Research and Commentaries
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Research & Commentary: State Motor Fuel Taxes
Publication -Research and Commentaries -Several states across the country are considering increases in their motor fuel taxes to fund repairs and improvements to infrastructure. -
Research & Commentary: Illinois Minimum Wage Reform
Publication -Research and Commentaries -In his 2013 State of the State speech, Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn proposed increasing the state’s minimum wage from $8.25 to $10 an hour over the next four years. A similar minimum wage proposal failed to pass in the state Senate in 2012. -
Research & Commentary: Kansas Medicaid Expansion
Publication -Research and Commentaries -As states begin implementing the federal health care law, many, such as Kansas, are still debating whether to expand their Medicaid programs in order to receive a larger federal subsidy. -
Research & Commentary: North Carolina Medicaid Expansion
Publication -Research and Commentaries -As states implement the federal health care law, many are debating whether to expand their Medicaid programs in order to receive a larger federal subsidy. North Carolina Gov. -
Research & Commentary: Michigan Medicaid Expansion
Publication -Research and Commentaries -As states implement the federal health care law, many are debating whether to expand their Medicaid programs in order to receive a larger federal subsidy. Gov. -
Research & Commentary: Marketplace Fairness Act
Publication -Research and Commentaries -In the past few years members of Congress have proposed several bills to expand states’ ability to force out-of-state retailers to collect sales taxes for online and mail-order sales even if the seller has no physical presence in the state. -
Research & Commentary: Marketplace Fairness Act
Publication -Research and Commentaries -In the past few years members of Congress have proposed several bills to expand states’ ability to force out-of-state retailers to collect sales taxes for online and mail-order sales even if the seller has no physical presence in the state. -
Research & Commentary: Maine Parent Trigger
Publication -Research and Commentaries -Maine legislators are considering an education reform that has garnered significant national attention: the Parent Trigger. -
Research & Commentary: Ohio Medicaid Expansion
Publication -Research and Commentaries -As states implement provisions of the federal health care law, many are debating whether to expand their Medicaid programs in order to receive a larger federal subsidy. Gov. -
Research & Commentary: North Carolina Tax Reform
Publication -Research and Commentaries -This year North Carolina joined the growing number of states considering major changes to its tax system. -
Research & Commentary: South Carolina Parent Trigger
Publication -Research and Commentaries -South Carolina legislators are considering an education reform that has garnered significant national attention: the Parent Trigger. -
Research & Commentary: Louisiana Tax Reform
Publication -Research and Commentaries -Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal recently announced a new tax reform proposal that would eliminate Louisiana’s personal and business income taxes while increasing state sales taxes and removing certain tax breaks. -
Research & Commentary: South Carolina Parent Trigger
Publication -Research and Commentaries -South Carolina legislators are considering an education reform that has garnered significant national attention: the Parent Trigger. -
Research & Commentary: 9-1-1 Fund Raids
Publication -Research and Commentaries -The 9-1-1 and emergency response systems play a key role in public health and safety. -
Research & Commentary: Reducing School Violence
Publication -Research and Commentaries -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 to kill her, 20 children, and five educators before -
Research & Commentary: Wisconsin Income Tax Reform
Publication -Research and Commentaries -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: Minnesota Frac Sand Mining
Publication -Research and Commentaries -According to Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton, topping the list of environmental issues for the 2013 state legislative session is silica or “frac” sand mining. Frac sand has high compressive strength ideal for industrial use, including hydraulic fracturing. -
Research & Commentary: Uranium Mining and Property Rights
Publication -Research and Commentaries -The world’s 14th-largest deposit of known recoverable uranium is in southern Virginia at Coles Hill in Pittsylvania County. It is valued at $7 billion, is economically recoverable, and sits entirely on private property. -
Research & Commentary: Retransmission Fee Update
Publication -Research and Commentaries -Increasing broadcast retransmission fees have caused much tension between multichannel video programming distributors (MVPDs) and broadcasters. This has led to blackouts, often of major television events, when the two sides cannot reach agreement. -
Research & Commentary: Montana Medicaid Expansion
Publication -Research and Commentaries -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 subsidy. -
Research & Commentary: Minnesota Millionaire Tax Hikes
Publication -Research and Commentaries -Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton has proposed a new top marginal tax rate for high-income-earners several times. The proposals are designed to target a group Dayton says is not paying its fair share of taxes. -
Research & Commentary: Massachusetts Public Pensions and the Assumed Rate of Return Update
Publication -Research and Commentaries -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 have grown out of control. -
Research & Commentary: Illinois Hydraulic Fracturing Moratorium
Publication -Research and Commentaries -With the Illinois legislature back in session, representatives of the oil and gas industry and environmental activists are directing their attention to Senate Bill 3280, an amendment to the Oil and Gas Act currently pending in the House Rules Committee. -
Research & Commentary: Missouri Parent Trigger
Publication -Research and Commentaries -Missouri legislators are considering an education reform that has garnered significant national attention: the Parent Trigger.
