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Archives: Education / Articles (page 6)

  • ALEC Applauds Michigan’s MPSPERS Pension Reform Efforts image

    ALEC Applauds Michigan’s MPSPERS Pension Reform Efforts

    This reform package preserves retirement security for existing and future employees while putting in place a more fiscally sustainable benefit for new workers. Both teachers and taxpayers win.

  • SCOTUS Decision in Trinity Lutheran Sets the Stage for Expanded School Choice image

    SCOTUS Decision in Trinity Lutheran Sets the Stage for Expanded School Choice

    Trinity Lutheran has the potential to set the stage for an even brighter future for education reform in the United States.

  • North Carolina Accelerates Broad-Based Tax Relief image

    North Carolina Accelerates Broad-Based Tax Relief

    By further lowering economically destructive taxes on productivity, North Carolina lawmakers are giving the state’s economy yet another long-term boost, further magnetizing its draw for individuals and businesses alike.

  • “Choice Counts”: Education Director Documents Success of Charter Schools, Education Savings Accounts image

    “Choice Counts”: Education Director Documents Success of Charter Schools, Education Savings Accounts

    Director of the Education and Workforce Development Task Force Inez Feltscher joins Buck Sexton to discuss the merits of school choice and education savings accounts.

  • State of the State: New Hampshire image

    State of the State: New Hampshire

    Despite the Granite State’s strengths and Sununu’s proposals, there remains work to be done. For example, the top marginal tax rate for corporations is a steep 8.2%; and although New Hampshire doesn’t have a personal income tax or sales tax, it does have the highest property tax burden in the nation. New Hampshire also ranks a lackluster 37th in the nation in terms of burdensome regulations according to the Pacific Research Institute. Furthermore, the recently released ALEC report Unaccountable and Unaffordable 2016 ranks the state’s pension funding level at 43rd nationally. Using a risk-free rate of return of 2.344 percent, New Hampshire’s state pensions are unfunded in excess of $13,000 per capita with a funded ratio of just 28 percent.

  • State of the Commonwealth: Massachusetts image

    State of the Commonwealth: Massachusetts

    Overall, however, the state’s steps towards economic competitiveness are yielding results. Governor Baker rightfully recognized this achievement, “We built a bipartisan team, worked in partnership with the legislature and looked for common ground.” Shrinking the state’s budget gap by over $1 billion without tax or fee increases is just one example.

  • State of the State: Vermont image

    State of the State: Vermont

    With Vermont’s economic outlook continuing to languish at 49th (according to the American Legislative Exchange Council’s Rich States, Poor States publication), legislators may be ready to take the governor’s charge to heart: “We must act now, and begin our ascent.”

  • President Trump Signs Executive Order Directing Department of Education to Review Regulation and Return Control to States image

    President Trump Signs Executive Order Directing Department of Education to Review Regulation and Return Control to States

    On Wednesday, President Trump issued an Executive Order directing the Department of Education to review all of its programs and regulations relating to the three major federal education laws for compliance with principles of federalism and local control over education.

  • Arizona Leaps into Innovative Educational Future with Universal ESAs image

    Arizona Leaps into Innovative Educational Future with Universal ESAs

    This past Thursday, Arizona leapt ahead into the future of American education by passing a universal expansion of its Empowerment Scholarship Accounts program. The program, which was first passed in…

  • State of the State: Kentucky image

    State of the State: Kentucky

    On a very bright note, Bevin signed legislation into law earlier this year that officially made Kentucky a right-to-work state, an important step in attracting business and expanding freedom of choice for workers on the decision regarding unionization. A continuation of this spirit of reform bodes well for the state’s future.

  • State of the State: New Jersey image

    State of the State: New Jersey

    The governor praised legislators for reducing the state sales tax and increasing the exclusions for the state’s estate tax; but he failed to mention the tax cut savings are almost entirely offset by the enormous 23-cent per gallon increase in the gas tax. This year’s sales tax reduction of 0.125 percent will save consumers a whopping $1.25 on a $1,000 purchase; meanwhile, the gas tax hike will cost twice this much on a single 11 gallon fill-up.

  • State of the State: Pennsylvania image

    State of the State: Pennsylvania

    Enacting common sense budgetary reforms, eliminating some cronyism, and blocking attempts to increase taxes yet further are commendable. But this will not reverse Pennsylvania’s economic malaise. Accomplishing this will require bold reduction in twin burdens of bureaucracy and tax burden.

  • State of the State: Maine image

    State of the State: Maine

    Under Governor LePage’s leadership, Maine’s economic outlook has improved from 48th in 2011 to 38th in 2016. But the tax hike and minimum wage increase threaten to roll back all of the recent progress. The governor recognizes this economic peril. His economic agenda address the problems created by the twin referendums from this fall. The outcome depends on whether or not state legislators heed his warnings.

  • State of the State: Hawaii image

    State of the State: Hawaii

    One of the highest personal income tax rates in the nation and the highest sales tax burden in the nation, and forced unionization all contribute to Hawaii’s 42nd place economic outlook ranking according to ALEC’s annual Rich States, Poor States publication.

  • State of the State: Montana image

    State of the State: Montana

    With unemployment almost as low as it has ever been in Montana at 4 percent and household incomes on the rise, Governor Bullock should consider allowing this growth in income to drive increases in the state’s revenue instead of increasing the tax burden on Montanans. Given that there are “over 6,500 listed job openings” throughout the state that businesses are struggling to fill, Montana’s employers cannot afford tax hikes.

  • State of the State: New York image

    State of the State: New York

    Governor Cuomo’s discussion of important issues such as tax relief certainly is encouraging. However, picking winners and losers with taxpayer dollars and increasing spending will not help New York’s economy to thrive. Instead, legislators should focus on a continued reduction of the state’s burdensome corporate and personal income taxes. An unshackling of the ingenuity and dreams of New Yorkers will fuel a better life for all.

  • VIDEO: Inez Feltscher Talks Importance of School Choice on Tipping Point image

    VIDEO: Inez Feltscher Talks Importance of School Choice on Tipping Point

    Inez Feltscher, Director of the Education and Workforce Development Task Force at ALEC joins Liz Wheeler on Tipping Point to discuss DeVos nomination and talk school choice.

  • The Case for School Choice image

    The Case for School Choice

    ALEC released the 21st edition of the Education Report Card on American Education which ranks states on their K-12 education and policy performance. Inez Feltscher Stepman, Director of the Education…

  • State of the State: Nevada image

    State of the State: Nevada

    Nevada remains one of the most business-friendly states. The education system is rapidly becoming the envy of the nation. And it’s no surprise that many choose to escape the high-tax regime of California for no-income-tax Nevada. But to stop the slide in economic outlook, Nevadans should reject further cronyism and resist calls for a further erosion of the low-tax environment.

  • Rebecca Friedrichs: Why Good Teachers Want School Choice image

    Rebecca Friedrichs: Why Good Teachers Want School Choice

    Just in time for School Choice Week, Rebecca Friedrichs, a California public school teacher, partnered with Prager University to produce a short video describing why school choice programs lead…