Alaska Policy Forum has assembled a page of resources with FAQs and publications from nationally recognized organizations.
More Please: Prioritization of Spending Programs
The Governor wants suggestions. Here’s one: Continue to require that departments prioritize their programs.
Untying the Hands of an Effective School
How can we make schools better for all kids? The first step might be untying the hands of schools that are already effective.
The cost of Green Energy mandates in Massachusetts
Massachusetts has attempted to lead the push for renewable energy and energy efficiency programs. The state currently offers over 25 unique mandates, programs and incentives to promote renewable energy and energy efficiency. Since all of these mandates, programs and incentives attempt to influence the behavior of utilities, consumers and businesses they incur costs.
Public Service Millionaires in Ohio
The state of Ohio has a program option called DROP that allows public employees (police officers, firefighters) to “double dip” on their pensions. This report from the Buckeye Institute explains why the program matters to the individual Ohio citizen, and specifically how the system should be changed.
Is Health Care Reform Unraveling?
Grace-Marie Turner thinks the Health Care Reform legislation passed earlier this year is unraveling. Here are her reasons why.
Quickbrief: Medicaid Expan$ion Will Bankrupt the States
The passage of health care reform earlier in 2010 brought with it significant expansions in Medicaid, the joint State/Federal welfare program administered by the states. Even though the federal government will be picking up the tab for the first few years, ultimately, the states will find the share they are required to pay unaffordable.
Startling state unfunded liabilities
NCPA’s Unfunded Liabilities report takes a sobering look at state pension plans. Alaska’s unfunded liabilities are 42% of the state’s GDP.
America under tax burden
(Heritage Foundation) With Bush-Era tax cuts set to expire and the new health care law ready to start collecting, The Heritage Foundation takes an indepth look at the general financial health of the country in the coming years.
$9 million in stimulus propaganda
(CNSNews) Taxpayers have spent over $9 million to advertise work sites for American Recovery and Reinvestment Act projects. Read the article <here>
Broken Promises: Cutting Medicare to Pay for Health Care Reform
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, or the recent health care law, was rushed through the political process touted as deficit neutral legislation. One of the of the ways it was supposed to pay for itself was through cuts in other programs.
$2 million per stimulus job in L.A.
Los Angeles has released a report on job creation/retention directly related to the recent stimulus package. $111 million dollars has provided only 55 employees with continued employment.
AKWatchdog: Budget forums target police department for cuts
Sin taxes and cuts to the Anchorage Police Department dominated public forums for the Municipality of Anchorage Fiscal Year 2012 budget.
Decadent deficiency: L.A. county schools
$578 million dollar schools, school districts building when in $640 million dollar deficits, and less than half of students graduating high school sum up L.A. county, a perfect candidate for school choice.
Parental Approval won by charter schools
(Heritage Foundation) Light is shed on more benefits of charter schools with the publication of a recent DOE report, which also shows an overwhelming support for the system by parents. The Heritage Foundation summarizes and reflects on the report and its findings.
State health care exchanges of 2014
(NCPA) With examples from Massachusetts’ “Commonwealth Connector” law and California’s proposed health care exchange, NCPA explains one of the new health care law’s requirements and what it means to you.