The Kansas-Missouri Border War Isn’t Over
A version of this op-ed was published in the Columbia Missourian. Missouri and Kansas are no strangers to border conflict....
Special Taxing District Don’t Stop Coming
Thanks to the Walt Disney Company and the State of Florida, special taxing districts are in the news. Florida is...
To Make an Omelette in Branson, You Have to Break a Few Eggs
Last year, voters in Branson voted in a new mayor. Last month, they went further by voting into office a...
Boxes Are Finally Getting Checked
The Missouri Empowerment Scholarship Account program was passed into law in the 2021 session and went into effect last fall....
You Like Options, Right?
As consumers, we like options when buying things. We like choosing between the red and the blue package, the more...
Another Crack at Expansion?
Earlier this week, Missouri’s legislature moved one step closer to sending another question to Missouri voters regarding Medicaid expansion. This...
Building Height Limitations Are Unwise
There is a controversy in Kansas City’s Country Club Plaza. A developer would like to build a nine-story building on...
Shoring Up School Choice Laws
Missouri families need access to multiple options for their children’s education, and this need has only become more pressing since...
Medicaid’s Volatile Upcoming Year
As Missouri’s legislators begin crafting next year’s budget, one of the biggest questions they’re facing is how much the state’s...
Podcast: Raises for Teachers, Billions for Meta, and a New Stadium for the Chiefs
Patrick Ishmael, Susan Pendergrass and Elias Tsapelas join Zach Lawhorn to discuss the Missouri budget, a massive tax incentive deal...
In Another Grinding Legislative Session, Missourians’ Priorities Getting Ignored Again
After countless hours of debate and filibuster, the Missouri Senate finally passed a version of a redistricted Congressional map—a regular...
“Sunrise” Study Questions Legitimacy of Occupational Licenses
If occupational licenses are meant to protect consumers, should licenses be created at the behest of lobbyists instead of consumers?...
LISTEN: Are The Chiefs on the Move?
Patrick Ishmael joined The Heidi Glaus Show with Josh Gilbert on The BIG 550 KTRS to discuss the Kansas City...
Hail to the Chiefs! And Pay for Your Own Stadium
If you thought Tyreek Hill getting traded to Miami was going to be the last surprise Chiefs fans got this...
Missouri Use Taxes Should Expand the Tax Base, Not the Size of Government
Use taxes in Missouri are simply sales taxes on goods delivered to your home from out-of-state sellers. Local governments have...
So Meta: New KC Data Center Heavy on Tax Incentives, Light on Jobs
Three years ago, I wrote in The Federalist about Amazon’s decision not to establish a New York City headquarters in...
Charging Station Changes, Use Tax Votes, and Gas Tax Holidays
Jakob Puckett, Corianna Baier, and David Stokes join Zach Lawhorn to discuss changes to a St. Louis EV charging station...
A Criminal Justice Reform in Occupational Licensing
Criminal justice reform has been a popular topic in the policy world for the last few years, but before we...
Missourians to Vote on New Use Taxes
Thanks to recent changes in state and federal law, local use taxes have become topical in Missouri. Many Missouri...
Municipal Advocacy With Your Money?
A recurring issue in local government in Missouri is when cities, school districts, and other entities improperly use taxpayer money...
