
Mackinac Center
The Train To Nowhere Goes Somewhere – Maybe
Pacific Research Institute
The Gold Standard
Platte Institute
Workplace Freedom
WASHINGTON: WFSE a net loser despite recruiting drive
Freedom Foundation
Other
Distinctions Between Social Justice and Biblical Justice
Alabama Policy Institute
74th defendant indicted in Feeding Our Future
American Experiment
An unforced error in the case of a DC violent offender
American Experiment
VJ Day, 80 years on
American Experiment
Without Gerrymandering, Would the Dominant Party Run the Table?
California Policy Center
Cutting the Gordian Knot of Birthright Citizenship
Independence Institute
Unsafe cities create major American scandal
John Locke Foundation
Trump takes on Soros with racketeering claim
John Locke Foundation
Democratic megadonor Geffen faces sordid lawsuit
John Locke Foundation
Bangstad Files Federal Lawsuit to Unmask ICE Agents
MacIver Institute
Why Trump’s Deployment Of The National Guard In California Was Perfectly Legal
Texas Public Policy Foundation
Emerging Technologies in Law Enforcement
Texas Public Policy Foundation
Livestock Showing, Public Policy Are More Similar Than It Seems
Washington Policy Center
The Network in the News
In a recent column, The Advocate’s Quin Hillyer shared highlights from SPN’s Annual Meeting in New Orleans.
In a Labor Day opinion piece in Crain’s Cleveland Business, The Buckeye Institute’s Rea S. Hederman Jr. looks at policies that benefit Ohio’s workers.
At Townhall, FGA’s Hayden Dublois argues that President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill is a historic effort to resuscitate America’s hospitals.
In an op-ed for RealClearMarkets, the Free State Foundation’s Randolph May points out Labor Day is an opportunity to honor the dignity of work.
In the Daily Herald, the Illinois Policy Institute’s Matt Paprocki highlights why so many businesses are fleeing Illinois.
In the Washington Examiner, the Independent Institute’s Christopher Calton shows Utah’s Housing First “success” was data manipulation, and its reversal proves the model failed.
The Mackinac Center for Public Policy’s Joshua Antonini spoke with the Washington Free Beacon regarding the importance of keeping the Michigan’s JH Campbell coal plant open.
At Forbes, the Pacific Research Institute’s Wayne Winegarden notes electric vehicles should compete without subsidization.
The Washington Policy Center‘s Charles Prestrud was consulted for a report on the cost overruns on Seattle’s Sound Transit from local news affiliate KOMO TV.
