Publications

- Environment & Energy
Research & Commentary: Kansas Renewable Portfolio Standard

Published March 11, 2015

By Nathan Makla, Taylor Smith

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Research and Commentaries -
In 2009, then-Gov. Mark Parkinson (D) signed into law Kansas’s renewable portfolio standard (RPS), requiring at least 10 percent of electricity generation capacity in Kansas be from renewable sources.
- Health Care
Research & Commentary: Florida Certificate of Need Reform

Published March 10, 2015

By Matthew Glans

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Research and Commentaries -
Florida is one of 36 states that have 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 the duplication of services.
- Health Care
Research & Commentary: South Carolina Certificate of Need

Published March 9, 2015

By Matthew Glans

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Research and Commentaries -
South Carolina is one of the 36 states that have certificate of need (CON) laws intended to slow the growth of health care prices, promote consolidation of health care providers, and limit duplication of services.
- Environment & Energy
The Leaflet: 2015, the Year of Energy Policy

Published March 6, 2015

By Nathan Makla

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The Leaflet -
2015, the Year of Energy PolicyEnergy is the lifeblood of the economy, not government, and it should determine what fuels consumers will use to heat their homes and power their automobiles.
- Environment & Energy
Research & Commentary: Illinois Low Carbon Portfolio Standard

Published March 6, 2015

By John Nothdurft

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Research and Commentaries -
Exelon has threatened to shut down three of its six Illinois nuclear power plants because they are unprofitable without government assistance.
- Health Care
Research & Commentary: Maine Certificate of Need Reform

Published March 6, 2015

By Matthew Glans

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Research and Commentaries -
Maine is one of 36 states that have 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 the duplication of services.
- Education
Research & Commentary: West Virginia Common Core

Published March 5, 2015

By Taylor Smith

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Research and Commentaries -
West Virginia 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.
- Environment & Energy
Testimony before the Minnesota State Senate Environment and Energy Committee

Published March 3, 2015

By Nathan Makla

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Testimony -
[Below is an excerpt of Heartland Government Relations Manager, Nathan Makla, March 3, 2015 testimony before the Minnesota State Senate Environment and Energy Committee, in favor of lifting the states moratorium on the construction of new nuclear power
Research & Commentary: Missouri Welfare Reform

Published February 24, 2015

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Research and Commentaries -
The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act, implemented in 1996, granted states the flexibility needed to reform their welfare systems. In Missouri, state Sen.
- Health Care
Research & Commentary: New Hampshire Certificate-of-Need Reform

Published February 24, 2015

By Matthew Glans

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Research and Commentaries -
New Hampshire is one of 36 states that have 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 the duplication of services.
Research & Commentary: Maryland Gasoline Taxes

Published February 24, 2015

By Matthew Glans

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Research and Commentaries -
In his first State of the State address, Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R) proposed repealing a provision in a 2013 law tying the state’s primary gasoline tax to the Consumer Price Index (CPI).
- Education
Research & Commentary: Montana Common Core

Published February 24, 2015

By Taylor Smith

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Research and Commentaries -
Montana legislators are debating a proposal that would repeal the state’s implementation of the Common Core State Standards, a set of requirements for what elementary and secondary school children should know in each grade in math and English.
Research & Commentary: Kansas Alcohol and Tobacco Tax Increase

Published February 23, 2015

By John Nothdurft

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Research and Commentaries -
Kansas is considering raising taxes on cigarettes by $1.50 per pack, other tobacco products by 680 percent, and liquor by 4 percentage points.
- Environment & Energy
Research & Commentary: Vermont Renewable Portfolio Mandate

Published February 23, 2015

By Taylor Smith

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Research and Commentaries -
Vermont is the only state in the Northeast without a renewable portfolio mandate. In his inaugural address, Gov.
- Education
Research & Commentary: Arizona Common Core

Published February 23, 2015

By Taylor Smith

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Research and Commentaries -
Arizona legislators are debating a proposal that would repeal the state’s implementation of the Common Core State Standards, a set of requirements for what elementary and secondary school children should know in each grade in math and English.
Research & Commentary: Nevada Margins Tax, Round 2

Published February 19, 2015

By Matthew Glans

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Research and Commentaries -
Nevada’s tax system, which has neither individual nor corporate income taxes, has brought the state significant increases in population, employment, and economic growth.
Research & Commentary: Federal Gasoline Taxes

Published February 18, 2015

By Matthew Glans

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Research and Commentaries -
According to Forbes, the Congressional Budget Office has estimated that in 2024 alone the Highway Trust Fund will spend $18 billion more than it brings in. The CBO estimates the cumulative shortfall over the next decade will top $160 billion.
Research & Commentary: New Taxes, Regulations Proposed for E-Cigarettes in Indiana

Published February 18, 2015

By Matthew Glans

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Research and Commentaries -
As the use of electronic cigarettes has grown, state and local governments across the nation have moved to increase taxes on these products.
- Environment & Energy
“A Critical Assessment of ‘Air concentrations of volatile compounds near oil and gas production: A community-based exploratory study’

Published February 17, 2015

By Richard J. Trzupek

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Policy Briefs -
In October 2014, Environmental Health published a study purporting to show fracking operations for oil and gas production cause dangerous air quality issues.
Research & Commentary: Washington Gov. Jay Inslee’s Tax Hike Proposal

Published February 17, 2015

By Matthew Glans

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Research and Commentaries -
Washington state legislators face a serious budget problem due to overspending and a court-ordered mandate to increase education funding. In response, Gov. Jay Inslee (D) has proposed a $39 billion budget that would add $1.
- Environment & Energy
Research & Commentary: Rolling Back Colorado’s Costly Energy Mandate

Published February 17, 2015

By Taylor Smith

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Research and Commentaries -
In November 2004, Colorado became the first state to enact into law (by ballot initiative) a renewable portfolio standard (RPS), also referred to as a renewable power mandate.
Research & Commentary: South Carolina Income and Gas Tax Swap

Published February 17, 2015

By Matthew Glans

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Research and Commentaries -
In her 2015 State of the State address, South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley proposed a unique tax swap plan increasing the state’s gasoline tax by $0.10 per gallon while reducing the state’s income tax rate by 30 percent.
Research & Commentary: North Dakota’s Tobacco Tax Advantage

Published February 13, 2015

By John Nothdurft

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Research and Commentaries -
North Dakota policymakers are considering raising the state's tax on cigarettes by as much as 250 percent, taking it from a competitive rate of 44 cents per pack up to $2.44 cents per pack.
Why Patent Reforms Are Needed

Published February 10, 2015

By Steven Titch

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Policy Briefs -
Patent abuse is harming the U.S. economy. It interferes with market competition, stymies entrepreneurs and innovators, and ultimately costs consumers in higher prices and decreased availability of products and features.

Publications

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