Publications
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Research & Commentary: Report Finds New York’s Decision to Ban Fracking Had Serious Economic Consequences for Shale Counties
Publication -Research and Commentaries -A Special Report released by the Heritage Foundation in April 2025 has found that New York’s decision to ban the process of hydraulic fracturing (commonly known as “fracking”) for natural gas in 2010 has had serious economic consequences for the residents of the Empire State living above the Marcellus Shale. It has resulted in a […] -
How States Can Push Back Against the Destructive Expansion of Industrial Solar Power
Publication -Policy Studies -As more states consider expanding their solar footprint, it is vital for policymakers to examine the full consequences of this energy source. -
Tax Cuts & Jobs Act: An Updated Study on the Effects of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act on U.S. Personal Income Taxes
Publication -Policy Briefs -The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) reduced the average amount of personal income taxes paid by filers in every income bracket, with the largest benefits going to lower- and middle-income households. -
Federal Budget Deficits and the Iron Law of Federal Revenue
Publication -There is a natural limit on what the U.S. government can take away from the American people each year. -
Research & Commentary: How State Legislators Can Fight Back Against the Inflation Reduction Act’s Green Giveaways
Publication -Research and Commentaries -The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) was passed by Congress and signed into law by President Joe Biden on August 16, 2022, but the contents of the legislation are contradictory to its stated purpose. The real point of the IRA is the creation of an enormous renewable energy slush fund, paid for by deficit spending. The […] -
Research & Commentary: Minimum Wage Hikes Are Ill-Timed For Tennessee
Publication -Research and Commentaries -The Tennessee Senate is considering a minimum wage increase with House Bill 1216, legislation that would increase Tennessee’s minimum wage from $7.25 to $20 per hour. It is not uncommon for some state lawmakers to advocate for quick “fixes” in response to perilous economic situations, such as minimum wage hikes. However, minimum wage increases in any state typically […] -
Research & Commentary: Minimum Wage Hikes Are Ill-Timed For Oklahoma
Publication -Research and Commentaries -The Oklahoma Senate is considering Senate Bill 35, legislation that would raise the minimum wage in Oklahoma from $7.25 per hour to $15.00 per hour, to be effective November 1, 2025. It is not uncommon for some state lawmakers to advocate for quick “fixes” in response to perilous economic situations, such as minimum wage hikes. However, minimum […] -
Research & Commentary: Kansas Senate Legislation Would Protect Jayhawkers from ESG De-Banking Discrimination
Publication -Research and Commentaries -Legislation in the Kansas Senate would combat environmental, social and governance (ESG) scoring systems and ensure Kansans are not discriminated against for ideological reasons by financial institutions based on their exercise of speech, political activity, religious views, or their occupation. ESG scores are essentially a risk assessment mechanism increasingly being used by investment firms and financial […] -
Research & Commentary: Minimum Wage Hikes Are Ill-Timed For Oklahoma
Publication -Research and Commentaries -The Oklahoma Senate is considering multiple minimum wage increase bills, one of which is Senate Bill 55. SB 55 would raise the minimum wage in Oklahoma from $7.25 per hour to $13.00 per hour, with an increase of $0.50 per year over a five-year period after the effective date of the bill. It is not uncommon for […] -
Research & Commentary: Minimum Wage Hikes Are Ill-Timed For Montana
Publication -Research and Commentaries -This week, the Montana House Business and Labor Committee conducted a hearing on House Bill 484, legislation that would raise the minimum wage in Montana from $10.55 per hour to $12.06 per hour with a cost-of-living adjustment conducted annually based on consumer price index (CPI) data. It is not uncommon for some state lawmakers to advocate for […] -
Research & Commentary: Idaho Senate Legislation Would Protect Gem Staters from ESG De-Banking Discrimination
Publication -Research and Commentaries -Legislation in the Idaho Senate would combat environmental, social and governance (ESG) scoring systems and ensure Idahoans are not discriminated against for ideological reasons by financial institutions based on their exercise of speech, political activity, religious views, or their occupation. -
Research & Commentary: Farmer Protection Act Would Provide Protection from ESG for North Carolina’s Agriculture Sector
Publication -Research and Commentaries -Legislation in the North Carolina House of Representatives, the Farmers Protection Act, would combat environmental, social and governance (ESG) scoring systems and ensure North Carolina’s farmers are not discriminated against by financial institutions based on environmental policy. ESG scores are essentially a risk assessment mechanism increasingly being used by investment firms and financial institutions that forces […] -
Research & Commentary: Farmer Protection Act Would Provide Protection from ESG for South Carolina’s Agriculture Sector
