Latest
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Louisiana legislature considers several bills that would change public pensions and impact taxpayers
These bills come with costs and trade-offs that put millions of taxpayer dollars on the line.
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Rather than banning menthols, FDA should embrace harm reduction
The FDA and the Biden administration should apply the harm reduction model to tobacco policy.
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Russia’s invasion of Ukraine isn’t a good reason for the U.S. to further increase defense spending
The massive defense budget is one prime place to start cutting federal spending and acting responsibly.
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It is time to rethink the relationship between housing and K-12 education
Kansas, Missouri and South Carolina are considering open enrollment policies that would allow families more education options.
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A ban on menthol cigarettes would hurt communities of color and undermine criminal justice reforms
The proposed criminalization of menthol cigarettes should be expected to hurt communities of color, spur the growth of black markets, lead to more incarceration, and undermine criminal justice reforms made in recent years.
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Arizona’s school funding system is outdated and broken
Arizona's proposed school finance reform would address some of the stark school funding disparities across the state's school districts.
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Local governments in California lost $20 million running public golf courses in 2020
The largest operating loss, over $4 million, was recorded by the Indian Wells Golf Resort, owned by the city of Indian Wells.
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Surface Transportation News: Pandemic and migration change transportation plans, supply chain crisis, and more
Plus: Puerto Rico considering more toll road leases, emulating Canada on commercial rest areas, and more.
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House Bill 2486 threatens Oklahoma’s pension progress
Public pension changes of the magnitude being proposed should receive rigorous actuarial and risk analyses that ensure future generations’ interests are protected.
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Public school vouchers could increase education competition
Eliminating residential assignments and putting parents in charge of funding would give all families more agency over their students' education.
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As more states legalize marijuana, the Department of Transportation looks to change drug testing policies
Drug tests for marijuana use continue to reflect a bygone zero-tolerance approach and fail to reliably detect on-duty use and intoxication.
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Testimony: Improving transit services in rural communities
Five recommendations for improving transit services to best serve rural populations, especially transit-dependent riders.
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Open enrollment would help South Carolina’s students
Adopting strong open enrollment policies would be a boon to South Carolina families whose education options would no longer depend on where they can afford to live.
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155 local governments across the U.S. lost a total of $61 million operating public golf courses in 2020
In a review of 221 public golf courses, 155 lost money, including five that lost more than $2 million in 2020.
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As student enrollment declines, California’s school districts should right-size their spending
Instead of waiting for the next economic downturn to force them to make spending cuts, school districts should use this moment to right-size benefits and reduce non-instructional expenses.
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Testimony on Alaska House Bill 55 and Buck’s updated fiscal analysis
House Bill 55 is a weak pension design and lacks sufficient controls.
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Actuary highlights House Bill 55’s costs and risks to the Alaska Public Employees’ Retirement System
Changes of the magnitude being proposed in Alaska House BIll 55 should receive rigorous actuarial and risk analyses that have not yet been conducted.
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Understanding the recent nationwide increase in crime
Violent crime has decreased dramatically since its peak in the 1990s. In 2020, the violent crime rate remained near the record lows achieved throughout the 2000s.
