December 1, 2023
Week in Review: December 1, 2023
Beacon Center of Tennessee released a statement on Governor Lee’s push for statewide Educational Savings Accounts, pointing out that the Center’s recent poll shows that nearly 70% of Tennessee voters support expanding our ESA program statewide.
Foundation for Government Accountability’s Tarren Bragdon was appointed by Gov. Ron DeSantis to Florida’s Government Efficiency Task Force.
Institute for Free Speech published its 2023 Anti-SLAPP Report Card, showing a positive trend but cautioning that many states still fail to adequately protect free speech.
Iowans for Tax Relief Foundation released a new edition of the Conservative Iowa Budget, showing how next year has the potential to be another historic year for sound fiscal policy in Iowa.
James Madison Institute’s Sal Nuzzo was appointed by Gov. Ron DeSantis to Florida’s Government Efficiency Task Force.
John Locke Foundation released the findings from their latest Civitas Poll showing that nearly 93.5% of likely North Carolina voters believe open records laws are crucial in maintaining accountability and transparency. Locke also launched the “Locke Shop,” their brand-new online store, offering the unique opportunity to support the vision of a freer and more prosperous North Carolina while sporting some super stellar Locke swag.
Libertas Institute’s Children’s Entrepreneur Market, an initiative which empowers children through entrepreneurial experiences, was selected as the winner of the 2023 Gregor G. Peterson Prize in Venture Philanthropy.
Mackinac Center released a new study, How to Make Michigan Grow, on Michigan’s population growth. The study reviews and summarizes almost 100 publications related to this topic, primarily drawn from peer-reviewed, academic sources and government publications.
Mississippi Center for Public Policy’s Leadership Academy began to post online videos from their economics 1.0 courses. These initial videos discuss the morality of free market capitalism.
Mountain States Policy Center announced that former Congressman and FOX News host Trey Gowdy will be the keynote speaker at its 2024 Fall Dinner & Anniversary Celebration in Boise on Friday, October 4th.
Opportunity Arkansas released the story of the Bline family, covering their use of Education Freedom Accounts and the positive impact it has had on their family.
People United for Privacy Foundation released an analysis of public comments to the Arizona Citizens Clean Elections Commission concerning the impact of a recently passed ballot measure on the First Amendment rights of nonprofits and their supporters.
Pioneer Institute released Restoring the City on a Hill: U.S. History and Civics in America’s Schools, a new U.S. history and civics book, featuring an introduction by NYT bestselling Churchill biographer, Paul Reid, and illuminating research the Institute has conducted over the past decade.
The Buckeye Institute appealed Darling v. AFSCME on behalf of five hardworking Ohio public employees who had money illegally taken out of their paychecks— for months, and in some cases, years—by their employers and given to a government union. Buckeye also filed briefs in four cases before the U.S. Supreme Court. In Relentless v. U.S. Department of Commerce, Buckeye called on the court to assert judicial independence and overturn Chevron. In DeVillier v. Texas, Buckeye called for the court to reaffirm the constitutional right to seek just compensation in federal court when the government takes private property. In Sheetz v. County of El Dorado, Buckeye and the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) called on the court to protect the rights of property owners from government extortion. In Corner Post, Inc. v. Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, Buckeye and NFIB called on the court to allow citizens and businesses to challenge unlawful government regulations in court. Finally, in looking ahead to next week, U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in Moore v. United States. In a brief in the case, The Buckeye Institute and NFIB called on the court to protect taxpayers and reverse a ruling out of the Ninth Circuit that would broaden the definition of ‘income’ so dramatically that if upheld, it would allow the federal government to not only tax actual income but also possible future income—income one might never receive.
Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty filed an amicus brief with the Supreme Court of Oklahoma in defense of a Catholic charter school. The Oklahoma Attorney General is attempting to defend state statutes that support only “sectarian” or non-religious charters. The Institute believes the highest court in the state of Oklahoma should deny that effort.
California: The California Policy Center announced that their campaign to help government employees navigate the union opt-out process has resulted in 59,710 public employees, of whom many are teachers, opting out of union membership. This effort reduces the money union leaders use in politics, which is changing the state’s political landscape, and saves government workers thousands of dollars over their careers – a cause for celebration.
Goldwater Institute scored a victory in protection of people’s rights against predatory civil asset forfeiture as the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit reaffirmed basic due process rights, ruling that the burden of proof in forfeiture cases is on the government, not property owners.
Cardinal Institute’s Monica Moses penned a brief on empirical economics. In it, she examined the good and the bad of the so-called “empirical revolution” that has trended away from theoretical work and towards empirical research.
Illinois Policy’s Josh Bandoch wrote a brief pointing out that Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson wants to help the homeless, but his plan for doing so likely involves creating more homeless people who will need help.
