Higher federal income tax offsets for state and local tax payments have morphed into a mostly upper-middle-class political perk, one unlikely to have any meaningful impact on state or local fiscal policies or politics. It’s time to look ahead to the next iteration of federal tax policy.
As adult-learner programs proliferate, there’s a lack of consistent, reliable quality standards to inform job seekers and employers. States should move to organize and oversee this complex marketplace.
Due to racial bias and other disparities, too often they aren’t “bankable” and struggle to obtain loans essential for their success. Some programs are leading the way in achieving more-equitable outcomes.
As polluters pay up for absolution, state treasuries and public pension funds might be able to capitalize on carbon offset credits. Public forests and timberland investments could yield untapped value.
More of them are quitting over student behavior than for any other reason. Levels of student misbehavior are rising, but time-tested practices can help teachers minimize classroom chaos.
A few governors have moved to open up thousands of state jobs to people without a college degree. It's commonsense policy and an economic win for states. It’s also a political opportunity for governors eyeing the White House.
Republican state lawmakers dissolved a nonpartisan group that ensured tax dollars were properly spent in February 2021. But with tax revenues flush, it may be time to bring back the division.
When it comes to addressing gun violence, local governments are on the front lines. But a successful decades-long campaign by the NRA for state laws preempting localities from regulating firearms is undercutting them.
When he addresses the nation, the president will talk about top-down solutions from Washington. But the real progress on the problems we face is coming from 50 state capitols.
With more than 1,000 civilians being killed by cops every year, mayors and city councils can’t be equivocal about ending the warrior approach to policing.
If a congressional debt ceiling deadlock persists and capital markets seize up, states and localities will still have to pay their bills. Public financiers need to be ready to adjust their portfolios to establish a liquid cash buffer.
Food-related businesses are especially accessible for aspiring entrepreneurs, but there aren’t nearly enough shared-use food facilities. Supporting and promoting them is an opportunity for local governments.
Elected prosecutors have a critical role to play in responding to policies that can erode trust and endanger public safety.
The idea that the Justice Department and FBI are “deep state” forces aiming to undermine the MAGA movement conflicts with history. Too many state and local officials were complicit in the feds’ efforts to fight the civil rights movement.
It’s hailed as the next wave of transformative technology, but artificial intelligence’s market growth and rapid deployment raise a host of issues, from safety to privacy to equity.
The factory jobs that used to be a fit for unskilled blue-collar workers are rapidly going high tech and white collar.
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