The Lockdown Showdown
Alarmed by unilateral COVID-19 restrictions, states are imposing new limits on executive authority.
State Governments
Gas-Powered Lawnmower Ban, Mandatory Gender-Neutral Toy Aisles Among California's Weirdest New Laws
But at least state lawmakers also passed some useful criminal justice bills and policing reforms.
Department of Education Will Launch Investigations Targeting States That Banned Schools From Mandating Masks
Not everything potentially beneficial should be mandatory and not everything potentially harmful should be banned. And not every dispute about costs and benefits should be decided by the federal government.
If Government Is Good at One Thing, It's Making a Crisis Worse
The same institution that's unable to run the Postal Service or Amtrak orchestrated our invasion and withdrawal of Afghanistan.
State Governments Didn't Need Coronavirus Bailouts. They Got Billions of Dollars Anyway.
As it turns out, state and local tax revenues hardly collapsed.
Greg Abbott's Border Wall Plan Is Doomed To Fail
The Texas governor wants to keep incoming migrants out at all costs. But those costs are insurmountable.
California, New York Have the Most To Gain From Ending Bonus Unemployment Benefits. They Probably Won't.
States that already had lower unemployment rates in May are more likely to have announced plans for ending the bonus unemployment payments.
Want Better Policing? Make It Easier To Fire Bad Cops.
Realtors, contractors, and insurance agents who engage in bad behavior can be stripped of their licenses. Police officers, on the other hand, rarely get fired.
State Legislators Want to Nullify Federal Gun Control
State legislators across the country are working to weaken the enforcement of federal gun laws by emulating immigration activists.
The $1.9 Trillion American Recovery Act Could Have Huge Implications for State Tax Policies
Six different states are already suing over a broad prohibition on tax cuts that was slipped into March's $1.9 trillion COVID relief bill.
The 'California Dream' Isn't Dead. Yet.
California’s problems are indeed daunting, but even troubled San Francisco is still a lovely city.
New York Will Put To-Go Cocktails on Ice
Special interests are trying to stuff newfound alcohol freedom back in the bottle as the pandemic ends.
States With Post-Pandemic Surpluses Are Still Getting Huge Federal Bailouts
California has a $75 billion budget surplus, but federal taxpayers are about to send the state $27 billion in additional aid.
States Hope Labor Shortage Will Shrink as They Ditch Federal Unemployment Benefits
Plus: Remembering "sexual-subculture pioneer" Pat Bond, debunking gender gap hyperbole around jobs, and more...
If You Want To Fix the Country, Devolve Power
Revived federalism is a start, but it doesn’t go far enough.
Poll Shows 69 Percent of Americans Favor Legal Weed, a New Record High
Poll found that 78 percent of Democrats, 62 percent of Republicans, and 67 percent of independents favor legalization, as do majorities of every age demographic.
COVID-19 Is Leading State Lawmakers To Finally Restrain Governors' Emergency Powers
Even during a pandemic, major changes to laws and policies should be funneled through state assemblies.
Tennessee Tries To Limit Residents' Access to Wine From Other States (Again)
After losing at the Supreme Court in 2019, state lawmakers are now targeting fulfillment houses in an attempt to stop consumers from buying what they want.
Federal COVID-19 Bailout Prohibits States From Cutting Taxes
The measure could also make it illegal for states to create new tax credit programs, such as those used for expanding school choice.
Georgia Republicans Aim To Restrict Voting by Mail
The state Senate approved some cynical changes to Georgia's absentee ballot laws under the guise of securing future elections from fraud that no one seems to be able to find.
State Revenue Is 'Virtually Flat.' Local Government Revenue Is Up Slightly. Congress Wants To Give Them $350 Billion Anyway.
The Democrats' COVID bill showers billions of unneeded dollars on state and local governments.
Recall Elections Give California Voters a Needed Check on Governors Who Abuse Their Power
California Gov. Gavin Newsom hasn't committed any crimes, but he deserves to face a potential recall for his disastrous handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Limiting Mail-in Voting Won't Make Elections More Secure
But it would continue the politicization of the means of voting and make it harder to vote.