James Madison Institute released a brief examining the technology driving the evolution of Small Business Saturday, and how proposed policies are threatening small businesses’ capability to access these technologies that are currently growing their businesses.
John Locke Foundation’s Dr. Bob Luebke with Locke’s Center for Effective Education offered an in-depth exploration of the recent legislative session’s impact on education throughout North Carolina, while Jon Sanders delved into the financial implications of North Carolina’s electricity generation sources and their consequential effects on consumers.
Kansas Policy Institute’s Dave Trabert penned a brief presenting data that rebutted claims of “vast improvements” in student achievements in the state and debunks the policy proposition that more spending will lead to better educational outcomes.
Libertas Institute’s Michael Melendez issued a brief which argues for policies that will allow innovation in artificial intelligence (AI) to continue to grow, using the example of the new Beatles song featuring all four Beatles which was salvaged with the aid of AI and released last month.
Mountain States Policy Center’s Madilynne Clark released a brief illuminating how building permit could be fixed through bureaucratic fiscal penalties, and the Center’s Chris Cargill outlined three keys to making sure regulation does not suffocate citizens and our economy.
Thomas Jefferson Institute for Public Policy’s Nancy Almasi released a brief questioning whether the policy of making SAT/ACT tests optional is beneficial or detrimental for students.
Washington Policy Center’s Pam Lewison wrote a brief in partnership with the Pacific Research Institute highlighting how California’s proposition 12 will raise pork prices across the nation, and the Center’s Mark Hemsworth examined the implications of the new overtime rates and how non-exempt employee layoffs will likely occur due to increasing the minimum wage and overtime pay scale.
Wisconsin: The Senate Committee on Mental Health, Substance Abuse Prevention, Children and Families held a public hearing on a bill would enable out-of-state mental health providers to practice via telehealth without first needing to be licensed within the state, so long as their license is in good standing. If passed, this bill – by knocking down red tape and barriers – will provide much needed options to many families waiting weeks and months for mental health care in the state. Also in the state of Wisconsin, lawmakers held a successful Assembly committee hearing for a bill that aims to incentivize businesses to help their employees find and pay for childcare (Institute for Reforming Government).
Wyoming: The state’s Joint Education Committee approved draft legislation that would create Education Savings Accounts, and one of the primary opponents last time around – House Speaker Albert Sommers – says he now supports the effort, meaning that students in Wyoming are a step closer to having more education options (Mountain States Policy Center).
Topics:
Alaska’s Historical Performance on State Assessments
Alaska Policy Forum
The New York Times Finally Admits Devastating Impact of School Closures
Center of the American Experiment
The Circle of Education Funding™
Center of the American Experiment
NY 2nd in the Nation for Homeschooling Growth
Empire Center
Don’t Tell the Grownups: NY Still Hiding State Test Scores
Empire Center
Opportunity Paves the Way for Clayborn to Find Success Beyond the Football Field
Empower Mississippi
It’s Time to Reassess Union Influence on Our Children’s Future
Freedom Foundation
The Dawn of Education Freedom in Montana?
Frontier Institute
Markets, Not Judges, Set Prices, Even for Education
Josiah Bartlett Center for Public Policy
We Don’t Need to Control Education
Libertas Institute
With Tax Credit, Parents Excited by School-Choice Prospects
Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs
Oklahoma Private-School Critics Ignore Reality
Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs
Hillsdale’s Dr. Kathleen O’Toole on K-12 Classical Education
Pioneer Institute
Department Of Education Finally Begins Title IX Investigation into Sun Prairie Locker Room Incident
Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty
Rising Truancy Numbers Highlight Grave Concerns for Policymakers
Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty
Three Ways Minnesota’s Failing Electric Bus Fleets Are Debunking the Arguments Made by Electric Vehicle Advocates
Center of the American Experiment
Texas Increasingly at Risk of Winter Blackouts
Center of the American Experiment
Reform MEPA for a Better Climate
Frontier Institute
Green Industrial Policy Faces Threats of its Own Creation
Independence Institute
Colorado’s Quixotic Push to Boost Recycling Rates
Independence Institute
This Winter, Will the Power Grid Survive?
Texas Public Policy Foundation
DEEP Already Botching Gas Car Ban and It’s Not Even in Effect
Yankee Institute
In a Tight Budget Year, New York’s Hospital Lobby Shoots for the Moon
Empire Center
Price Controls Lead to Drug Shortages
Mackinac Center
Nuclear Winter Is Coming for Biopharma
Pioneer Institute
Home Affordability Lags in Georgia because of Too Little Supply
Georgia Public Policy Foundation
The State’s Housing Shortages Have Consequences
Pacific Research Institute
Reform before the Storms: Can Louisiana’s New State Leaders Fix the Homeowners Insurance Crisis?