Publication -Research and Commentaries -Legislation in the South Carolina House of Representatives, the Farmer Protection Act, which would combat environmental, social and governance (ESG) scoring systems and ensure South Carolina’s farmers are not discriminated against by financial institutions based on environmental policy. Environmental, social and governance (ESG) scores are essentially a risk assessment mechanism increasingly being used by investment firms and […] -
Research & Commentary: New Report Shows Biden LNG Export Terminal Permitting Pause Has Potential to Jeopardize 900,000 Jobs
Publication -Research and Commentaries -A new report from the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) finds that the Biden administration’s pause on permitting liquified natural gas (LNG) export terminals has the potential to jeopardize 900,000 jobs. LNG is natural gas that has been cooled to a liquid state, typically around -260°F. This process reduces its volume by about 600 times, […] -
New European Union ESG Law Will Eliminate Economic Freedom, Individual Liberty, and U.S. Sovereignty
Publication -Policy Tip Sheets -If the CSDDD goes unanswered, America will effectively become a vassal state of the European Union and be fundamentally transformed through corporate coercion. -
The 2022 Amendments to the Uniform Commercial Code Abrogate Property Rights to Tangible Assets
Publication -Policy Briefs -States’ widespread adoption of the 2022 UCC amendments would pave the road to a completely digitized economy in which all tokenized real-world assets would be legally controlled by financial behemoths. -
Research & Commentary: Biden-Harris Administration’s Energy Policies Have Cost Average American Family Thousands
Publication -Research and Commentaries -A new analysis from The Heartland Institute has found that the energy and climate policies of the Biden-Harris administration have caused energy prices to surge, costing the average American family an extra $2,548 since 2021. “This is the cost calculated by averaging price increases from January 2021 through December 2023,” the analysis notes, “which means […] -
Why Lawmakers Shouldn’t Trust the Uniform Law Commission or American Law Institute—Two of America’s Biggest Threats to Freedom
Publication -Policy Briefs -Introduction Among other activities, the American Law Institute and Uniform Law Commission impact society and public policy by drafting and proposing uniform legislation for adoption in all 50 states. Every state has numerous laws that were first developed by the ALI and ULC, the most notable of which is the Uniform Commercial Code, a far-reaching […] -
Revising Article 8 of the Uniform Commercial Code to Protect Americans’ Property Rights
Publication -Policy Tip Sheets -Important provisions in Article 8 of the Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) contain highly problematic elements that undermine Americans’ individual rights and threaten the stability of the U.S. economy. This Tip Sheet will provide a brief description of those troubling areas of the UCC and propose a set of related concrete policy solutions for lawmakers. The […] -
The Georgia House Should Not Consider Minimum Wage Hikes Amid Rising Inflation
Publication -Research and Commentaries -The Georgia House of Representatives is considering House Bill 1507, legislation that would raise the minimum wage in the Peach State from its current $5.15 per hour to $8 per hour, effective immediately. Historically, some state lawmakers have advocated for quick “fixes” in response to perilous economic situations, such as minimum wage hikes. However, minimum […] -
The Tennessee House Should Not Consider Minimum Wage Hikes Amid Rising Inflation
Publication -Research and Commentaries -The Tennessee House of Representatives is considering House Bill 819, legislation that would raise the minimum wage in the Volunteer State from its current $7.25 per hour to $12 per hour, effective July 1, 2024. Historically, some state lawmakers have advocated for quick “fixes” in response to perilous economic situations, such as minimum wage hikes. […] -
Research & Commentary: Anti-ESG Bill in Georgia Will Ensure Peach State Pension Funds Invested Appropriately
Publication -Research and Commentaries -Legislation in the Georgia House of Representatives would combat environmental, social and governance (ESG) scoring systems and ensure state pension funds are invested solely to achieve the maximum return on investment for pensioners, rather than advancing social or political causes that may likely lead to lower returns and financial underperformance. ESG scores are essentially a risk assessment mechanism increasingly […] -
Revising the Uniform Commercial Code to Protect Americans’ Property Rights and Impede a U.S. Central Bank Digital Currency
Publication -Policy Tip Sheets -Important provisions in the Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) contain highly problematic elements that undermine Americans’ individual rights and threaten the stability of the U.S. economy. This Tip Sheet will provide a brief description of those troubling areas of the UCC and propose a set of related concrete policy solutions for lawmakers. The UCC was created […] -
The Mississippi House Should Not Consider Minimum Wage Hikes Amid Rising Inflation
Publication -Research and Commentaries -The Mississippi House of Representatives is considering House Bill 16, legislation that would raise the minimum wage in the Magnolia State from its current $7.25 per hour to $15 per hour. Furthermore, HB 16 would require that on September 30, 2024, and on September 30 of each subsequent year, the Mississippi Department of Employment Security […]