Publications

- Education
Research & Commentary: Mitt Romney’s Education Platform

Published June 18, 2012

By Joy Pullmann

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Research and Commentaries -
Presumptive Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney announced his education policy platform in May.
- Education
Research & Commentary: Race to the Top for School Districts

Published June 14, 2012

By Joy Pullmann

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Research and Commentaries -
In May 2012, U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan announced his department would offer approximately $200 million in competitive grants of up to $25 million apiece that local school districts nationwide can apply to receive.
The Leaflet – The Fracking Debate

Published June 14, 2012

By John Nothdurft

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The Leaflet -
Today, North Carolina is expected to vote to allow the process of hydraulic fracturing, or “fracking,” for natural gas.
Research & Commentary: Capital Gains Taxes Update

Published June 13, 2012

By Matthew Glans, John Nothdurft

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Research and Commentaries -
Absent Congressional action, several tax increases will go into effect at the end of the year.
Research & Commentary: Pennsylvania Liquor Privatization

Published June 12, 2012

By Matthew Glans

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Research and Commentaries -
The Pennsylvania House is considering a bill that would privatize the state’s liquor sales. Currently all liquor sales in Pennsylvania are done in state-run stores.
Research & Commentary: Hydraulic Fracturing Bans

Published June 7, 2012

By Taylor Smith

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Research and Commentaries -
Despite there being no known natural gas resources in Vermont, Gov. Peter Shumlin recently signed into law the nation’s first state ban on hydraulic fracturing (fracking).
Research & Commentary: Enterprise Value Tax

Published June 7, 2012

By Matthew Glans

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Research and Commentaries -
A proposal from the Obama administration that has generated significant opposition from the financial sector is the enterprise value tax.
Research & Commentary: The Effects of Dividend Tax Changes

Published June 5, 2012

By Matthew Glans

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Research and Commentaries -
Several tax increases are set to go into effect at the end of 2012 unless Congress renews the “Bush Tax Cuts.” One of the most significant increases would be a tax hike on dividends of up to189 percent.
- Education
Research & Commentary: Designing Tax Credit Scholarships

Published June 5, 2012

By Joy Pullmann

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Research and Commentaries -
The New York Times published an article in May purporting to indict tax credit scholarship programs with evidence some scholarship-granting nonprofits were poorly and unethically managed.
- Education
Research & Commentary: The Public’s Knowledge and Opinions of School Choice

Published June 4, 2012

By Joy Pullmann

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Research and Commentaries -
In the past 18 months, the number and reach of school choice programs have increased exponentially across the United States, bolstered by Republican governors and legislative majorities elected in 2010.
The Leaflet – Governor Walker’s Act 10

Published June 1, 2012

By John Nothdurft

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The Leaflet -
It has been a year since Wisconsin’s Act 10, which limited collective bargaining rights for most public employees, went into effect. The passing of these reforms has led to next week’s nationally significant recall election of Governor Scott Walker.
Research & Commentary: Carried Interest Taxes

Published May 31, 2012

By Matthew Glans

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Research and Commentaries -
One issue currently under debate is how carried interest, the share of the profits of an investment or investment fund that is paid to an investment manager as compensation, will be taxed.
- Health Care
Research & Commentary: Interstate Health Care Compacts

Published May 29, 2012

By Kendall Antekeier

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Research and Commentaries -
While the Supreme Court considers the fate of the federal health care law, some states are attempting to take more control over health care by engaging in interstate health care compacts.
- Education
Research & Commentary: Stafford Student Loans

Published May 29, 2012

By Joy Pullmann

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Research and Commentaries -
As outstanding U.S. college student debt passed the $1 trillion mark this year and college costs continued to rise faster than health care costs, U.S. policymakers have made several changes and proposals to meet increasing public concern.
Wisconsin’s Act 10: A Partial Fix for the State Budget Deficit

Published May 22, 2012

By Maureen Martin (1947 – 2013)

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Policy Briefs -
Wisconsin Act 10, Gov. Scott Walker’s landmark budget and unionization reform bill, has allowed school districts across the state to balance budgets without teacher layoffs, according to a new report from The Heartland Institute.
Research & Commentary: Illinois Cigarette Tax Won’t Fix Medicaid

Published May 17, 2012

By John Nothdurft

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Research and Commentaries -
After raising the state’s personal income and corporate tax last year, Illinois is considering a $1 per pack hike in the state’s cigarette tax. Advocates claim the tax would help pay for ballooning Medicaid costs, which are over budget by $2.7 billion.
- FIRE
- Economy
Research & Commentary: Crop Insurance Reform

Published May 15, 2012

By Matthew Glans

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Research and Commentaries -
Farmers buy crop insurance for protection against the financial impact of natural disasters affecting their crops and the loss of revenue caused by declines in agricultural commodity prices.
- Education
Research & Commentary: New Jersey Education Tax Credits

Published May 14, 2012

By Joy Pullmann

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Research and Commentaries -
New Jersey Gov.
- Education
Research & Commentary: School District Budgets

Published May 10, 2012

By Joy Pullmann

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Research and Commentaries -
School districts often finalize budgets in the spring, so it’s an opportune time to consider how they can convert the “new normal” of budget cuts into benefits for schools and children. U.S.
Research and Commentary: Pet Insurance as a Policy Model

Published May 8, 2012

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Research and Commentaries -
According to 2011–12 statistics from the Humane Society of the United States, U.S. residents own approximately 78.2 million dogs and 86.4 million cats.
- FIRE
- Economy
Research & Commentary: Levees and Flood Mitigation

Published May 2, 2012

By Matthew Glans

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Research and Commentaries -
For more than a century, the United States has attempted to control water almost entirely with levees and other “structural” means. During that time the cost of flood damage has more than tripled in inflation-adjusted terms.
- Health Care
Research & Commentary: Medicare Physician Reimbursement

Published May 2, 2012

By Kendall Antekeier

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Research and Commentaries -
Physicians were given insight into their cost-effectiveness last month when the federal government sent reports detailing the cost and quality of their services.
Research & Commentary: Plastic Bag Bans

Published April 30, 2012

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Research and Commentaries -
Following the San Francisco city council’s decision in 2007 to ban the use of plastic bags at grocery stores and chain pharmacies, a number of local governments have implemented similar policies within their jurisdiction.
The Leaflet – Bullying Teachers

Published April 27, 2012

By John Nothdurft

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The Leaflet -
Teachers unions react badly to teachers who don’t fall in line behind them. The unions’ methods range from public shamings and labor complaints to coordinated pressure on administrators to fire or withhold promotion from dissenters.

Publications

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