Publications

- Education
Research & Commentary: Michigan Common Core

Published April 24, 2013

By Joy Pullmann

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Research and Commentaries -
The Michigan legislature is considering in its 2014 budget a measure that would prohibit the state department of education from using public funds to implement Common Core, national education standards and tests in math and English that 46 states,
- Environment & Energy
Research & Commentary: Tier 3 Standards for Gasoline

Published April 22, 2013

By Taylor Smith

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Research and Commentaries -
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has proposed a new rule requiring gasoline refiners to reduce the sulfur content of their gasoline from 30 parts per million to 10 parts per million on an annual average basis by January 1, 2017.
Research & Commentary: Online Taxes, Legislative Update

Published April 18, 2013

By Matthew Glans

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Research and Commentaries -
Early this week Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid began the process of pushing to the Senate floor a major online tax bill originally titled the Marketplace Fairness Act, bypassing the committee process.
- Health Care
The Leaflet – Is Arkansas’ “Private Option” Plan a Game Changer?

Published April 18, 2013

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The Leaflet -
Yesterday, the Arkansas legislature approved a Medicaid waiver request to allow for a “private option” version of expansion.
- Education
Research & Commentary: Common Core Science Standards

Published April 16, 2013

By Joy Pullmann

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Research and Commentaries -
A consortium of consultants and science educators has released its final draft of what it plans will become national education standards for K-12 science.
Research & Commentary: Stockton, California and Municipal Bankruptcies

Published April 15, 2013

By Matthew Glans

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Research and Commentaries -
According to Governing magazine, there were 28 public bankruptcies in 2011 and 2012. Although that number fell short of many experts’ predictions, it still represents a significant increase in defaults.
Research & Commentary: National Minimum Wage Hike

Published April 12, 2013

By Matthew Glans

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Research and Commentaries -
In his 2013 State of the Union Address, President Obama proposed increasing the national minimum wage from $7.25 to $9.00 an hour, with the stated goal of raising the incomes of millions of working families.
Research & Commentary: President Obama’s Universal Pre-K Proposal

Published April 12, 2013

By John Nothdurft, Joy Pullmann

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Research and Commentaries -
Included in President Barack Obama’s 2014 budget is a proposal to expand federally funded pre-K, to be paid for by raising the federal cigarette tax from $1.01 per pack to $1.95.
Research & Commentary: Vermont Tax Hikes

Published April 12, 2013

By Matthew Glans

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Research and Commentaries -
The Vermont Legislature is considering a vast new array of tax changes and increases that could have a major effect on Vermonters.
- Environment & Energy
Research & Commentary: Colorado Renewable Portfolio Standard

Published April 12, 2013

By Taylor Smith

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Research and Commentaries -
Colorado legislators are bucking the national trend and considering a proposal that would boost the state’s renewable portfolio standard (RPS).
- Environment & Energy
Research & Commentary: North Carolina Renewable Portfolio Standard

Published April 2, 2013

By Taylor Smith

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Research and Commentaries -
North Carolina legislators are considering repealing the state’s renewable portfolio standard (RPS). The RPS requires utilities to obtain a specified percentage of their power from renewable sources by a certain date.
- FIRE
- Economy
Research & Commentary: Early Effects of Dodd-Frank

Published March 31, 2013

By Matthew Glans

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Research and Commentaries -
The Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, also known as the Dodd-Frank Act, created many new restrictions on financial instruments and activities.
- Health Care
The Leaflet – Will Your State Benefit From Medicaid Expansion?

Published March 28, 2013

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The Leaflet -
Does your state benefit from President Barack Obama’s expansion of the Medicaid program, or does the expansion just put you on the hook for millions or even billions in new taxes to pay for money presented as “free”?
- Environment & Energy
Research & Commentary: The Benefits of Shale Energy on Other Industries

Published March 28, 2013

By Taylor Smith

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Research and Commentaries -
As advancements in hydraulic fracturing and horizontal drilling continue to revolutionize the nation’s energy outlook, it’s important to consider the economic ripple effect expanding shale energy has had on industries outside the energy sector.
Research & Commentary: Illinois Pension Reform

Published March 28, 2013

By Matthew Glans

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Research and Commentaries -
The state employee pension system in Illinois is broke, both financially and structurally.
- Environment & Energy
Tip Sheet: Wisconsin Renewable Portfolio Standard

Published March 28, 2013

By Taylor Smith

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Policy Tip Sheets -
ProblemIn 1998, Wisconsin legislators established the state’s first renewable requirement.
- Environment & Energy
James Taylor Testifies on Ohio Renewable Mandates

Published March 19, 2013

By James Taylor

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Testimony -
Ohio Senate Public Utilities CommitteeWritten Testimony of James Taylor, Senior Fellow, The Heartland InstituteMarch 19, 2013Chairman Seitz and Members of the Committee,Thank you for the opportunity to testify today.
- Environment & Energy
Research & Commentary: Renewable Fuel Standard

Published March 18, 2013

By Taylor Smith

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Research and Commentaries -
The U.S.
- Environment & Energy
Research & Commentary: Hydraulic Fracturing in Florida

Published March 18, 2013

By Taylor Smith

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Research and Commentaries -
The Florida Legislature is considering a bill that would allow and regulate the use of a technology that has revolutionized the United States’ energy outlook: hydraulic fracturing.
Research & Commentary: Pole Attachment Fees

Published March 12, 2013

By Matthew Glans

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Research and Commentaries -
Broadband consumers in Tennessee could soon see a significant hike in their monthly bills if legislation now before the state legislature passes.
The Foundation for Entitlement Reform: Get America Booming Again

Published March 11, 2013

By Peter Ferrara

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Policy Briefs -
This essay is the second of a series of Heartland Policy Briefs by the author on entitlement reform.Today’s stagnant economy is both unnecessary and, well, un-American. The U.S. economy sustained a real rate of annual economic growth of 3.
- Education
Making Texas Public Education More Efficient: Taxpayer Savings Grant Program

Published March 8, 2013

By Joseph Bast

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Policy Briefs -
This Policy Brief summarizes past research and presents new analysis showing how a proposal called the Taxpayer Savings Grant Program (TSGP) would enable the state of Texas to comply with its constitutional mandate to “establish and make suitable
- Environment & Energy
Tip Sheet: Arkansas Distributed Generation Act

Published March 7, 2013

By Taylor Smith

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Policy Tip Sheets -
ProblemHB 1390, the Arkansas Distributed Generation Act, requires utilities to buy electricity from renewable energy sources at fixed above-market rates set by the Arkansas Public Service Commission or another regulatory authority and then socializes the
Research & Commentary: Governor Dayton’s Tax Hike Package

Published March 6, 2013

By Matthew Glans

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Research and Commentaries -
Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton recently proposed as part of his state budget a $2.

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