Recent Research & Commentary

Research & Commentary: Education Property Tax Reform

Joy Pullmann
August 21, 2012

Several states—including Florida, Iowa, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Vermont—are currently discussing restructuring the property taxes that pay for education.

Research & Commentary: Michigan Renewable Energy Portfolio Mandate

Taylor Smith
August 20, 2012

A petition bearing more than 500,000 signatures has been turned in to state election officials to put the Michigan Energy Michigan Jobs initiative on the November ballot.

Research & Commentary: Electronic Cigarettes

Matthew Glans
August 16, 2012

Nearly 50 million U.S. adults—more than a fifth of the total adult population—smoke cigarettes.

Research & Commentary: Reconciliation and Obamacare

Benjamin Domenech
August 14, 2012

In the wake of the Supreme Court’s ruling regarding the individual mandate in President Barack Obama’s health care law, the conversation on Capitol Hill is focused on the parliamentary issue of rec

Research & Commentary: Parent Trigger Success in Adelanto

Joy Pullmann
August 6, 2012

A judge recently ruled that a Parent Trigger petition from parents in Adelanto, California is valid and their request to convert their children’s school to a charter must go into effect.

Research & Commentary: Congestion Traffic Pricing

Matthew Glans
August 6, 2012

According to a report by the Texas Transportation Institute, the cost of urban traffic congestion, converted to a dollar value, quintupled between 1982 and 2007.

Research & Commentary: Carbon Tax Swaps

Taylor Smith
August 6, 2012

Carbon taxes have regained traction with several prominent Republican lawmakers and political leaders publicly voicing support for a “revenue-neutral” carbon tax in exchange for tax cuts on capital

Research & Commentary: Estate Taxes

Matthew Glans
August 6, 2012

Few taxes imposed by state and local governments are more controversial than the estate tax, popularly referred to as the “death tax.” Estate taxes are levies on property transferred from a decease

Research & Commentary: Michigan Teacher Pension Reforms

Joy Pullmann
August 6, 2012

Michigan lawmakers are considering addressing the state’s debilitating $22 billion teacher pension deficit by switching incoming state teachers to a 401(k)-style plan instead of the traditional def

Research & Commentary: Unemployment Insurance Fraud and Overpayments

Matthew Glans
August 6, 2012

With the nation’s economy still in the doldrums, unemployment compensation funds in many states have become insolvent. One reason is that waste and fraud plague the system.