Recent Research: Budgets and Taxes

Research & Commentary: Medicaid and State Budgets

Benjamin Domenech
Benjamin Domenech
February 3, 2011

As many legislators are now learning, perhaps the greatest impact President Barack Obama’s health care regime will have on state budgets comes from the dramatic expansion of Medicaid to cover milli

Wisconsin's State Budget Outlook: The Worst is Yet to Come

Richard Chandler
January 1, 2011

Executive Summary

Research & Commentary: Idaho’s Tobacco Tax Advantage

John Nothdurft
December 20, 2010

Idaho is expected to face a budget deficit in fiscal year 2012 of approximately $350 million.

Research & Commentary: Georgia's Tobacco Tax Advantage

John Nothdurft
December 8, 2010

Georgia state Rep. Ron Stephens (R-Savannah) wants to raise the state’s cigarette tax by a dollar per pack in order to help close the state’s $1.5 billion budget deficit.

Research & Commentary: A Federal Balanced Budget Amendment

John Nothdurft
November 10, 2010

The current public outrage over bailouts, excessive spending, and a staggering national debt are helping fuel the push for a federal balanced budget amendment.

Research & Commentary: The Problem with ‘Fat’ Taxes

John Nothdurft
October 6, 2010

States are increasingly looking to soda, candy, and other so-called “fat” taxes as a way to shore up their budgets.

Higher Education in South Carolina: Cut Administrative Costs and Focus on Student Performance

Simon Wong
September 28, 2010

While South Carolinians can take pride in our state’s higher educational system, costs and tuition have skyrocketed in recent years, even as graduation rates remain below 40 percent. At the same time, South Carolina’s leading universities have been drawn away from their core mission and increasingly become conduits for the Legislature’s economic development plans. The solution is to refocus on student performance, cut administrative costs and look to innovative technology that will improve both access and affordability.