Special Session a Reminder of Budgetary Troubles
Missouri is still dealing with COVID-19, and the hole in the state’s budget is only getting deeper. Last week, the...
What About the other 80 Percent of Missourians?
About 30 percent of Missourians, age 25 and older, have a bachelor’s degree or higher. It’s estimated that about 60...
What is an Education Savings Account (ESA)?
Click here to see how Education Savings Accounts could work in Missouri.
New Report Highlights Dangers of Kicking Missouri’s Infrastructure Funding Can Down the Road
Missouri’s roads are more than just a convenience—they’re an economic asset. According to the most recent data from 2011, roughly...
Fixing the “Delmar Divide” with a TIF?
Developers are asking for millions in tax subsidies for a redevelopment project with the hopes of fixing St. Louis’s “Delmar...
Commentary: Funding Roads by the Mile, Not the Gallon
A version of this first appeared in the Columbia Daily Tribune. Missouri’s road maintenance funding is on a road to...
Telemedicine Gaining Momentum
Amidst the hardship and disruption of the coronavirus pandemic, the rise of telemedicine has been a small silver lining. Shortly...
Driver Privacy and Electronic Tolling
My recent posts have explored ways to connect paying for road maintenance with the damage drivers’ vehicles inflict upon roads...
Action Civics: Teaching Students to Become Activists (Part 1 of 3)
Jurassic Park was a tremendous movie for a number of reasons. I remember sitting on the edge of my seat...
Entrepreneurs, Not Governments, Solve Uncertainty
In these times of economic uncertainty and shortages, it’s easy to forget what makes an economy run. Many turn to...
The Burden of Special Taxing Districts
I recently wrote about Chesterfield’s plans to hike taxes during a pandemic. It looks like more tax increases could be...
Think Miles, Not Gallons, to Fund Missouri’s Roads
Yesterday I discussed how the increasing popularity of electric vehicles (EVs) has exposed flaws in Missouri’s system of funding road...
Belt-tightening Time in Public Education
A version of this commentary appeared in the Columbia Missourian. Make no mistake—people across Missouri are losing their jobs, and state...
Electric Vehicles and the (Almost) Free-Rider Problem
Electric vehicles (EVs) are gaining popularity thanks to their fuel economy, but in Missouri they offer their owners another benefit—one...
Teachers Unions Set Their Sights on Micro-schools
Kelly Smith is a very nice guy. On his Twitter profile, he describes himself to his 400 followers as a...
The LIHTC Program Is Back Again
Missouri taxpayers are now back on the hook for one of the least effective and most expensive tax credit programs...
Chesterfield Quick to Demand More from Taxpayers
Apparently, Chesterfield lawmakers are feeling the financial stress of the COVID-19 crisis and the subsequent economic downturn. In the latest...
It’s Time to Rethink How We Fund Public Education
It’s quite clear that we’re facing a series of fights over who gets the dwindling pot of public money in...
Why Are Business Regulations Bad for Consumers?
No matter your view on regulations, there’s no denying that they come with a cost. Regulations increase operating costs for...
Fall 2020 Educational Resources for Missouri Parents
Read the latest from Susan Pendergrass Parents are angry and confused right now. Many are receiving mixed messages from school...
