Publications

Research & Commentary: Omaha Cigarette Occupation Tax

Published September 14, 2012

By Matthew Glans

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Research and Commentaries -
In the past two years, Omaha restaurant customers have paid around $50 million in taxes, and the city is now considering levying a new occupation tax on smokers.
- Entitlements
- Economy
Research & Commentary: Food Stamp Reform

Published September 13, 2012

By Matthew Glans

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Research and Commentaries -
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), previously known as the Food Stamp program, has become one of the fastest-growing welfare programs of the U.S. government.
Research & Commentary: The Connect America Fund and Broadband Internet Taxes

Published September 13, 2012

By Matthew Glans

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Research and Commentaries -
In 2011 the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) created the Connect America Fund (CAF) by taking $4.5 billion from the Universal Service Fund (USF) designed to provide advanced telecommunications services.
The Leaflet – 2012 Emerging Issues Forum Videos

Published September 13, 2012

By John Nothdurft

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The Leaflet -
On August 9, The Heartland Institute hosted its eighth Emerging Issues Forum, a gathering of state elected officials, public policy experts, and Heartland senior staff to discuss the issues likely to be on the agenda in 2013 and beyond.
Research & Commentary: Idaho Unemployment Insurance and Overpayments

Published September 13, 2012

By Matthew Glans

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Research and Commentaries -
Idaho, like most U.S. states, has struggled to keep its unemployment insurance fund solvent. The unemployment trust fund already faced insolvency once as a result of the 2008 recession.
- Education
Research & Commentary: Democratic and Republican Party Education Platforms

Published September 12, 2012

By Joy Pullmann

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Research and Commentaries -
In 2012, the Republican and Democratic parties held their national conventions sandwiched around Labor Day weekend. As is customary, the two released revised party platforms, both including sections on education policy.
- Environment & Energy
Research & Commentary: Kansas Renewable Portfolio Standard

Published September 11, 2012

By Taylor Smith

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Research and Commentaries -
In July, the Kansas Policy Institute and Beacon Hill Institute released a joint report assessing the expected economic results of the Kansas renewable energy mandate, signed into law by Gov. Mark Parkinson in May 2009.
- Environment & Energy
Research & Commentary: Hydraulic Fracturing and Air Quality

Published September 10, 2012

By Taylor Smith

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Research and Commentaries -
Earlier this year, Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa Jackson and President Barack Obama’s science advisor, John P.
- Education
Research & Commentary: The Best, Most Recent Voucher Research

Published September 6, 2012

By Joy Pullmann

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Research and Commentaries -
In 2011, researcher Greg Forster examined all the highest-quality research available on voucher programs; he found 10 of 11 studies demonstrated vouchers benefit students, and the 11th showed participation made little difference to voucher students.
Research & Commentary: Tax Increment Financing

Published August 31, 2012

By Matthew Glans

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Research and Commentaries -
Tax increment financing has become a popular tool for encouraging economic development in municipalities across the country.
Research & Commentary: Hydraulic Fracturing Ban in New York State

Published August 31, 2012

By Taylor Smith

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Research and Commentaries -
As Gov. Andrew Cuomo prepares to decide whether to allow hydraulic fracturing in New York State, extreme environmental activist groups are pressuring him to ban the technique, which they say threatens the public health.
The Leaflet – Condoleezza Rice on Education Reform

Published August 30, 2012

By John Nothdurft

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The Leaflet -
Yesterday, at the Republican National Convention, former secretary of state Condoleezza Rice gave a superb speech covering many important issues.
Research & Commentary: Financial Transaction Taxes

Published August 28, 2012

By Matthew Glans

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Research and Commentaries -
Since the 2007-2008 financial crisis, legislators in the United States and across the world have proposed new taxes on certain financial transactions, including securities trading and stock transactions.
- Education
Research & Commentary: Race-Based School Discipline

Published August 27, 2012

By Joy Pullmann

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Research and Commentaries -
In July, President Barack Obama signed an executive order creating two federal panels to review public schools’ discipline policies and actions toward African-Americans, citing data that schools suspend black students more often than white students.
The Leaflet – What Should States Do About the Federal Health Care Law?

Published August 23, 2012

By John Nothdurft

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The Leaflet -
On August 9, The Heartland Institute held its 2012 Emerging Issues Forum in Chicago, Illinois. More than 140 people attended, including more than 85 legislators from at least 32 states.
Research & Commentary: Internet and Broadband Reclassification

Published August 22, 2012

By Matthew Glans

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Research and Commentaries -
The Obama administration’s Federal Communications Commission has undertaken several efforts to increase its regulatory power over the Internet by reclassifying broadband access services from their current status as an informational service to a Title II
- Education
Research & Commentary: Education Property Tax Reform

Published August 21, 2012

By Joy Pullmann

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Research and Commentaries -
Several states—including Florida, Iowa, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Vermont—are currently discussing restructuring the property taxes that pay for education.
- Environment & Energy
Research & Commentary: Michigan Renewable Energy Portfolio Mandate

Published August 20, 2012

By Taylor Smith

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Research and Commentaries -
A petition bearing more than 500,000 signatures has been turned in to state election officials to put the Michigan Energy Michigan Jobs initiative on the November ballot.
- Government & Liberty
- Alcohol & Tobacco
Research & Commentary: Electronic Cigarettes

Published August 16, 2012

By Matthew Glans

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Research and Commentaries -
Nearly 50 million U.S. adults—more than a fifth of the total adult population—smoke cigarettes.
The Leaflet – Reining in EPA

Published August 16, 2012

By John Nothdurft

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The Leaflet -
Yesterday, The Heartland Institute announced more than 5,000 people have signed a petition demanding that Congress “rein in the Environmental Protection Agency” (EPA) through deep cuts in the size, power, and cost of the agency.
- Health Care
Research & Commentary: Reconciliation and Obamacare

Published August 14, 2012

By Benjamin Domenech

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Research and Commentaries -
In the wake of the Supreme Court’s ruling regarding the individual mandate in President Barack Obama’s health care law, the conversation on Capitol Hill is focused on the parliamentary issue of reconciliation.
- Health Care
Implementing the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act

Published August 8, 2012

By Dan Pilla

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Policy Briefs -
In this Heartland policy brief, Dan Pilla asserts that unless there is a substantial change in leadership in Washington in the next election, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) will go into effect as planned. The U.S.
Research & Commentary: Congestion Traffic Pricing

Published August 6, 2012

By Matthew Glans

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Research and Commentaries -
According to a report by the Texas Transportation Institute, the cost of urban traffic congestion, converted to a dollar value, quintupled between 1982 and 2007.
- Education
Research & Commentary: Parent Trigger Success in Adelanto

Published August 6, 2012

By Joy Pullmann

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Research and Commentaries -
A judge recently ruled that a Parent Trigger petition from parents in Adelanto, California is valid and their request to convert their children’s school to a charter must go into effect.

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