Publications & Studies
Publications (page 4)
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State of the States 2017
In 2017, 50 governors across America delivered State of the State or other policy addresses. These speeches included numerous economic policy proposals that will affect the states’ economic competitiveness. This…
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2016 ALEC Annual Report
Now more than ever, your focus should be on the states. Right now, we are at a crossroads in American history where an incredible number of important decisions about our…
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Rich States, Poor States, 10th Edition
The 10th Edition of Rich States, Poor States: ALEC-Laffer State Economic Competitiveness Index reveals a pro-growth trend across the nation for 2017. Rich States, Poor States examines the latest movements…
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Innovation in Transportation: Private Investment in Public Infrastructure in Texas
We live in an age of unparalleled innovation, and innovation effects all we do and how we do it. But at the forefront of the news and capturing the imagination…
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A Texas-Sized Brand: Education Savings Accounts in the Lone Star State
Texans are rightly proud of their freedom-preserving state and record of economic success. Yet in the area of education choice, the truth is that Texas is falling behind. The only…
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Civil Service Reform for the 21st Century: Restoring Democratic Accountability to the Administrative State
During his inaugural speech, newly-elected President Trump declared that “what truly matters is not which party controls our government, but whether our government is controlled by the people.” Many commentators…
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State Tax Cut Roundup: 2016 Legislative Session
The 2016 legislative session ended with nine states enacting changes to their tax codes sufficient to qualify for the Tax Cut Roundup. Each provided substantial tax relief for their citizens.
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Overregulation Threatens Market-Driven Solutions in Dentistry
Access to efficient, affordable healthcare remains a significant challenge in the United States. Americans continue to experience an increase in the cost of care, a trend largely advanced by the…
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Lessons from Kansas: A Behind the Scenes Look at America’s Most Discussed Tax Reform Effort
Positioned in the center of the United States, Kansas has often served as a stand-in for the preferences of non-coastal America. Perhaps this unique position is why a 2012 tax…
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Price-Fixing Prescription Drugs Will Cost Us in Cures
Prescription drug pricing has been a recent topic of media scrutiny, and is said to be the reason for the high cost of healthcare in the United States. The result…
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The State Legislators Guide to Prescription Drug Policy
There has been a recent public outcry about the high cost of healthcare in the United States, with prescription drug prices at the center of the debate. As a result,…
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Keeping the Promise: Getting Politics Out of Pensions
Pensions are a valuable non-wage benefit that a large majority of state and local governments offer their employees as part of their compensation packages. With approximately $3.8 trillion in total…
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21st Report Card on American Education
The future of the American education system has the potential to be bright. In forward-thinking states like Arizona, the state that took the top spot on this year’s ranking, parents…
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2016: A Successful Year for Criminal Justice Reform and Path to the Future
In 2005, Texas officials noticed the alarming rate at which their state’s corrections budget was growing. By 2007, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice wanted the state legislature to…
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The Pernicious Myth of the Underfunded American Education System
The myth that education is underfunded in the United States, where per-pupil spending is higher than most of the countries that outperform it on the PISA exam, is both wrongheaded…
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Educational Choice in 2016
Two new school choice programs were passed during the 2016 state legislative sessions: a voucher program in Maryland and a tax credit scholarship in South Dakota. Neither state had any…
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A Guide to State Laws Impacting UAS/UAV Operations: A Resource for Recreational, Non-Recreational and Commercial Drone Operators
Interest in Unmanned Aerial Systems and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UASs/UAVs or “drones”) has exploded in recent years. Some experts estimate nearly 2.8 million drones will be purchased in the United…
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Unaccountable and Unaffordable 2016: Unfunded Public Pension Liabilities Near $5.6 Trillion
State public pension plans are now underfunded by nearly $5.6 trillion – an increase of almost $900 billion from State Budget Solutions’ (SBS) last comprehensive report in 2014.
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State of the States 2016
This report observes and analyzes the economic policy proposals discussed in each governor’s State of the State address.
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Article V: A Handbook for State Lawmakers
First published in 2011, the Handbook is an invaluable guide for state lawmakers who recognize that the states have the power and the duty to rein in a federal government…