The Renewable Fuel Standard is an unnecessary part of the family of ethanol subsidies and mandates that props up the industry. It, along with all ethanol subsidies, should be eliminated.

The city of North Kansas City is considering privatizing its public hospital. The city should be allowed to sell the hospital to a non-profit or for-profit hospital company. The state should not impose newly filed regulations blocking the sale to a for-profit company.

There is a big brouhaha over parking at the Lake of the Ozarks and there are no winners in the fight.

Taxpayer-funded lobbying for local government entities likely will not be banned so it is time to create transparency so citizens can see how their money is being spent.

No strong evidence has been provided to show that the Jackson County Land Trust has failed, nor that a land bank could do a better job of getting vacant, city-owned property back into private, productive use.

Officials for the city of Arnold, Mo., are considering privatizing the city’s sewer system. There are several reasons this is a good idea.

Three suggestions are offered for changes to local government in Kansas City that could improve public policy in the area.

The state's laws and regulations make it prohibitively difficult for Ameren to construct an expanded nuclear power facility. Missouri needs increased generation of environmentally friendly energy, and nuclear power is currently the most effective way to provide it. Removing CWIP restrictions from this project is a necessary maneuver.

By bringing the efficiency and resources of the private sector to the public sphere, Missouri could expand its interstate and freight rail transportation infrastructure in a way that elevates Missouri to one of the nation's primary urban corridors. Increasing the use of user fees would enable a system in which those who use the roads pay for them.

Columbia officials and residents are debating how to deal with budget shortfalls. Those involved in the discussion should consider privatizing the city’s water and electric utilities — major services that the private sector is fully capable of managing. Studies have demonstrated that private utilities are generally more efficient than municipal utilities.

Kansas City officials will soon begin researching whether privatizing certain portions of city infrastructure could save the city money. Privatization has worked elsewhere in Missouri and across the country for many forms of public services and infrastructure. Harnessing the private sector’s incentive structure could likely save Kansas City millions.

Water meters have consistently been shown to reduce water consumption, thereby helping conserve resources, but the city of Saint Louis still charges its water customers through a flat-rate billing system. Technology has decreased the cost of reading meters, so there’s little reason to continue a system in which low-use water customers subsidize high-use customers.

Springfield’s struggle to deal with its underfunded public pension could be alleviated by switching from public to private utilities. Saint Louis and Kansas City both rely on private providers for multiple utility services, and studies show that private utilities are more efficient. Springfield could benefit significantly from such a move.

A new Show-Me Institute study considers the benefits of private financing for highway construction and maintenance, and outlines how variable toll rates can lead to lower road congestion during peak usage periods. Considering alternative financing for new highways and bridges is crucial as MoDOT faces a coming budget shortfall.

In November, Saint Louis–area voters will choose whether to increase transit sales taxes. Metro officials worry that raising fares would lead to significantly decreased ridership, but high fuel prices may counteract that trend. What’s the best method for funding crucial transit services — low, widespread taxes, or higher user fees?

Light rail transit is expensive to build, operate, and maintain, requiring regular infusions of new taxpayer financing as construction costs escalate and system components wear down and need to be replaced. Rapid-transit bus routes are more flexible and can provide better, faster, safer transit than light rail at a far lower cost.

Missourians should consider the benefits of tolling and public-private partnerships for the state’s transportation infrastructure: up-front financing, quicker turnaround for some projects, and the assurance that those who actually use a new facility will help to pay for it — leading to fewer incentives to hike traditional gas tax funds.

The tremendous drawbacks of the light-rail plan approved by Kansas City voters required intervention by the City Council. Now, as officials attempt to balance competing transit goals, they should consider non-rail alternatives like additional bus–rapid transit lines and allowing private contractors to bid on the right to operate bus routes.

Kirkwood is the only municipality within Saint Louis County that continues to operate its own municipal utilities. Would the citizens of Kirkwood benefit if Kirkwood sold its utilities to AmerenUE and Missouri-American Water Company?

The Missouri Department of Transportation is using new ideas and innovations to deliver quality transportation to the residents of Missouri. MoDOT deserves a great deal of credit for changing the manner in which it works for Missouri and for its creative thinking in how to address the state’s transportation needs.