Search
Displaying search results
-
The Artificial Barriers of Occupational Licensing
By Theresa Boyd A West Virginia nail artist must rethink her dream of starting her own business because of onerous licensing requirements and regulations imposed by her state. After…
-
Exchange Lawsuits Move Forward
A lawsuit challenging premium subsidies in federal exchanges survived a procedural hurdle Tuesday, with U.S. District Court Judge Paul Friedman rejecting the federal government’s motion to dismiss and promising a…
-
Can Detroit Touch Pensions?
Municipal bankruptcy and public pension problems go hand in hand. Different cities have taken varying approaches to public pension.
-
Arizona Court Unanimously Upholds Education Savings Accounts as Constitutional
By: Lauren Lutz October 1, 2013 marked a victory for school choice when the Arizona Court of Appeals issued a unanimous decision upholding Arizona’s Empowerment Scholarship Account program…
-
Lawsuit Reform for Competitive State Economies
The publication focuses on fifteen key areas in which state legislators can craft meaningful reforms designed to make their state’s civil justice systems fairer, more predictable, and more conducive to…
-
Renewable Energy Credit Act
Section 1. Intent 1. The legislature finds that the state has an interest in balancing affordable and reliable energy for its citizens and businesses with environmentally responsible energy…
-
Lawsuit Reform is a Common Sense Bipartisan Issue
Lawsuit reform is an issue that enjoys wide-ranging bipartisan support, with demonstrated appeal to advocates of small government and progressive government alike. All Americans have an interest in the fundamental…
-
Budget Gimmicks Update, October 2013
State officials have a deep bag of tricks to "solve" budget gaps. In reality, these gimmicks result in state budget that appear at first glance to be balanced, but looking past the smoke and mirrors reveals that they are very unbalanced.
-
New State Budget Solutions Study Shows $4.1 Trillion Pension Funding Gap
It’s no secret that most state pension plans across the country are deep in the red. However, a study by the nonpartisan group State Budget Solutions, Promises Made,…
-
As Government Shuts Down, Exchanges “Open”
Yesterday’s government shutdown coincides with the much anticipated debut of the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) health insurance exchanges. But while consumers across the country were immediately met with…
-
-
The Reporting of Seizure and Forfeiture Act
Model Policy {Title, enacting clause, etc.} Section 1. {Purpose.} Under state and federal forfeiture laws, state law enforcement agencies can seize money, vehicles, and other property, have them sold and…
-
Massachusetts Tech Sector May Catch a Break
At first blush, the Massachusetts “tech tax” appears similar to tax regimes in other states. However, the Massachusetts tax on computer software services has a unique set of implications—and would…
-
ALEC Approves Model Policy to Encourage Smarter Sentencing
In an era plagued by partisan posturing and gridlock, federal criminal justice reform proposals bring a breath of fresh air that follows on the heels of several years of bipartisan…
-
State Budget Solutions Responds to Connecticut Office of Policy and Management
On September 25, State Budget Solutions received an e-mail from the Connecticut Office of Policy and Management regarding steps taken to reduce the state's unfunded pension liability, as it was highlighted in "Promises Made, Promises Broken — The Betrayal of Pensioners and Taxpayers."
-
Why work when welfare pays more?
The Cato Institute recently released an updated version of a decades-old study analyzing welfare benefits on a state-by-state basis. The study, The Work vs. Welfare Trade-Off, found that the…
-
Medicaid Expansion Is the Price to Shift the Balance of Federalism
The debate over Medicaid expansion is as much about federalism and the issue of state control as it is about money-because these are ultimately one in the same.
-
Texas vs. Maryland: Opposing Economic Strategies
Recently, Texas Governor Rick Perry and Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley had a verbal sparring match on CNN’s Crossfire. Both participants mentioned various statistics and claimed the mantle of economic success…
-
New Paper Provides Solutions to States Facing Water Infrastructure Crisis
New Paper Provides Solutions to States Facing Water Infrastructure Crisis Open and Competitive Bidding Touted as Commonsense Solution to Water Infrastructure Crisis Arlington, VA (September 18,…
-
Competition Leads to Cost-Savings in Water Infrastructure
Every year in North America, 300,000 water main breaks threaten the safety of our communities and place enormous financial burdens on states already struggling to balance budgets. Decisions on how…