Pelican Institute for Public Policy
Howard County is Stepping Into a Rent Regulation Minefield
The Maryland Public Policy Institute
Businesses Failed by the City of Minneapolis Fight Back
Center of the American Experiment
Word, Excel, and Powerpoint Are Becoming Things of the Past … Are You Proficient in AI?
Mountain States Policy Center
Proposed OSHA Rule Opens Door for Abuse in Iowa
Iowans for Tax Relief Foundation
Florida vs. California: By the Numbers
The James Madison Institute
Democrats Propose 11% Property Tax Hike on Farms, Other Businesses
Kansas Policy Institute
Michigan Barbers Bob, Weave Around Punishing Regulations
Mackinac Center
Holiday Meals Always Begin on the Farm, Even When We Can’t See Them
Pacific Research Institute
Illinois Licensing Makes Escaping Poverty Harder than in Other Midwestern States
Illinois Policy
4 Reasons Why ‘Mansion Tax’ Bad for Chicago Business
Illinois Policy
Your Tax Dollars at Work: Minnesota Is Spending Millions to Fund Marijuana Companies
Center of the American Experiment
Public Authority Payrolls Updated on SeeThroughNY
Empire Center
Snips, Strikes and Skaters: NY Borrows to Cover Pork Habit
Empire Center
Let’s Not Fall for All the Aloha Stadium Hype
Grassroot Institute of Hawaii
Exposing the Eco-Devo Game
Indiana Policy Review Foundation
Phony Altruism and an Apple Plethora
Indiana Policy Review Foundation
No Sales Tax Means Real Black Friday Savings for NH Shoppers
Josiah Bartlett Center for Public Policy
Michigan Taxpayers Lose on Ford Deal
Mackinac Center
Clark County Rewards Employees Handsomely
Nevada Policy
Will New LA Government Agency Reduce ‘Food Inequality’?
Pacific Research Institute
Nebraska’s Path to the Top Ten, Four More Years of Tax Reform
Platte Institute
Jackson County Taxpayers Have Had Enough
Show-Me Institute
State Lacks Plan Stopping Kramer-esque Recycling Scams as Deposit Rate Increases to 10-cents
Yankee Institute
Giving Credit Where It’s Due: Private Sector Union Takes Stand Against Theft
Freedom Foundation
Biden Administration Covering Up Taxpayer-Funded Union Activities in the Federal Workforce
Freedom Foundation
Janus Had Large Impact on Union Membership, Five Years Later
Mackinac Center
What We’re Thankful For This Thanksgiving
Cardinal Institute
Thank You to All Americans Who Stand Firm for Freedom
Goldwater Institute
Appeals Court Disallows Private Action Under the Voting Rights Act
John Locke Foundation
The Myth of Increased Voter Turnout Through Vote By Mail
Mountain States Policy Center
Nevada’s Connection to the Argentine Liberty Movement
Nevada Policy
Study Shows Bias in Washington State Supreme Court Donations and Decisions
Washington Policy Center
In Politico, the Commonwealth Foundation‘s Guy Ciarrocchi notes the GOP needs to get serious about mail-in voting or it’s doomed.
In The Washington Times, the Georgia Center for Opportunity‘s Joshua Crawford considers a solution to teen violence in Washington DC.
In his recent column, the Georgia Public Policy Foundation‘s Kyle Wingfield notes innovations are needed to improve housing affordability.
In the Honolulu Star-Advertiser, the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii‘s Jonathan Helton encouraged Hawaii to expand interstate licensure compacts.
In the Chicago Tribune, the Illinois Policy Institute‘s Paul Vallas argues the Chicago mayor is failing to prioritize the needs of city businesses.
At RealClearPolicy, Iowans for Tax Relief Foundation‘s John Hendrickson and Center of the American Experiment‘s John Phelan compare the fiscal policies of Iowa and Minnesota.
In the Tampa Bay Times, the James Madison Institute‘s Sal Nuzzo notes Florida consumers should reject big government regulations of credit card fees.
In The Hill, the James Madison Institute‘s Robert McClure points out Florida’s policies could bring a dying California back to life.
In The Daily Caller, the Libertas Institute‘s Caden Rosenbaum and Pablo Garcia Quint note curbing AI disinformation requires innovation, not regulation.
At Fox News Online, the Mackinac Center‘s Steve Delie highlights a potential Supreme Court case that could be the next Janus for labor unions.
In the Washington Examiner, the Mississippi Center for Public Policy‘s Douglas Carswell highlights how school choice has momentum in Mississippi.
In The New York Post, the Pacific Research Institute‘s Sally Pipes notes doctors lobbying for Medicare for All should be careful what they wish for.
In the Farmington Daily Times, the Rio Grande Foundation‘s Paul Gessing points out it’s time to eliminate Social Security tax in New Mexico.
