Articles
Articles (page 59)
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New Mexico State of the State: Governor Applauds Economic Diversification and Pushes for Comprehensive Tax Reform
The governor’s proposals for comprehensive tax reform, economic diversification, infrastructure spending prioritization, and education reform can generate longer-term opportunities. However, additional changes are needed. The state’s tort system and worker’s compensation costs remain economic drags. The relative lack of tax and expenditure limits and 8th highest number of state employees per capita contribute to a bloated state government.
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Alaska State of the State: Governor Calls for Expanded Energy Production along with Higher Taxes
Governor Walker's wholehearted support for a continued energy production renaissance, energy infrastructure development, and expanded international trade bode well for an Alaskan economic rebound. However, the continued advocacy for income taxes and sales taxes combined with lack of acknowledgement of much-needed operational reforms threatens to negatively counter those pro-growth actions.
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Wyoming State of the State: Fiscal Soundness Despite Setbacks in Energy Sector of Economy
Wyoming enjoys the 8th best economic outlook in the nation, according to Rich States, Poor States. This outlook has failed to translate into performance largely due to numerous macroeconomic factors and regulatory measures. The governor’s commitment to state regulatory reform, bureaucratic downsizing, and budget reform has resulted in the state weathering this storm with a strong balance sheet and low taxes. Rather than resort to higher taxes or centrally planned economic development, the continuation of a business-friendly climate is needed to incentivize further diversification and future growth of the economy.
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Utah State of the State: Acting Today with the Future in Mind
Even with the modest changes to property taxes and a possible increase in the gas tax, Utah’s overall pro-business status remains unrivaled. Economic growth and jobs growth over 10 years are 5th highest and 3rd highest, respectively. Perhaps Utah has indeed “become that shining city on a hill for our nation.”
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Pennsylvania Gov. Wolf’s Calls for Progress with “a Push”
Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf’s Budget Address contained a strong undercurrent of authoritarianism. Progress, as defined by the governor’s dictionary, can…
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Washington State of the State: Governor Inslee Repeats Demand for Destructive Carbon Tax
In addition to a massive carbon tax, Governor Inslee called for workforce development initiatives, healthcare regulations, and myriad new social regulations. In aggregate, this big government agenda would impede the business climate and economic growth of the state.
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Legislator of the Week: Nebraska State Senator Jim Smith
This week, ALEC and FreedomWorks introduce Nebraska State Senator Jim Smith. Senator Smith was elected in 2010 to…
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As Second Chance Month Draws to a Close, Prison Reentry Initiatives Continue to Gain Traction
On March 30th, President Trump proclaimed April to be Second Chance month for those with a criminal history. This week…
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Is It Time to End “Smart Cities?”
For years, the talk of the future of connected communities has been centered in “smart cities.” Cloud services, broadband access,…
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Legislator of the Week: California State Senator Joel Anderson
Legislator of the Week: California State Senator Joel Anderson This week, ALEC and FreedomWorks introduce California State Senator…
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Connecticut Rises to 40th Place, But Not For the Reason You Might Expect
For the first time since 2011, Connecticut has escaped the bottom 10 of the 11th edition of the…
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New Hampshire State of the State Address
One of the youngest governors in the nation, Governor Chris Sununu, recently delivered his second State of the State…
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Rich States, Poor States 11th edition – Top 10 States
The 11th edition of Rich States, Poor States is characterized by great movement in state economic performance and outlook as…
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Voting with their feet
The 11th edition of Rich States, Poor States is characterized by great movement in state economic performance and outlook as…
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Rich States, Poor States 11th edition – Bottom 10 States
The 11th edition of Rich States, Poor States is characterized by great movement in state economic performance and outlook as…
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Legislator of the Week: Kentucky State Representative Kim Moser
This week, ALEC and FreedomWorks introduce Kentucky State Representative Kim Moser. Representative Moser is a part of the Criminal…
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New Jersey Inauguration: Governor Murphy Claims the Moral High Ground in Bid to Expand Government
Governor Murphy failed to recognize that those on the other side of the aisle may share the same ultimate policy outcome goals—justice, fairness, and growth—albeit with far different policy preferences. This threatens to block pragmatic bipartisan progress on numerous pressing issues.
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Firing Blanks: Why the Current Focus on Guns in Schools Won’t Solve the School Safety Debate
After every school shooting tragedy, the same gun debates rage in America, pitting gun control advocates against Second Amendment supporters.
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Trump Administration Revises Fuel Economy Standards Impacting the Next Car You Buy
The Trump administration continued to cut regulatory red tape by announcing on Tuesday that the Environmental Protection Agency will…
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Joffe: Florida Leads The Way on Budget Transparency with Municipal XBRL
By Marc Joffe @ Reason Foundation Spiraling pension costs and several municipal bankruptcies have heightened interest in…