Recent Research & Commentary

Research & Commentary: South Carolina Parent Trigger

Joy Pullmann
January 31, 2013

South Carolina legislators are considering an education reform that has garnered significant national attention: the Parent Trigger.

Research & Commentary: 9-1-1 Fund Raids

Matthew Glans
January 30, 2013

The 9-1-1 and emergency response systems play a key role in public health and safety.

Research & Commentary: Wisconsin Income Tax Reform

Matthew Glans
January 28, 2013

In his 2013 State of the State Address, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker proposed cuts in the state’s income tax rates to be phased in over a few years.

Research & Commentary: Reducing School Violence

Joy Pullmann
January 28, 2013

A wave of political rhetoric and action immediately followed the Newtown, Connecticut school shooting that ended 27 lives, in which a mentally ill young man used his mother’s legally acquired guns

Research & Commentary: Uranium Mining and Property Rights

Taylor Smith
January 28, 2013

The world’s 14th-largest deposit of known recoverable uranium is in southern Virginia at Coles Hill in Pittsylvania County.

Research & Commentary: Minnesota Frac Sand Mining

Taylor Smith
January 28, 2013

According to Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton, topping the list of environmental issues for the 2013 state legislative session is silica or “frac” sand mining.

Research & Commentary: Retransmission Fee Update

Matthew Glans and Marc Oestreich
January 24, 2013

Increasing broadcast retransmission fees have caused much tension between multichannel video programming distributors (MVPDs) and broadcasters.

Research & Commentary: Montana Medicaid Expansion

Kendall Antekeier
January 22, 2013

As states begin implementing provisions of the federal health care law, many, such as Montana, are still debating whether to expand their Medicaid programs in order to receive a larger federal subs

Research & Commentary: Minnesota Millionaire Tax Hikes

Matthew Glans
January 16, 2013

Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton has proposed a new top marginal tax rate for high-income-earners several times.

Research & Commentary: Massachusetts Public Pensions and the Assumed Rate of Return Update

Matthew Glans
January 10, 2013

In Massachusetts, as in many other states and municipalities across the country, the high cost of traditional defined-benefit public pensions has become an important issue as unfunded liabilities h