Opinion
-
A Remarkably Prescient Song
Opinion -Editorial -Over 35 years ago during the 1981-82 recession, Billy Joel released “Allentown” about the plight of this Pennsylvania town. -
Sales Taxes and Alabama’s Future Economy
Opinion -Editorial -Presidential tweets and a Supreme Court case have reignited the question of taxing internet sales. -
Stockton, California Launches Universal Basic Income Experiment
Opinion -budget-tax-news -Partnering with a private charity, the City of Stockton, California will test whether a government-administered universal basic income (UBI) program can lift people out of poverty. -
Our Nation’s Defense Is Too Important To Hire But One Cloud Storage Company
Opinion -Editorial -I would be perfectly fine with – and actually feel a whole lot better – if the DoD created three backups of everything. Maybe even four would be good. -
New York’s Top Court Say’s Chimpanzees Aren’t Human and Don’t Have Human Rights
Opinion -environment-climate-news -New York state’s Court of Appeals, determined chimpanzees are not legal persons, and as such don’t have the rights of legal persons. -
Massachusetts Considers Licensing Dental Therapists
Opinion -A proposed law in Massachusetts would license dental therapists in the state who would provide oral health care services such as cleanings and some nonsurgical care under the supervision of a licensed dentist, particularly to low-income residents. -
Washington, DC Funds Failing Transit System with Tax Hikes
Opinion -budget-tax-news -The Washington, DC City Council is proposing raising taxes on ridesharing services and alcohol to increase funding for the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA). -
Direct Primary Care Clinic Opens in Indiana
Opinion -PureHealth Functional Family Medicine in Indidana provides services through the direct primary care model, meaning patients bypass insurance middlemen and help set the stage for a future of lower health care costs. -
Alaska Legislature Approves Smoking Ban Expansion
Opinion -budget-tax-news -The Alaska Legislature approved a bill that would prohibit the use of cigarettes and e-cigarettes in privately owned spaces such as bars, restaurants, and taxis. -
Chicago’s ‘Netflix Tax’ Upheld
Opinion -budget-tax-news -Cook County, Illinois Circuit Court Judge Carl Anthony Walker rejected a lawsuit filed by Chicago residents challenging the city’s “Netflix tax” on streaming audio and video services, ruling in favor of the city and affirming the legality of the levy. -
Colorado Enacts Pension Reform
Opinion -budget-tax-news -The Colorado Legislature and Gov. John Hickenlooper enacted some reforms to the state’s public pension system. -
Montana Utility Commission Considers ‘Lifeline’ Reform Ideas
Opinion -budget-tax-news -The Montana Public Service Commission met with free-market groups, community members, and industry stakeholders to discuss how state utility regulators can help the Federal Communication Commission administer the Lifeline subsidy program. -
Japanese Mud Home To Game-Changing Rare Earth Deposits
Opinion -environment-climate-news -A tiny Japanese island contains staggering amounts of rare earth elements, minerals which are used in high-tech devices like smart phones, superconductors, and missile guidance systems. -
Missouri Legislature Approves Term Limits Amendment Resolution
Opinion -budget-tax-news -The Missouri General Assembly approved a resolution calling on Congress to organize a national convention for drafting an amendment to the U.S. Constitution to set a limit on the number of terms that a person may be elected to Congress. -
Bill to Repeal Tax Reform Introduced
Opinion -U.S. Rep. Jared Polis (D-CO) introduced a bill that would repeal the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and cancel student loan debt 43 million individuals owe to the U.S. Department of Education. -
Will Repeal Worker-Freedom Law, Michigan Governor Candidate Vows
Opinion -budget-tax-news -Gretchen Whitmer, a candidate in the Michigan Democratic Party gubernatorial primary, says she will work to repeal the state’s right-to-work (RTW) law, if selected by her party and elected in November. -
Iowa Cuts Taxes by $2.8 Billion
Opinion -budget-tax-news -The state of Iowa has implemented a sweeping tax cut. -
Dallas, Texas Officials Consider Bids to Manage Convention Center
Opinion -budget-tax-news -The city government of Dallas, Texas is seeking bids from private management companies interested in taking over day-to-day operations of the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center, the 12th-largest such facility in the United States. -
Nashville, Tennessee Voters Reject Light-Rail Proposal
Opinion -budget-tax-news, environment-climate-news -Nashville, Tennessee voters rejected a ballot proposal that would have increased several taxes to pay for a new, 26-mile-long, light-rail public transit system and electric-powered buses for the Nashville Metropolitan Transit Authority. -
Repeal of California Gas Tax Hike May Reach November Ballot
Opinion -budget-tax-news -California Secretary of State Alex Padilla is reviewing signatures collected for a November 2018 ballot question asking voters to repeal a gas tax hike implemented less than a year ago. -
Illinois Democrats Press for Progressive Income Tax
Opinion -budget-tax-news -Illinois state lawmakers propose changing to a progressive income tax to replace the state’s current flat tax. -
Minneapolis Raises Smoking Age to 21
Opinion -budget-tax-news -The city of Minneapolis has enacted an ordinance increasing the minimum legal age for purchasing cigarettes and other tobacco products. -
Wisconsin Enacts Sweeping Civil Asset Forfeiture Reform
Opinion -budget-tax-news -Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker signed a bill protecting residents’ constitutional rights to property and due process. -
Illinois General Assembly Passes Police Drone Surveillance Bill
Opinion -budget-tax-news -The Illinois General Assembly approved a bill that would allow law enforcement personnel to use drones to observe certain public gatherings without obtaining permission from a judge.