Publications

- Environment & Energy
Research & Commentary: North Dakota Federal Environmental Law Impact Review Fund

Published May 11, 2015

By Bette Grande

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Research and Commentaries -
The North Dakota House of Representatives has passed a new law to form a committee to review federal legislation and agency regulations that detrimentally impact, or have the potential to detrimentally impact, the state’s agricultural, coal, and/or oil
Research & Commentary: Does Minnesota Need a Gas Tax Increase?

Published April 29, 2015

By Matthew Glans

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Research and Commentaries -
Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton (D) has proposed a 6.5 percent increase to the state’s excise tax on gasoline at the wholesale level, an increase of 16 cents per gallon over the next four years.
Research & Commentary: Ohio Tax Reform, House Budget Proposal

Published April 29, 2015

By Matthew Glans

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Research and Commentaries -
Early in 2015, Ohio Gov.
Research & Commentary: Does Minnesota Need a Gas Tax Increase?

Published April 29, 2015

By Matthew Glans

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Research and Commentaries -
Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton (D) has proposed a 6.5 percent increase to the state’s excise tax on gasoline at the wholesale level, an increase of 16 cents per gallon over the next four years.
Research & Commentary: Louisiana Tobacco Tax Hike

Published April 28, 2015

By Matthew Glans

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Research and Commentaries -
Louisiana legislators are now considering several proposals to increase the state’s tobacco tax. One proposed by state Representative Harold Ritchie (D-Bogalusa) would increase the state’s cigarette tax from 36 cents per pack to 68 cents.
Research & Commentary: Electronic Cigarettes Can Save Medicaid Billions

Published April 24, 2015

By Matthew Glans

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Research and Commentaries -
Electronic cigarettes have quickly become one of the most popular nicotine replacement products, with the total market expected to hit $1.7 billion this year.
Research & Commentary: Arkansas Vaping Tax

Published April 24, 2015

By Matthew Glans

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Research and Commentaries -
Tobacco and electronic cigarettes have become popular targets for tax increases. States with growing budget problems have flocked to sin taxes as potential sources of new or increased tax revenue.
- Government & Liberty
- Alcohol & Tobacco
How do Electronic Cigarettes affect Adolescent Smoking?

Published April 22, 2015

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Policy Studies -
Understanding electronic cigarettes’ effect on tobacco smoking is a central economic and policyissue. This paper examines the causal impact of e-cigarette availability on conventional cigaretteuse by adolescents.
- Health Care
Research & Commentary: North Carolina Certificate of Need Repeal

Published April 22, 2015

By Matthew Glans

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Research and Commentaries -
North Carolina is one of 36 states which have certificate of need (CON) laws.
Research & Commentary: Ohio Tax Reform, or Tax Shift?

Published April 21, 2015

By Matthew Glans

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Research and Commentaries -
In his 2016–2017 budget, Ohio Gov.
Research & Commentary: Ending Texas’s Margins Tax

Published April 20, 2015

By Matthew Glans

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Research and Commentaries -
Texas’s franchise tax, commonly known as the “margins” tax, has been controversial since its inception, facing lawsuits and repeated repeal attempts. Lawmakers are expected to take up legislation again this year to repeal the tax.
In Defense of Private Civic Engagement: Why the Assault on ‘Dark Money’ Threatens Free Speech – and How to Stop the Assault

Published April 20, 2015

By Nick Dranias

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Policy Studies -
Being able to speak freely and donate money anonymously has a long and distinguished history in the U.S. The Declaration of Independence, the campaigns for approval of the U.S.
Research & Commentary: Connecticut Minimum Wage Tax

Published April 17, 2015

By Matthew Glans

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Research and Commentaries -
Legislators in Connecticut are now considering proposals to effectively raise the minimum wage for many of the state’s workers from $9.15 per hour to $15 per hour.
Research & Commentary: Federal Death Tax Repeal

Published April 16, 2015

By Matthew Glans

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Research and Commentaries -
Few taxes imposed by state and local governments are more controversial than the estate tax, popularly referred to as the “death tax.” Estate taxes are levies on property transferred from a deceased person’s estate to relatives or other parties.
Research & Commentary: Federal Death Tax Repeal

Published April 16, 2015

By Matthew Glans

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Research and Commentaries -
Few taxes imposed by state and local governments are more controversial than the estate tax, popularly referred to as the “death tax.” Estate taxes are levies on property transferred from a deceased person’s estate to relatives or other parties.
- Environment & Energy
Research & Commentary: Rolling Back North Carolina’s Renewable Power Mandate

Published April 15, 2015

By John Nothdurft, Taylor Smith

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Research and Commentaries -
North Carolina is considering rolling back its Renewable Energy and Efficiency Portfolio Standard (REPS) law requiring utilities to generate from renewable sources 12.5 percent of retail electricity sales by 2021.
- Environment & Energy
Research & Commentary: Direct Solar and Renewable Sales

Published April 13, 2015

By James Taylor

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Research and Commentaries -
Research & Commentary: Direct Solar and Renewable Sales The solar power industry is pushing states for special carve-outs that would grant them (and in some cases, the renewable power industry as a whole) a new and exclusive monopoly right to produce
The Leaflet – 2015 State Economic Outlook Rankings

Published April 9, 2015

By John Nothdurft

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The Leaflet -
The Leaflet – 2015 State Economic Outlook RankingsFor the eighth year in a row, Utah earned the top ranking for economic outlook in the newest edition of the American Legislative Exchange Council’s (ALEC) annual Rich States, Poor States book.
- Health Care
Research & Commentary: Experimental Drugs and the Right to Try in Nevada

Published April 9, 2015

By Matthew Glans

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Research and Commentaries -
Nevada is one of several states considering legislation allowing terminally ill patients to obtain experimental drugs without getting federal approval, known as “Right to Try.” Colorado was the first state to implement a right-to-try law in May 2014.
- Education
Research & Commentary: Alabama Common Core Repeal

Published April 7, 2015

By Taylor Smith

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Research and Commentaries -
Alabama legislators are debating a proposal that would repeal the state’s implementation of Common Core State Standards, a set of requirements for what elementary and secondary school children should know in each grade in math and English.
- Health Care
Research & Commentary: Georgia Certificate-of-Need Reform

Published April 7, 2015

By Matthew Glans

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Research and Commentaries -
Georgia is one of 36 states with certificate of need (CON) laws. CON laws are intended to slow the growth of health care prices, promote consolidation of health care providers, and limit duplication of services.
Research & Commentary: Idaho Tax Reform

Published April 6, 2015

By Matthew Glans

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Research and Commentaries -
Idaho legislators are considering a major tax reform proposal that would eliminate both the sales tax and the tax credit for groceries, establish a flat tax for upper-income earners, and institute a 7 cent fuel tax increase.
Research & Commentary: Tennessee Hall Tax Elimination

Published April 6, 2015

By John Nothdurft

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Research and Commentaries -
Tennessee is often identified as one of the nine U.S. states without an income tax. Although it is true Tennessee does not tax income derived from wages, it does levy a tax on income from investments – known as the Hall Tax.
- Education
The Leaflet: States Consider School Choice

Published April 2, 2015

By Nathan Makla

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The Leaflet -
States Consider School ChoiceThroughout the nation, state legislators are debating the merits of school choice, and many legislative bodies are coming to realization that more competition in education could help improve the quality of the system for all

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