Growth by State
Many variables affect a state’s economic growth, including public policy, natural resources, geographic location, business centers, etc. The large number of contributing...
States Can Entice Businesses and Industries Without Tax Credits
Supporters for incentive programs, such as tax credits and tax increment financing (TIF), claim that businesses would not locate in...
Spending on Health
These two counties in Wisconsin, like Oklahoma City, want their residents to be more healthy and physically fit. Unlike Oklahoma...
The Perils of State Curricula
As many of you are probably aware, the Texas State Board of Education voted on Friday to make a number...
Federalism in Action
Yesterday, the Missouri House approved a constitutional amendment designed to check the federal government’s expansion of powers in the realm...
Looking at Mid-Year Budgetary Shortfall and Income Tax Rates
The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities released a report last week about state budget shortfalls, “Recession Continues to Batter...
Home Birth Statistics
The National Center for Health Statistics has released a report on out-of-hospital births. In 2006, 64.7 percent of such births...
She Fell In Love With The Drummer
The city of Duluth, Minn., made the band Wilco and its members honorary citizens. Not to be outdone, the city...
Another Excellent Bill in the Wisconsin Legislature
Wisconsin is debating another proposal involving milk. The Wisconsin raw milk bill I wrote about yesterday would put Wisconsin’s policy...
Improving Raw Milk Policy
A proposal in Wisconsin would allow dairy farmers to sell raw milk, with a few conditions: Under the bill, farmers...
One District’s Competition Is Another District’s Poaching
A member of a school board in Madison, Wis., has noticed that it pays for districts to set up online...
Is the Federal Stimulus Benefiting Missouri at the Expense of Wisconsin?
The editorial board at my hometown newspaper, the La Crosse Tribune, is critical of the way that federal stimulus funds...
In Support of State Symbols
Legislation has been filed in Wisconsin, my home state, that would make cheese the state’s official snack. I am sympathetic...
Film Tax Credits Don’t Bring Lasting Jobs or Significant Revenue Gains
The new Jason Reitman film, Up in the Air, premiered at the Tivoli Theatre in University City last month. Many...
Horrible Stuff Up and Down New Federal Spending Bill
This is just a depressing AP article on federal budget expenditures, from beginning to end. This has everything you need...
Despite Drawbacks, Raw Milk Law Better in Missouri Than Some Other States
Sting operations against dairy farmers notwithstanding, Missouri has better raw milk policy than some states do. For example, Wisconsin bans...
Will You Find a Doctor When You Need One?
Somehow, amidst the politically charged health care discussions, it seems that some have overlooked one practical thing: If the health...
Filmmakers Vote With Their Feet
I blogged yesterday about how tax policy distributes people and businesses. A recent article in the Wall Street Journal illustrates...
What Would a Soda Tax Mean for Missouri?
Twenty two states have already enacted selective taxes on soda. In two of these states, Virginia and Illinois, this tax...
High-Speed Rail Proponents Underestimate Environmental Impact
On Monday, eight Midwestern governors met in Chicago to sign a memorandum of understanding by which they committed to a...
