Latest
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Four reasons to reject a federal tobacco tax increase
The plan currently being considered in Congress would increase taxes on all tobacco and nicotine products.
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Surface Transportation News: Rhetorical war on freeway expansion, transit’s near-term future, and more
Plus: Misinformation on proposed per-mile charge, trucks as leading candidate for automation, and more.
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As Congress considers more K-12 education spending, taxpayers need more transparency and accountability
As Congress considers pouring even more federal money into K-12 education, policymakers should guarantee that robust accountability structures to track federal education spending exist.
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The important economic factors rarely mentioned in infrastructure debates
All large infrastructure projects should be vetted via a rigorous benefit/cost analysis.
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California legislature was wise not to issue the remaining $4 billion of high-speed rail bonds
Without the bond proceeds, the California High-Speed Rail Authority will not be able to meet its intermediate objective of establishing service along 171 miles of electrified track between Merced and Bakersfield.
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Congress considers tobacco tax increase
Cigarette taxes would double to more than $2 per pack under the House proposal.
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Spending data show the U.S. has not been defunding public education
When looking at the data, the verdict is clear: nearly every American state has increased per-pupil revenues in the last two decades, often by substantial margins.
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Benefit costs, not school choice programs, are the real drain on public education spending
Benefit costs, not school choice programs, are draining new funding from K-12 public schools.
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Scammers take advantage of California community colleges’ inadequate cybersecurity measures
California’s community college system could identify and even thwart bots much more easily if the state implemented and followed a full cybersecurity plan.
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New York City’s misguided automated vehicle rules
The new rule means automated vehicle developers would face legal uncertainty and may be deterred from testing their technologies in the city at all.
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Three reasons why public pensions still need reform
Despite realizing excellent investment returns in 2021, public pension plans are still in need of reforms to prevent future debt and ensure they can pay out promised benefits.
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Privatization and Government Reform News: Transportation P3s, solutions for space debris, and more
Plus: Capitol Hill’s spending spree continues amid inflation concerns, anticompetitive California EMS bill gets (some) redemption, and more.
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Putting a year of good investment returns for public pension plans in perspective
This year's exceptionally high investment returns are good news for struggling pension plans, but they do not mean all is right in the public pension world.
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Aviation Policy News: Responses to airport lease study, airport security since 9/11, and more
Plus: Airport security since the 9/11 attacks, how climate change policies impact air travel, a better way to deal with in-flight turbulence, and more.
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California passes EMS bill but doesn’t address anti-competitive landscape
If fire agencies want to fully take over emergency medical services, they should face a competitive landscape that ensures they are tested against the best competition in the EMS industry.
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The FDA has decimated the e-cigarette market
The FDA has not authorized a single e-cigarette for sale and denied more than a million vape products from the market.
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California’s failed mandates offer some lessons for President Biden’s vaccine mandate
The Biden administration could save America from a lot of regulatory, legal and political fighting over its proposed COVID-19 vaccine mandate by recognizing how this mandate approach failed in California in the past.
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Ohio’s teacher retirement system lacks investment transparency
For the 2020 fiscal year, STRS reported paying $175 million in fees to alternative investment managers.