Maryland's Legislature Just Imposed a New Tax on Digital Advertising by Overriding Gov. Larry Hogan's Veto
The first-in-the-nation tax is an expensive and regressive policy that's also possibly unconstitutional.
'Incompetent Government Kills People,' Says Andrew Cuomo Unironically
The New York governor should look to his own state.
To Continue Thriving, California Needs New Politicians
California is driving on fumes and living off the residual investments and innovations of past generations. Is it any wonder so many Californians are heading to Texas or Arizona?
States Are Finally Revoking Cops' License To Steal
A recent flurry of legislative activity suggests why forfeiture reform succeeds—and why it fails.
Trump's Attempts To Undo the Election Won't Work
The president's rhetoric and his campaign's actions are corrosive, but even the most powerful man on the planet can't control America's diffuse election system.
California Voters Embrace Uber and Lyft While Rejecting Rent Control and Affirmative Action
Reason's roundup of state races and ballot initiatives
Today's Gubernatorial, Statehouse Races Will Set the Table for Redistricting Fights
Republicans rode an electoral wave in 2010 and used that perch to draw favorable congressional districts in many states. Will Democrats have the same opportunity after this year?
Emergency Coronavirus Orders Upheld in Wisconsin, Rejected in Michigan
Plus: Pandemic brings rise in electronic ankle monitoring, a court rules on stimulus checks for incarcerated people, and more...
States Aren't Getting a Federal Coronavirus Bailout. Most Will Be Fine.
The COVID-19 pandemic will strain some state budgets, but you shouldn't believe the predictions about catastrophic cuts.
Coronavirus Is Devastating State Budgets. Is Leasing Toll Roads to Private Operators the Answer?
Leasing state toll roads could provide the revenue states need to improve their balance sheets.
Tennessee Court Snips High School Diploma Requirement From Barber Licensing
Tennessee's requirement that barbers have at least a high school education is "unconstitutional, unlawful, and unenforceable," ruled the state's Chancery Court.
This Week in Policing Reform: Utah Outlaws Kneeling on Suspects' Necks, Memphis P.D. Ends No-Knock Raids
There's a lot going on. Here's a rundown of significant police reform news from around the country.
Trump Says He'll Use Military Force To Restore Order in the States
Law enforcement, on his orders, violently dispersed nearby peaceful protesters.
A Third Option Beyond State Bailouts and Bankruptcy
John Baker and Robert Miller identify an alternative
Federal and State Governments Have Less Control Over Shutdowns Than They Think
Officials in six Pennsylvania counties say they will allow businesses to reopen without permission from the state government. Expect more of that.
The COVID-19 Economic Collapse Is Absolutely Wrecking State Pension Systems
With some investment returns likely falling as far as 15 percent, states are going to face a cumulative pension debt of between $1.5 trillion and $2 trillion by the end of the year.
Trump Claims He Has 'Total' Authority Over When States End Social Distancing Rules. He's Wrong.
Plus: Americans plan to stay home for months, courts block more abortion bans, Amash "looking closely" at presidential run, and more...
No, Trump Cannot Open the Country Back Up Whenever He Wants
The president again insisted that the federal government can open the country by fiat. It cannot.
New York's New Budget: No Legal Weed, No Fracking, No Flavored Vapes, No Police Transparency. But You Get E-scooters!
If only everybody weren’t stuck in their homes.
Virginia Is About To Require a Government License for 'Art Therapy,' Because Glue and Scissors Are 'Potentially' Dangerous
The real motive for laws like this has nothing to do with scissors and glue. It's all about protectionism.
Are California's New Data Privacy Controls Even Legal?
A new paper raises constitutional questions about expansive state-level regulations that reach beyond their borders.
What, Us Worry? California Lawmakers Still Ignoring Dark Pension Clouds.
The guiding principle for California policymakers seems to be: Tell everyone what they want to hear—or at least stick to the rosiest scenarios.
Michigan Lawmakers Overturn a Bad Regulation Restricting Access to Cancer Treatments
They should scrap other Certificate of Need laws too.
