Publications

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.
A Winning Plan for Entitlement Reform

Published December 13, 2012

By Peter Ferrara (1955 – 2026)

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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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Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker’s Act 10 is working.
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.
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.
Research & Commentary: The Fiscal Cliff and Taxmageddon

Published November 8, 2012

By Matthew Glans

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Research and Commentaries -
Absent action from Congress and the president, the United States will face what many are calling a “fiscal cliff” at the beginning of 2013.
Research & Commentary: State Capital Gains Taxes

Published October 31, 2012

By Matthew Glans

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Research and Commentaries -
As Congress decides whether to allow the national capital gains tax rate to increase at the beginning of next year, states across the country are debating whether to change their own capital gains taxes.
Research & Commentary: Worldwide vs. Territorial Taxation

Published October 30, 2012

By Matthew Glans

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Research and Commentaries -
The United States has the highest corporate tax rate among the 34 nations in the Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD) in addition to being one of the few nations still using a “worldwide system.
Research & Commentary: High-Speed Rail

Published October 24, 2012

By Matthew Glans

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Research and Commentaries -
In 2009 in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), Congress allocated $8 billion to send to states for intercity rail projects, with “priority to projects that support the development of intercity high speed rail service.
- Economy
- Government Spending
Research & Commentary: Illinois’ Pension Problem and How to Fix it

Published October 18, 2012

By Matthew Glans

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Research and Commentaries -
The pension system in Illinois is broke, both literally and structurally. Funding Illinois’ pension system is becoming increasingly difficult. According to Bloomberg, the national median funding ratio for state pension systems is around 71.
The Leaflet – The Future of State Tax Policy

Published October 11, 2012

By John Nothdurft

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The Leaflet -
Earlier this week the non-partisan Tax Foundation released its 2013 State Business Tax Climate index.
Research & Commentary: Texas Pension Reform

Published October 3, 2012

By Matthew Glans

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Research and Commentaries -
Like many other states across the nation, Texas faces tough decisions about the pension benefits it provides its state employees.
21 Reasons Why the San Antonio Pre-K Tax Plan Is a Bad Idea

Published October 2, 2012

By Jeff Judson

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Policy Briefs -
On November 6, voters in San Antonio, Texas will vote on whether the city should own and operate a network of early childhood education centers. The initiative is controversial, and rightly so.
The Ryan Budget vs. the Obama Budget

Published September 21, 2012

By Peter Ferrara (1955 – 2026)

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By selecting House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R-WI) as his running mate, Republican candidate Mitt Romney reframed the 2012 presidential election as a contest between Ryan’s 2013 proposed budget, which was adopted by the entire Republican
The Ryan Budget vs. the Obama Budget

Published September 21, 2012

By Peter Ferrara (1955 – 2026)

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Policy Briefs -
By selecting House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R-WI) as his running mate, Republican candidate Mitt Romney reframed the 2012 presidential election as a contest between Ryan’s 2013 proposed budget, which was adopted by the entire Republican
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.

Publications

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