Publications

The Leaflet – Happy New Year!

Published January 4, 2013

By John Nothdurft

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The Leaflet -
The election results have been certified, the fiscal cliff has been averted, and the world didn’t end. Now state lawmakers are heading back to their state capitols to begin their 2013 legislative sessions.
Research & Commentary: State Universal Service Fund Reform

Published January 3, 2013

By Matthew Glans

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Research and Commentaries -
First established as part of the Telecommunications Act of 1996, the Federal Universal Service Fund was designed to provide telephone service to underserved areas of the country.
- Health Care
Research & Commentary: The Medicaid "Cure"

Published December 28, 2012

By Kendall Antekeier

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Research and Commentaries -
The United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has told the states there will be no flexibility in implementing Medicaid expansion: either expand fully or don’t expand at all.
Research & Commentary: High Frequency Trading

Published December 17, 2012

By Matthew Glans

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Research and Commentaries -
Increasing computerization of financial trading has had a profound effect on financial markets by introducing a new element: high frequency trading (HFT).
Research & Commentary: Internet Access Taxes

Published December 17, 2012

By Matthew Glans

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Research and Commentaries -
The Internet Tax Freedom Act of 1998 was designed to promote the growth of the Internet by placing a moratorium on state and local taxation of Internet access and the creation of discriminatory taxes on emails and other data.
- Education
Research & Commentary: Oklahoma Parent Trigger

Published December 14, 2012

By Joy Pullmann

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Research and Commentaries -
Oklahoma legislators will soon consider an education reform that has garnered significant national attention: the Parent Trigger.
The Leaflet – Carbon Tax Runs Into Opposition

Published December 14, 2012

By John Nothdurft

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The Leaflet -
One need not look far to see the federal government and state governments are moving further apart on their approaches to energy policy.
- Government & Liberty
- Technology
Research & Commentary: Cybersecurity

Published December 13, 2012

By Matthew Glans

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Research and Commentaries -
Cyber-terrorism, hackers, identity theft, and viruses threaten to disrupt digital networks.
A Winning Plan for Entitlement Reform

Published December 13, 2012

By Peter Ferrara

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Policy Briefs -
This essay is the first of a series of Heartland Policy Briefs that addresses entitlement reform. In this document he writes that, Soon after World War II, U.S.
Wisconsin’s Act 10: Saving Schools from the Fiscal Cliff

Published December 11, 2012

By Maureen Martin (1947 – 2013)

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Policy Briefs -
Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker’s Act 10 is working.
- Government & Liberty
- Technology
Research & Commentary: UTOPIA and the Problems Facing Municipal Broadband

Published December 10, 2012

By Matthew Glans

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Research and Commentaries -
One of Utah’s most ambitious municipal broadband programs is facing serious subscribership and funding problems.
- Education
Research & Commentary: The Nevada Parent Trigger

Published December 6, 2012

By Joy Pullmann

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Research and Commentaries -
Nevada legislators are considering an education reform that has garnered significant national attention: the Parent Trigger.
The Streetcar Fantasy

Published November 28, 2012

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Policy Briefs -
Plans to build streetcar lines in San Antonio are based on several critical fallacies, including claims that streetcars are superior to buses in their ability to attract riders and that streetcars promote economic development.
- Climate Change
- Environment & Energy
Pricewaterhouse Coopers’ ‘Too Late’ Report: Poor Science, No Practical Solutions

Published November 21, 2012

By James Taylor, Taylor Smith

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Policy Briefs -
A new report from PricewaterhouseCoopers (PWC), titled Too Late for Two Degrees?
- Environment & Energy
Research & Commentary: “Use it or Lose it” Proposals

Published November 21, 2012

By Taylor Smith

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Research and Commentaries -
With gasoline prices reaching all-time highs, some activists and politicians are attacking oil and gas companies for not fully developing the federal leases for energy production they hold, and they’re using that as a reason to advocate a moratorium on
- Education
Research & Commentary: Efforts to Improve Teacher Quality

Published November 21, 2012

By Joy Pullmann

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Research and Commentaries -
The United States has increased its teaching force 250 percent since 1950, reducing teacher-student ratios from 1:22 to 1:15, but the expansion has not brought higher teacher quality.
- Education
Research & Commentary: Georgia Parent Trigger

Published November 21, 2012

By Joy Pullmann

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Research and Commentaries -
A Georgia legislator plans to propose an education reform that has garnered significant national attention: the Parent Trigger.
Research & Commentary: Franchise Taxes

Published November 16, 2012

By Matthew Glans

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Research and Commentaries -
Several states either have begun transitioning away from franchise taxes or are considering repeal. A franchise tax is a state tax levied on businesses and partnerships chartered within a state.
- Health Care
The Leaflet – HHS Extends Health Insurance Exchange Decision Deadline

Published November 16, 2012

By John Nothdurft

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The Leaflet -
With the reelection of President Barack Obama, the implementation of the federal health care law is moving forward, leaving states that have resisted implementation to make some key health care decisions.The U.S.
- Health Care
Research & Commentary: Extension Deadlines for Health Insurance Exchanges

Published November 15, 2012

By Kendall Antekeier

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Research and Commentaries -
Now that President Barack Obama has won reelection, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has extended the deadlines for states to implement health insurance exchanges.
- Government & Liberty
- Technology
Research & Commentary: Taxing Cloud Computing

Published November 13, 2012

By Matthew Glans

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Research and Commentaries -
Cloud computing has fundamentally changed how consumers purchase and use software and computing services, by moving many of the functions online.
- Government & Liberty
- Technology
Research & Commentary: Taxing Cloud Computing

Published November 13, 2012

By Matthew Glans

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Research and Commentaries -
Cloud computing has fundamentally changed how consumers purchase and use software and computing services, by moving many of the functions online.
- Health Care
Research & Commentary: South Carolina Medicaid Expansion

Published November 12, 2012

By Kendall Antekeier

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Research and Commentaries -
South Carolina will soon have to decide whether to expand its Medicaid programs by accepting additional federal funding.
- Education
Research & Commentary: Objective Teacher Evaluations

Published November 12, 2012

By Joy Pullmann

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Research and Commentaries -
In the past three years, more than 20 states have passed legislation modifying teacher evaluation systems, and more have committed to do the same in Race to the Top or No Child Left Behind waiver applications.

Publications

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