Some Thoughts on “Pre-Filing Eve”
For many of us, the beginning of December marks the beginning of the Christmas season, kicking off a monthlong period...
Columbia Still Making Simple Things Complicated
Columbia city government is taking additional steps toward finally solving a problem of its own making. After rescinding the city’s...
Giving Tuesday 2022
On this Giving Tuesday, we hope you will stand with us as we work to build a more prosperous future for all...
Hollywood Fever Hits Missouri
As movie and TV production has picked up again following the pandemic, are Missourians becoming sentimental and showing symptoms of...
Can We Have Meaningful Dialogue on Pension Reform?
I recently published an op-ed about a curious incident that occurred in September. Out of nowhere, superintendents and educators throughout...
Is the Purpose of Education to Prepare Students for Jobs?
What is the purpose of public education? If you agree with Missouri Lt. Governor Mike Kehoe, you’d say the purpose...
The School Choice Wave, Fire District Recalls and Saving Federalism
Zach Lawhorn is joined by David Stokes, James Shuls, and Elias Tsapelas to discuss midterm election outcomes, the school choice...
A Cut Below: Lessons from the History of Barber Licensure
As someone who disdains unnecessary government regulation and also desperately needs a haircut, I conveniently stumbled upon Daniel Smith’s “The...
As Student Enrollment Drops, the Number of Teachers Rises
I’ve been giving a lot of thought lately to the findings of Missouri’s blue ribbon commission. In my last post,...
Fright Night in Missouri Comes Early
Reviewing the recent release of the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) is an ideal way to get into the...
FDA Hears the Need for Deregulation
This past August, the FDA approved the sale of over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids. Previously, a prescription for a hearing aid...
Chesterfield and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Large TIF
Chesterfield does not have a municipal property tax. There’s nothing wrong with that. It funds its local government primarily with...
The Obvious Question
My dad used to ask me: If everyone else jumped off a cliff, would you do it too? The 2022...
Houston, We Have a Problem
The 2022 scores on the Nation’s Report Card (or NAEP), a test administered every other year by the U.S. Department...
The Silver Lining on the Blue Ribbon Commission Report
I vividly remember the days when I would ask for a new video game or pair of basketball shoes, and...
Resource Deployment Isn’t the Solution
“We have a problem with resource deployment.” Ya think? This quote from a member of the Missouri Teacher Recruitment and...
WSJ Takes Aim at Illinois, Ignores Missouri
The Wall Street Journal recently published an editorial that expressed legitimate shock about the relationship between teacher ratings and rates...
St. Louis County Needs a Land Bank Like I Need a Hole in My Head
In truly unwelcome news for people who care about good government, a coalition has been put together to create a...
Laclede County Should Reduce Its Commercial Property Tax Surcharge
A version of this commentary appeared in the Laclede County Record. This November, Laclede County residents will vote on reducing...
Laclede County Voters Asked to Consider Tax Reduction
This November, Laclede County residents will vote on reducing an obscure tax that places the county at a competitive disadvantage...
